Day 155 – Scenic Sailing: Norwegian Inside Passage

Today was a sea day, but a scenic one, as we cruised the Norwegian Inside Passage. The Norwegian Inside Passage is a protected shipping lane that runs from Norway’s capital of Oslo, down the Skagerrak coast and around the country’s southern tip. It continues north along the coastline of the Norwegian Sea, before eventually terminating in the Russian waters of Siberia. It has been used by mariners for centuries, and we continued that tradition as we sailed northward up the Norwegian coast.

Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy much of the scenery today. Tim shared his cold with me, and I spent much of the day in bed. I was especially sad to miss the Blue Nose Ceremony to mark our crossing the Arctic Circle. Viking celebrated this time-honored seafaring tradition with a plunge into an icy bath, a symbolic blue nose, and a warming shot.

I only managed to take a few photos in the morning as we sailed past the Vikna archipelago, and I was surprised at the diversity of this area. We passed the old Nærøysund lighthouse, built in 1904, and the new automated light tower; traditional waterfront homes; and the town of Rørvik, with its stunning, contemporary Norveg Coast Cultural Center that was designed to resemble a sailing ship. (I still find it amazing that I can identify remote and often obscure buildings like these with Google Lens!)

Old Nærøysund Lighthouse; Waterfront Homes; and Rørvik and Its Norveg Coast Cultural Center

One thing that I did not want to miss today was Viking Sky’s actual crossing of the Arctic Circle. We passed Vikingen Island at 6:00 pm and saw the globe-shaped Arctic Circle Monument that stands isolated on a rocky promontory like a lighthouse. Now that we are above the Arctic Circle, we are in the Land of the Midnight Sun, where the sun will be above the horizon for 24 hours a day during the summer.

The Globe Marks the Arctic Circle

Yes, I Have Now Sailed Above the Arctic Circle