Review of a Norway cruise on the Emerald Princess in June 2025 (1) (page 3 of 7)

Hi Catherine,

It’s a bit frustrating not to find a quiet spot on a ship to celebrate a special event! Sure, you have to adapt, but still—it’s a bit much. Forced to go to the buffet every evening for dinner, and from what I understand, some nights it’s not even that well stocked. What a shame!

I think I’m a bit like you—we’ve become a bit picky after doing so many cruises.

Your next cruise will be really different from this one, since you’ll be on a more human-sized ship, friendlier, with a cozy atmosphere...

Looking forward to reading your conclusion!

Here for the follow-up,

Alfred

Hello, Thank you for this report with beautiful photos and stunning landscapes—when the sun comes out, it’s truly breathtaking! 🙂 In 2018, we did the Baltic capitals with Princess and never had to wait for a restaurant or deal with noise.

Hi Marie-Christine, That’s lucky—we’ve always experienced waiting issues on our recent Princess cruises. On the earlier ones, honestly, I don’t remember. Thanks for sharing your experience; maybe it’ll be better on a newer ship next time.

I tried to add 2 photos of the Briksdall glacier from 2006 Will it work? Just to see the difference over 19 years

Hi Nicom,

I’m afraid it didn’t work. Check the FAQ—it explains how to insert an image, and it’s not too complicated.

Hi Alfred,

It’s a bit frustrating not to find a quiet spot on a ship to celebrate a special event!

We found that there was a lack of quiet lounges on this ship, both during the day and in the evening. The bars that were open were full every night, but if that hadn’t been the case that evening, we would’ve missed this beautiful navigation through the fjords. So it all worked out well in the end. 🙂

True, you have to adapt, but still, it’s a bit much. Forced to go to the buffet every night for dinner, and from what I understand, some nights it wasn’t even that well stocked. What a shame!

I only mentioned the paella story as an anecdote because it didn’t take long for the rice dish to be replaced with a new, well-stocked paella. The buffets were always very well filled and replenished. There’s nothing to complain about on that front. 🙂

Eating in the cafeteria isn’t a problem for us—we actually enjoy the atmosphere there in the evening. Even on Oceania, we often go to the cafeteria at night. The only line we don’t do that with is Ponant. 😉

I think I’m a bit like you—we’re getting a bit picky after doing so many cruises.

It’s true that we become more demanding, but at the same time, experience helps us adapt to situations to find what makes us happy, at least when the cruise quality is good, without the excesses you’ve experienced lately. From start to finish, we were very happy during this cruise. 🙂

Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland

Tonight is our first clear night, with no darkness to dim the sky. Waking up to such a beautiful landscape and the promise of sunshine all day—what more could you ask for?



Tromsø is located on Tromsøya Island in Norwegian Lapland. It’s the northernmost city in the world with over 50,000 inhabitants and lies 350 km north of the Arctic Circle.

Today, we’ve planned a hike up Mount Fjellheisen, which faces Tromsøya Island and overlooks the city of Tromsø. The weather is perfect—we’re lucky.

At 8:30 AM, we’re outside. The ship is docked at Breivika Kai 24, a bit away from the city center. It’s about 5 km to the foot of Fjellheisen.

Princess offers a transfer to the city center for $20 per person. At that price, we’d rather walk. But just outside the port area, a few passengers are waiting for a bus that’s supposed to arrive in 4 minutes—it’s displayed very precisely on a digital sign. Why not?

On the bus, all you have to do is download the app to pay for the ride (40 NOK per person, about 3.40 €), and we save precious time.



The Tromsø Bridge is just over a kilometer long and rises 38 meters above sea level.



It takes us right in front of the Arctic Cathedral, which will wait for us until our return. We prefer to hike early since wind is forecast starting at 2 PM.





There are two ways to climb Fjellheisen: the cable car or the Sherpatrappa, a staircase with 1,300 steps. We opt for the easier option. Walking through the residential neighborhoods leading to the cable car’s starting point is a very pleasant route.





But when we arrive, bad luck—the cable car isn’t running. It’s under maintenance. I remember now that I’d read about it online months ago while planning this trip, but I should’ve checked again before coming… and I forgot.



to be continued…

Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (continued)

The only option left is the Sherpa Staircase...



The path to the starting point of this trail is already quite steep, but it quickly offers us a beautiful view of the bay, the Arctic Cathedral, the bridge, and our ship.



The steps are made of stone, varying in height but very stable. The sunlight filters through the branches of the young forest, where the leaves have just sprouted—it’s fresh and beautiful.

Hardly anyone is tackling this staircase. We can climb at our own pace, nice and relaxed.



To keep us motivated, the steps are numbered regularly starting from the 100th. It really lifts the spirits.



As we approach the summit, the vegetation becomes sparser, and we leave the cover of the trees.



The viewpoints are numerous and become more and more stunning as we climb. The clarity of the air and the coolness make them even more breathtaking.





to be continued...

