Some call the Lofoten boat charming and representative of past years when the voyage was a romantic journey over the oceans of the north. Others curse when they check the timetable and discover that their trip will be aboard the oldest vessel in the fleet. While the difference between newest addition and the grandfather of the Hurtigruten family is as large as the difference between Manchester United and Melbourne Victory, the price of the voyage is exactly the same. It would be like being squeezed into half a seat between two Japanese sumo wrestlers on a flight from Sydney to London, while your brother, having paid the same price, relaxes up at pointy end of the aircraft in a fold down sofa bed, sipping on Moet and choosing his meal from the a la carte menu.
The Lofoten boat is charming for twenty minutes or so and there are a select few that purposesly book a five day tour, in search of that romantic, Orient Express type of experience. It was built in 1964 and holds a total of 340 passengers. The 'Lofoten' remains the only boat in the fleet that doesn't take cars on board, which to many is a big minus. The fact remains, it is a cold, old boat with no toilets or showers in the room and definitely not enough room to swing a cat. A boat of a similar vintage was recently retired and it's time that the poor old 'Lofoten' is finally allowed to finish up with some dignity.
Posted with Blogsy
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