Hunting The Light

MS Trollfjord, Hurtigruten Hunting The Light By Sue McCarthy   March 5 We checked out of the First Hotel in Bergen and boarded the Hurtigruten's MS Trollfjord for our journey north to the northernmost point in Norway.  A little about the ship we'll be traveling on for the next 7 days.    Our cabin had a bathroom with a nice large shower, sink, toilet and a heated floor. The room had a lower and upper berth, a couch that could be a bed and a desk.  Our porthole was really a round window, except it looked out on a lifeboat. Once Kevin arrived, there was plenty of room in the cabin for the two of us to move around.  I slept on the top berth and we kept the couch for our coats and equipment.  TIP:  Take suitcases that can fit under your berth to allow more room for walking around in your cabin.  There are 23 suites, 5 with a balcony,  and 674 berths.   There is a self-laundry facility, an Internet Cafe, three meals daily (bkfst and lunch are open seating with two seatings for dinner), a gift shop, a ,concierge tour office; hairdryers are furnished in each cabin (220 voltage).  My favorite spot to sit and read a book, visit with friends and observe the fantastic scenery passing by was the 8th or 9th deck in the bow or front of the ship looking out the panoramic windows.      At 10pm we stood on the aft (back) deck and watched as the lights of Bergen reflected in the dark waters, observed the clear night with a thousand stars as the ship slipped smoothly under the Askoy Bridge (at 1057 meters it is the longest suspension bridge) as we headed out to "Hunting The Light", the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights.  The Hurtigruten line recommends this time of the year as a good time to observe the lights, but makes no guarantees.  The lights are elusive and the conditions must be right.  If a passenger or crew spots the lights while on ship (no matter what time of the night it is) a call is sounded and passengers scurry out of their cabins, leaves their plates on the dinner table and climbs the stairs to the top deck in hopes of capturing a photo of the elusive lights.    Dress is casual, no fancy dress parties or tiaras.  Dress warm with layers for offshore excursions and sitting on the top deck.  Bring a swimsuit and take a dip in the outdoor hot tubs.   The Hurtigruten is like a cruise ship only smaller in size and is a working ship.  While passengers are sleeping the ship docks in many of the small towns along the way delivering passengers, postal mail and cargo.  www.hurtigruten.us   We'd have time to explore the ship the next day before arriving in our first port of Alesund at noon.  I am traveling with a group of American and Canadian journalists, Harald Hansen of INNOVATION NORWAY - Tourism www.VisitNorway.com/us and Jennifer Rosen PR for Hurtigruten U.S.