My wife and I chose this cruise (Bergen to Kirkenes, Sept 2018) as there really isn't any other total Coastal cruise. It was suppose to be her dream cruise, as she is of Norwegian heritage. First, the best fjords are in the Bergen area, and do not require a Hurtigruten cruise. You can take a nice fjord day cruise (Sognefjord) as part of the Norway-in-a Nutshell (Oslo to Bergen, Flam train and all that .. enjoy the mobs) without Hurtigruten or one of the tour package outfits (ours was Nordic Visitor in Iceland). You can do expanded day cruises beyond the Nutshell thing. After seeing the impressive fjords in the Bergen area, the "fjords" along the entire coast are very mundane. It's all downhill after Bergen. Some nice scenery at first, but the same, day after day after day . . .. The idiotic and ridiculously overpriced shore "excursions" are rushed, and there is little time in any of the "ports" to really do much on your own. Do not expect Hutigruten to be in any sense of the word luxury, fine dining, or things to do on the ship .. it's a "wham bam, we take you up the coast so you can check your box" no-frills cruise. Just a waste of time. Do Nutshell, maybe expanded, and save your time and money for something more worthwhile. (It is interesting -- Asians seem to out number everyone on the Nutshell thing, but not a one got on the Hutigruten ship in Bergen -- they must do better homework than we did). If you insist on going, take your own wine along, and do not be shy about buying it in a "port" along the way and bringing it back onto the ship . . . IF you can find where it is sold -- that seems to be a state secret in Norway. You will pay dearly for wine and beer on the ship -- like $15 for a small beer. Oslo and Bergen are good visits. But when you read on Trip Advisor about all the wonderful things to do in the Hurtigruten "ports" itinerary - forget it, there simply isn't enough time.