Surviving the Arctic in search of the Northern Lights

I was going to put this in the holiday thread but I'm looking for specialist advice and help 😃

Mrs Jackie and I are going on an Arctic cruise up the coast of Norway this November on the Fred. Olson ship Balmoral.

Has anyone done a similar trip or been on Balmoral?

The specific advice I need is more about dealing with the weather. I've been told I can expect -20 degrees 🥶 I've never been skiing because its too cold 😅

I need thermals!

Would skiing clothing cope with that sort of temperature?

Should I consider supplementing my [ski] jacket with one of these battery pack heated vests?

What about footwear? And I'll need an alternative to my Panama Hat on this trip!

I obviously want to really enjoy this trip and not come back thinking I spent too much time indoors because it was too cold to go outside.

https://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-c...o-Eskimos-wear

Furry boots.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack

I was going to put this in the holiday thread but I'm looking for specialist advice and help 😃

Mrs Jackie and I are going on an Arctic cruise up the coast of Norway this November on the Fred. Olson ship Balmoral.

Has anyone done a similar trip or been on Balmoral?

The specific advice I need is more about dealing with the weather. I've been told I can expect -20 degrees 🥶 I've never been skiing because its too cold 😅

I need thermals!

Would skiing clothing cope with that sort of temperature?

Should I consider supplementing my [ski] jacket with one of these battery pack heated vests?

What about footwear? And I'll need an alternative to my Panama Hat on this trip!

I obviously want to really enjoy this trip and not come back thinking I spent too much time indoors because it was too cold to go outside.

---

I was in Sweden and Norway last year and when we were further north it was around –15C for several days, lowest was –24C.

You want lots of layers, and make sure the layer directly next to your skin isn't cotton.

On the coldest days I wore:

Top half: polyester baselayer, then a regular t-shirt, then a jumper, then my winter coat
Bottom half: polyester thermal underwear and insulated hiking trousers, something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-...677?mc=8582600

Then obviously hat, gloves, thick socks. For gloves I found it was useful to wear a thin pair of running gloves (with conductive finger tips) under a bigger pair, meaning I could take the bigger glove off to use my phone or do something requiring more dexterity without taking my gloves off completely.

For footwear, if you're going to be doing any walking/hiking then microspikes will be extremely useful and will give you way more grip on snow and ice than hiking boots alone. I have these ones: https://www.yaktrax.co.uk/product/yaktrax-diamond/. This may also apply to just walking around towns depending on what the streets are like – when we were in Trondheim the pavements were like an ice rink.

With the clothing described above we found it was no problem staying warm while out and about, the only time we got cold was when standing still for an extended period of time. Part of our trip was watching biathlon, which meant standing on the "terraces" for a few hours in –17C. When not moving for a decent length of time we found it was hard to keep hands and feet warm – in that case some kind of hand warmer might have been useful.

It's an almost ludicrously beautiful part of the world, you will love it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns

https://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-c...o-Eskimos-wear

Furry boots.

---

Next thread - Does anyone in Leith have a caribou or seal they'd like to slay and skin for me?

😆

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nonshinyfinish

I was in Sweden and Norway last year and when we were further north it was around –15C for several days, lowest was –24C.

You want lots of layers, and make sure the layer directly next to your skin isn't cotton.

On the coldest days I wore:

Top half: polyester baselayer, then a regular t-shirt, then a jumper, then my winter coat
Bottom half: polyester thermal underwear and insulated hiking trousers, something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-...677?mc=8582600

Then obviously hat, gloves, thick socks. For gloves I found it was useful to wear a thin pair of running gloves (with conductive finger tips) under a bigger pair, meaning I could take the bigger glove off to use my phone or do something requiring more dexterity without taking my gloves off completely.

For footwear, if you're going to be doing any walking/hiking then microspikes will be extremely useful and will give you way more grip on snow and ice than hiking boots alone. I have these ones: https://www.yaktrax.co.uk/product/yaktrax-diamond/. This may also apply to just walking around towns depending on what the streets are like – when we were in Trondheim the pavements were like an ice rink.

With the clothing described above we found it was no problem staying warm while out and about, the only time we got cold was when standing still for an extended period of time. Part of our trip was watching biathlon, which meant standing on the "terraces" for a few hours in –17C. When not moving for a decent length of time we found it was hard to keep hands and feet warm – in that case some kind of hand warmer might have been useful.

