Villa Marine Guest House in Pringle Bay, Western Cape

Read article : Villa Marine Guest House in Pringle Bay, Western Cape

About Villa Marine Guest House

Villa Marine Guest House is nestled on the spectacular coast in Pringle Bay. Experience the sea a mere stone throw from one of our luxury en-suite rooms. Our unique combination of warm hospitality and highly personalised service ensures an exclusive experience.

Viewing the spectacular sunset from the deck over the vanishing edge swimming pool while sipping a glass of Cape wine will be a great start to an evening spent dining at the Villa or visiting one of the local venues. Fall asleep in a cozy percale linen bed with the waves crashing against the rocks in the bay. - Pringle Bay is an ideal destination for nature lovers and a perfect base from which to explore the rich and diverse mountain landscape of the Western Cape.

Accommodation

Villa Marine Guest house is nestled in a spectacular rocky bay on the whale route in Pringle Bay village. There are 5 en-suite guest rooms ranging in size and luxury. The 2 Executive and 1 of the 2 Luxury sea view suites each have their own fireplace and private balcony. All rooms include under floor heating and mini lounges with satellite television, stocked bar-fridges and tea trays, unique bathrooms with showers, large bathtubs and heated towel rails. All the rooms have magnificent views looking down into a secluded cove or towards the surrounding mountains. Experience the sea with all your senses at this special venue. 2 Executive, 2 Luxury Sea View Suites and 1 Standard Room is available.

Executive Sea View Suites:
Each individually decorated Luxury Suite has an en-suite bathroom with large bath and shower, a large private balcony with ocean view, under floor heating and fireplace in room, television and DVD player, stocked mini bar and tea and coffee tray and a private safe.

Luxury Sea View Suites:
Each individually decorated Luxury Suite has an en-suite bathroom with large bath and shower, a private balcony with ocean view, under floor heating and fireplace in room (only in 1 of the 2 rooms), television and DVD player, stocked mini bar and tea and coffee tray and a private safe.

Standard Room:
Individually decorated Standard Room has an en-suite bathroom with showers (no bath), under floor heating, television and DVD player, stocked mini bar and tea and coffee tray and a private safe. No verandah.

Dining

A gourmet breakfast is served around the pool deck or in the glass fronted dining room overlooking the waves crashing against the rocks. Individual tastes are catered for. A Light Lunch can be provided on a request basis. Dinner is a set menu of traditional South African food. (Additional charge).

Conferences

Villa Marine is an ideal venue for small conferences or company break always. Up to 12 delegates per day can be hosted in a private facility.

Activities

• Walk along the pristine beaches or swim in the refreshing ocean
• A number of golf courses are available within easy reach.
• Explore the Kogelberg floral kingdom, a world heritage site.
• Visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.
• Bird watching in the Villa garden.The honey suckers are a delight in the fynbos.
• Visit Arabella Health Spa.
• Stony Point, land based African penguin colony.
• Mountain biking, in the surrounding mountains. 4 mountain bikes are freely available to quests.
• Explore the wine routes in the vicinity.
• Superb dining experiences in the local restaurants.
• Lounge at the pool with a book or simply relax while taking in the splendour of the sea.

Locations & Attractions

From Cape Town you will travel along the scenic Clarence Drive Route (5 km past Rooiels) it forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, A one hour drive from Cape Town with Hermanus, Stellenbosch and the Wine routes 45 minutes away. The area is renowned for its Indigenous Fynbos Flora and houses more plant species per square meter than anywhere else on the planet.

On the world famous whale watching route, Pringle Bay is an ideal place to view Whales during the Whale Season from June to December every year. Only 12km away the Harold Porter Botanical Garden is home to a wide variety of Fynbos such as the King Protea and Disa and the nearby town of Betty's Bay hosts the Jackass Penguin Colony.

More / Rooms & Rates / Reviews / Map & Directions / Booking Enquiry

Find out more about Pringle Bay or view things to do in Cape Overberg. Please let us know how you enjoyed your stay by leaving a review.

