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I'm writing a brief summary of each port on the Norwegian Coastal Route, stop times, polar night and midnight sun - where applicable, weather, and what you can do at the port if you aren't going on an excursion. TL;DR I will update this post/webpage with a link to each port post that I publish. Voyage North & Round Voyage Day 1 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Bergen 14:45-20:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-bergen Day 2 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Florø 02:45-03:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-flor%C3%B8 Måløy 05:15-05:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-m%C3%A5l%C3%B8y Torvik  08:20-08:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-torvik Variant 1 - Hurtigruten and Havila operate this November to March Ålesund 09:45-20:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Variant 2 - Hurtigruten operate this June to August, Havila operate it May to August. Ålesund 09:45-10:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Geiranger 14:25-14:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-geiranger Ålesund 19:00-20:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Variant 3 - Hurtigruten operate this April & May, and September & October, Havila operate it September & October only. Ålesund 09:45-10:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Hjørundfjord 12:15-15:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-hjørundfjord Ålesund @ 18:00-20:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Molde 22:35-23:05 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-molde Day 3 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Kristiansund 02:45-03:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kristiansund Trondheim 09:45-12:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-trondheim Rørvik 21:40-22:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-rørvik Day 4 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Brønnøysund 01:35-01:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-brønnøysund Sandnessjøen 04:35-04:50 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-sandnessjøen Nesna 06:00-06:10 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-nesna Ørnes 10:00-10:10 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ørnes Bodø 13:05-15:20 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-bodø Stamsund 19:15-19:40 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-stamsund Svolvær 21:20-22:15 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-svolvær Day 5 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Stokmarknes 01:30-01:40 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-stokmarknes Sortland 02:55-03:10 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-sortland Risøyhamn 04:35-04:50 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-risøyhamn Harstad 07:10-07:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-harstad Finnsnes 11:00-11:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-finnsnes Tromsø 14:15-18:15  https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-tromsø https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/explore-tromsø-a-self-guided-itinerary Skjervøy 22:10-22:25  https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-skjervøy Day 6 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Øksfjord 01:50-02:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-øksfjord Hammerfest 05:05-05:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-hammerfest Havøysund 08:30-08:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-havøysund Honningsvåg 10:55-14:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-honningsvag Kjøllefjord 16:40-17:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kjøllefjord Mehamn 18:55-19:15 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-mehamn Berlevåg 22:00-22:10  https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-berlevåg Day 7 (Voyage North & Round Voyage) Båtsfjord 00:00-00:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-båtsfjord Vardø 03:30-03:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-vardo Vadsø 06:55-07:10 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-vadsø Kirkenes 09:00-12:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kirkenes Round Voyage & Voyage South Day 7 (Round Voyage) Day 1 (Voyage South) K irkenes 09:00-12:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kirkenes Vardø  16:05-17:00  https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-vardo Båtsfjord 20:00-20:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-båtsfjord Berlevåg 22:25-22:35 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-berlevåg Day 8 (Round Voyage) Day 2 (Voyage South) Mehamn 01:20-01:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-mehamn Kjøllefjord 03:25-03:35 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kjøllefjord Honningsvåg 05:45-06:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-honningsvag Havøysund 08:00-08:15 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-havøysund Hammerfest 11:00-12:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-hammerfest Øksfjord 15:50-16:05 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-øksfjord Skjervøy 19:30-19:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-skjervøy Tromsø 23:45-01:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-tromsø https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/explore-tromsø-a-self-guided-itinerary Day 9 (Round Voyage) Day 3 (Voyage South) Finnsnes 04:20-04:40 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-finnsnes Harstad 08:00-08:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-harstad Risøyhamn 10:45-11:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-risøyhamn Sortland 12:30-13:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-sortland Stokmarknes 14:15-15:15 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-stokmarknes Svolvær 18:30-20:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-svolvær Stamsund 22:15-22:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-stamsund Day 10 (Round Voyage) Day 4 (Voyage South) Bodø 02:30-03:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-bodø Ørnes 06:25-06:35 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ørnes Nesna 10:25-10:35 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-nesna Sandnessjøen 11:45-12:15 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-sandnessjøen Brønnøysund 15:00-17:25 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-brønnøysund Rørvik 21:00-21:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-rørvik Day 11 (Round Voyage) Day 5 (Voyage South) Trondheim 06:30-09:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-trondheim Kristiansund 16:30-17:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-kristiansund Molde 21:15-21:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-molde Day 12 (Round Voyage) Day 6 (Voyage South) Ålesund 00:30-01:20 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-ålesund Torvik 02:35-02:45 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-torvik Måløy 05:45-06:00 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-m%C3%A5l%C3%B8y Florø 08:15-08:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-flor%C3%B8 Bergen 14:45-20:30 https://www.retiredcormac.co.uk/post/exploring-bergen Happy travels!

