Journey to the Far North: First Cruise Experience (Part 1)

I don't recognize beds, but have trouble sleeping on moving or noisy vehicles.

It is inevitable to take a plane when traveling long distances. The plane seats are small and I am tall and tall, so I cannot sit comfortably, let alone sleep. I mostly stare at the screen to watch movies or route maps, and only when I’m tired will I close my eyes and take a nap.

In addition to airplanes, I have slept in sleeper berths on several trains , including two-, three-, and four-person berths. Train sleepers are limited by space, making it difficult to turn over, but at least you can lie down flat.

As for night sleeper buses , they are very common in South America such as Peru, Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, and also in Japan. Although I have never flown on it, from the photos it seems that it is spacious and comfortable, not inferior to business class on airplanes. I will give it a try when I get the chance.

In the early days, cruise ships were considered a travel and entertainment tool for nobles or wealthy people. My impressions of cruise ships mainly come from movies. Both Titanic and Poseidon are extremely gorgeous, but the shadow of the shipwreck is also hard to erase.

Research data shows that the average age of cruise passengers in 1995 was about 65 years old, which has dropped to 45 years old in 2006. In addition, cruise companies have actively launched short-term and low-priced itineraries to attract young and working people. Therefore, cruise ships have become young. ization and parity [ 1 ].

In addition, Keelung Port is actively developing into a home port for international cruise ships. It not only attracts international cruise ships to dock, but also attracts Taiwanese people to take cruises with their families to Japan and South Korea.

Cruise Type

Cruise ships can be divided into those traveling on the sea or river, and those for the purpose of exploring special terrain.

Cruise ships sailing on the sea can be divided into Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Alaska, Central and South America, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, South Pacific, Antarctic and other routes according to region [ 2 ].

Cruise ships (commonly called river ships) travel on rivers, such as the Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe, the Mississippi River in North America, the Amazon River in South America, the Nile River in Africa, the Mekong River in Asia, or the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China. .

Polar expedition cruises (exploration ships) mostly refer to small and medium-sized cruises that go to the Arctic and Antarctic or glacial fjords and other special terrains. The equipment is not as luxurious as that of ordinary cruise ships, and the entertainment facilities and activities are relatively simple, and they focus on ecological education.

Cruise ships can be divided into three categories based on tonnage (GRT, which refers to volume rather than weight): small (under 50,000 tons), medium (50,000-70,000 tons), and large (above 70,000 tons, more than 2,000 passengers). Recently, there are also so-called mega cruise ships, carrying more than 4,000 passengers. The MSC Mediterranean Glory, which will operate in Keelung Port in early 2024, is an example [ 3 ].

According to the consumption range, it can be divided into economy type , affordable type , high-end type or luxury type . The Norwegian Star we took is an affordable type. According to the main target group , it can be divided into mature groups (over 55 years old), young groups or parent-child tours . Different main groups will have different cabin facilities and entertainment items. Disney Cruise Line's fleet focuses on parent-child tours and young groups.

In addition, the itinerary can be divided into three types: one way trip (OW, different starting and ending points), round trip or circle trip (CT, return to departure port) or round the world trip (RW, around the world).

I don't like drifting on the sea, and I don't like the feeling of not being able to keep my feet on the ground. If it weren't for the inconvenience of public transportation in Iceland and my curiosity, "cruise" would not have come to mind. Although travel agencies offer itineraries to Iceland and other Northern Europe, or Fly + Cruise + sightseeing itineraries, they charge a lot of money, roughly estimated to be about twice as much as self-guided tours.

Therefore, since I love self-guided travel and pursue freedom, I decided to plan it myself.

Cruise and route selection

After reading articles to get a preliminary understanding of the characteristics of cruise ships, and then going to the CruiseDirect platform to check out the details, I have the following insights:

Due to weather factors, ships sailing to Iceland or the Arctic Circle only sail from May to September every year, and most of them are concentrated from June to August. Otherwise, you have to wait for the unique auroras in winter.

Cruise classes and prices vary widely, ranging from around US$100 to over US$1,000 per person per day.

The itinerary, total number of days, origin and destination points and ports of call are also quite diverse. Some circle around Iceland, some go north to Greenland or Svalbard or to Norway, and some go south to Germany, the Netherlands, Oslo or the United Kingdom. As for the starting point, there are Iceland, the east coast of the United States or major ports in Europe, etc. Some itineraries are one-way and some are round trips.