Wheelchair users forced to abandon UK summer holiday plans, says Muscular Dystrophy UK

Read article : Wheelchair users forced to abandon UK summer holiday plans, says Muscular Dystrophy UK

These are the shocking findings of a new investigation by Trailblazers, a network of young disabled people and their supporters which is part of Muscular Dystrophy UK and which surveyed over 100 people between 17 July and 14 August 2017.

The main findings of the survey found that:

• 8 in 10 (almost 80%) of young disabled people have been unable to go on holiday in the past five years because of the lack of hoist facilities in hotels.
• Over 35% of those surveyed show that young disabled people don’t go anywhere overnight because of the lack of hoists.
• There are only 18 known hotels in the UK with ceiling hoists available for use free of charge according to one trusted website used by many disabled people.

The investigation found that many disabled users were forced to abandon their summer holiday plans and stay at home. It found that access to hoists in hotels which are a basic requirement for wheelchair users, either ceiling hoists or hoists for hire, is at best scarce and in many cases not available.

Hoists are a basic requirement which allows disabled users to transfer out of their wheelchair into bed or the bathroom when they cannot independently transfer. The complications when organising a holiday to ensure accessibility to hoists means planning can be stressful and lead to anxiety and uncertainty. What should be a pleasant break turns into an insurmountable chore. It is also a big problem for disabled users when having to travel for work, whether that be overnight stays or just a few days.

Moreover this is bad for business for the hotel industry as the collective spending power of disabled people has been estimated at £249bn to the economy.

The Trailblazers investigation also included a mystery shopping exercise (on 9 August, 2017) which found that only one hotel out of 20 was able to offer a free hoist for those who needed it. Other problems included:

• Many hotel staff not knowing what a hoist was used for
• One hotel when asked if they had a hoist for transferring from wheelchair to bed was unsure if they did, but said they had a hoist for use at the swimming pool
• One major hotel chain recommending to wheelchair users to bring their own hoist but admitting their beds were unsuitable for use with a portable hoist

Lucy Watts is a member of Trailblazers from Essex and a wheelchair user since 2008. She has a muscle-wasting condition and can’t safely transfer so has to be hoisted. She said:

“I haven’t stayed away from home since losing the ability to transfer and I’ve been unable to stay overnight purely because of the hoist issue. Hotels having hoists would mean I’d be able to take trips away. I’d be able to attend more conferences – many of which require an overnight stay – which would open up more doors in terms of my voluntary work.

“Having faced multiple issues with hotels, I’ve been put off staying overnight – even if we rented a hoist, I haven’t had the confidence to take the risk of not knowing whether the place will be accessible. However, if I knew every hotel had a fully accessible room with available hoist, I would definitely have the courage to branch out and do overnight trips.

“Disabled people face enough barriers in life. We shouldn’t be prevented from enjoying trips away because hotels won’t always make the effort to be fully accessible and inclusive.”

Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:

“These figures are truly disappointing as it means many disabled people are not able to visit some of our most popular destinations. Muscular Dystrophy UK believes there are some immediate steps the tourist industry and government could take to improve provision.

“The tourist industry should provide staff training with disabled people so that their staff know what a hoist is and are aware of their policy regarding helping disabled people get a hoist for their stay. Government could provide increased funding so businesses can access funds to install hoists in hotel rooms. And local authorities could provide financial and planning advice or permission to ensure that access is at the centre of all major renovations and new buildings.

“If these measures were implemented immediately it would greatly increase access to hotels for wheelchair uses wishing to travel.”

Notes to editors

Hoists in hotels – an investigation

Key findings

• 8 in 10 (almost 80%) of respondents have been unable to go on holiday because of the lack of hoist facilities in hotels in the past 5 years.

• Over 85% can use a mobile hoist if necessary.

• According to Ceiling Hoist Users Club[1] which is a well trusted website which many disabled people refer to when looking for somewhere accessible to stay, there are only 18 known hotels in the UK with ceiling hoists available for use free of charge.

Other key statistics

• Almost 15% cannot use a mobile hoist to transfer if a ceiling hoist is unavailable

• Over 35% of survey respondents don’t go anywhere overnight because of the lack of hoists.

