14
CRUICE NORTH 2015
Successful visit:
They should be prepared
for all types of weather regardless of the
season!
Improvements:
We want to get more
activity in town when a cruise ship calls
in Sortland. Vesterålen has several small
companies producing art and articles for
daily use. We want to create a market
when cruise ships come. We are happy to
receive suggestions from the cruise lines
about what their clients want.
DESTINATION:
PORTS OF LOFOTEN
(LEKNES AND SVOLVÆR)
Contact: Sissel Hansen,
No. of calls/passengers 2014 /
(Est. 2015): 76 (63) / 66,200 (74,000)
Shorex:
I would buy an organised
excursion so that I would be guaranteed
of seeing the unique selling points within
the programme. Perhaps a half day trip
from the Leknes Cruise Port with the
first stop at Lofotr Viking Museum, the
site of the ancient Viking farm that was
discovered by a farmer ploughing his
land in the early 1980s. Today it has been
reconstructed and is considered to be an
archaeological sensation. Afterwards you
go to Nusfjord, which is one of the most
idyllic and best preserved fishing villages
in Lofoten. If you have the whole day and
time to be active, stop for a stand-up-
paddle course with Lofoten Adventure
Company by the idyllic beach of Ramberg
before you head to Å to visit the Lofoten
Stockfish Museum.
USP:
I must say it’s the legendary Lofoten
fishery for the Skrei (winter cod) and
the dramatic landscape, which was
voted by National Geographic as the
most beautiful islands in the world. The
picturesque villages of Henningsvær,
Nusfjord and Reine are among the places
you can experience this at its best. Not
to forget the amazing Northern Lights
during winter and Midnight Sun during the
summer, mesmerizing both tourists and
locals every year. Our cultural traditions
from fishing and the Viking era are also
very unique selling point for the Lofoten
islands.
Successful visit:
It’s very important for
us that cruise passengers visiting the
Lofoten islands are met by availability,
hospitality and well organised excursions.
Improvements:
In the future, we will work
on improving high quality from the first
meeting until we wave goodbye. The aim
is that the guests want to return – giving
continuous business to the Lofoten
islands and also the cruise lines.
DESTINATION:
PORT OF BODØ
Contact: Erlend A. Willumsen,
Port of Bodø,
No. of calls/passengers 2014 /
(Est. 2015): 9 (11) / 4400 (15,300)
Shorex:
On a day-trip to Bodø, I would
have prioritized seeing the fantastic
Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest
maelstrom, which has an idyllic location
just outside Bodø. If I had time before the
ship departed, I would have stopped at
one of the shrimp boats docked in the city
centre and bought a bag of fresh shrimps,
which I would have eaten at the marina
with my legs dangling over the side of the
wharf.
USP:
“Bodø by light” – Midnight Sun, Polar
Night and Northern Lights. And we have a
unique history to share from the Cold War.
Successful visit:
I recommend the cruise
passengers to use visitbodo.no to prepare
for their visit. You will find an overview of all
the available options – and there are many!
Improvements:
A cruise network is in
the process of being established in Bodø,
which will ensure quality assurance and
product development, which will please
the cruise lines and passengers alike.
Improvements are also being made at the
port so large ships can call.
DESTINATION:
PORT OF BRØNNØYSUND
Contact: Marita Ahonen
No. of calls/passengers 2014 /
(Est. 2015): 12 (6) / 5300 (1100)
Shorex:
I would have taken a stroll along
the quayside from the town centre to
Sørbyen in the oldest part of town. On this
route you pass the guest marina and can
experience the small boats in the “coastal
town in the middle of Norway”. In historic
Sørbyen you will find old wooden buildings
and narrow streets that create a great
atmosphere. I would also have wandered up
on the Brønnøy Bridge for fantastic views
to both the north and south. From there
you also get a wonderful overview of the
archipelago containing the Vega Islands,
which are on the UNESCO World Heritage
list. Naturally, it’s also well worth a visit!
USP:
Brønnøysund is the first port when
you come to Northern Norway. Here you
find the legendary mountain Torghatten
with a hole right through it and we’re
proud that the Vega Islands are a UNESCO
World Heritage site.
Successful visit:
Have a chat with the
staff at the tourist information office.
They can recommend walking routes and
things to see. You need good footwear
and clothes to suit the weather. We’re still
in Northern Norway although we are the
southernmost town.
Improvements:
Brønnøysund is
continuing the work to develop and
quality assure existing excursions as well
as new ones. We are cooperating across
various industries in order to provide the
best possible experience for visitors to
Brønnøysund.
