Below is the Actual Itinerary we followed for this trip.  The difference was in the changes Viking made on our cruise.  They made the changes because of “bad weather” projections, but we believe it was due to some damage that the ship sustained to the propulsion and steering systems on the first Northwrn Lights Cruise immediately prior to our cruise.  This has further been supported by several subsequent cruises where the Viking Vela did not even make it to the Arctic Circle.  There has not been a single Viking Voyage that has made it to Alta, Norway this season.  However, several other cruise lines, some with larger ships, but also some with ships similar in size to the Viking Vela, they have all made it to their ports north of the Artic Circle and have made it in accordance with their original Itinerary.  

In addition to us skipping Alta, Norway altogether, we also spent much too long in Narvik, Norway, and made our stop in Tromso, Norway, two days earlier than originally scheduled.  In addition, the port of Stavanger, Norway, was added in to fill up the space made by skipping our two days in Alta.

The days shown below in light green highlight indicate itinerary changes.

Actual Revised Itinerary
DayDateDestinationArrival TimeDeparture TimeNotes:
ThursdayJanuary 16, 2025Flight To Helsinki, Finland5:05 PM
FridayJanuary 17, 2025Arrive In Helsinki - Overnight Stay5:25 PMScandic Grand Central Hotel
SaturdayJanuary 18, 2025Night Train Helsinki to Rovaniemi7:25 PMOvernight Train
SundayJanuary 19, 2025Rovaniemi, Finland7:10 AMApukka Resort Aurora King Cabin
MondayJanuary 20, 2025Rovaniemi, FinlandApukka Resort Aurora King Cabin
TuesdayJanuary 21 2025Rovaniemi, FinlandApukka Resort Aurora King Cabin
WednesdayJanuary 22, 2025Flight From Rovaniemi to Bergen, Norway6:30 PMEmbark Viking Vela After Arrival From Finland - Approximately 6:30 PM
ThursdayJanuary 23, 2025Bergen, Norway3:00 PMLeave Port
FridayJanuary 24, 2025Norwegian Inside PassageScenic Sailing
SaturdayJanuary 25, 2025Tromso, Norway2:00 PMOvernight in Tromso
SundayJanuary 26, 2025Tromso, Norway7:00 PMDepart Tromso
MondayJanuary 27, 2025Narvik7:00 AMOvernight in Narvik
TuesdayJanuary 28, 2025Narvik6:00 PMDepart Narvik
WednesdayJanuary 29, 2025Norwegian Inside PassageScenic Sailing
ThursdayJanuary 30, 2025Norwegian Inside PassageScenic Sailing
FridayJanuary 31, 2025Stavanger12:00 Midnight11:00 PMScenic Sailing
SaturdayFebruary 1, 2025Sail The North SeaSea Day
SundayFebruary 2, 2025Amsterdam (Ijmuiden), The Netherlands8:00 AM2:00 PM
MondayFebruary 3, 2025Disembark In London (Tilbury)6:00 AM Scheduled Time
12:00 PM Actual Time 		Move To London Hotel
Tower Suites by Blue Orchid
TuesdayFebruary 4 2025London
Tower Suites by Blue Orchid
WednesdayFebruary 5, 2025London
Tower Suites by Blue Orchid
ThursdayFebruary 6, 2025Fly Home From London (LHR)Travel Home Day