• Over 25% of survey respondents only stay in accommodation that supplies hoists (either ceiling or portable).

• Over 35% of survey respondents are forced to take their own portable hoist on holiday with them.

• 9 out of 10 respondents said if a hotel had a complimentary mobile hoist it would incentivise them to stay there.

• Almost 30% of survey respondents would be willing to travel over 50 miles from their chosen destination if the hotel had a hoist.

Hotel Survey

The Trailblazers survey asked respondents to rate their experiences for 7 major hotels chains as well as independent hotels/B and B’s. Some 103 people responded to the survey conducted between 17 July and 14 August 2017

Mystery Shopper

We also conducted a mystery shopper (on 9 August 2017) of a selection of hotels. We asked them if they were able to offer a complementary mobile hoist free of charge to those who needed it. Some of the responses included:

Major UK Cities

We called two major chain hotels, each in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. The only hotel who were able to offer help to hire a hoist was one of the major chains in Glasgow, but the cost of hiring the hoist would fall to the customer booking the holiday. One other hotel in Glasgow from another major chain had a hoist available free of charge to their customers who needed it. All of the other hotels we called in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast did not have any hoists, nor did they offer help to hire one.

We spoke to a customer service advisor at one of these chains, who was able to give full details of the accessibility of their rooms, including the type of flooring available. Unfortunately, none of their rooms had a level entry wet room and there was no complementary hoist free of charge. However, they were willing to take delivery of the hoist.

Other UK tourist destinations

We called a number of other hotels in various destinations across the UK. This included:

• Oxford

• York

• Brighton

• Newport

• Cardiff

The information we received varied across four different UK chains. None of the five above were able to offer a hoist free of charge, or offer assistance with hiring a hoist. One major chain recommended that we bring our own hoist, but said that their beds were not suitable for use with a portable hoist. Another hotel told us that they had a hoist in the swimming pool, and one member of staff we spoke to did not know what a hoist was.

Summary

From our mystery shopping there is only one hotel out of the 20 that we called able to offer a free hoist for those who need it at the hotel. None of the disabled people who have responded to our survey have said they’ve been given assistance to have a hoist hired at any hotel.

Policy Recommendations

Government

• Building regulations must be amended to reflect the changing needs of disabled people, including the provision of overhead hoists in accessible rooms and the inclusion of Changing Places toilets for functions.

• Independent businesses may not have adequate funding to make these choices. Government should create an ‘access renovation fund’ which independent businesses can access money to install hoists in hotel rooms, or other access requirements such as Changing Places toilets.

Local Authorities

• As the collective spending power of disabled people has been estimated at £249bn to the economy, local authorities must provide assistance, including financial and planning advice or permission to ensure that access is at the centre of all major renovations and new buildings.

Tourism Industry

• Hotels should purchase mobile hoists as an urgent measure, and provide these as a complimentary service to wheelchair users who need them. However, many require overhead hoists and we call on hotels to have their accessible rooms assessed to have these hoists fitted.

• We call on the tourism industry to provide staff training with disabled people so that their staff know what a hoist is, are aware of their policy regarding helping disabled people get a hoist for their stay, and to educate those in charge of hotel development of why having hoists available is so important.

Case Study

Carrie Aimes gave permission for this to be used as a case study.

“I am an infrequent traveller, not because I lack the desire but because it is so difficult to find appropriately adapted and affordable hotels. Even getting away for a single night is an almost impossible challenge, since hotel rooms are, disappointingly, not equipped with ceiling track hoists as standard.

Although some people get around this problem by hiring (at an extra cost) or taking with them a portable hoist, this is not practical for all. Portable hoists are cumbersome, difficult to store, transport and manoeuvre. Furthermore, many people simply don’t have access to a vehicle large enough to carry such large-scale equipment.

I have Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy and am completely non-ambulant. I can’t safely transfer and so I either have to be hoisted or manually lifted. Understandably most people, excluding family, are reluctant to do the latter. So, if I want or need to get away from home, my only current option is to ask family members if they are willing to lend their time and support (far from ideal).

