Cruise the Norwegian Coast

Day 4: Bodø - Rørvik

Crossing the Arctic Circle is an important ‘rite of passage’. Today we celebrate the occasion on deck with a taste of Arctic tradition – a spoonful of cod liver oil. Sailing along the Helgeland coast, you see the strange mountain, Torghatten (258 m above sea level), famous for the distinctive hole through its centre. The hole is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide, and was formed during the ice age. Participate on a hike up the mountain. Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. It is easy to see how the peaks influenced ancient legend. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters were caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus creating the seven beautiful mountaintops. Next, we briefly stop at the idyllic trading post of Nesna before moving on to Sandnessjøen. From here, you can join an optional excursion to a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Vega Islands. The UNESCO status is due to the unique centuries-old interaction between the islanders and eider ducks. Learn how the locals sustain a livelihood of making down-filled duvets. In Brønnøysund, join an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an informative tour and taste of fresh salmon, from April through October. Even though we’re south of the Arctic Circle, there are still good chances to see the Northern Lights in winter. The Midnight Sun may not shine, but you still experience seemingly endless daylight during late spring and summer.

Day 5: Trondheim - Ålesund

Today you have a chance to explore the wooden city of history: Trondheim. Be sure to visit the majestic Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial site of King Olav II who reigned from 1015 to 1028. As we sail along the coast, you will realize the importance of fishing to Norway’s coastal communities. Kristiansund is regarded as Norway’s ‘dried cod capital’ because of its long-time export of salted dry fish. Here you can join an excursion along the Atlantic Road, a National Scenic Route. The 8 km stretch of highway spans eight bridges, crosses picturesque landscapes and is surrounded by open sea. Another interesting excursion is to the Bergtatt marble mine, which takes you inside a mountain and across an illuminated subterranean lake before serving you a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’. Those who remain aboard at Kristiansund will experience the ship´s open sea crossing towards Molde - Norway´s ‘City of Roses’. From there, you can see the distant pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps across the fjord, called ‘the Molde panorama’.

Day 6: Ålesund - Bergen

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy, as our voyage draws to a close. Before docking in Bergen, there is fascinating scenery to see, including picturesque Nordfjord beneath Jostedal Glacier. Here the fjord widens to the east and forges 90 km inland. In the morning, we dock at Florø, Norway’s westernmost community. A few nautical miles south of Florø, we cross the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord, taking in superb views of the magnificent island-studded coastline en route. Finally, you disembark in the Hanseatic city of Bergen with unforgettable memories of a truly unique part of the world. We hope to see you on board again in the very near future! If you would like to see more of Norway, we highly recommend our Bergen City Sightseeing excursion (only sold on board), or various Post-programmes to experience more Norwegian cuisine, culture and scenery.

Day 4: Brønnøysund - Svolvær

Today we cross the Arctic Circle, marking your best chance to see Northern Lights in winter and experience the Midnight Sun in summer. We mark the occasion with a fun Arctic Circle ceremony on deck. Ørnes is the site of Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen. In summer, join us for a trip to the Svartisen Tourist Centre to admire this enigmatic world of ice, and visit a moose farm. We then sail along the beautiful coast of Helgeland to Bodø, where you can experience Saltstraumen, the world’s most powerful maelstrom, by small boat. That afternoon, the 1,000 metre-high Lofoten Wall looms on the horizon, ushering us towards majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. At Stamsund, visit the Lofotr Viking Museum, where you are welcomed into the chieftain’s house for a real Viking feast. Between Stamsund and Svolvær, you can experience life on an organic herb and cheese farm, or visit the Lofoten’s only craft brewery, in Svolvær. In winter, crossing the Arctic Circle means an intensified hunt for the Northern Lights, and we present a multimedia show, ‘The Magic Light, Aurora Borealis’. As we sail through the narrow Raftsund, we stop at the entrance to Trollfjord, a dramatic natural wonder that should not be missed.

Day 5: Stokmarknes - Skjervøy

We briefly dock at Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes in the morning. We then sail to the Arctic exploration capital of Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Join our `Polar History Walk´ in winter to learn more about explorers and Arctic hunters, and taste beer from the world’s northernmost brewery. In winter and spring, you can complete your stay in Tromsø with a thrilling dog-sledge ride, as huskies pull you over the frozen landscape past stunning views of the snowy plateaus. The only light during the polar night comes from headlamps, the starry sky, and, if we’re lucky, the magical Northern Lights. Why not have some winter fun by joining a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing adventure, or go deep-sea fishing on an Arctic fjord? All year, you can join the Hurtigruten Guides for hikes and discover more of the Tromsø area. Want to experience serenity on the sea? Join us for a kayaking excursion in summer along Tromsø’s coastline - a great way to get close to marine wildlife. Sailing from Tromsø, we continue to search for the Northern Lights from September to March.

