"We stayed at The Dock 69°39 by Scandic for four nights during our trip to Tromsø and overall had a very enjoyable stay. The hotel is beautiful, modern and stylish, with impressive architecture, spotless rooms and lovely harbour views. However, some inconsistencies in service and attention to detail prevented what could otherwise have been an outstanding stay.
Rooms and accommodation
We booked a Superior Plus room, paying a considerable supplement in anticipation of a more spacious room with better harbour views. Initially, we were allocated room 714 on the seventh floor, which was surprisingly small and cramped, with a limited view overlooking nearby buildings.
Thankfully, a very helpful receptionist offered to show us another room, 1006 on the tenth floor. The difference was remarkable! The room was noticeably larger, with a bigger window and beautiful views across the harbour and Tromsø Bridge. We even managed to see the Northern Lights from our window, which was magical!
The rooms and bathrooms are beautifully designed, modern and very clean. However, the considerable difference between two rooms in the same category made us question whether the Superior Plus supplement was worthwhile. We also found the room temperature difficult to regulate despite adjusting the controls.
Service and housekeeping
The service was unfortunately inconsistent and probably the hotel's biggest weakness. Some staff were genuinely wonderful, particularly the receptionist who helped us change rooms and a lovely housekeeping colleague who was exceptionally friendly and helpful. However, other members of the reception team appeared rather indifferent and, at times, almost unapproachable.
On one occasion, I waited around ten minutes while a receptionist was on the telephone, only to be greeted with a rather abrupt "Yes?" when he eventually acknowledged me. There was no apology or even acknowledgement of the wait. On other occasions, we felt as though we were inconveniencing staff simply by asking questions. These small interactions make a considerable difference to the overall guest experience, particularly in a hotel of this standard.
There are no conventional telephones in the rooms. Instead, guests must use a QR-code calling system, which unfortunately did not work on my phone and was unreliable on my partner's.
There were also a few housekeeping oversights. On arrival, the body wash dispenser was empty, and on another occasion, after our room had been cleaned, we were left with three bath mats but no hand towels! These were minor issues, but they required additional calls to reception and could easily have been avoided.
Breakfast and dining
The breakfast buffet was excellent in terms of food quality and variety, with fresh salmon, delicious pastries, omelettes and plenty of other options. However, the breakfast restaurant was often crowded, with long queues for freshly prepared omelettes and barista-style drinks. Some buffet items were not replenished promptly, and staff were sometimes difficult to find.
We also tried breakfast delivered to our room, which was beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyable. However, we were charged £36.60 for the service, despite breakfast already being included in our booking. This seemed excessive, especially as the advertised delivery fee was NOK 225.
Evening dining was another area that could be improved. Both restaurants stop serving dinner around 10 pm, and we struggled to secure a table without a reservation. We were particularly disappointed by the apparent lack of room service. When we contacted reception to enquire about ordering food to our room, we were simply told that the downstairs restaurant was too busy. No alternative was offered.
Given that many visitors to Tromsø return late from Northern Lights excursions, having a late-night room-service menu, even with a limited selection of meals or snacks, would be a welcome addition. We found it surprising that such a modern hotel offered no readily available alternative for guests wishing to eat after the restaurants had closed.
Parking – worth knowing before arriving!
If you're planning to hire a car, I would strongly recommend familiarising yourself with the parking arrangements.
The hotel directs guests to the nearby Vervet Parking Garage, advertised at approximately NOK 500 for 24 hours. However, taking the car out and returning can result in additional parking charges, something that was not clearly explained despite our emailing the hotel twice before arrival.
We budgeted NOK 2,000 for four nights but ultimately paid NOK 2,343 (approximately £187) for parking alone, excluding EV charging.
The garage is also around a three-to-five-minute outdoor walk from the hotel, which is worth knowing during colder weather. We were not informed of any discounted guest rate or multiple-entry parking arrangement.
Clearer information about parking costs and access would be very helpful for future guests.
Location and overall experience
The location is good. Although not quite in the city centre, it is within comfortable walking distance, and the waterfront setting is lovely.
The hotel itself is genuinely impressive, with beautiful interiors, modern facilities, fast lifts and a lovely rooftop area on the twelfth floor. Everything feels fresh and contemporary, which we particularly appreciated.
Overall, despite these frustrations, we genuinely enjoyed our stay at The Dock and would happily consider returning. The modern, spotless rooms, beautiful architecture, excellent breakfast food and wonderful harbour views are definite highlights.
We would recommend the hotel to anyone who values modern, comfortable accommodation in Tromsø, although there is certainly room for improvement in customer service and attention to detail.
With a little more consistency, The Dock could be truly outstanding!"
