Comments on: Too Many Cruises in Norway

By: Tony Bell

Tony Bell — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 11:21:13 +0000

I visited Bergen in September 2018 after last being there in 1966. I was saddened by the changes although realise change must happen and my memories of this lovely city will be of 1966 rather than 2018. I suppose that is inevitable that tourism impacts negatively as well as positively but I will not visit again. The two places I remember with great affection in 1966 were Trollhaugen and the genuinely working fish market as well as Mount Floyen. The number of cruise ship passengers was, for me, overwhelming and I suspect this is happening all the way up the coast. It was a mistake by me in 1966 not to take the coastal voyage in one of the small ships but I was poor in those days. However the people have the same generosity, kindness and openness that has always been there. I at least was there on their National Day this time and that day WAS overwhelming Norway. I wish them well.

By: Iain Tennent

Iain Tennent — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 11:24:00 +0000

Whilst staying in a house we rented on the hillside overlooking the Olden cruise ship berthing facility, this September, we observed the intrusive effects of a certain type of ‘mass people carrier’. The tranquility of the small village was changed by the arrival of the AIDAbella ( passenger capacity 2,500 ), and the resultant fleets of sightseeing coaches and ‘Noddy Trains’ which arrived to cater to the needs of the hordes who disembarked. The most offensive part of this ‘invasion’ as far as we were concerned, (and perhaps indicative of the cruise ship operators’ attitude (or lack of) to places they deign to visit), was when the ship prepared to leave the village. The song “Sail Away” was broadcast over the ships sound system for a full five minutes at incredibly loud volume which could be heard inside our house, and indeed several kilometres away. This was interspersed with various ‘announcements’, and could not have been final warnings to passengers to get back on the boat, as all boarding ramps had been removed some time earlier. Talking to locals I got the impression that these visits were not welcome, and they gave only limited financial benefits to the operators of the coaches etc, and the owners of the somewhat tacky souvenir shops. Hundreds of ‘visitors’ wandering around their residential areas, and taking pictures of the natives in their gardens was not totally appreciated.
We avoid scenic places like Geiranger (we have cruiseship docking timetables) when ships are visiting (one day in July they had 9,000 + potential disembarkees ), and the chaos caused on the narrow, single-track mountain roads by the hordes of tour buses is considerable. The fact that these buses stop in ‘awkward’ locations to allow everybody off to take photos is another cause for concern – Trollstigen being being notorious for this.
Much tighter regulation of these invasive incursions is long overdue.

By: Chris Fendler

Chris Fendler — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:03:47 +0000

I agree completely with Hurtigruten. Seeing those huge ships in such narrow fjords and the damage they can create is upsetting. Not only do they take away from the beauty of the sea, but the pollution from them is certainly a severe problem and think what folks throw in the waters as they lean over the railing to dispose of items rather than return to their rooms and properly dispose them.
Having sailed on the coastal voyage round trip five times and knowing the beauty that is there before me, I might hesitate to even consider such a voyage again knowing of these large ships. There was one docked at Honningsvag in June2017 and filled the harborside. NOT MY INTEREST IN CRUISING IN MONSTER SHIPS!!