Ships passing in the night

Whilst we have been enjoying our cruise south, a Norwegian television company had been filming and broadcasting live the voyage of another Hurtigruten ship, MS Nordnorge, north from Bergen to Kirkenes. This live broadcast had proven to be immensly popular with the Norwegian public. We were scheduled to pass the MS Nordnorge at around 21.00 and we were all encouraged to congregate on the sundeck to wave.

Being an incredibly patriotic people, the Norwegians took to this with relish and lined the ship all waving their Norwegian flags. It also seemed that all of the ship's crew had turned up as well.

They even produced a jolly roger pirate flag!

The excitement was palpable as the MS Nordnorge approached.

and the place erupted as the ships crossed, horns blaring, balloons released and people waving and cheering from both ships...it was great fun!

One other thing to note was the flotilla of smaller boats which accompanied the NordNorge north on its televised voyage.