Bekkjarvik welcomes its very first cruiseship

On June 21 Bekkjarvik received its first cruiseship call when Ponant Cruises’ Le Boreal visited. Arriving at 0750, 216 passengers disembarked with half taking tours and the rest enjoying the town independently. The most popular excursion was a guided walking tour by the sea which included a church visit. She departed at 1200.

The small Norwegian port has been promoting itself to small cruiseships and private yachts for a year or so and its diligence has come to fruition.

In order to attract these ships, it has extended the quay to a total length of close to 200m with a depth of 12m.

The harbour has been secured a future as a museum of traditional coastal architecture. Here are white-painted wooden houses which were originally used for steamship expeditions, herring salting, barrel production and repairing, dying and drying of fishermen’s nets. There is also a farmer’s barn.

Today these old buildings host a variety of shops, restaurants, an art gallery, historic exhibitions, a spa, library, a hairdresser, flats, hotel rooms and suites.

In the middle of all this is the old empire-styled Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri from 1750 which is now run by Bocuse d’Or world champion chef Orjan Johannessen and his family.