Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Lapland (2012)

Wonderful trip. Weather was very good for this time of year; had some rain but not much.
Helsinki was great, but it was our 4th trip there so a duplicative effort for us . Ivalo was very nice, comfortable rustic cabin with lakeside view from room and restaurant. Could have spent less time here due to very small town and proceeded to Kirkenes. Museums from Helsinki to Kirkenes were great.
Our ship was The Richard With: We were shocked when we first viewed the ship. Our first thought was coastal steamer that stops at approx. 30 places, was a broken down tramp steamer. NOT SO. What a surprise. Wall-to-wall carpeting, prints and canvas art on walls, shining brass fixtures, a beautiful and quiet sun-deck to view sights, or to take a nap. The dining room, absolutely beautiful and colorful with excellent food.

We knew about the many stops and understood the length of time we would be in some ports would be minimal, but it was frustrating to find the best photo stop was "always around the bend". Sometimes the stops were only 15 minutes long and one could not get off the ship for a photo shoot, but other stops were 30 minutes and we could get off for that great shot or a quick walk around the town and at least to take a photo of the town's name. The midnight concert in Tromso was a delight; we didn't understand the way to purchase shore excursions, and this concert was the very next day after boarding, and we just made it; we waited until after dinner the first night to make the reservation and got the last one! So others who are going on this trip should consider the time frame and maybe order shore excursions from the Norwegian coastal ship on line before departing, or clarify with your program director while still in Helsinki so you order your shore excursions from the ship earlier.

Many people didn't understand that fish was with every meal and were upset about the menu. The published info from an article in newspapers' travel sections, Traveler magazine and on line at Hurtigruten.com, discussed fish on the menu during a cruise. There were always other non- fish foods at the elaborate lunch buffet, and one could speak with the restaurant manager for something different at dinner. Service was excellent on the ship as well. Desserts, although artfully done, consisted of mousse-like puddings for the most part.

Anne, our program director, was difficult to understand despite her telling us her voice carries so she didn't need her Whisper or mic, but we may have understood more from her if she had used a mic. I thought it was just me, but soon other people could be heard complaining and asked me if I could understand her. She could have given us more information of the coastal ship, how boarding worked, how meals were set up, how and when to order shore excursions earlier in the trip, like in Helsinki or during a meeting in Ivalo. We were left off at the pier by our bus and if there were no red jacketed people helping travelers, we wouldn't have understood we didn't have to carry our bags the half block and up the ramp ourselves, in the rain. We were not informed. We started to wheel our own bags and a red-jacketed person came up and asked if we wanted to let him do that. During the trip the restaurant managers were not informed that Bill had dairy and peanut allergies, but at each joint meal she would come to the table and ask if he could eat a particular item; that was the wrong time to ask-- after the restaurant prepared a meal for all travelers. Early on at each hotel or ship would have been better. Sometimes he could ask the wait staff for something different, but other times he just didn't eat what was served. GCT and the program director were informed on the phone and in emails that Bill had these allergies. It was inexcusable and embarrassing for all at our table when the program director came up to Bill and asked "can you eat the mashed potatoes". Bill started to answer, but she demanded only a yes or no answer. This frustration caused Bill to leave the table rather than further embarrass the other diners and himself. Would have liked to hear more of thecountry and regions we visited but dialogue during bus rides or at evening get togethers was non-existent.

The sights were beautiful along the cruise, but a lot of fjords of the same granite mountain. The Norway in a Nutshell was a whirlwind tour. It was a 2 hr bus ride to a train, an hour on the train, change trains to view waterfalls, one more beautiful than the last, then on a ferry on a panoramic cruise, where lunch was one fruit-filled pancake. This ferry trip was way too long with the same sights, beautiful as they were, but monotonous. We then boarded another bus to travel to Oslo. All of this so far was to be about 12 hours from 6:20 am. But due to the security after the tragic shooting in Oslo, our bus had to detour and it took another 3 hours before we reached Oslo, at 9:15 PM, at which time we finally got to eat a buffet dinner. The -hotelrestaurant staff were great to take care of us and delay their wonderfully cooked dinner till 10 PM. But, there was no time to see Oslo before our flight the next day. Some of the Norway in a Nutshell could be eliminated to get to Oslo earlier in the day.
All in all, a great trip.