With so few hotels in the UK equipped with ceiling track hoists, our options are severely limited. For those of us who need this facility, a premium cost is incurred, and then we are restricted to specific locations. Sadly we are not free as others are, to occupy any hotel room in a hotel of our choice, anywhere in the country.”

University Dorms - Cheap, Cheerful Rooms For Travelers

Read article : University Dorms - Cheap, Cheerful Rooms For Travelers

Dorm rooms at universities around the UK are great alternative choices for cheap accommodations in pleasant, historic and often exciting surroundings.

During vacation periods - which include Easter and Christmas breaks as well as summer vacations (mid June to September)- you might choose to stay in a medieval residence hall, a 12th century castle or an architecturally stunning building on a brand new campus.

Accommodations usually include big English breakfasts - plus cereals, breads, fruits and juices - taken in magnificent 17th, 18th and 19th century dining halls (the Great Hall at Hogwarts comes to mind). Inexpensive lunches and dinners may also be available.

Here and there you may also find suites with multiple bedrooms and shared kitchen facilities - suitable for traveling with a family, perhaps.

And, most are available for about the same price as reasonable quality hostel rooms.

Dorms Ain't What They Used to Be

Expect daily cleaning services, private shower rooms or bathrooms in many dorms, internet broadband, linens and towels and, sometimes, coffee and tea making facilities. At one time, dorm rooms also offered telephones activated by phone cards that could be purchased, but in this era of smart phones, very few do that anymore.

Of course there's an up and downside to everything. So here's what you can expect:

Pros of Staying in Uni Digs

• Access to hallowed precincts At the UK's most historic and prestigious universities there are fascinating areas - private quads and courtyards, chapels, ancient dining halls - not open to the public. When you book a room, you get a brief insider's look at places like Oxford and Cambridge.
• Lie down where the great and good as well as the rich and famous have been before you. In their day, these rooms were occupied by presidents, princes and prime ministers; scientists and philosophers; artists, musicians, writers and actors. And, if you're lucky enough to find a chatty hall porter, he'll probably tell you all about who lived in your room before you.

Cons of Staying in Dorm Rooms

• Seasonal limits to availability Rooms are only available outside of term time, when students are away. The exact dates vary from one university to another.
• Rooms can't be booked too far in advance. Available rooms are usually listed two to three months ahead of time. If you are a nervous type who likes to have all the details pinned down a year ahead of time, these may not be for you.
• Most rooms are singles obviously awkward for couples traveling together. But there are some twin rooms and (for a price) Durham Castle, part of Durham University, has some spectacular state rooms - furnished with four-posters and the trappings of elegance - which can be had for some special celebration or event.

• Simple furnishings These are student rooms, so with the exception of a handful of special accommodations, like the state rooms at Durham Castle, don't expect boutique hotel surroundings. Furniture tends to be good, institutional quality basics with generous storage space.
• You could find yourself in the middle of a conference crowd Booking college dorm rooms for individual travelers is relatively new at UK universities but they've been hiring out their dorm rooms to conferences and seminars for years. Don't be surprised if you find yourself in the middle of one.
• Occasional shared bathrooms While the movement in newer college accommodations is for private or semi-private bathrooms, some of the more historic buildings cannot accommodate that. And the cheapest rooms may have shared bathroom facilities. If you like to finish a day of sightseeing with a long soak in your own bathtub, you may be out of luck.

How to Book a University Dorm Room in the UK

There are several ways to find and book college dorm rooms at UK universities:

• University Rooms.com can help you locate and book rooms at about 50 UK universities as well as college accommodations all over the USA, Europe and Asia. In the UK, Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Bristol, Nottingham and Newcastle universities are all in the list along with several London academic locations. The website has pictures of the campuses, the rooms and the hall facilities as well as up to date availability information and prices. Before you opt for historic Oxbridge, check out 170 Queen's Gate in South Kensington, with access to Imperial College's sports center and 25meter pool, or Nottingham's knockout Jubilee campus.
• Search the University websites. Durham, for example offers 1,500 en suite and 3,000 standard rooms but you have to hunt around a bit to find them. For some reason, the University's Individual Traveler website occasionally delivers you to a Google page. But persist. The rooms are very nice and very good value at about £44 per night in 2016. Find information about The Castle, part of University College at Durham, on its own dedicated Durham Castle accommodation website. The Castle rooms are available year round and, because of their special character, are quite a bit more expensive than normal dorm rooms. 