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 7 - Arrive @ 06:55, Depart @ 07:10 Voyage South - Not visited Climate Midnight Sun - 17 M ay to 28 July. Polar Night - 26 November to 17 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-320403/Norway/Finnmark/Vadsø/Vadsø Observations - other than Excursions The 15min stop doesn't provide an opportunity to get off the ship and visit. Eats N/A Walk N/A Vadsø - in one line Vadsø is only applicable to Port to Port travellers.

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 7 - Arrive @ 03:30, Depart @ 03:45 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 7 / Day 1 - Arrive @ 16:05, Depart @ 17:00 Climate Midnight Sun - 17 M ay to 26 July. Polar Night - 23 November to 19 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-324168/Norway/Finnmark/Vardø/Vardø Observations - other than Excursions The 55min stop southbound provides just enough time to for an opportunity to get off the ship for a quick walk - perhaps around the port town, and/or a visit to the small but interesting Vardøhus Fortress . Eats Shops will be open. Walk Opportunity for short walk Vardø - in one line Visit the small but interesting Vardøhus Fortress in Vardø.

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 7 - Arrive @ 00:00, Depart @ 00:30 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 7 / Day 1 - Arrive @ 20:00, Depart @ 20:30 Climate Midnight Sun - 15 M ay to 31 July. Polar Night - 24 November to 21 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-327114/Norway/Finnmark/Båtsfjord/Båtsfjord Observations - other than Excursions The 30min stop in either direction doesn't provide a long enough opportunity to get off the ship and visit. Eats N/A Walk N/A Båtsfjord - in one line Båtsfjord is only applicable to Port to Port travellers.

Lecce, a charming city in the heart of Puglia, Italy, is such a lovely place. Our family trip there was the 3rd time I've visited the region and it was as fantastic as ever. The familiarity together with good planning ensured packed days and some great food and drink stops. TL;DR These are the various arrangements that we made and the vendors that we used - all of which I wouldn't hesitate to use again. Airport Parking Made Easy with HolidayExtras To start our journey, we used one of the many meet and greet suppliers via Holiday Extras with MSE discount codes for parking at Heathrow Airport. The process was smooth and efficient; we experienced a quick drop-off and collection, creating a positive start to our trip. Flying with British Airways: A Mixed Experience We flew with British Airways, and while the flight itself was satisfactory, the experience returning from Brindisi Airport was less than ideal. The airport was very busy, with no BA lounge available, and boarding was a mess. I provided BA with some robust feedback after we landed and they acknowledged that they fell short. Convenient Parking at Parkejoo Parking in such a small and tight city was a concern for me. Located just 500 meters from the city center and our accommodation, Parkejoo is a massive underground car park. It was a secure space for our rental car as there wasn't space available near the accommodation. The convenience of leaving our car safely locked and retaining the key was a huge bonus. We paid what I thought was a high 25 Euros for a 24-hour period, though considering the prime location, and parking costs elsewhere - it turned out that this was average. But 7 days of 25 Euro - certainly adds up. The underground parking structure was well-lit, clean, and equipped with easy 24hr access via lifts and stairs. Renting a Car with Europcar To transit from the airport to Lecce and explore the beautiful surroundings of Puglia, we decided to rent a car from Europcar. Our experience with this dependable company was positive, even though it was slightly more expensive than some budget options - but these had received a number of negative reviews. However, the peace of mind that came with renting from a reputable company was worth the extra expense. The car was a necessity to get out of the city and visit the nearby towns. Our Apartment in Central Lecce Upon our arrival in Lecce, we checked into a delightful apartment we booked through AMEX Travel, managed by LimeHome. The space was clean, roomy, and ideally situated in the city's heart. Over our week-long stay, we had a few minor issues, but the LimeHome team's responsiveness via WhatsApp was excellent. They solved our concerns quickly - leaky shower and extra towels, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction throughout our holiday. Culinary Delights: Where We Ate Best to look at my tripadvisor and Instagram. Refreshing Drinks: Where We Drank Another suggestion for looking at my tripadvisor and Instagram. An Excellent Family Holiday Our family holiday in Lecce was great. We arrived home well rested and a little heavier from all the great pasta and pizza dishes. I'd recommend Lecce for a longer city break together with the vendors that I used to put the holiday together. Happy Travels PS - If you enjoyed this content, don’t forget to like it❤️, share it, and follow me. It really helps!