Traveler: Jo Anne & Bill Doughty from Casa Grande, AZ traveled on July 12, 2011

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Lapland and Norway. We were VERY pleasantly surprised with the weather because we went in September. We were way above the Artic Circle where winter comes early. But, we had BEAUTIFUL sunny, warm days and the fall colors against the blue sky and clear calm lakes in Lapland was breathtaking. Visiting the Sami people on their Reindeer farm was so much fun and the dinner they served us was outstanding. The Siida Museum, illustrating the Sami people was very interesting. Especially the outside museum. The Voyage along the West coast of Norway through the Fjords cannot be discribed. Pictures do not do the scenery justice. One must see it first hand to appreciate it. The Hurtegruten ship cabins are small, but who wants to spend their time there when you can be in the observation deck or outside on the deck soaking up all the beautiful mountains, islands and fjords. Norway in a Nutshell was a unbelievable day. This is a MUST if you go to Norway!! We loved the city of Bergen and the view from the top of the Funicular - WOW!!! Do this if you go!! You won't be sorry!! We did the Post trip in Oslo. Our tour director, Thomas, got us all Oslo passes and we could go anywhere and see many sites with this pass. Thomas was an outstanding tour director!!! He took special time with all of us. Thank you, Grand Circle for this outstanding tour!! We would recommend it to everyone!!

Traveler: Joni Tonkovich from Hayden, ID traveled on September 05, 2011

We especially enjoyed the pre trip to St Petersburg

Really liked Lapland & seeing reindeer

Would have liked a full day in Oslo at the end of the trip

Traveler: Andrea Shannin from Cocoa Beach, FL traveled on September 01, 2011

Green and clean are the two words I would choose for both countries.
Very happy with rooms in Finland, spacious, clean, but minimalism is the keynote word i.e., bring own Kleenex, shampoo, hand creams. Loved the reindeer farm. Ate reindeer for the first time in my life. Enjoyed it, but felt guilty.
I loved everything about the ship. Do note: excursions on ship not included and are costly. Grand Circle did not make that clear ahead of time.
Norway, while beautiful, with very friendly people is the most expensive country I ever visited. Be prepared to spend a fortune for any purchases.
It rained quite a bit while I was there, which did not bother me at all and produced more double rainbows than I ever saw in my life.
The people in my group were darling and I thank them all for their company.

Traveler: Penny Deleon from Philadelphia, PA traveled on September 04, 2011

We just returned and this was a great trip which I can heartily reccomend. Our PD was Linda Burland and she was more than excellent. She was so full of knowledge and enthusiasm that I dubbed her "The Energizer Bunny". During any free time on the ship, she had "talks" for us to learn even more. This was over and above her duties, I felt. She was an excellent teacher and really wanted us to know everything we could when we left the area.
As a bonus, she made everyone feel special without singling out favorites which is a hard trick!

Traveler: Nancy Wilkens from Hubbard, OH traveled on September 14, 2011

This was our first Grand Circle trip and it surpassed any expectations we had. First of all was our guide, Karin Hansen. She is a native of Oslo and had so much to share with us throughout the trip. She had surprises all along the way and really gave us the history of the regions we visited as well as how the people are living today. The highlight was the coastal voyage. Fantastic scenery, comfortable cabins and outstanding food. We went ashore whenever time allowed and Karin gave us tours and history of each town. She always took us to great picture taking places. Bergen was the next highlight. We took the optional tour. Maybe if I had it to do again, I would have opted to stay and explore Bergen more. It is a lovely city and we had beautiful weather! "Norway in a Nutshell" took us from Bergen to Oslo through dramatic scenery! No pictures can capture this and the coastal trip. Oslo was our final destination. Everyone else went home the next morning and we were the only two to take the Oslo extension. Lucky us! We had a tour guide showing us her hometown and again, we were very lucky with weather. It is a beautiful city. We were awed by Vigeland. One man, Gustav Vigeland, created over 200 sculptures in this beautiful park. She timed our trip to see the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. She gave advice as to how to spend free time. She spent a day with us at Bygday Island where there are many interesting museums. My favorite was the outdoor Folk Museum. The third day we toured the opera house and then went on our own to the famous ski jump. She told us which street cars to catch, gave us an easy way to find our hotel and she was a fun companion throughout the trip. Our 55th anniversary was on the ship and she ordered a small cake with a huge firecracker. As you can tell, we loved this trip and will go again. Maretta Deiterman

