23 June 2019; North Cape & Honnigsvag, Norway.

The wind turned to the North during the night and although that did not help with the outside temperatures, it did do wonders for the visibility at the North Cape. Seeing something here is always hit and miss with my experience being about 50/50 for seeing something or not, either the base of the Cape and /or seeing the top. But when we arrived at 08.30, it was sunny, it was bright, and it was clear. We could see the top with only a little bit of haze around the Globe Statue.

The top of the North Cape from the ship . Even the Globe Sculpture / Statue is clearly visible.

So the Captain swung the stern of the Prinsendam towards the Cape so everybody could have a good look. I was happy with a quick photo from my balcony as how many times can you look at the same Rock? From there the ship continued and sailed around the northern edge of Norway into Honnigsvag which is located in a V shaped entrance quite well protected from the winter weather. Not that it does not get cold here. It must be very cold here in the winter as now on summer’s day, the temperature only just reached 7oC/45oF; due to a northerly breeze blowing while there was not a cloud in the sky.  

The North Cape is in open waters and thus we do not need a pilot here or as the pilot said to me last year, “we think that the ships are quite capable of running aground by themselves there. When going into port we like to help them a little bit”. So we picked the pilot up around 11.00 hrs. and sailed into port while not following the advice about running aground. He will be staying with us overnight while we go to Tromso, so we can take the inland route.

the entrance to the bay of Honnigsvag is wide and deep making an good approach very eays.

The most challenging part of docking in Honnigsvag is to choose the right dock, as there are two big ones (still too small even for the Prinsendam as the bow overhung today) and two small ones of which one is in use for the Hurtigruten, the Norwegian mail boat, although nowadays the word cruise ferry would be better. Locals who were in the past totally dependent on the ferry to get around now have the choice to take the car and that frees up cabins for Tourists and we see large numbers of Germans taking advantage of this. Germans always had a fascination with “Nordland” as they call Scandinavia and their cruise industry basically started with cruises to the Scandic Countries. Their cruise industry is also booming hence the fact that they wanted to buy the ms Prinsendam.

The Bridge team docking the ship. Today the arrival maneuver was done by the First Officer, Communication by the Staff Captain, and oversight conducted by the Captain.

The main attraction for calling at Honnigsvag is to visit the North Cape with its Visitors Centre, Chapel, Globe sculpture and the option to peer over the edge into the water; and today peering with a view was possible as long as you were willing to brace the cold polar wind.  For the rest there were tours to go fishing for King crabs (a sort of Norwegian version of “The Deadliest Catch”, to go on a reindeer safari, see the North Cape by helicopter, or go to the Fire & Ice gallery of Eva Schmutterer and visit on the way back the Arctic Ice bar in Honnigsvag for a non-alcoholic drink as on Sunday they are not allowed to sell/serve alcoholic drinks. (Big signs on the booze in the local supermarket) I do not know what it is but when I venture ashore I always see guests coming out of a local supermarket, regardless of the port we are in. I am just waiting until a clever clog in the head office sees the potential and organizes special tours visiting all the supermarkets in a port. We have a Port Shopping Ambassador Program but that is mainly focused on jewelry;  so what we need is a Soda & Cereal Hostess to get our guests fully focused  on a foreign “supermarket experience”. As there is more in the world than just Walmart.

The port of Honnigsvag. In the front the fishermens port, top left the ms Nordkapp of the Hurtigruten and at the main cruise dock the ms Prinsendam.

It being Sunday, only a few tourist shops and the main supermarket were open; which brought a sad smile to my face as at the gangway was a lonely Bar Stewardess waiting to collect and store any booze bought ashore as per company policy. But nobody buys booze ashore as the stuff is dearer than on board; but company policy has to be followed and there she stood with a woolly hat on and a clipboard in hand ready to deal with all the alcoholics coming back from shore. But the clipboard remained empty.

But with the sunshine Honnigsvag was looking at its best, although looking bare as there are not many tree’s around. Too windy I suppose. Just a few that are surviving in the shelter of the houses or have been planted against the mountain to help with stopping avalanches but planted in the lee side of the Arctic winds.

We sail to tonight at 20.00 hrs. then we will be in Tromso tomorrow, home to the most northerly Cathedral in the world. The weather is not looking very exciting at the moment; Overcast with a good chance of showers but as there is only a light breeze expected from the south west there will be a higher noon temperature of 11oC / 52oF.

The Entertainment Department of the Prinsendam. Including the Cruise & Travel Director (Lower left) the boys in black (technical operations), Musicians and Cast, Americans Test Kitchen and the Entertainment Director (Top  Right)

oday’s crew photo is the complete Entertainment Staff on board, followed by a 2nd photo of the Cast performing their Revue show as last night was formal night. According to the program they have one more show to do and then for them it is also an end of era. Going home after six months on board the ms Prinsendam and from there to another shipboard assignment or maybe a shore side assignment.

The Cast performing their “Stage & Screen” show featuring songs from the West End, Broadway and the Silver Screen. I willfully ignored the rule of not being allowed to take photos or video’s as it is the end of the Prinsendam. II do not see how you can copy a show in the future from a ship that is not longer there in the format that we have. (Maybe I will now get arrested and will be the last occupant ever in the ships brig)