Crossing the Arctic Circle is a milestone on many people’s lists of things to do on their travels. On Hurtigruten, they make sure to celebrate the occasion properly!
If you wish, you can take a guess the previous night as to exactly when the ship will cross into the Arctic Circle. Then, the following morning, the early risers can be found on deck waiting for the momentous occasion. Hurtigruten’s crew greeted us with a champagne breakfast for those who wanted it. And why not? We all love a reason for a celebration!
But the celebrations didn’t stop at that…
Glasses ready for the celebrations. It’s never too early…
Champagne Breakfast anyone?
Celebrating the crossing under the blue light of the Arctic Dawn.
Celebrating crossing the Arctic Circle in the blue light of dawn
One passenger celebrated with a dip into the on deck Jacuzzis!
Celebrating the crossing in true style – in a hot tub!
A few hours later, once the rest of the ship had woken up, another ‘treat’ was in store. On Deck, the Senior Crew including the Captain joined us, as did King Neptune himself! King Neptune welcomed us to his domain of the ocean, and told us that we were now under his protection. The same protection as the jellyfish, halibut and the drowned sailors. But to truly become a citizen of the sea, we had to go through our Arctic Baptism!
King Neptune, the Captain and Senior Crew welcome us to the Arctic Circle
Somehow I was picked as the first ‘volunteer’ after the two winners of the Arctic Circle Crossing time prediction were baptised. So I stepped forward for a chilling experience.
Getting ‘volunteered’ for an icy welcome!
The ship’s Captain and King Neptune give us true Arctic baptisms – a back full of Arctic ice cubes!
An icy welcome from King Neptune and our Captain
It’s a small comfort that a small taste of cloudberry wine was there to distract you from the numbness trickling down your back… If you weren’t awake by then, you certainly were afterwards!
A great way to wake up!
Hurtigruten365 