Traveler: Maretta Deiterman from Temple, TX traveled on August 25, 2011

Pre Trip to St. Petersburg was wonderful with gold Palaces aglow everywhere. Helsinki visit the market and take the ferry boat around the harbor. Ivalo stay was a little boring. Coastal Voyage had many high lights but it costs extra money for all. Free trips done by yourself adds to the adventure. I would of loved to travel from a town down to Bergen. Long Cruise... Bergen a fun town to explore with the funicular ride to view the town. Long day from Bergen to Oslo with a ferry boat, train and bus. Post Trip Oslo was an interesting town to travel by tolley, ferry, and bus to all site seeing areas. Very simple and helpful people to assist you if you ventured off.

Traveler: Dianne Pederson from Anoka, MN traveled on August 08, 2011

Even though both my husband and I were born and raised in Europe, this was our first taste of Scandinavia and Russia. Thanks to our very knowledgeable guides, we learned a lot about the tumultuous history of all Scandinavian countries, and the impact of WWII on each one.

Adding the pre-trip extension to St. Petersburg gave it an all-around taste that was perfect: both nature and culture, steeped in history throughout.
The photo ops were abundant and thriling.

The pace was sometimes a bit fast, but the Hurtigruten cruise down the Norwegian Atlantic coast was a marvelous relaxation. We regretted that the main trip didn't allow time to explore Oslo more. Though there was enough in both the jewels of Bergen and Trondheim.

Goog balance between natural settings and learning experience. But this is not the trip if you are seeking a culinary experience! We were very fortunate to have outstanding weather and sunshine for 98% of the trip, with only two days of clouds, and one evening of sprinkling rain. Which made it an unforgettable trip, this our seventh with GCT.

Traveler: Monique Bondeux from Bonita Springs, FL traveled on August 02, 2011

Being a traveler long fascinated by the lure of the Arctic I found this trip the best ever from multiple standpoints.

The itinerary was well chosen to highlight the famous fjords and introduce us to Lapland and the Sami people. The basic tour (without the Oslo extension) provided virtually no opportunity to experience Oslo.

The Tour Director was excellent. Par Skog was perpetually cheerful and friendly, knowledgeable, resourceful and adaptable. His presentations during quiet times on the Hurtigruten ship were particularly interesting.

The 34 fellow travelers were all courteous and considerate. I believe I have accrued some new friends. One can't always depend on traveling with a well-matched group.

The accommodations were adequate but not outstanding. Except for the hotel in Bergen the concept of a "washcloth" seemed to be totally foreign. The bathtub in the Oslo Hotel proved to be an olympic scale hurdle totally inappropriate for senior travelers.

If you seek excitement or hate salmon this trip is not for you. If you appreciate beautiful scenery and varied landscapes this could be the trip of your dreams, especially if you are lucky enough to travel with Par Skog.

Traveler: Denis Lohman from Devon, PA traveled on August 12, 2011

This was the least active of the 5 trips I've taken with Grand Circle. There was far too much unscheduled time in places where there is not much to see, like Ivalo, Finland. We spent two days there with no scheduled activities. Two days in Helsinki with only one city tour.

But the least interesting part of the trip for me and my travel companion was six days on the Hurtigruten ship from Kirkenes to Bergen. Grand Circle did not adequately explain that there would be only one GCT excursion and that all others would be optional and run by the ship. These varied in price from around 30 Euros to 150 Euros per person -- quite expensive. In most of the port stops, some as brief as 15 minutes, there was little of interest to see. We spent far too many days on the ship with little to do except look at the, admittedly, beautiful scenery.

And many potentially interesting sites in Norway were not included on this tour, for example, we saw a Stave Church only in the distance from the bus window. Even the GCT tour in Trondheim did not include a visit inside the famous cathedral.

And arriving in Olso only the night before departure provides no opportunity to see anything at all of the city. Perhaps this is deliberate to encourage travelers to book the extension. But it is hardly fair to those who take only the main trip.

I would not recommend this trip as it is currently planned.

Traveler: Kathleen from Florida traveled on August 12, 2011

The difference between a great trip and an "okay" trip is so dependent upon the program directorguide and I realize now, the itinerary.

