John Cox

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www.afar.com

The 8 Best Norway Cruises to Book Now

A roundup piece profiling Norway as a fjord-cruising destination, covering what travelers actually see along the coast—Bergen's Hanseatic old town, aurora viewing above the Arctic Circle in Tromso and Alta, Geirangerfjord's waterfalls, Flam's railway, and Viking history in Trondheim—while flagging that 2026 emissions regulations will restrict which ships can enter UNESCO-protected fjords like Geiranger and Nærøyfjord. It then breaks down specific line recommendations by traveler type, from Havila Voyages' hybrid battery-powered ships (eco-friendly pick) to Disney's Frozen-themed sailings (family pick) to the tiny chartered HMS Gåssten (most intimate) and century-old local operator Hurtigruten. Worth keeping as a practical reference for choosing a Norway cruise line based on priorities like sustainability, luxury, budget, or itinerary scope rather than just scenery.

Permalink travelnorthern lightscruises

thepointsguy.com

How much should I tip when I travel?

This is TPG's practical breakdown of tipping norms across travel contexts—hotels, tours, cruises, all-inclusives, and flights—rather than a single-country etiquette guide. Key takeaways worth remembering: housekeeping deserves $3-5/day, tour guides 10-20% of cost, flight attendants generally can't accept cash tips (Frontier being the exception), and cruise/all-inclusive gratuities are typically already baked into the bill via daily service charges. It also flags cultural variation, noting tipping is unwelcome in Japan and Australia but expected across much of Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Permalink foodtravelhotelshospitality

The Points Guy

Northern lights cruises: A guide to chasing the aurora borealis at sea

Auroras occur when charged particles hit Earth's atmosphere and are best viewed in locations along the auroral oval during fall and winter months when skies are dark enough. For cruisers, prime northern lights destinations include Alaska (especially inland areas like Fairbanks), Norway, Iceland, and Arctic Canada, with some cruise lines offering wake-up call services when auroras appear. While seeing the lights requires clear skies, solar activity, and luck, certain cruise operators like Hurtigruten even guarantee sightings on longer itineraries, offering free cruises if passengers don't witness them.

Permalink traveladventurenorthern lightscruises