Northern Lights Cruise 2023

 Northern Lights Cruise 2023

Andalsnes (port visit cancelled due to extremely bad weather.)

Arcadia sailed up the North Sea heading into the storm force winds, hugging the coast of Denmark to avoid the worst of the weather but would not make the port of Andalsnes in time. At one point a wave broke over the Crows Nest bar and lounge on deck 10 and most of the bottles on the shelves in the bar hit the floor.

The excellent Captain Sharples explains to us his plan to try to avoid the worst of the weather. 

Later that evening the stern rose so far that both propellors (360 degree azipods) were out of the water, spun up to maximum revolutions (there being no water resistance) and automatically shut themselves down. The Captain steered the ship on the bow thruster while the azipods were restarted. Exciting!

Waiting to meet Richard who we have met many times since.

Tromso

Grindøysundet nature reserve

I took a rib trip to see the Grindøysundet nature reserve from the water. 

Grindøysundet is a protected nature reserve and strait located in Tromsø, Norway, situated between the islands of Store Grindøya and Kvaløya. Established in 1995, it is a vital wetland area renowned for its shallow waters, rich birdlife, and coastal landscapes.




Early afternoon moon rise.


Looking the other way, sunset.


In search if the Northern Lights trip.

Late into the evening we set of in a coach to be led by a guide to the best spot to see the Northern Lights. The coach parked in a deserted car park and we waited in the dark.

My camera revealed a rather fun party trick. It could electronically increase the ISO value of the exposure so that it appeared to be almost daylight so what was a 10 second exposure became a quarter of a second. The guide was amazed when I showed him, he thought I would get a dark grey smudge. 

In my defence it was very, very cold and I was shivering.


What was a grey streak to the naked eye became the aurora through the lens.













Very welcome hot chocolate served from the coach.





A walk round Tromso.

The Tromsø Bridge (Tromsøbrua) and the Arctic Cathedral.


Arcadia in port.


A view over the roofs of Tromso.


Narvik

.From Narvik we took the coach excursion the Skjomen.







In colour.


In black and white. There is almost no difference. An astounding landscape.




Alesund

Hjørundfjord Cruise







Haugesund (port visit cancelled due to extremely bad weather.)

We could not put into port but that did not dampen our spirits.


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