It's an almost ludicrously beautiful part of the world, you will love it.

---

Great reply 👍 Thank you.

Was that a standard, use in Edinburgh, winter coat?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns

https://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-c...o-Eskimos-wear

Furry boots.

---

Up the coast of Norway, he already told you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wilson

Up the coast of Norway, he already told you.

---

🤭

Spent 9 months over 3 years training in Arctic Norway. It's the wind that kills you. A decent ski 2 piece suit that is water and wind proof and you're good to go. Boots and gloves (preferably mittens) with a decent wooly hat to cover your ears is advisable too.

Someone mentioned layers, always a good idea if you can add or peel off extra clothing when needed.

Enjoy, Norway in winter is a magical place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack

Great reply [emoji106] Thank you.

Was that a standard, use in Edinburgh, winter coat?

---

Yeah, just something waterproof and reasonably warm. If you have a ski jacket then that should be fine. I think of the jacket as one of the layers rather than relying on it for all of your warmth – as a poster above says you're more flexible if you can add or remove layers as needed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Spent 9 months over 3 years training in Arctic Norway. It's the wind that kills you. A decent ski 2 piece suit that is water and wind proof and you're good to go. Boots and gloves (preferably mittens) with a decent wooly hat to cover your ears is advisable too.

Someone mentioned layers, always a good idea if you can add or peel off extra clothing when needed.

Enjoy, Norway in winter is a magical place.

---

I'm sure we will. Thanks 😊

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nonshinyfinish

Yeah, just something waterproof and reasonably warm. If you have a ski jacket then that should be fine. I think of the jacket as one of the layers rather than relying on it for all of your warmth – as a poster above says you're more flexible if you can add or remove layers as needed.

---

Thanks again 👍

Shorts and a long sleeve t shirt should cover it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack

I was going to put this in the holiday thread but I'm looking for specialist advice and help 😃

Mrs Jackie and I are going on an Arctic cruise up the coast of Norway this November on the Fred. Olson ship Balmoral.

Has anyone done a similar trip or been on Balmoral?

The specific advice I need is more about dealing with the weather. I've been told I can expect -20 degrees 🥶 I've never been skiing because its too cold 😅

I need thermals!

Would skiing clothing cope with that sort of temperature?

Should I consider supplementing my [ski] jacket with one of these battery pack heated vests?

What about footwear? And I'll need an alternative to my Panama Hat on this trip!

I obviously want to really enjoy this trip and not come back thinking I spent too much time indoors because it was too cold to go outside.

---

I’m on the Balmoral right now, in search of Meteor Showers, whales and dolphins. Haven’t seen any:rolleyes:
The ship is fine,bit dated but very clean. Staff are brilliant, food is excellent
Vast majority on this particular trip seem to be in their 70s or 80s so daytime activities rather sedate, bingo etc. Decent shows at night
. Pints are only £5 and 4.50 for a gin and tonic etc
Drinks package is £50 a day for a couple.
Overall we are having a good time, even the only jambo I’ve met has been ok :greengrin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hibeg

I’m on the Balmoral right now, in search of Meteor Showers, whales and dolphins. Haven’t seen any:rolleyes:
The ship is fine,bit dated but very clean. Staff are brilliant, food is excellent
Vast majority on this particular trip seem to be in their 70s or 80s so daytime activities rather sedate, bingo etc. Decent shows at night
. Pints are only £5 and 4.50 for a gin and tonic etc
Drinks package is £50 a day for a couple.
Overall we are having a good time, even the only jambo I’ve met has been ok :greengrin

---

Drinks package sounds like a great deal, what does that get you 🤔

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

Drinks package sounds like a great deal, what does that get you 🤔

---

Anything you want Hutchy.
I never took the package this time as the wife doesn’t really drink much and I was hoping to have a few days without alcohol
Hasn’t really worked out like that :greengrin
I’m still glad I never took it as it keeps me off the wine at lunch and dinner!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hibeg

Anything you want Hutchy.
I never took the package this time as the wife doesn’t really drink much and I was hoping to have a few days without alcohol
Hasn’t really worked out like that :greengrin
I’m still glad I never took it as it keeps me off the wine at lunch and dinner!!!