We were 13 arriving in St. Petersburg for our pre-trip and Katiya Topolova, our Program Director, was wonderful. She distributed the following information for the four days: timing, restaurants we'd attend and even the meals featured; detailed information on all the palaces and museums we'd visit; tips about the hotel and where there was bottled water on each floor and ice; markets nearby and even which vodka was preferred. We were booked with limited time and so much to see and she kept us on schedule. She was a fount of information and wasn't shy in her opinions and most importantly knew when not to talk and just let us rest in the van as we returned from another "full" day.

We flew to Helsinki for the GCT main trip and met the 19 new members of the group as well as our Program Director, Anne. From the welcoming drink (a poor substitute of orange juice) and meeting I noted a far slower pace. This clearly is the difference between OAT and Grand Circle.

Anne was difficult to understand and on the Whisper headsets almost impossible so the Discovery walks were a mystery. We would start out with the group of 32 and stop and go and stop and go for lengthy discussions. Meanwhile people would lose interest and branch off to do their own thing. The few times we had local guides they were excellent; they knew the little time they had, what to cover and how to present it in a concise and interesting manner (and also had no problems with the Whispers.) The guidance and helpful hints we encountered in Russia were not readily available and certainly not in written form. It was almost as if Anne had not made this trip before and we were her maiden voyage.

Grand Circle's itinerary for this part of the trip left too much "dead" time and then made up for that by cramming too much into the other days. Why two nights in nowheresville Ivalo and less than a night in Oslo? And Helsinki had one included morning tour and one dinner over two nights?

On the plus side we made all our connections, no one got seriously hurt or sick, we saw some great scenery, ate incredibly delicious food and met some wonderful fellow travelers. I just expected so much more from the Finland Norway part of the trip and was sorely disappointed.

Traveler: Denise from Rio Verde, AZ traveled on August 13, 2011

This trip was wonderful, from the flight on Finn Air to the last dinner in Oslo. If you have been wanting to travel above the Arctic Circle to the "Land of the Midnight Sun," as I have for many years, this is the trip you want to book. The weather was ideal in July, the food was delicious, the ship was better than a cruise line, the scenery was breathtaking, the Sami experience was like nothing I have ever done -- and most importantly, Craig was a delight.

Traveler: Brenda Delaney from Centreville, MD traveled on July 20, 2010

My first GCT tour, and my first tour ever! If I could only make one adventurous journey in my lifetime, this would be it. I knew before I went I would become friends with these travelers, as they shared my interests in the fjords, Sami and reindeer.
Our program director, Johan Pearson, was exceptional and made an already wonderful tour unbelievably perfect. He kept us all on track with punctual timing and proper information, and he is an overflowing fountain of knowledge. He is personable and gracious and I wish he did all the tours!
Although Finland was not on my wish list of places to visit, I was overwhelmed with this country that has no debt, a very low crime rate, is incredibly clean, has heated bathroom floors and little showers at all toilets. Finns walk fast and eat fast. They like their 4-minute and 7-minute eggs in the shell, and the bread is not processed. Tap water is delicious!
Being Lutheran, I was fascinated with the beautiful Lutheran churches. In Helsinki, the Lutheran Cathedral was reminiscent of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the natural setting of The Rock Lutheran Church created acoustics so refined you could hear a pin drop.
In Lapland, the reindeer experience was exciting and the Siida outdoor museum fascinating. Spending personal time with the Sami was a definite highlight of the trip.
The breathtaking and incomparable beauty of Norway with its magical fjords and folklore, excellent roads and quaint villages has stolen my heart. I prefer the Hurtigruten ship MS Richard With over Princess cruises. The first lunch buffet blew me away with 3 kinds of caviar, lobster, mussels and too much to mention. We did not go hungry.
I packed perfectly for the trip, and was not cold. I took 4 changes of clothes with layers including leg warmers, long gloves and a neck buff. I slept with the window open when possible.
I loved the optional tour, “Old & New Norway”, and beautiful Oygarden, where there are still Norwegian Bachelor Farmers to be found. The included tour, “Norway in a Nutshell” was so much adventure packed into a few hours that it’s hard to remember it all. The Flam Railway, the Fjord Lord ferry boat, building a snowman at Myrdal and seeing a fjord frozen over!
I would like to have seen more of Oslo, but the first-class hotel rooms, the outstanding food everywhere, and the gracious travelers surrounding me made an exceptional travel experience. Grand Circle, you rock!