These are the phone apps that I see as essential for holidaying TL:DR Having the right tools at your disposal will make short work of any holiday type tasks that need to be taken care of.. 1. Google Maps Navigating an unfamiliar country or city can feel overwhelming, but Google Maps makes it straightforward. This app not only provides detailed maps but also includes real-time traffic updates and public transportation options. It's a no brainer 2. TripAdvisor When it comes to finding a good restaurant - then look no further than tripadvisor. You need to take some of the reviews with a pinch of salt - but you do get a good sense of whether a particular restaurant is worth a visit. 3. Viator Will provide ideas and listings of experiences - tours and activities, in and around where you are holidaying. I use it as part of the holiday planning, and then later on the holiday if we see something we fancy doing. 4. Google The translation and search via an image are invaluable tools. Foreign menus can be translated seamlessly, and anything you see can be quickly researched. It even does Text to Speech for those difficult moments, when neither party understands each other's languages. 5. WhatsApp Great for communication and allows for groups to be set up - so all relevent information can be shared with everyone in the group at once. 6. Spotify Listen to your favourite tunes when chilling by the pool. 7. Weather App Know if it's going to rain and make appropriate plans, and as importantly the UV strength to ensure that you are managing your sunscreen correctly. Final Thoughts Remember to use an App - you'll need data, so make sure and buy a data package for your device before you go, or shortly after landing, Happy travels!

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 22:00, Depart @ 22:10 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 7 / Day 1 - Arrive @ 22:25, Depart @ 22:35 Climate Midnight Sun - 13 M ay to 28 July. Polar Night - 21 November to 21 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-329158/Norway/Finnmark/Berlevåg/Berlevåg Observations - other than Excursions The 10min stop in either direction doesn't provide a long enough opportunity to get off the ship and visit. Eats N/A Walk N/A Berlevåg - in one line Berlevåg is only applicable to Port to Port travellers.

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 16:40, Depart @ 17:00 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 8 / Day 2 - Arrive @ 03:25, Depart @ 03:35 Climate Midnight Sun - 12 M ay to 31 July. Polar Night - 20 November to 21 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-328665/Norway/Finnmark/Lebesby/Kjøllefjord Observations - other than Excursions The 20min stop northbound, and 10min stop southbound doesn't provide a long enough opportunity to get off the ship and visit. Eats N/A Walk N/A Kjøllefjord - in one line Kjøllefjord is only applicable to Port to Port travellers.

Travelling is exciting, packing isn't. Ever since landing in the heat of the UAE without having packed any shorts - I now rely on packing lists to ensure that the same mistake isn't made again. TL;DR Having your own well-prepared packing list designed specifically for you, and for each style of holiday not only streamlines the packing process but also helps you avoid forgetting anything important. I'm not going to share them, as we are all different, but I maintain 5 different packing lists - city breaks, visits home, hot destinations, cold destinations, and cycling holidays. The Benefits of a Packing List Creating a packing list might seem tedious, but the benefits are significant, and the list can be used time and time again, and improved on each iteration. Different holidays require different gear. A customised packing list enables you to pack according to the specific needs of your trip. Having a comprehensive list makes packing less stressful - it becomes a tried and tested approach. Efficient packing - instead of rummaging through your wardrobe, you can quickly gather your items. A clear list helps stick to the essentials, which is crucial for trips with limited luggage space. Here are some examples of how the packing list will differ for each different holiday. Remember start with your base list and adjust as you feel you need to as not all holidays will fit squarely into one of these categories. City Break Packing List Short city breaks are an opportunity for adventure and discovery. Short in duration, if you can get away with just hand baggage all the better Visiting Home Packing List Access to a washing machine allow for travelling light, but leave room for gifts or treats.ay. Hot Destination Packing List Travelling to hot destinations requires smart planning. Consider lightweight clothing, sun screen, swimwear, hat, flip flops and sunglasses. Tip - buy the sunscreen in the airport if travelling hand baggage only. Cold Destination Packing List Difficult to travel light. Consider wearing the bulky items such as coats and boots - you'll also be prepped for the weather when landing. Layering is key. Cycling Holiday Packing List Don't forget your bike! The specific items will be particular to you. Other tips Start with a base list and adjust to suit duration, holiday weather specifics etc, and save your bespoke packing list - it's good to refer back to as a variant. You can create the packing list on your phone, meaning that you can amend it at any time - when you are commuting, or in a dull meeting. Complete the packing list before you bring the suitcase down from the attic Make sure you are up to date with your washing As part of the packing list, also include a section on what you will wear to travel - laying that out the night before will allow for a quick get away to the airport. After you come home and unpack - realising that you didn't wear A and B, and really could have done with another C, update your list. Your future self will thank you. Practicality This might all sound not you, too practical? Give it a go if you travel a lot, or have a memory like mine. There is no going back after you realise how it actually works as an approach to quick and easy packing. Happy travels!