Hi Catherine, Great photos of Tromsø—I know the city well and really liked it. Brave of you to climb those 1,000 steps—hat’s off to you! 😉 Mich74

Thanks Michel, It was a really lovely walk, and taking our time made it happen. We loved this stop and those stunning landscapes.

Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (Part 2)

The nature up high becomes almost desert-like.



We're almost there!





Then comes a narrow 20 cm passage, very slippery in the snow after a few steps. A young Norwegian woman behind me gets annoyed because I’m not going fast enough. I’m in her way for her timed challenge. She sighs loudly and clearly shows her impatience. She’s not happy, and neither am I—I let her know just as loudly as her frustrated sighs are pressuring me. Even without understanding the words, she must’ve gotten the message.



Just a few more steps and we finally arrive! So glad we made it to the end! Turns out, there’s a big construction site here for the cable car arrival area, which is currently being built.



The trail continues and gives us a stunning plunging view of the other side.







As for the temperature, this morning it was 9° and by late morning it was 12°. A really pleasant temperature for this hike, which we finished in T-shirts. 😎 Time to head back down.



We quickly realize we made the right call coming early. We’re running into more and more people, and by the time we reach the bottom, there’s almost a continuous line of people heading up.



to be continued…

Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (part 3)

The Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965, is actually a Protestant church. It’s very unique and beautiful from the outside—you can spot it from far away, and it really stands out in the landscape, even though it’s not very large. But I still refuse to pay to enter a church. Here, the price is 80 NOK per person (almost 7 €).



And after peeking inside through the glass... the price seems a bit steep.



After crossing the bridge in the other direction, we head to the old town—or at least, that’s what I read when planning my visit.

From the top of Fjellheisen, I started having doubts—nothing looked like an old town or a historic center...

This city was an isolated fishing village for centuries. It then saw major growth during the golden age of seal hunting in the early 20th century. Now, it’s a dynamic and multicultural city thanks to scientists from around the world, as it’s become one of the main departure points for polar expeditions.

So, it makes sense there’s no old town. The long shopping street and the harbor quays are pleasant to explore. There’s construction everywhere—it’s true that the season when work is possible is very short.







The Our Lady Cathedral in the city center is built of wood and dates back to the 19th century. It’s charming on the outside and simple but welcoming inside.





The square where it stands borders the shopping street on one side and slopes down to the sea on the other.





to be continued...

Monday, June 23, Tromsø in Norwegian Lapland (part 4)

The quays by the water are lined with brightly colored buildings and large terraces for cafés and restaurants.





We walk back to the ship around 2:30 PM and spend the afternoon in the sun (14°C) until departure time. A little rest after covering 21 km is really nice.

We don’t realize how time flies because the sun, still high in the sky, keeps warming us pleasantly.

Today’s scenic cruise is gorgeous again.









And night never comes. It’s hard to fall asleep and get some rest.

Tuesday, June 24, Honningsvåg, North Cape

Today’s surprise was a water shuttle disembarkation.

I’ve never experienced such great organization on any ship before. All you have to do is go to the dedicated bar to get a ticket when you’re ready to head ashore. A few minutes later—just enough time to sit down—the shuttle number is called. No more than fifteen minutes passed between leaving our cabin and sitting in the tender boat, with no rushing, no crowding, and no waiting. Simply perfect.



The main attraction during this stop is the North Cape. I booked a tour with Blue Puffin for a four-hour excursion across Magerøya Island with a few stops.

The tour departure times are adjusted to fit cruise ship schedules. The meet-up is right on the port in front of the Tourist Information—couldn’t be easier. Too bad our tour was delayed at the last minute; that lost time will cut into our day later.

Our guide was a bit hyper and disorganized. After a few back-and-forths because she kept forgetting something, we finally set off. Our driver may not be young, but he drives wonderfully well.





First stop at the end of a cove, in a small village with brightly colored houses, at a fisherman’s place.





We visit the shed where equipment is stored and where fish dry in the open air.





to be continued…

Tuesday, June 24, Honningsvåg, North Cape (part 1 continued)

A small exhibition of paintings opens its doors to us. These completely original works are made solely from cutouts taken from magazine pages. It’s stunning, and I regret only taking one photo. The work is very delicate and meticulous. The lady explains that winter is long and they need to keep busy. The nagging question I have is, how long will these pieces stay beautiful since the ink quality in magazines isn’t made to last…



A few steps further along a path, another cove where the village boats are safely sheltered.



The landscapes are stunning—desert-like, without a single tree, and dotted with patches of lingering snow. A freezing wind greets us as we step off the bus for this photo stop.





And we hit the road again, the scenery just as beautiful.



In the next village, we’re offered a king crab exhibition. Three unfortunate creatures sit at the bottom of a blue plastic pool. The largest, the male, is caught and lifted out for a photo session. Then it’s the female’s turn.



