Upon embarkation, we were very pleased with the Explorer Suite! It was a very spacious room with all the comforts of home, including heated bathroom floors! We were greeted by our wonderful, friendly room steward and given an introduction to the amenities in the room. The only downside to the suite was the location at the very back of the ship. That required quite a long walk to get to restaurants, theaters, or the lounge.

The discovery of iron ore in nearby Kiruna, Sweden, shaped the city of Narvik as it provided a year-round ice-free port to export the ore. A rail link was built, which is still in use today. Taking the train to Katterat Station, we searched the skies for Northern Lights to no avail. We roasted hot dogs over the fire in a lavvu, which is the traditional tent used by the Sami people. Fun and very nice to get warmed up!! This was our coldest experience, being about 9 degrees Fahrenheit. BRRR.

Surprisingly, the city of Tromsø has a population of about 80,000 people! It was a very cosmopolitan city. With a university and a large hospital, Tromsø provides important services for Norwegians located in the north. The Arctic Cathedral overlooks the port.

Alta was our northernmost port. The temperatures during the day were 30 degrees Fahrenheit, warmed by their proximity to the sea. Daylight was around 9:00 AM, and sunset was 2:30 PM. The Cathedral of the Northern Lights was a highlight of the city. It was built with a titanium exterior that reflects both the sunlight and Northern Lights. The Northern Lights were seen peeking out of the clouds while on the deck.

We enjoyed an evening at Garcia Lodge. A program was given by a young lady who owned and trained dogs to work on the dogsleds. It was interesting listening to her talk about the personalities of her dogs and how those personalities worked together as a team. We also enjoyed a visit to the Lodge, where we were served Norwegian waffles, which are thin and flower-shaped. Topped with sour cream, strawberry jelly, and brown cheese....DELICIOUS! The Norwegian brown cheese came about accidentally when it was caramelized in production. It has a sweet caramel taste!

One of the most interesting sights was the Igloo Hotel. Built each fall, the hotel runs from December through March, depending on the weather, to keep the ice intact. It had five beautiful, ornately ice-carved suites renting for thousands per night to 18 small oblong rooms for $400-500 per night. After it is built each fall, people are encouraged to come in and do ice sculptures. It had really beautiful, detailed sculptures throughout, and also a carved chapel. The downside to staying was the temperature of 19 degrees F inside the hotel. We decided it was not for us, but fun to see!

We also visited a small farm, seeing breeds of horses and sheep used in the area. The gentleman owner was also a baker, so we were treated to delicious pastries, coffee, and juices. Dressed in their beautiful traditional garments, they performed Norwegian songs and dances. Because Norway shares a border with Russia, he asked for prayers that they continue to enjoy peace and freedom under the protection of NATO. 

Despite a disappointing start, we really enjoyed our first Viking Voyage! We felt the excursions we purchased were worth both our time and money, giving us insight into the daily lives of the Norwegian people. Leaving the ship for an excursion was definitely well organized! I did find the moderate and demanding ratings for the excursions a little intimidating, but we found our excursions to be very doable.

We enjoyed and admired the young Viking staff who worked in the restaurants, bars, and housekeeping. Always friendly, they were well-trained and professional in their jobs. We enjoyed meeting other passengers from all over the US and Australia. We enjoyed the evening performances in the theaters and the fact that there were many educational opportunities throughout the trip. We will always remember the mad dash to get outside whenever the bridge announced a sighting of the Northern Lights...even at 12:30 AM when many of us were sleeping! Though we only briefly saw the Northern Lights, it will always be a very special and memorable trip!!

Thanks for your help Allison, and your attention to all the details, which made the trip special!!