Norway Coast Cruise - Leaving Altafjord - March 24th 2010 pm

The departure was not exactly problem free. While the captain undoubtedly intended to leave at 1400, he was on a lee shore & a tiny tug came out to tow us off it, as the Marco Polo's bows pointed landward. It took over an hour to tug us off the quay. I then hung about the deck in the cold (while Avis was in the gym) taking photos of the magnificent scenery we had been denied coming in, as that was at night. This took us up the Altafjord to the most northerly point of our trip before turning South-West along the coast, now in the gloom & dark while we devoured our dinner in Marco's restaurant, hoping successfully that no clown would open the doors to the quarter-deck, which allows freezing air in, often at impressive speed, the one disadvantage of this eatery.

North bank further North

After our usual chatting after dinner, we retired at about 2215, only to be roused by the tannoy just as we got our heads down. Northern Lights were visible above the ship, so we dived into copious clothes & shot up the companion ways. The lights were indeed performing in curtains but not looping the loop. Can't have everything, including photos but this one from the brochure is about right.