Traveler: Judie from Jacksonville, FL traveled on September 29, 2009

Our trip started August 21st as we signed up for the pre-trip to St. Petersburg. I would highly recommend that extension. The 4 days in St. Petersburg were the most exhausting of all the days on the trip but the sights were worth all the sore feet at the end of the day. It is a beautiful place with incredible architecture and art. We enjoyed our visit with the Russian family very much. Our guide was very impressive.

One of our favorite memories will be the visit to the Sami reindeer farm in Lapland. Our Sami host was so "cute" in his authentic costume and had the greatest smile. Feeding the reindeer was a highlight. Their arrival is a picture no one got but one we all never forget. I won't spoil it for future visitors by describing it. Enjoy!

The trip down the Norwegian coast on the Hurtigurten ship was wonderful. The seas were calm and even though we had several overcast days, at the beginning of September, the trip was totally enjoyable. The food was delicious, the room small but comfortable, the vistas incredible, the coastal towns quaint and charming and our guide, Craig Waite, a treasure trove of information and a source of constant energy. We were learning all the time and laughing while we learned.

Bergen was great. We shopped, strolled the streets, and got incredible postcard quality pictures of the rows of buildings along the river. The history of the city was fascinating. Also had a great pizza at a really great "hole in the wall" local place near the hotel. I know - pizza in Norway - but it is their most popular food.

We took the extension in Oslo. We felt a bit deserted there. After two wonderful guides who were with us constantly we were suddenly totally on our own. We would have preferred to have at least one optional tour offered as there had been on past extensions. We did enjoy Oslo and learned quickly how to use the bus and trolley system to get around. We visited 5 museums in one day. A record I hope never to break.

Overall this was our favorite trip with GCT so far.

Traveler: Jonel from Edmond, OK traveled on August 21, 2009

Loved it ! I enjoyed the land part of the tour as much as experiencing the magnificant fjords. Our tour leader and guide was Linda. I've been on many tours with several companies and Linda is by far the very best tour guide that I have ever had. She made an already exceptional itinerary unsurpassed. We were as busy as we wanted to be. Plenty of time to participate in Discovery Walks and Talks or to go it at your own pace. Come to Scandinavia and keep your fingers crossed that you get Linda as your tour guide.

Traveler: Charles from Saint Paul, MN traveled on September 09, 2009

Thanks to a wonderful guide, Johan Pearson, this trip was spectacular. The weather was not great; lots of drizzle and clouds so I would not recommend traveling in Sept. Some of our time in Helsinki was open-ended and we all enjoyed walking through the market area, taking a harbor cruise and window-shopping. Johan spaced free time and organized time quite well. Lapland was not what I expected. It was better! The trips to the Sami museum and then to the reindeer farm with time to feed the animals were educational and fun! Our Sami lunch of reindeer meat was delicious. We boarded the Hurtigruten ship in northern Norway and settled into a lovely cabin. Unfortunately the seas were rough. I would not recommend traveling this route if you are prone to seasickness or vertigo. The weather was gray for much of the time, but Johan led us on walking tours of the little towns whenever we docked, even if it was only for 30 minutes. His personality made up for the poor weather. Be sure to sign up for the optional trips offered by the ship...all were excellent. We were even awakened one night to be told to look starboard to see the Northern Lights! Once we disembarked in lovely Bergen we had another great tour of the area. There was free time to shop, eat, and wander the area. Again, taking the optional tour offered by GCT to the countryside was outstanding. The full day's trip of "Norway in a Nutshell" was breathtaking. Then, the long bus ride to Oslo provided us with lovely scenery and even a stop to see an original Stave church. Am I glad I took the trip? Yes! The hotels were nice, the food very good, but, I would go again during the summer months when the weather was warmer and sunnier, not in September.

