We've only gone and done it

 After much discussion and debate, today we booked it.

The "North Cape and Northern Lights Expedition Cruise from Dover" on the good ship MS Maud, run by Hurtigruten.

That's the official title. We don't like referring to it as a "cruise" with all the negative connotations that has (for us) of "The Captain's Table", "dressing for dinner", "entertainment", "excessive and mandated tipping", and all of that -- things which, we have discovered in the past, are all too often part and parcel of any kind of cruising. 

Fortunately the Norwegians are much more sensible than that. Very definitely our kind of people. They don't believe in tipping. In fact they don't allow it. Instead, they prefer to pay their people a decent wage. That might sound pretty radical to some readers, especially those on the North American continent, but it's right up our street. You'll discover, as this blog develops over the next few weeks, that the "cruise" itself has none of the other negative elements either. It's definitely more expedition than cruise, so we're gonna try and stick with that.

It seemed only fitting that we booked it on Nikki's birthday. Definitely the most expensive present ever ;o)

We set sail on January 19th, 2023, and are intending to blog the whole trip. Between now and then, we'll be posting about all the preparation that is going into our expedition (mainly, I have to admit, or even exclusively if I'm being totally honest, by Nikki). We've never "expeditioned" before, or spent any time in sub-zero temperatures, so pretty much a whole new wardrobe is required for both of us.

Stick around, and discover how "Two Go North" in what is hopefully going to be one of the most exciting adventures we've ever had!