[Worldtrippers home] [2025 Crystal-Viking]

May 27, 2025
Honningsvåg, Norway


Honningsvåg, population 2,245

Honningsvåg is the northernmost city or town in mainland Norway, at almost 70° N latitude. (We passed the Arctic Circle at 66°30′ N latitude.) Despite its remoteness, we visited Honningsvåg on our very first contract with Viking in 2019, and we have returned several times since.


Honningsvåg is officially above the tree line. There is only one grove of trees in the entire town, where the trees have all been specially planted.


The world trippers in Honningsvåg


When we first came here in 2019, we met a couple of wonderful old Sami (indigenous) women who ran a tiny Sami shop. We made it a point to visit every time we came to Honningsvåg. Sadly, we learned their shop is no longer there – a new building is being erected in their old location.


We did stop in at the only bakery in town, which has wonderful home-made pastries

This year, Gail and Russell were assigned to escort different excursions. Gail escorted the 3.5-hour “King Crab Safari.” Donning flotation suits, the group set out in an RIB (rapid inflatable boat) into the Sarnesfjorden (Sarnes fjord). They learned how crab fishermen set and manage their traps. Then the group went to a huge crab feast.


Gail in her flotation suit


A RIB took the group out to examine crab traps


In a faux-lavvo (Sami tent), a huge crab feast

Russell escorted the two-hour “Our Northernmost Life” excursion. In 2011, Tore Fosse and Birgit Lähdesmäki purchased an old Christian meeting house and spent years converting it. Today, the lower floor is Perleporten Kulturbryggeri, a local brewery, and Sjøgata Pub. The upper floor is a concert hall. For a select number of cruise companies (including Viking), a cast of high-school-aged teenagers performs a charming musical play about life in the far north.


In the Perleporten Kulturhus, guests were treated to all-you-can-eat Norwegian waffles with local toppings


Tore Fosse introduces the play


“Our Northernmost Life” begins with the story of the Sami. The cast photo includes two 18 year olds, two 16 year olds (in their very first performance), and their teacher/director.

Once back aboard, the Viking Sky sailed past Nordkapp (North Cape), the northernmost point in Europe that can be reached by car. The cape features a 1,000-foot cliff that is topped with a globe monument.

We have reached the northernmost point of continental Europe, but we will sail even further north still! After a day at sea tomorrow, we will continue on to the Svalbard Archipelago, only 800 miles from the North Pole.


We arrived at Honningsvåg at low tide. We departed at high tide.


After departing Honningsvåg, we sailed past the island of Magerøya. A rock formation on the southern end of the island is aptly nicknamed “The Horn.”


Nordkapp, with its globe monument


We finished the evening with a special meal of fish and chips up on the Pool Deck

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