Day 6: Øksfjord - Berlevåg

Enjoy magnificent landscapes as we sail to the North Cape, one of the northernmost points on the European continent. In summer, you may see herds of reindeer and small camps of indigenous Sámi people in the area. After a brief stop in Hammerfest, we arrive in Havøysund. Join a small boat excursion here to see the North Cape from the sea, visit the world’s northernmost fishing village and ride by bus to North Cape plateau. The ship continues to Honningsvåg, from where you can join a bird-watching excursion to Gjesværstappan, home to millions of birds during nesting season. The ship continues north into the heartland of the Sámi people. Visit Kjøllefjord, where you can learn about the Sámi way of life and hear traditional joiking (song). In winter, you can join an unforgettable snowmobile trip across snowy plains and perhaps spot the Northern Lights in the starry sky. 'Sámi Autumn' is a fall excursion to learn about the Arctic natural 'pantry and pharmacy', sampling dried-reindeer meat, crowberry juice, herbal tea (nettle) and roseroot tincture. You may also feel the presence of the Sámi shaman, Noaidi.

Day 7: Båtsfjord - Berlevåg

We arrive early today in Vadsø before docking in Kirkenes - the ship’s turning point for the return journey. The Russian border is a just few kilometres from Kirkenes and you’ll notice local road signs in both Norwegian and Russian. There are many ways to visit the Russian frontier: year-round bus tours, a riverboat safari, via canoe, hiking, ATV/quad-bike trek in summer. You can also join an excursion to catch and eat giant king crab from the Barents Sea. Kirkenes offers a wide range of classic winter activities, like dog-sledging, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and visiting an Arctic Ice Dome. As the ship starts its voyage south, remember that you’ve seen only half of what Norway’s coastline offers. The ports we visited by night going north are now seen by day. Docking again at Vardø, we may invite you to swim in the icy Arctic Ocean in winter. We then cruise along Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord and Berlevåg, home to a famous male choir of local fishermen.

Day 8: Mehamn - Tromsø

Around midnight we dock at Mehamn with the option to join in winter a snowmobile trip to hunt the Aurora. We again dock at Honningsvåg, where you can join an excursion that includes eating breakfast at North Cape. The ship continues to Hammerfest, where you can see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column. You can also join a mini-mountain expedition and learn about local polar hero Adolf Lindstrøm. We continue south to Øksfjord with a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy. In spring, we sail through the beautiful Lyngenfjord, surrounded by the rugged Lyngen Alps. We then dock at Tromsø, just in time to enjoy a midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral. You can also explore Tromsø under the Midnight Sun by boat in summer. You may want to drop by Ølhallen, a classic pub for a friendly beer.

Day 9: Tromsø - Stamsund

We arrive in Harstad, where you can join the excursion A taste of Vesterålen. The island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen offer some of the most stunning natural scenery of the entire voyage. Lofoten is renowned for its steep mountains, sandy beaches, wild nature and picturesque fishing villages. We make a short stop at Risøyhamn, population 200, to deliver passengers, groceries and mail, and then continue to Stokmarknes. Go ashore and visit the Hurtigruten Museum. Continuing south, we slip through a passage into the narrow Raftsund, past peaks rising 1,000 metres from the sea. We now reach spectacular Trollfjord, only 2 km long, 100 m wide and surrounded by majestic mountains. If possible, we sail inside, where the dramatic landscape inspires images of fairy tales and trolls. Just north, you can opt to see sea eagles up close by boat. At Svolvær, you can select several excursion options, including a sunset horseback ride on a beach, fast boat ride or a guided fishing village walk. We then proceed to Stamsund along the massive Lofoten wall.

Day 10: Bodø - Rørvik

Celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle with a `taste´ of Arctic tradition – a fun ceremony highlighted by a spoonful of cod liver oil. As we sail along the Helgeland coast, you’ll see the strange mountain Torghatten, famous for its distinctive hole in the centre. The opening is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide, and was created during the ice age. If the weather allows, join a hike with your guides up the mountain. We also sail past the Seven Sisters mountain range – with peaks up to 1,100 m high. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters got caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus the seven beautiful peaks. We next make a short stop at Nesna, before moving on to Sandnessjøen, where you can join an optional excursion in summer to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Vega Islands. Brønnøysund is a pretty little town that offers a charming high street and marina. You can join an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an interesting tour and taste of fresh salmon from April throughout October.

Day 11: Trondheim - Ålesund

We revisit Trondheim to further explore its colourful history. Join our excursion Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral to learn more. Next is Kristiansund, a city spread across four islands with an excellent harbour that has been active since the Stone Age. Today, it is Norway’s ‘cured cod capital’ because of its centuries-old export of dried fish. Join an excursion to the renowned Atlantic Road - one of the most scenic routes in the world. Another interesting excursion is to Bergtatt marble mine, which includes going inside a mountain and sailing across an illuminated subterranean lake, before enjoying a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’. Those choosing to stay on board at Kristiansund will cross the open sea to Molde, known as Norway´s ‘City of Roses’. Along the way, you will take in the steep peaks of the Romsdal Alps on the horizon.

Day 12: Ålesund - Bergen

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy, as our voyage draws to a close. But before we dock in Bergen, there is some fascinating scenery ahead of us. We sail through picturesque Nordfjord beneath Jostedal Glacier. This rugged coastal region features farms with fruit orchards and glacial fingers that stretch towards glistening lakes. In the morning, we call at Florø. We navigate the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord and enjoy superb views of the island-studded coastline before you disembark in Bergen. We hope you will take home memories of stunning nature, wildlife and fascinating culture, and we hope to see you on board again in the near future! To see more of Norway, we highly recommend our excursion Bergen City Sightseeing (only sold on board) or join one of our Post-programmes to experience more Norwegian cuisine, culture and scenery.