Hyatt Centric Montevideo in Uruguay Opens Today

Read article : Hyatt Centric Montevideo in Uruguay Opens Today

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hyatt announced today the opening of Hyatt Centric Montevideo, the brand’s first hotel to open outside of North America, and the second Hyatt-branded property in Uruguay. The 178-room hotel is located in the bustling Pocitos neighborhood, a prime destination for guests to explore and discover the heart of Montevideo. Hyatt Centric Montevideo is in close proximity to many of the area’s business and leisure districts, including the World Trade Center, Montevideo Shopping and Ciudad Vieja, as well as La Rambla, the coastal avenue where locals meet daily to exercise, socialize and take in the city’s best sunsets.

“We are delighted to welcome the first international Hyatt Centric hotel to the charming city of Montevideo,” said Myles McGourty, senior vice president of operations for Hyatt in Latin America and the Caribbean. “Hyatt Centric Montevideo was designed to make guests feel welcome and connected with the heart of the destination. We are confident that this contemporary new hotel will allow for exploration and discovery, while introducing Hyatt’s well-known hospitality to both guests and residents.”

Arrival Experience

Guests can begin their journey cruising the Uruguayan coastline along La Rambla, the 19 mile (30km) waterside promenade near Hyatt Centric Montevideo. Upon entering the hotel, a large lounge welcomes guests as they make their way to the stylish lobby area. A stained-glass inspired ceiling invites natural light into the space and marks a central point that integrates the hotel’s restaurant, lobby and bar. The hotel design sets the stage for an authentic Montevideo experience and includes mosaic floors, eclectic ambiance and local artwork combined with modern luxury design, creating a touch of local culture. Large windows from the bar, deli and library offer sweeping views of the Rio de la Plata.

“We are thrilled to open our doors in Montevideo and present a hotel that truly captures Montevidean culture and innovative design,” said Guillaume Paupy, general manager of Hyatt Centric Montevideo. “Our team is ready to welcome guests and share their insider knowledge to help guests explore the best of the destination.”

Guestrooms

The hotel’s 178 spacious guestrooms, including 14 suites, balance the energy of the city with a calm, inviting respite. The minimal yet upscale features include contemporary furniture, destination-inspired artwork and modern colorful touches. Guestrooms offer impressive views of Rio de la Plata or the serene cityscape, and combine amenities to meet the needs of the millennial-minded traveler, including a luxurious plush bed, 47-inch LED TV (55-inch in suites), mini bar, large walk-in shower (additional bath tub in suites), generous work desk with enhanced lighting, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, premium bath amenities, JBL Horizon alarm clocks, a salon-grade hairdryer, concierge service, and 24 hour in-room dining.

Executive rooms and suites also have access to special services and amenities such as the rooftop lounge, which offers 180-degree waterfront views, continental breakfast, and evening cocktails, among other services.

Dining and Drinking

Hyatt Centric Montevideo features distinct dining options including breakfast, business lunches, intimate dinners, quick drinks or casual dining experiences designed to inspire food lovers during their journey to explore the best of local flavors.

The hotel’s signature restaurant Plantado features a regionally inspired menu offering locally sourced produce and classic Uruguayan favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Behind the culinary concept and menu is the talented Executive Chef Federico Ferrari, formerly of Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.

When the sun sets over the city, guests can retreat to the hotel’s vibrant Moderno Bar. Eclectic décor and scenic views complement creative signature cocktails, gourmet small plates and a unique selection of acclaimed local wines and artisan beers.

Additional food and beverage amenities include the Deli, a specialty market featuring Uruguayan olive oils and gourmet cheeses, freshly baked goods, local pastries, coffee and teas service, organic juices, to-go foods and other local goods.