---

A few days without alcohol on holiday, dearie me. 🤭😉

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

A few days without alcohol on holiday, dearie me. 🤭😉

---

Yeah, as I said, it never happened !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hibeg

Yeah, as I said, it never happened !

---

Enjoy 🍺

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hibeg

I’m on the Balmoral right now, in search of Meteor Showers, whales and dolphins. Haven’t seen any:rolleyes:
The ship is fine,bit dated but very clean. Staff are brilliant, food is excellent
Vast majority on this particular trip seem to be in their 70s or 80s so daytime activities rather sedate, bingo etc. Decent shows at night
. Pints are only £5 and 4.50 for a gin and tonic etc
Drinks package is £50 a day for a couple.
Overall we are having a good time, even the only jambo I’ve met has been ok :greengrin

---

Thanks, it will be good to be one of the younger folk on board 😆 What you've described is almost exactly what I expected.

Micky Flanagan did a routine on this around a Saga holiday and you can see it all play out before you 😆

We've got the drinks package, we always do after the shock bill we got on our first cruise! Its now all about not caring about anything when we're travelling.

Is the Internet package any good?

Enjoy Lisbon 😉

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack

Thanks, it will be good to be one of the younger folk on board 😆 What you've described is almost exactly what I expected.

Micky Flanagan did a routine on this around a Saga holiday and you can see it all play out before you 😆

We've got the drinks package, we always do after the shock bill we got on our first cruise! Its now all about not caring about anything when we're travelling.

Is the Internet package any good?

Enjoy Lisbon 😉

---

There are still lots of 50s/60s on board Jack,everyone appears to be having a good time
We paid £120 for the internet for the 15 days and switch between devices, basically sharing between the wife and I. It’s working out fine for us and had no problems with losing signal.
Sky Sports News is available on the TV in your room along with BBC and Sky News. There is also a Sports 24 Channel showing different things, currently the tennis from Cincinnati. Your tv will also have films etc.
Sports TV also in Lido Lounge
Looking forward to having a wander round Lisbon in a few hours :aok:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hibeg

There are still lots of 50s/60s on board Jack,everyone appears to be having a good time
We paid £120 for the internet for the 15 days and switch between devices, basically sharing between the wife and I. It’s working out fine for us and had no problems with losing signal.
Sky Sports News is available on the TV in your room along with BBC and Sky News. There is also a Sports 24 Channel showing different things, currently the tennis from Cincinnati. Your tv will also have films etc.
Sports TV also in Lido Lounge
Looking forward to having a wander round Lisbon in a few hours :aok:

---

Thanks again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nonshinyfinish

I was in Sweden and Norway last year and when we were further north it was around –15C for several days, lowest was –24C.

You want lots of layers, and make sure the layer directly next to your skin isn't cotton.

On the coldest days I wore:

Top half: polyester baselayer, then a regular t-shirt, then a jumper, then my winter coat
Bottom half: polyester thermal underwear and insulated hiking trousers, something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-...677?mc=8582600

Then obviously hat, gloves, thick socks. For gloves I found it was useful to wear a thin pair of running gloves (with conductive finger tips) under a bigger pair, meaning I could take the bigger glove off to use my phone or do something requiring more dexterity without taking my gloves off completely.

For footwear, if you're going to be doing any walking/hiking then microspikes will be extremely useful and will give you way more grip on snow and ice than hiking boots alone. I have these ones: https://www.yaktrax.co.uk/product/yaktrax-diamond/. This may also apply to just walking around towns depending on what the streets are like – when we were in Trondheim the pavements were like an ice rink.

With the clothing described above we found it was no problem staying warm while out and about, the only time we got cold was when standing still for an extended period of time. Part of our trip was watching biathlon, which meant standing on the "terraces" for a few hours in –17C. When not moving for a decent length of time we found it was hard to keep hands and feet warm – in that case some kind of hand warmer might have been useful.

It's an almost ludicrously beautiful part of the world, you will love it.

---

I agree with all of this - particularly the bit about the hands and feet.. When I was in NYC a number of years ago it was -17C. It was the hands in particular that was the issue. I had thermal gloves on that are nice and toasty here but were useless in that temperature. Had to go buy a thinner pair of gloves to put underneath like you suggest. Layering worked wonders for the body, arms and legs (you didn't actually need that many layers when done correctly) and thermal socks with a normal pair of socks with lined hiking boots did the trick for the feet.