One of the most incredible perks at Hurtigruten is experiencing the product we are selling. Personally experiencing it makes it so much easier to promote it to our guests. I was truly blessed to get a Familiarization trip on our MS Trollfjord and experience the absolutely incredible itinerary of the Svalbard Line during the summer.
This magical trip not only gave me extra motivation but also united me with my colleagues from different markets. Eight of us landed in Longyearbyen, Svalbard in the middle of July, finding ourselves in the northernmost area of Norway, where seeing a reindeer crossing the road in front of you is a regular occurrence, and the sun shines 24/7 during the Summer. We stayed in a beautiful hotel with friendly staff and delicious food, followed by a 2-hour excursion around Longyearbyen, learning about its history.
The next day, we embarked on the MS Trollfjord, discovering a beautiful, recently refurbished, and modern ship that became our home for the next 7 days. We enjoyed a wonderful and spacious cabin (Arctic Superior), a sauna, gym, three restaurants, a bar, an outdoor deck, a lecture hall, library—this ship has it all.
Visiting Captain’s bridge, collaboration with Coastal Experience team onboard as well as other departments was extremely beneficial for us as we gained a lot of knowledge on how Hurtigruten operates. The all-inclusive food and drinks concept would have made us all gain a lot of weight if it weren’t for all the hikes, excursions, and various activities we did. Ports like Stokmarknes, Svolvaer, and Saebo looked like they were taken from a postcard. Sailing into majestic fjords felt absolutely unreal to the point I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
The view from the ship while sailing is another topic: dolphins and whales, gorgeous sunsets, green mountains with snowy tops—it was all too breathtaking. The only downside is the need to come back and get used to my old life. I’m almost there.
Marija Dejeva