Meetings and Events

Hyatt Centric Montevideo’s event facilities total more than 18,700 square feet (1,700 square meters), with each meeting room named after an influential female Uruguayan poet, a tribute to local literature. The fully integrated area features an elegant, multi-purpose ballroom and six sophisticated meeting rooms that provide an extensive range of options for upscale meetings, conferences, social events such as quinceañeras and weddings of all sizes, complete with state-of-the-art audio visual services and dedicated staff to assist in planning and execution.

Wellness and Recreation

Hyatt Centric Montevideo features a 24-hour fitness studio with the latest high-tech cardio and strength training equipment from Life Fitness®, and offers a massage treatment suite to relax and unwind, as well as a heated indoor pool.

Guests that like to take their workout outdoors will have the perfect opportunity to do so along La Rambla, the ideal spot for a walk, jog or to take one of the hotel’s custom-designed vintage bicycles for rides.

Hyatt Centric Montevideo is offering a special opening rate of USD $190 plus taxes for standard guestrooms, including breakfast. For full offer details, including terms and conditions, or to make a reservation, please visit hyattcentricmontevideo.com or call +598 26211234.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one of its affiliates.

The Hyatt Centric Experience

Hyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. Created for millennial-minded travelers who want to be in the middle of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery. The lobby lounge is a launch pad providing guests with information about the most sought-after food, nightlife and activities the destination has to offer, sourced from a community of “in the know” local explorers. The bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally inspired food and signature cocktails can be enjoyed. Streamlined modern rooms focus on delivering everything guests wants and nothing they don’t, including environmentally conscious bath products, Bluetooth-enabled electronics and restaurant to-go delivery service. A team of associates are always available to aid guests in their discovery of the destination and make the most of their stay.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 12 premier brands and 652 properties in 53 countries as of March 31, 2016. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to create value for shareholders, build relationships with guests and attract the best colleagues in the industry. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric™, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™,Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®,Hyatt Ziva™,Hyatt Zilara™ and Hyatt Residence Club®brand names and have locations on six continents. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

The World's Most Beautiful Voyage - Hurtigruten Review

Read article : The World's Most Beautiful Voyage - Hurtigruten Review

The world's most beautiful voyage is how the Hurtigruten cruise line bills the coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. They are so right! We were on the Midnatsol the same time as karoggra who posted a review titled, Best scenic cruise in the world. The voyage is rarely on open sea so you have scenery on both sides of the ship most of the trip.

My husband and I were traveling on a tour arranged by travel agency so we had a pickup from our hotel to the dock. We arrived about 6 p.m. after an all day Norway in a Nutshell® tour. Check-in took seconds and we boarded with our carry-on bags. The cabin cards were handed to us as we entered the covered walkway to deck 6. The deck 6 entrance is only used at Bergen. Our bags were waiting at the entrance to our cabin. Since we were doing a round-trip and started at the home port, baggage handling was done by the ship crew.

Ship: We had an starboard outside cabin on deck 4. It was 2 cabins away from the atrium where the More elevators are located. All the traffic on and off the ship on the voyage takes place on deck 4 by the elevators so it was very handy. The ship has its own gangway which opens up on the side of the side. Stand on deck 5 and watch the gangway open sometime. It is very interesting.

There are two other openings in the side of the ship further down for cargo and cars. The ship doesn't have to rely on port gangways which take time. The ship is very efficient getting in and out of ports. Some stops were for only 15 minutes. I learned how they did that visiting the bridge.

The cargo hold is designed for pallets so the forklift trucks would be whipping around on the dock unloading or loading. At Stamsund, we had over an hour stay so while we were out walking around the village, the forklift operators were unloading mattresses and building supplies.

There is another elevator near the back of the ship serving decks 4 - 8. It is handy for those in the stern of the ship. Public restrooms are available near the dining room on deck 5 and near the main elevators on deck 5 and 8. There is a conference area on deck 5 which is used for presentations or conferences. It is not an entertainment venue. We did have three slide presentations on the ship: The Royal Family, National Day and National Costumes. We are onboard for National Day, May 17. There was a parade around deck 9 with flags, banners, and national costumes.

