Norway (Telemark & Western Fjords)
14 August - 25 August 2026
Edwards Red Dragon
Richard & Koddie
Edwards Red Dragon
Richard & Koddie
A very, very long and tiring day, leaving Kolding at 07:30 and not arriving in Vrådal until 18:30, traveling through Denmark most of the time.
It had three distinct elements:
- Kolding to the ferry at Hirtshalls
- the Colorline ferry (4 hour crossing)
- From Larvik to Vrådal
The first section, to get to the ferry was generally fine; further than expected, but fine. A coffee/comfort stop along the way, arriving in good time to check in for a 12:45 departure.
Then the wheels came off.
I have never, ever, endured such an ill conceived boarding arrangement. The coach arrives in the check-in-lane and it’s then dispatched on a tour of the docks to a “terminal” building. We learn that all coach passengers board as foot passengers; Richard issues boarding passes and we move to the terminal building.
There are many other coaches and lots (I mean LOTS) of young genuine foot passengers crowding the entrance. The waiting area is on floor 4, boarding on floors 2 & 3. Those who have booked on-line have to collect their boarding passes from under-staffed desks on those floors and so they are crowded with lines of people. The waiting area’s not much better, but there are seats.
We’d been told that we disembark on the coach, but we won’t know where it is! So Korrie arranges for us to board as a group, agree a place to meet up and then we’ll know where to go. Good planning (at least the Welsh have a brain even if the ferry operator doesn’t).
The time to board arrived and we now encounter a scrum on floor 3 as we try to get together as a group. However, we managed it and get on board (not as easy as it sounds).
The ferry is very busy, but research paid off. There are airline-style seated lounges available for purchase - we booked and paid for an upgrade to Voyager Class on board. Thank the gods of travel that we did!
There were a few occasions when I needed to go to the two public decks (e.g. coffee & tea). Crowded and chaotic. Kids running amok, hundreds (literally). The Norwegian school year starts tomorrow, so, I guess, families were returning home.
So, for us at least, it was a pleasant crossing and we met up with Korrie, as arranged, to re-board the coach.
It was a very scenic drive through the countryside, passing lakes and mountain views to arrive at the hotel.
And so begins another saga. (Norway… home of the saga!)
The hotel is massive, clearly enlarged year on year to become a rabbit warren of floors, rooms and charming lounge areas on most floors. However, to go from A to B you really needs a floor plan… one could easily get lost.
We also learned (probably already knew) that just because you’ve all paid the same price for the holiday, not all rooms allocated are equal; this time we drew the shortest of short straws. It was tiny. The windows didn’t open and there was no ventilation. The bathroom was equipped with 1970’s plastic wrapped soaps and many other things about the room made it unacceptable.
Reception declared “fully booked”. Then I bumped in to Richard (from here on in: Saint Richard). “Take look at my room; we could swap”.
A large room. Lake view. Fully equipped bathroom. Fridge. Coffee machine. Windows that open. Electric fan.
Feeling somewhat guilty, we swapped.
Dinner was set for 20:30. An extensive buffet which included reindeer and elk. Much tastier than one might imagine. The available options are too numerous to list. However, the (about) 300 others heading for the food took away any real enjoyment.
Off to sleep with high hopes that, now in Norway this will begin to feel more like a holiday.