Following from a similar cruise last year on Polarlys we booked again on a different ship with an upgrade to a mini suite taking advantage of the added extras of private airport transfers, extra space, Internet access, a wine package including bottled water and (when we booked) an unlimited coffee package - which was later withdrawn with nothing else offered,. Neither of our private transfers turned up and we had to ring Hurtigruten in London several times to get each transfer sorted out, but only after an hours wait at either end where no one 'on the ground' seemed bothered. When on the ship the suite, despite our confirmation saying differently, was set with 2 single beds and not a double. We were told it had never been, nor could not be, a double and we're offered a downgrade to a smaller double bedded room. After much discussion the staff pushed the 2 singles together and put on a thin double sized topper which had to suffice despite the exit space either side of the bed being reduced to about 9 inches and we had to crawl onto and off of the bed from the foot end. We were awarded a ship wide internet access (included when we booked but again, no longer) and an a la Carte meal on one evening as compensation.

Complaints aside we thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing and incredibly scenic voyage, seeing a wide variety of sights through a range of weather from clear and sunny to -12C blizzards in the far north. The hoped for Northern Lights made 4 appearances in the Arctic Circle much to everyone's pleasure and several excursions proved to offer different, if rather expensive, experiences.

Food in the restaurant is of good, locally sourced, quality. Breakfast and lunch are served as a buffet and the set seating, set menu, evening meal can be somewhat restrictive for those with 'less adventurous' tastes. Read more