© Bart de Boer

The ships of Norwegian Coastal Voyages have, for over 100 years, served as the main highway through the fjords, inlets and islands that constitute the Western regions of the country. This year there are two new ships, the Finnmarken and the Trollfjord, both with accommodation for 690 passengers. These new vessels are no longer the traditional workhorses of the line but, although they will still serve as vehicle ferries and provision haulers, they are truly designed with tourist comforts in mind.

Bart de Boer

My friend and colleague, photographer Bart de Boer, is a seaman who has an all-encompassing knowledge of and a great passion for ships, especially passenger ships. His photographs are extraordinarily descriptive.

Like me, he travels with a digital camera, and like me, he photographs what appeals to him. His photo galleries and ship tours are minutely detailed; his technical knowlege of the structure of the vessels adds a layer that most travel writers can't fathom.

© Bart de Boer

When I review a cruise ship or resort, when I take photos, I have traveler comforts in mind. I photograph the food presentation in the dining room, the fabrics and pillows of the bed and the room, the amenities and bathroom appliances, even the inside of the closets. I take pictures of people having fun, pictures of the pools and spas and play areas, the flowers in the lobbies. I write about the service and the creature comforts, but rarely if ever about the structure, the engineering, the inner workings. Bart does.

He lives in the Netherlands. When M.V. Finnmarken was launched in April, she did a tour of Western Europe to show off the newest Millenium ship. Bart was able to board her in Amsterdam.

Finnmarken Ship Tour

Finnmarken Photo Tour

Norwegian Coastal Voyages

The Millenium Ships

Durant Imboden's Norway Tourist Information