However, there are fewer cruise ships sailing to Iceland, the Arctic Circle or Northern Europe than other routes, and the itinerary options are also more limited.

Place an order

Finally, I decided to place an order for the Norwegian Star , which will last for 12 days and 11 nights. It will board the ship from Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, and disembark from Tromsø, a large city in northern Norway. It will call at three ports in the northwest, north and east of Iceland, and in northern Norway. There are four ports, one of which is Longyearbyen, the northernmost city in the Arctic Circle. This itinerary met our expectations of circling Iceland, entering the Arctic Circle, and disembarking in Norway.

Norwegian Star made its maiden voyage in 2001. In 2019, some public spaces such as entertainment and dining were renovated. In addition to restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, and theaters, there are also swimming pools, spas, gyms, children's playgrounds, casinos, libraries, etc. Although the equipment is not as luxurious as other cruise ships, it has everything you need.

Its volume is 92,000 tons, its hull is 294m long, 38m wide, 13 stories high, and can carry 2,348 passengers and 1,031 crew members. When I came into contact with a cruise ship for the first time, I could only sigh: What a giant!

Cabin selection

After deciding on the boat class, then select the cabin .

Taking Norwegian Star as an example, the cabins can be divided into inside cabin , ocean view cabin , balcony cabin and suite cabin . The inner cabin has no windows, the ocean view cabin has a window but it is too small and cannot be opened. The balcony cabin has a floor-to-ceiling door and you can sit on the balcony. The suite cabin has a larger space and separates the bedroom and living space.

We don’t like confined spaces, so we chose the balcony cabin, and we later felt it was the right choice (explanation later). The double cabin has two single beds (or a double bed), and the sofa can be pulled out to sleep 1-2 more people. Additional people only need to pay tax and tip.

Before departure, the shipping company frequently sent letters reminding them to book shore excursions, and also invited them to bid for upgrades to larger cabins or suites. However, we were quite satisfied with the balcony cabin and did not bid on it.

Three people occupying a double cabin, all meeting Senior qualifications (over 55 years old), plus the late bird price placed within one month before departure, the final total price paid includes wine tips and 150 minutes of Internet access (for one person) , quite value for money.

Preparation before boarding the ship

A few days before boarding the ship, the shipping company sent a video on boarding precautions and safety instructions, requiring us to watch and download the Cruise Norwegian App first.

Before boarding the ship, you can use the App or the official website to complete the check-in procedure, enter the order number, basic personal information, passport information and credit card information, and upload a recent photo (when boarding and disembarking, the staff or machine will compare the photos before release ).

In addition, you can choose the boarding time interval (half-hour unit, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), generate a boarding pass, and print the luggage tag yourself. After checking in at the port, your luggage will be delivered to your cabin by a dedicated person.

This App is included in the regional network of the cruise ship after boarding the ship, providing all voyage-related information, such as: daily arrival or departure time, entertainment activities and times, and you can book sightseeing trips or restaurants, etc. You can also check your bill at any time.

First day on board

We arrived in Reykjavik three days before boarding the ship and participated in a sightseeing tour of the South Coast, the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon, and visited areas where the cruise ship did not dock. At around noon on the day of boarding, the three of them took the bus to Skarfabakki Pier with their suitcases in hand.

What thrifty old ladies they are! We were reluctant to take a taxi, so we had to take a bus, but when we got on the bus, we found that we couldn’t swipe our credit cards, we didn’t have a transportation prepaid card, and we didn’t download the app, so the driver had to smile bitterly and let us take a ride on the Bawang bus.

Skarfabakki Terminal has both passenger and cargo functions. The terminal area is large and several cruise ships are berthed. After being pointed out by a passerby, I found the Norwegian Star, turned a corner and found the large tent for check-in, and was surprised by the length of the queue (think about it, there are only 3-400 people checking in on a plane at most).

The staff told me to place my large luggage first and then queue up to check in. We put our luggage at the Drop Off, queued up to enter the big tent, checked our hand luggage, and then checked in. When checking in, the staff will check the passport information and photos on the App again and take photos on the spot.

After the check-in procedure was completed, we walked out from another door at the back of the big tent. The Norwegian Star was right next to us. Under the guidance of the staff, we walked onto the sky bridge and began our first cruise experience of 12 days and 11 nights.

Boarding!

[Remarks] Unless otherwise indicated, photos are taken by the author.