BERGENSFJORD 2014 Part 3

Part 3 – KONG HARALD of Hurtigruten
Sunday 23rd March 2014 (continued)
I waved STAVANGERFJORD off and then went in search of a late lunch.

Wood you believe this was a free exhibition?

I found a small café near the water side of another street, and spent a dry and warm hour in there as I watched the world go past. Then it was time to dress for the rain again and return to the Hurtigruten terminal to ask to visit KONG HARALD. I had seen her berth earlier at the quay adjacent to Fjord Line’s, so was keen to see what she was like on board.

Kong Harald

She was launched in 1993, the same year as RICHARD WITH, to mark Hurtigruten’s centenary and is named after today’s King of Norway, Harald. She is 11,204 gross tons, and can carry 622 passengers and 20 cars, with a service speed of 15 knots.

I was soon on board and admiring all the lounges, bars and artwork.

On board

The story of Hurtigruten

Panorama Lounge

Art work behind me

Door handles

Top of the stairs

Interesting carpet

Shop display

Reflections indeed

Loved the blue glass

Specially woven carpet to celebrate the launch year of Kong Harald in 1993, and Hurtigruten

Cafe Roald Amundsen, the explorer. At home I have a picture in my Father's collection showing one of Amundsen's sleigh dogs, photographed in the early 1930s.

Art work

Deck 4 stern Restaurant

Another bar/lounge

Bar decoration

Midships seating

Near Reception

Aha, a mailship post box

These ships are all very individual in their styling and decoration and I consider it a great treat to be allowed to visit the ships in port. The Hurtigruten ships are a way of life in Norway and have been now since 1893, so a familiar sight around the coast. Once again I enjoyed my visit to a Hurtigruten ship. As I walked home the rain increased and I was really looking forward to a hot meal and relaxing back in my Bergen hotel. The weather forecast for Monday was good, and of course I was due to sail on the brand-new BERGENSFJORD, so there was lots to enjoy.


To be continued….

Summer 2011 Part 1 To the Land of the Midnight Sun

Saturday 9th July 2011

Gatwick Airport was left far behind as I flew north to Oslo with Norwegian Air, and transferred to their local short flight on to Trondheim. I saw snow on the mountains below me, making me realise just how far I had travelled. The airport bus drove through numerous tunnels and beside Norwegian Woods (cue music…) to the little coastal city, and I was soon walking to my hotel for 2 nights’ stay in this Hurtigruten port of call. I have never been so far north on land before, and this town of about 170,000 people was spread over a large area. It was centred around the port, as it had been for centuries of course, so the old Hanseatic traders’ warehouses along the riverside and other shop fronts made for interesting viewing as I headed for a local restaurant in the evening heat.

As I peeped out between the blackout curtains later that night I could still see the bright light of this 20 hour daylight, and realised I was truly in The Land of the Midnight Sun!

Trondheim view at 10.22 p.m.

Trondheim at 2.43 a.m.

No ships seen

Sunday 10th July
Another early start to the day, but worth it as I headed down to the port to see the two Hurtigruten ships alongside the quay.



The 1993-built RICHARD WITH was there and due to head south at 10 a.m., so I was able to make a quick visit on board her. She is 11,205 tons, can carry 623 passengers (and 45 cars) with a service speed of 15 knots.

Richard With Reception

an original mural

B Deck Arcade

Polar Restaurant

Restaurant light

Bridge view

Coffee offer

Closing the cargo door

Up with the gangways

As she prepared to sail I could see a few people coming into sight from a building along the quay, and was astonished to see that they were passengers for the ship, presumably having been into town. It was 1 minute to sailing time and they appeared in no hurry to get on board; more and more people came from the building and soon there was shouting and frantic hand waving from someone on the gangway. One or two late-comers actually waved back, which must have irritated the ship’s staff. Eventually all the stragglers embarked, the gangway was taken up, and the ship sailed off into the calm waters of the fjord on her voyage south to Bergen.

Watching Richard With sail


Richard With sailing

Ships seen: Richard With (Hurtigruten)

To be continued...