The village here is also nestled in a stunning setting of wild nature.



to be continued…

Tuesday, June 24, Honningsvåg, North Cape (Part 2)

The next stop is at an outdoor camp. There are tipis, a moose, and an actor posing for photos. The moose is very happy—it was served a large portion of lichen, which it’s enjoying.





A tent offers a wide selection of made-in-China items at Norwegian prices.



And we hit the road again toward our main destination.





We arrive at the North Cape, windswept and freezing. It’s summer—how do people live here year-round in the cold? A ticket given to us by the guide grants access to the massive tourist complex built on the site.



Before warming up inside, we explore the outdoor area. Various sculptures decorate the place, but the landscape is the real highlight.



As for the globe—the symbol of the North Cape—it’s swarmed by visitors.



Shivering and frozen by the wind, we head inside to warm up.

A movie is announced in a few minutes on a massive 125° screen. It showcases the four seasons at the North Cape through stunning landscapes—from the midnight sun to winter storms in the snow. It’s beautiful and very well done. The last time the sun set here this year was on May 14, and the next time it’ll disappear will be on July 29.

We have a great time and leave feeling warmed up.

On the bus ride back, the guide hands out small bags of dried reindeer meat—just a few grams. It’s the tasting included in the program… but it’s a bit lean and disappointing for a tasting.

I booked this tour well in advance online with Blue Puffin. We’re very happy with it—it was fully booked and varied, and we saw a lot of landscapes crossing the island from south to north. It’s a great overview of this extreme territory. Even if we didn’t fully enjoy the King Crab demonstrations or the micro village of tipis, we had a lovely morning. The price was, of course, much lower than the excursions offered by Princess: 1699 NOK (144 €) per person.

With the time lost this morning at departure, we return to the ship at 3 PM, which means we won’t have time to go back ashore—the ship is too far from the port. A quick visit to Honningsvåg and its coastline would’ve been nice, so it’s a bit of a shame. If we’d been docked, it would’ve been possible, but a Mein Schiff ship is taking up the space.

Hi Catherine,

Your review is still as fascinating as ever!

How lucky to have had a smooth disembarkation by tender boat with practically no waiting.

I had a really bad experience with NCL & Oceania where disembarkation was painfully slow. The worst was on the Marina—I missed my excursion in Bora Bora because of the truly chaotic disembarkation.

Looking forward to the rest!

Alfred

Hi Alfred,

I remember reading about your bad disembarkation experiences, which is why I was so happy with how ours went. Proof that it’s possible!

More to come tomorrow—I didn’t have time today. 😉

Wednesday, June 25, Alta

This stop is still well north of the Arctic Circle, between Tromsø and the North Cape. The weather is mild (11°C), cloudy, and windless.





Yesterday’s tender landing was so great that we’re doing it again today. And it’s even better than yesterday—we grab our tickets and are immediately invited to board without even having time to sit down.

The tenders drop us off in the tiny port of Alta, about 8 km from the city center. Princess offered a bus transfer for $20. Only two taxis are waiting at the port exit.

Just a few meters away is a city bus stop. Luck is on our side—the next bus is at 9:05 in a few minutes. About ten people are already waiting. We’d like to explore the town and visit the Alta Museum, which is outdoors and has gotten great reviews.

But there’s no bus in sight... 9:15, still nothing. The next one is at 9:20... Let’s wait a little longer. 9:28, still no bus. Did Princess commandeer all the buses in town?

So we won’t be going to Alta. To get there, you’d have to walk along the main road where cars drive way too fast for pedestrians, and it’s not pleasant.

We change plans and head in the opposite direction for a short hike around a lake.

We walk through very quiet residential neighborhoods and don’t see a single person—it’s really deserted.



Great view of the airfield, the fjord, and the ship.



The hike starts at the edge of Lake Skogvannet, a spot set up for swimming and very popular in the summer, but today there’s no one here except us.





This route, with its ups and downs, offers stunning landscapes. The unobstructed view across this wild nature, where nothing blocks the horizon, is a real treat.







to be continued...

Wednesday, June 25, Alta (continued)

Back at the port, we’re faced with every cruiser’s nightmare: a never-ending line of passengers. But once again, the organization is excellent, and we only wait for less than a quarter of an hour.





Same at the buffet—it’s busy, but not crowded. Then comes the well-deserved reward after walking over 20 km.



We don’t have enough time to head into Alta for the rest of the afternoon, and we’re more than happy to relax on lounge chairs by the pool. With the temperature at 15°C and no wind, the sun feels perfect.





Sailing through the fjords this evening is once again absolutely stunning.









To let us enjoy these breathtaking landscapes for as long as possible, the sun doesn’t set.

Hi Catherine,

I’m back online… thanks so much for these stunning landscapes! I recognized some of the scenery from a 2012 trip on the Costa Voyager organized by TAAJ, which has since gone bankrupt. Have a great week! Guylène

Hi Guylène,

So glad to see you back here—it’s really frustrating to be without internet. The landscapes, though, don’t change over time ;) and that’s a good thing. We never get tired of seeing them again.