Traveling to Norway to see the Northern Lights can be an extraordinary experience. The colors of the aurora borealis are absolutely mesmerizing in winter; main shades are usually green and yellow, but they can also become reddish-violet. The show lights up the sky and the whole phenomenon will make your travel experience even more enticing.
Crociera Fiordi Norvegesi© Lsantilli
The best cruises begin from Oslo, Norway’s capital city. The trip may include lodging in various historical cities such as Trondheim or Hurtigruten; visiting Tromso and the Lofoten Islands are must-do activities as well, so be sure to consult with a travel agency that offers complete packages. Last but not least, we have the food. Believe it or not, just because it’s winter it doesn’t mean all menus include meat. Many Northern Lights cruises have vegan-friendly menus for its travelers. Here are some guidelines you might want to take into account.
Food comes first, so choose wisely
Food is usually your best friend when you’re on vacation. However, vegans are usually in trouble because their choices are limited. The good news is cruise ships are packed with delicious food assortments. There are a-la-carte restaurants, buffet restaurants, room service, pool-side bars and numerous other facilities where you can eat vegan food. Here’s a sample menu you may want to consider:
- Breakfast – start your day with a varied breakfast; fruits for example, are an excellent choice, and you don’t eat dairy, ask to see if they have soy milk or wholegrain rice milk. Apart from fruit, you can have oatmeal, musli and granola.
- Lunch – salads are ideal choices for lunch, and we’re not just talking about salad leaves and tomatoes. Vegans should get creative. Add corn, olives, beans, chickpeas, peppers, mushrooms and personalize your salad to make it delicious.
- Dinner – at dinner, you can have rice with veggies, pasta, or specialty meals from different parts of the world, like Chinese or Indian food.
Geirangerfjord© Dmitry Naumo
Norwegian attractions you can’t miss out
Norway’s territory is vast. Cruising along its coastlines is a great way of meeting the locals and enjoying their local dishes. Before trying anything, ask to make sure it’s vegan. Begin with Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city. Apart from an exquisite quality of life, this beautiful metropolis is packed with great places of interest and cultural attractions. On cruises, ships have specific stops for specific timeframes, so before selecting a tour operator, make sure that the whole trip includes the cities you want to see, too. If you have time, check out Oslo’s recreational places: Frogner Park for instance, must be included on your itinerary, as well as Bygdøy, which is actually a vast green area better known as Oslo’s untamed peninsula.
Tromso should also be on your cruise itinerary; it is by far Norway’s liveliest and most vivid cities. Apart from the numerous cultural bashes that happen here weekly, tourists will have at their disposal a wealth of restaurants and bistros to wine and dine. Some of the finest eateries in Tromso are Bios Café, Hermann’s Bistro, Senjastua and Ausa, among numerous others.
Lofoten Norway© M. Johannsen
Activities to try out while chasing the Northern Lights
Catching the Northern Lights in Norway is not a sure fact. The phenomenon can be extremely unpredictable. However, your chances are increased if you’re on a cruise. Ships have the capacity of sailing closer to the Arctic Circle, where the sky is clearer and there’s almost no wind. The show will leave you speechless, not just because it’s colorful, but because it creates the most enticing ambiance. The arctic town of Bodo, is positioned up north of the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by the most incredible mountain peaks and islands, Bodo should be explored by foot. Have your camera ready because this staggering place is famous for displaying the finest northern light show.
Are you ready to delight in Norway’s finest vegan dishes and most spectacular attractions? Cruising in your northern lights holidays along the shores is an excellent way of admiring its main places of interest, meeting the locals and trying out the traditional Norwegian cuisine. In spite of the cold weather conditions throughout the cold season, tourists should know that Norway is packed with entertaining winter activities. Starting from shopping at the local flea markets to fabulous sleigh rides in the middle of nowhere, Norway has everything it needs to dazzle its international travelers.