Traveler: JP from Basking Ridge, NJ traveled on September 05, 2009

Our trip was Our trip was outstanding. We had the best program director. Linda Barlind did an outstanding job of informing us on every aspect of our adventure. She had many in depth presentations, slide shows and movies to help us understand the history and culture of Finland, Lapland and Norway.
The scenery was fabulous but might have been better if we had traveled a month or six weeks earlier because the waterfalls would have been more spectacular. But then It probably would have been a lot colder.
We ate reindeer stew, lefse, and many other local foods. The meals on the ship were great, as were the optional tours and the side trips that Linda took us on when we were in various ports. We even went out with Linda at midnight to see an interesting town.
We disembarked in Bergen, Norway and enjoyed that port city very much. When we finally finished the trip in Oslo, Norway we took the post trip. That city was very easy to get around in and there was so much to see.
All in All it was a very wonderful trip with our great guide, Linda

Traveler: John from Jefferson City, MO traveled on July 10, 2009

We have done a lot of traveling, but this was our first experience with Grand Circle. Linda, our group leader was exceptional: enthusiastic, knowledgeable, generous with her time, catering to individual needs. Her classes were well prepared and informative. The trip itself was wonderful, exquisite scenery, quaint fishing villages. lovely cruise, the best fish, cheeses, breads you could ask for. I highly recommend this trip and will definitely travel with GCT again.

Traveler: Phyllis from Cranbury, NJ traveled on August 12, 2009

We just returned from the Lappland, & Norway Costal trip (Aug. 2009). From the very start our program director Johan Pearson was great and was he ever informative. On the boat & bus trips he told us about what we were seeing & what to expect on the next day of the trip.
What was so great , we never had to wait more the 3 mins for anyone,. What a great idea to put us all on Johan time & keep us always on time ..hate it when tours are delayed by people .
Anyone having Johan Pearson, as there guide is really in for a wonderful trip in all aspect s.
Wish he would do other areas in Europe & South America we would go immediately if we knew he was the guide. You have a gem in Johan.

The Burgers
Livermore, Ca

Traveler: Joan from Livermore, CA traveled on July 25, 2009

Trip itininary was excellent as was the tour guide, Johan Pearson. Accomodations were great as was the food. Scenery experienced in on the coast of Norway and its fjiords was fantastic..

Overall the trip was very good, but it did have its problems, mainly administrative in nature, attributed to dealings with tne GCT office in Boston.. It took four days for GCT to let me know if there were any openings for the trip. When an opening was confirmed, I was told I had to take the extension, which I did not want to do. Finally I was told I did not have to take this. Tickets indicated "first class." Finnair doesn't even have this. Delta flight from Boston was delayed and caused us to miss flight to Helsinki from JFK. GCT offered little or no help when contacted. We ended up talking with someone in Thailand who didn't really know how to help and was quite hard to understand. Boston office closed at 5PM unless one was purchasing a trip. Next day when we contacted GCT, we were put on hold for 20 minutes. Trip delay was for 24 hours. We asked that trip leaderguide in Helsinki be informed of our delay ( there were 11 of us). We were told this would be done. It was not done. Tour guide said he was never informed.

According to Delta in Boston, GCT had incorrectly made out the tickets. This created further problemsdelays. Not enough time was allowed to meet connecting flight at JFK. The most disturbing thing encountered was the feeling that GCT did not seem to have any sympathy to our problems. No one really seemed to care. No one was able to help us and we were left on our own to sort out the problems. Very unprofessional all around. We received apologies from GCT,but little or no action. Trip started with a very sour note in our mouth. People became very upset with GCT.

Trip should have included at least one day in Oslo, where we arrived at about 8:30 PM and had to leave hotel at about 6 AM the next morning. This schedule may have been GCT's way of forcing people to take the three day extension in Oslo, which is more than necessary.

Trip to the reindeer farm in Lapland was quite artificial and somewhat tacky. Museum in lapland was excellent, but not enough time was allowed for this.

Service on the ship was excellent. We were treated very well and our comments for this part of the trip could not be more positive.

Note: this is the 3rd evaluation I have written on the trip and each time I have suggested that GCT contact me. They have yet to do this. This would tend to reflect the type of customer service we received relating to our trip. Quite unfortunate as the trip itself was fine.

My wife and I are fairly experienced travellers, having lived overseas for several years and visiitng 40+ different countries. We have used a number of different travel companies in the course of our journeys. Unfortunately, The service from GCT did not measure up to that which we had received from other companies in the past.

Traveler: Daniel from Gilford, NH traveled on May 07, 2009