Cabin: Our cabin was very functional. We had a cabin with one twin bed under the window and one perpendicular to it. The bed under the window made into a sofa during the day. The beds are hard but still comfortable. The covers are duvets with a quilted liner. It was too hot for me so I just used the sheet. There was one extra pillow in the room and we asked for another. There are two wool blankets to use on the outside decks. Yes, we needed the blanket when lounging topside some days.

You receive one bath towel and one hand towel to start. If you want a clean towel, leave it on the floor. There are no washcloths. I bought a few with me. There is a mounted container of hand soap/shampoo by the sink and in the shower area. To save room packing, I used Twitter @HurtigrutenASA to find out that there was a dryer in the bathroom. There is.

The cabin has desk area with small mirrored cubbies on either size of the big mirror. There is a plug by the mirror which we used to charge the camera batteries and iPad. You will need a converter and adapter for the European style plug.

The hanging closet had two sections (his and hers) with 5 hangers in each section. The clothes hang front to back rather than side by side. There were two sections of shelving in the main closet and two more big shelves by the desk. The suitcases fit under the bed.

The bathroom was very functional and I liked it better than some of the US market ships I have been on. There is a step up to the bathroom. There is a small step down to the shower. It is designed to have an angle to allow more room. The curtain is long enough to keep the water in the shower area. The shower head can be kept mounted on the pole or used as a hand-held. There is a retractable clothes line. The floor can be heated with the switch on the wall outside the bathroom. There is a big wall cabinet with shelves for all your toiletries. I still had space in it after stowing everything. There is a towel bar by the sink with wall mounted cup holders.

I found out that the inside cabins do have TV as well as the suites. No TV in the outside cabins. It was not missed. The telephone has some radio stations that you can listen to.

There are 4 washing machines on deck 4 close to the rear elevator. You purchase a token from reception and they give you the soap. The dryer is free. There are posted instructions in English. The machines are labelled in Norwegian. We did two loads for about $10.

What to do: If you take the round trip cruise you will receive a 130-page book with colored photos and an explanation of what you will see broken down by days. It is a great resource to read about what you are seeing along the way. The Tour Director does make announcements as described in three languages, English is always the second one. She gave us a heads up to what scenic wonder was coming our way so we could get to observation lounges or the correct side of the ship. You can turn off the announcements on the phone in your cabin.

As mentioned, there are many lounges without any waiters to bother you about drinks. If you want a drink, you go to the bar and get it yourself. There was a tray for self-busing of cups and glasses in most lounges.

We liked the forward lounges on deck 8 and 9 and the library on deck 8. The library has games and some English language books left by passengers. The deck 8 and 9 lounges have windows on three sides so you had a great view of the scenery. Deck 9 lounge is actually open to deck 8 lounge. It does get a little warm up there so we preferred deck 8.

Deck 9 had three major sections, the inside lounge, the outside deck with glass walls to protect from the wind and the back deck. We liked to lounge in the back. The chairs are not loungers so if you want to put your feet up, use another chair.

There are many teak round tables and matching chairs near the doorway on deck 9. The smokers were usually in this area.

Food: I was more impressed with the food than other reviewers. The food presentation at dinner was very impressive. Two chef teams took over the buffet area (in the center of the room) to dish up the food. One did the sauce, one plated the entree and sides and another added the garnishes. We received a booklet with the menus for the trip so we knew what night we would have the reindeer or the salmon. I am not a great fish eater but I did enjoy the meals.

Granted the breakfast and lunch buffets didn't vary much but they had a different hot breakfast item daily and hot lunch items. I discovered the hot oatmeal and added dried fruit and granola stuff to it. There was soft and hardboiled eggs very morning. I liked the whole grain breads. They did have a breakfast pasty item each day. They had a 6-slice toaster if you wanted toast. We learned to grab juice and water from the machine and stake out a table for the open seating breakfast. Than we headed to the buffet to stock up. Keep in mind the buffet is designed for the European market so expect cheese and cold cuts on the breakfast menu. Where else can you have cottage cheese and herring for breakfast. My husband was delighted with the 4-5 cheese selections at breakfast and lunch. He reports that they were mostly soft, all delicious, but no cheddar.

