This comes from Travel Weekly and Travolution reporter Juliet Dennis...
As I write, my chair feels like it's swaying.
The reason? I've just returned from Hurtigruten's A Taste of the Arctic cruise, during which we hit stormy weather for two of three nights aboard.
During two of the nights on board I felt like I was on a mini-rollercoaster ride in my bed. We're not talking Space Mountain, but there were moments of being tipped up and down, followed by the realisation that yes, there were some pretty powerful ocean waves not a million miles from where I was I was lying snug in my bed.
I'm not complaining, mind you. It's just one of many differences of a smaller ship compared to a superliner. You actually feel like you are on a ship.
Depending on what you expect from a cruiseline, other differences include the fact it's up to you to make your own entertainment.
What a relief - there are not a million and one different events, excursions and facilities each day to choose from.
I could, literally, just read my book, drink tea, play cards, walk the deck, and observe and photograph the fantastic scenery. And, of course, relax.
The ship itself - mum and I were on Kong Harald - was well kitted out for our needs. There was one restaurant, one cafe, a few bar/lounges and a small children's play area.
Our outside cabin wasn't posh - our twin beds pulled down from the wall - but lovely and quite spacious enough for the two of us.
In comparison with the big ocean-going liners, there was no glitz. There weren't 17 different bars providing all forms of musical or other entertainment. Ditto no pool, no big screen, and not an ice rink in sight, unless you count some of the icy conditions on land.
Clearly, this means it only suits certain passengers - and makes it abundantly clear that travel agents need to be aware of this when selling this type of cruise to customers.
What it does have, and the reason why we and many like us went on the trip, is the luxury of unadulterated natural scenery that streams past the ship on a constant basis. And at this time of year if you're lucky you'll see an array of colours in the night sky - the infamous northern lights. In the four nights prior to our arrival, passengers were treated to nightly green light shows.
One of the lucky passengers, a chirpy well-travelled lady called Audrey, told us in no uncertain terms this voyage topped her list of favourite trips taken in her lifetime.
Unfortunately for us, nature had not booked us in for a viewing. But what we did get was a ride through the snow on a Santa-like sleigh driven by a team of super-friendly husky dogs who took us up and down the hilly terrain as dusk began to fall.
Eyes watering and the sound of delighted barking ringing in our ears, we swallowed in the views and drank in the atmosphere.
It's moments like this you can hardly get enough of, and which undoubtedly made the journey out to Tromso in Norway worthwhile.
