Hoffman Adventures LLC

04/13/2025

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/tsa-approves-11-new-items-you-can-now-travel-with-in-any-size/ar-AA1CNjAe

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that it will be relaxing its restrictions on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage, and there are already 11 items that you can travel with in any size

04/10/2025

https://www.mensjournal.com/news/united-airlines-announces-new-perk-for-passengers-starting-soon

United Airlines is rolling out an exciting new perk for its passengers.

04/08/2025

Last night was our five course farewell dinner. The food has been very good and the service outstanding.

04/08/2025

Yes, we are still in Norway! There is a lot more to a Hurtigruten cruise experience than the ports. The scenery, the fjords, working fishermen, the eagles, many small towns and changing weather are all just mesmerizing. There are numerous places on the ship to enjoy the view from all different perspectives and our activity director “Are” does a great job pointing out notable sites and planning activities for the longer stretches between ports. Today he did a great talk on the formation of the fjords and the continuation of the ice age then we sailed by one of the most notable Norwegian fjords.

04/06/2025

Svolvaer the most beautiful town to date…and they had a fish fry!

04/06/2025

Stokmarknes, Norway is the birthplace of the Hurtigruten ship line which is also known as the Norway Highway. All of these ships are working ships carrying cargo, cars, moving locals from port to port and also serving as the national post office. On top of all that they have long haul passagers like us that they feed, house and entertain. The museum actually encapsulated an entire Hurtigruten ship from 1912 so we could literally walk through their company history.

As an aside, check out the floating sauna that is also a platform for the popular Norwegian cold water plunging. The word on the side means, breathe…good idea in 40 degree water!

04/06/2025

Back to Tromso
Our stop in this port was was short, and at midnight so we were treated to a midnight concert in this old, wooden church.

04/06/2025

On to Hammerfest, the first European city with electric street lights. Hammerfest is considered the
eyes and ears of the north for NATO with various observation devices. We took a walk with our cruise director to the the Meridian Column. Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve, a German geophysicist began work on mapping the exact shape and size of the planet in 1816. He used 265 measurement points – triangulation points – that form a 2820 km-long arc from Finnmark to the Danube Delta. The Meridian column at Fugleneset Point in Hammerfest, in memory of the project of measuring the exact size and shape of the Planet….well he came with 100 meters.

04/04/2025

Welcome to Kirkenes!! Population 3,500. After a very stormy night we are now just 9 km from the Russian border. This is as far north as our ship will travel. Norwegians travel over the border to Russia regularly for cheap gas (.5 Euro per liter) and Russians pop over for quality disposable diapers and instant coffee. Signs are also in Russian and 5% of the population is Russian. Iron ore mining is the main industry but king crab is abundant as well!! The Gulf Stream Current doesn’t reach this far so the lakes are frozen and the air is BRISK! We traveled to the Barents Sea for some king crab fishing, ate crab until we were ready to burst and met a few reindeer.

Tonight is our best prospect for the Northern Lights. Fingers crossed!!Gene and Ken are heading out on snowmobiles at 1:00 am to make sure they don’t miss them!

04/02/2025

We were fortunate to have a WW2 history expert as a fellow passenger and he did a lovely talk about the role of Norway in WW2.

04/02/2025

North, north and north we go!! We visited Bodo, the second largest city in northern Norway. It’s the country’s communication and cultural hub and since it was completely bombed in 1940, it’s newer, taller and more modern. Here we traveled to an amazing bore tide and learned alot about the country. Fun fact: 91% of cars sold in Norway last year were FULL electric. We did stay up until midnight hoping the captain would take us into the Fjord (made by trolls!) but after fish cakes and hot spiced cocktails on deck he decided the current was too strong. Maybe on the way back!?

Next stop Tromso. We visited a community spa with an amazing outdoor infinity pool, hot tubs, cold plunge, steam rooms, rock walls, 50 meter pools, diving platforms, biathlon training grounds and more. No phones allowed so I have no pictures! But I would say YMCA you need to rethink your plan!

04/02/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BX6shLNvH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

On April 1, 2025, Niagara Parks will divert water flow over the Horseshoe Falls for annual spring cleaning. Water will be restored on April 2, 2025.

04/01/2025

All kinds of fanfare today as we crossed into the Arctic Circle at 7:48:04 am. King Neptune performed his ceremony and many crazy people agreed to have ice water poured down the inside of their shirts.

03/31/2025

A few days into our Norway trip. We have 34 stops. Spent time in Aalusund the center for fish processing where they process 50 million fish meals a day. They are also an amazing example of art deco design. Today we toured Trondheim
which is 20% college students, a center for trade and home of a record setting wooden castle and a beautiful cathedral. Guess what we have been eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner!???

03/20/2025

https://viewfromthewing.com/american-airlines-gate-agents-new-rule-try-to-board-early-say-goodbye-to-your-carry-on/

Back in the fall I broke news that American Airlines was testing new tech to enforce boarding groups at its gates. One gate agent in Dallas, though, doesn’t think that’s enough. They threaten passengers with additional consequences for trying to board out of turn.

03/05/2025

Travel apps beyond the same old, same old!

A new generation of travel apps has emerged. These tools assist us with the way we plan, book, and experience our trips.

02/26/2025

Airport Parking Groupon!

Airport Parking with 3, 5, 7, or 10 Consecutive Days Near PHL - Up To 42% Off

02/24/2025

New group cruise!!!