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 10:55, Depart @ 14:30 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 8 / Day 2 - Arrive @ 05:45, Depart @ 06:00 Climate Midnight Sun - 13 M ay to 31 July. Polar Night - 21 November to 21 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/graph/1-328454/Norway/Finnmark/Nordkapp/Honningsvåg Observations - other than Excursions The 3.5 hour stop northbound provides ample time to explore the town, and go for a good walk. The ship docks very central to the town. It's a quiet little town - long and thin, that spreads itself along the edge of the water. The harbour was an interesting, but only a short walk. We then walked to one end of the town and back to the other end - along the quiet road. There isn't a lot to see and 3.5 hours is more than enough to build a snowman and visit the statue of Bamse, a heroic St. Bernard who served as a mascot for the Norwegian Navy during World War II, and soak up the views. There is also a Christmas shop. Eats I think we returned to the boat early for lunch. Though there were some small restaurants and we explored a local shop for some snacks - crisps and nuts. Walk There are good footpaths and plenty of shore time - providing a good opportunity to take a longer walk. Honningsvag - in one line Honningsvag doesn't feel as remote as it looks on the map. Small and quiet though - ideal for walking.

These are my go to tools for planning travel and holidays. I'm also signed up to a number of travel providers and travel blogs so I'm aware of deals when they first come out. TL;DR There are tools and websites available that will help plan your holidays. This short post looks at what I use. Google Flights When it comes to booking flights, Google Flights is a powerful tool that simplifies the process. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily search for flights based on your preferred dates, destinations, and budget, adjusting easily as needed to suit your schedule and/or budget. I'll also track flights that are currently too expensive - but will consider if the price drops significantly. Skyscanner for Cars Skyscanner is an excellent resource for finding rental cars. The platform allows you to compare prices from so many car rental companies, ensuring you get the best deal. You can filter your search based on car type, rental duration, and pick-up location, making it easy to find a vehicle that suits your needs. Booking.com for Accommodation Finding the right place to stay is crucial for a successful holiday. Booking.com is a popular platform that offers a wide range of accommodation options, from hotels to vacation rentals. The site allows you to filter your search based on price, location, amenities, and guest ratings. This means you can easily find a place that meets your preferences and budget. Booking.com also provides user reviews, which can give you valuable insights into the quality of the accommodation. Plus, many listings offer free cancellation, giving you peace of mind in case your plans change. Holiday Extras for Parking and Transfers If you’re flying to your destination, you’ll need to consider parking and transfers. Holiday Extras is a fantastic tool for booking airport parking and transfer services. The platform allows you to compare prices for parking options, ensuring you find a convenient and affordable solution. Additionally, when you arrive at your destination you can book transfers between the airport and your accommodation, again various options will be presented. Google Maps for Public Transport Options Navigating the local area is essential. Google Maps is an invaluable tool for finding public transport options. With Google Maps, you can easily see bus, train, and tram routes, along with schedules, estimated travel times and approximate costs. Additionally, Google Maps provides walking directions, which can be helpful for exploring the area on foot. Lastly - before you arrive at your destination, it can be helpful to get a sense of the area. Google Maps offers a Street View feature that allows you to take a virtual tour of neighbourhoods, attractions, and more. Tripadvisor to Identify Restaurants While Booking.com is great for booking accommodations, Tripadvisor is an excellent resource for researching restaurants. Tripadvisor features extensive user reviews and ratings, allowing you to gauge the quality of a restaurant. You can also find photos from other travellers, giving you a realistic view of what to expect. Furthermore, Tripadvisor can also be used as support for booking.com when searching for hotels. Google Searches for What’s On To make the most of your holiday, it’s essential to know what’s happening in the area during your visit. Google searches can help you discover local events, festivals, and attractions. Simply typing in your destination along with keywords like “events” or “things to do” can yield a wealth of information. Additionally, local tourism websites often provide updated information on events, making it easy to plan your itinerary around what’s happening during your stay. Planning Planning a holiday doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By using essential holiday planning tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Booking.com, Holiday Extras, Google Maps, and Tripadvisor, you can streamline the process and ensure a smooth trip. Happy travels!

Schedules Round Voyage & Voyage North - Day 6 - Arrive @ 08:30, Depart @ 08:45 Round Voyage & Voyage South - Day 8 / Day 2 - Arrive @ 08:00, Depart @ 08:15 Climate Midnight Sun - 14 M ay to 1 August. Polar Night - 22 November to 22 January. Here is a good link to the Norwegian weather service. https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/1-327921/Norway/Finnmark/Måsøy/Havøysund Observations - other than Excursions The 15min stop northbound, and 15min stop southbound doesn't provide a long enough opportunity to get off the ship and visit. As you arrive into port northbound, the south bound ship can be seen leaving Eats N/A Walk N/A Havøysund - in one line Havøysund is only applicable to Port to Port travellers.