Crossing the Arctic Circle and Exploring Torghatten

The Arctic Circle

After a restless night with not much sleep, we woke up to a crisp, clear morning—perfect for getting up and about. The highlight of the morning was our crossing of the Arctic Circle, marked by a striking globe monument perched on a small island. The ship passed close by, making for an impressive sight. For those keeping track, 66º33’ is the magic latitude!

To celebrate the occasion, the ship’s staff offered passengers champagne. However, given that it was only 8:45 AM, we opted out. Instead, we went for the energy shots—an invigorating mix of carrot, ginger, and chilli. Surprisingly delicious and an excellent way to kickstart the day!

Changing scenery

As we continued southward, the landscape underwent a noticeable transformation. There was much less snow, and the scenery featured lower-lying islands and rolling hills. While still quite exposed to the elements, there were occasional clusters of pine trees dotting the terrain. One interesting fact I came across: the highest mountain in Norway, Galdhøpiggen, stands at 2,469m. While this isn’t dramatically taller than Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko (2,228m), the Norwegian peaks appear far more imposing due to their steep ascent from sea level and their jagged, dramatic silhouettes.

After lunch, we had another breathtaking moment as we sailed past the Seven Sisters mountain range, just beyond Sandnessjøen. These glacier-carved peaks rise between 800 and 1,100m above sea level. By pure luck, I was at the gym when we passed them—conveniently located on the port side of the ship, offering an excellent vantage point! Notably, there was no snow at the water’s edge anymore. Having officially crossed out of the Arctic Circle, it seems we were entering positively balmy conditions.

Torghatten - The Mountain with the Hole

Later in the afternoon, we finally embarked on an excursion that went ahead as planned! We took a bus from Brønnøysund through the town.

The Brønnøysund church and a view of the harbour (with our boat).

We made our way to Torghatten—the mountain famous for its massive, naturally occurring hole. The views were spectacular, and we captured plenty of great shots of both the charming town and the unique mountain formation. We were expecting to be able to hike to the hole, but were told as we approached that we would only be looking at it from below. Disappointing as we were keen for a hike, but lovely scenery nonetheless.

The Myth of Torghatten

According to legend, the hole was created by the troll Hestmannen. The story goes that Hestmannen fell in love with the beautiful maiden Lekamøya and pursued her across the sea. However, she did not return his affection and fled.

In a fit of rage, Hestmannen shot an arrow at Lekamøya, intending to kill her. But the troll king Vågakallen, seeing what was happening, threw his hat in the arrow’s path to protect her. The hat was struck by the arrow and turned to stone, forming the famous hole in Torghatten.

Like many Norwegian myths, this tale explains natural formations through stories of trolls, who, according to folklore, turn to stone when exposed to sunlight.

Sunset & Cards

Back on the boat, we made our way to our favourite spot on Deck 9—what we’ve come to call The Solarium. Bathed in the golden glow of the evening sun streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s the perfect place to take in our surroundings. With a pre-dinner drink in hand, we soaked in the peaceful atmosphere, watching the light dance across the water.

Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean

After dinner, the night took a playful turn as we met up with the people we met from Perth, and we introduced them to Five Crowns. Between laughter, friendly competition, and a few questionable strategies, the game stretched late into the night—a perfect way to end another day at sea.