(Photo: Reisecompaniet)
The Norwegian lifestyle magazine Familien invites knitting enthusiasts to join the cruise on Hurtigruten – aka “the world’s most beautiful voyage”.
On February 1, 2016, MS Finnmarken and one hundred knitters are leaving Bergen – heading north, with destination Kirkenes.
The knitting cruise will add color to the environment on board, and the goal is to knit, learn about knitting and new techniques, and participate in interesting lectures on knitting traditions and culture – surrounded by spectacular scenery.
Travel agency Reisecompaniet is organizing the journey.
Along the way, the cruise offers various excursions to knitting related places – including Rauma Ullvarefabrikk (Rauma Wool Factory), Fru Soleng yarn shop in Svolvær and other handicraft shops along the coast.
Vanja Blix Langsrud is joining as knitting consultant during the entire journey. She is known for her Kofte (knitted sweater/cardigan) design in bright colors and distinctive patterns. In addition, two reputable knitting mentors and designers, Tone Loeng and Nina Granlund Sæther, will contribute to further inspiration.
MS Finnmarken literary casts off in Bergen on February 1 and sail toward the northern lights. It is also possible to board in Trondheim on February 3. The voyage includes full board.
Program – day by day:
Day 1: Bergen
Boarding at 3:00 p.m., MS Finnmarken departs at 10:30 p.m. Welcoming drink in the Panorama lounge before dinner.
Day 2: Ålesund – Rauma – Molde
Arriving Ålesund at 12:00 p.m. Visit to the Rauma Wool Factory in Åndalsnes, and their factory outlet. Followed by bus to Molde. Boarding MS Finnmarken with departure at 6:30 p.m.
Day 3: Trondheim
More knitting enthusiasts arrive. After departing from Trondheim, Nina Granlund Sæther will lecture on Norwegian knitting traditions. She has written several books on knitting and knitting methods. Vanja Blix Langsrud starts her course in how to make up a sweater/cardigan.
Day 4: Bodø
Nina holds an inspiring course about the exciting rib. In Bodø, Tone Loeng arrives, initiator and administrator of Koftegruppen (the Kofte group) on Facebook. She will lecture about knitting in the past century, including the history and development of the knitted sweater.
After dinner, around 9:00 p.m, MS Finnmarken arrives in Svolvær, where the group will visit Fru Soleng yarn shop.
Day 5: Tromsø
During the voyage towards Tromsø, aka Paris on the North, Vanja and Tone continue with their lectures. Gourmet evening night with an introduction about the new food concept on board from the chef (group 1).
Day 6: Honningsvåg – North Cape
Hurtigruten’s northernmost point is Honningsvåg, and the cruise offers a trip to the North Cape (northernmost point of Norway). After departure, the lectures continues, Vanja completes her course in how to make up a Kofte, followed by “pièce de résistance”: An informal presentation of the completed projects.
Gourmet evening night with an introduction about the new food concept on board from the chef (group 2).
Day 7: Kirkenes
The voyage is over. Hopefully, enriched with new friends, new knowledge, and perhaps a completed knitting project or two. MS Finnmarken docks at Kirkenes at 9:00 a.m.
ThorNews will follow the voyage with interviews, photos and videos from MS Finnmarken.
Lecturers on Ravelry:
Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews
thornews.com 
Soooo interesting. Are there plans for future similar trips? Maybe with some spinning? I am sitting aboard MS Knordkapp in Bodo. This is not a knitting cruise, but I have already met 8 other knitters…. The expedition team have tried to help me find knitting/spinning/textile interests at each port, but it would be wonderful to do something organised for those interests