You won't find tacos, pizza, or hamburgers on the menu. If you want french fries, go to the snack bar and pay for them. The soups were excellent. I like smooth cream soups and these were excellent. Who knew asparagus soup could taste so good. The desserts were good and don't miss out on the slab ice cream at lunch. I didn't discover that until day 4!

Coffee: The coffee came out of one of the machines where you press a button and you get a cup of coffee. It is strong! I would have a cup with breakfast and than take another cup out to the lounge. Coffee was not provided at the table for dinner. The coffee machine is located on deck 8 by the bar. After dinner you go for coffee. If you want coffee between meals, you pay 25 KOR ($3.85) for a cup. They do have a coffee plan which is good for an entire year! You pay 209 KOR ($32.20 at this time) for a red metal lined mug which allows you to get coffee or tea for the trip. If you were a commuter and traveled frequently, it would be a good deal. We opted not to do that and were fine with the free coffee after meals.

Water: Although there are signs on the dining room table for purified water for 19 KOR, we found out that you just ask for tap water and they bring a carafe of water (no ice) to the table. They do that at lunch and dinner. I brought my own water bottle with me which I refilled from the bathroom sink. The water is nice and cold and tastes like bottled water.

Tours: We went on the following excursions: (Northbound) Trondheim Folk Museum, Tromsø City Tour (Polaria and Arctic Cathedral), and (Southbound) Tromsø Midnight Concert [the ship arrives at 11:45 p.m.], Lofoten Islands countryside tour, Trondheim City Tour (includes Nidaros Cathedral). We might have gone on more tours but they are not cheap. My husband says, the Folk Museum could have been skipped.

I did the Bridge Tour to see the Captain and the Bridge on day 11. I found it very interesting and worthwhile. That is posted in the daily program.

Shopping: The gift shop on board has a very nice selection of Norwegian products. We ended up doing most of our souvenir shopping on board. There is a nice gift shop at the Polar Bear Club in Hammerfest right by the dock. By the way the public library is across the street and has free wi-fi. There is a nice gift shop and ice bar in Honningsvåg close to the dock.

Internet Access: There are 4 computers on deck 8 by the library. There is a 40 KOR ($6.22) charge per hour of use. I used my iPad and iTouch with the wireless that is available in the public areas. It is satellite so the reception is dependent upon a good signal so don't expect much when in the fjords or when there are mountain ranges on both sides of the ship. The mountains do impact reception. Deck 8 or 9 is the best. There is no coverage in the cabins and deck 5 is not as strong as deck 8. Thanks to the purser who helped me get the wi-fi started on my new iPad.

Staff: The staff are great. All are Norwegian and most switch effortlessly from Norwegian to English to German. The staff work 22 days on and then 22 days off including the captain. We did see some new faces over the course of the cruise. There is not a culture of tipping so we didn't have to worry about an add on for tips like most cruises. There is a big wooden bowl by the head waiter's desk at the entrance to the dining room. There is a small sign that it is for TIPS with Thank You in several languages. We left the rest of our Norwegian money in the tip bowl.

The staff are helpful, have a ready smile, are efficient but are not fawning. Since the Hurtigruten line does ferry and cargo service besides us tourists, they have some systems that are not the same as a regular cruise line. What you won't see: no towel animals, no nightly program in your room, (pick it up in the announcement area on deck 8), no turn down service, no free between meal snacks, no singers and dancers (singer and keyboard in the lounge deck 8 in the evening), and no rah rah cruise director. What you will find is a comfortable trip in the midst of spectacular scenery with plenty of time to relax and read or look out the window.

As Americans, we were in the minority. The prominent groups were Norwegian and German. The weather was good for most of the trip. The last few days were overcast with clouds hiding the mountain tops. We had clear skies for a good part of the trip and enjoyed the midnight sun. Less