Thursday 16 November- Alta, Norway

Distance steamed from Tromso: 118 NM
Weather: Dry, good visibility, partly cloudy
Temperature: -9°C
Wind: South south easterly, Force 3

After an extended stay alongside in Tromso, Aurora’s Bridge and Engine Officers began her departure checks at 2.00am making the ship ready to sail. As she had been moored alongside for more than 12 hours additional checks on the Bridge and Engine equipment were carried out including testing such things as the searchlights and navigational lights and carrying out extended steering gear and telegraph checks.

Shortly after 4.00am all checks were completed and with the permission of the authorities Aurora let go her lines and thrust off the berth to starboard before coming ahead on her engines to make her way back out of the fjord.

With her local Pilot already on board Aurora then sailed into Altafjord passing the island of Stjernoya to port and beginning the 38km long passage. Initially on a south easterly heading Aurora altered to the south passing 2NM to starboard of the island of Aroya before making an alteration to port to pass north of the islands of Jorban and Skarvskjaert.

As Aurora cleared the sea smoke the runway and berth of Alta port came into view and the Deputy Captain took the Conn from the Pilot to bring Aurora alongside port side to the quay on the Terminalkaien by 1.00pm.

The ship was made fast using a mooring line boat and the gangways were rigged into Deck 4 before clearance from the local authorities was granted and guests were able to proceed ashore.

Wednesday 15 November – Tromso, Norway

Distance steamed from Kristiansand: 1011 NM
Weather: Snow, reduced visibility, overcast
Temperature: 2°C
Wind: South south westerly, Force 2

Aurora picked up her local Pilot at Fugloy pilot station at 4.45am and proceeded in to the fjord. At 5.20am, shortly after the Pilot took the Conn of the vessel, Aurora passed the island of Karlsoya to starboard and entered the Ullsfjord proceeding south westwards.

Once abeam of Grotnes Aurora altered more to the west and entered the Grotsundet. At 6.30am she was passing the small island of Nipoya to starboard. Once in a position between Skallen and Hansneset lights she altered to the south and, making her final approaches to the town of Tromso, took a large turn to starboard to berth port side to the quay on Breivika terminal.

The ship was made fast to the quay and the deck 4 gangways rigged. Once the quayside had been inspected and the local authorities had checked the paperwork they granted clearance for the ship at 8.30am meaning guests could proceed ashore.

Tuesday 14 November- At Sea

Noon position: 67° 13.3‘N 010° 44.7’E
Distance steamed since departure Kristiansand:692 NM
Weather: Passing showers, good visibility, 6/8ths cloud
Temperature: 5°C
Wind: Variable, Force 3
Sea state: Slight seas and short moderate to low swell

At 1030am Aurora crossed in to the Arctic Circle headed northwards. By midday she was passing the vast open body of water of Vestfjorden (the West Fjord) which lies between mainland Norway and the Lofoten Islands. Continuing on her north north easterly heading through the Norwegian Sea, Aurora passed the archipelago of the Lofoten Islands to starboard, coming abeam of the isolated islands of Vasroy and Rost by 1.15pm. Aurora passed 21NM to port of the southernmost of the larger islands, Mokenesoy at 3.00pm.

Monday 13 November – At Sea

Noon position: 60° 51.3‘N 004° 11.7.’E
Distancesteamed since departure Kristiansand: 268
Weather: Dry, good visibility,overcast
Temperature: 4.5°C
Wind: North westerly, F8/9 reducing F3 later
Sea state: Moderate to rough seas and short moderate swell

Aurora followed the coastline of Norway round to the west and north west after departure before altering to the north around 5.00am and following the routing schemes.

Keeping the snow covered mountains of Norway on her starboard side throughout the day, Aurora was passing the entrance to the Flim fjord (Sognefjorden) around 12.30pm.

By 4.30pm Aurora had altered to the north north-east 22NM off the coast and maintained this heading overnight.

Sunday 12 November – Kristiansand, Norway

Distance steamed from Southampton: 607 NM
Weather: Dry, good visibility, 3/8ths cloud
Temperature: 5°C
Wind: North westerly, Force 2

After steaming through the North Sea overnight, Aurora was inside 12NM of Norway by 5.30am. At 7.00am Aurora altered her course to the north west, picking up her local Pilots on the starboard side and passing between the islands of Bragdoya and Odderoya. Aurora then took a sweeping turn to starboard before entering the narrow berth approach and coming alongside starboard side to the quay on Cruise Pier 13. All the lines were made fast, gangways rigged, and clearance was granted by the local authorities by 8.55am and guests could head ashore to explore this first Norwegian port. With all pre-departure checks completed and all guests and crew back on board Aurora was ready to set sail from her berth. The last line was let go at 4.30pm and Aurora was thrust gently off the berth to port. Coming astern on the engines the Captain swung Aurora’s bow to port once clear of the dock and proceeded out into Versterhavn. Once at a safe distance from the quay Aurora’s bow was swung to starboard, one Pilot disembarked and the remaining local Pilot took the Conn to bring her out safely through the islands into open water. With the final Pilot disembarked on the port side at 5.30pm, Aurora rang FAOP and set sea speed for her two day passage to Tromsa.

Saturday 11 November – At Sea

Noon position: 53° 30.6‘N 003° 48.3’E
Distance steamed since departure Southampton: 295 NM
Weather: Squally showers, good visibility, 5/8ths cloud
Temperature: 9.5°C
Wind: North westerly, Force 9
Sea state: Moderate to rough seas and moderate swell

After leaving the confines of Southampton Waters, Aurora altered her course to the east to begin transiting the south coast of England. In the early morning the ship was making her way through the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) whichruns between the coasts of the UK and France and controls the movement of large amounts of shipping traffic, including ferries, in the area.

Once through the routeing schemes around 4.00pm, Aurora exited into the North Sea and altered her course northwards towards Norwegian waters passing Dogger Bank to port.

Friday 10 November -Southampton, UK

Weather: Dry, good visibility, 5/8ths cloud
Temperature: 13°C
Wind: Westerly, Force 4-5

With all her guests safely on board and pre-departure tests to the bridge equipment, steering gear and main engines completed,all lines were let go from the quay at Southampton’s Mayflower Cruise Terminal as Aurora began her voyage northwards towards the North Sea.

Aurora was thrust off her berth by the Captain using her three bow and one stern thrusters and slowly came ahead on her engines to make her way into Solent waters, sounding her whistle as she said goodbye.

Maintaining a slow speed until she passed DockHead, Aurora then began pushing up as she entered the narrow buoyed channel and, under the guidance of the Southampton Pilot, commenced her 30 nautical mile (NM) transit.

Aurora slowed to a speed of 7 knots as she passed Fawley Oil Terminal to starboard and then maintained 12 knots as she made her two large turns, firstly at Calshot Spit and then Brambles Bank. Passing to the north of the Isle of Wight Aurora then reached the Nab Tower – a well known landmark to sailors which marks the deep water eastern entry into the Solent. The local Pilot was disembarked on the port side and, as Aurora headed on a series of south easterly courses; full away on passage (FAOP) was rung to signal the start of the vessel’s sea passage.

Off on a cruise to Norway

After our Canadian adventure, Roz suggested a trip to see the Northern lights. Not having seen them, and because it was a trip Mum and Dad did shortly before he died, we went for it.

The cruise was duly booked via P&O cruises who run several trips for this very purpose.