Your voyage starts in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city and a gateway to the fjords. Founded in 1070 A.D., Bergen boasts architecture influenced by the prosperous 14th-century German trading organization, the Hanseatic League.

If you have time before your ship departs, visit the UNESCO-listed wharfs in the colorful Bryggen district, now a neighborhood with artisan’s shops, complete with cobblestone streets. Just across the street is the famous fish market, which serves delicious seafood. The Fløibanen funicular can also whisk you up Mount Fløyen for lovely views of the city.

To get the most out of your visit to Norway, the staff can help you arrange tours before or after your voyage, such as the Norway in a Nutshell program.

Before boarding, relax in the comfortable guest lounge at the terminal. Once aboard, enjoy the first of many delicious meals made from fresh coastal produce as you depart Bergen and sail the old Viking route along the Hjeltefjord.

You’ll also meet your ship’s Coastal Experts, who are your guides as you sail Norway’s coastline, and organize lectures, onboard activities, and optional hikes.

Enjoy early morning in the breathtaking Nordfjord, near Torvik. Then you’ll sail past the West Cape for the approach to Ålesund.

Art Nouveau city
Ålesund is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and Atlanterhavsparken, one of northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums. If you’re traveling in spring or winter, you’ll have most of the day to explore this picturesque town.

Into the fjords
In the summer, the course is set for the spectacular UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, passing some of the most magnificent scenery in Norway. Once in the fjord, you may see the famous Seven Sisters waterfalls cascading down the cliffs.

In autumn, you explore Hjørundfjord, hidden away in the Sunnmøre Alps. You’ll also call the scenic village of Urke. Here, you can admire thousand-year-old farms, the fjord, and the lush mountainsides.

Mountains and roses
The last port of the day is Molde. In summer, there might just enough daylight to see the amazing view of the 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called the ‘Molde Panorama’.

And from mid-June to late August, the streets and gardens are adorned with roses of all shades and scents, all solidify Molde’s nickname as the ‘City of Roses’.

This section of the voyage brings you to the Trøndelag region of Norway, marked by crumpled hills, fields dotted with farmsteads, and low-lying coastal settlements.

Trondheim was founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997 A.D. and is now Norway’s third-largest city. It features a mix of historic buildings and a lively student population.

You’ll have three hours to explore Trondheim and its various highlights, either on your own or on one of the optional excursions.

A must-see site of the city is Nidaros Cathedral, nicknamed ‘Norway’s Notre Dame’ for its Gothic architectural style. It is considered the most sacred building in all of Norway. Next door to the cathedral is the Archbishop’s Palace, where Norway’s crown jewels are on display.

Nearby, the old city bridge Gamle Bybro sits over Nid River, marking the entrance to the old Hanseatic district of Bakklandet. The neighborhood’s colorful wooden wharves, which are propped up on stilts by the river’s edge, now house trendy restaurants. Up from Bakklandet is Kristiansten Fort, which features beautiful panoramic views of the city and fjord.

In the afternoon, the ship sail northwest, passing the ochre-colored Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, islets, and rocky reefs. After that, you’ll head towards charming Rørvik.

You cross the Arctic Circle early in the morning, beginning your Arctic tour of Norway. The crew marks the moment with a traditional ceremony that’s sure to wake you up!

Above the Arctic Circle in summer, you can enjoy the sun 24 hours a day, while in winter, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights greatly improve.

At 10 a.m., you’ll dock in Ørnes, near Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen. The pier here is popular for the ‘Love Bench’, where sweethearts declare their lasting romance with a padlock.

Then you’ll sail to Bodø, Northern Norway’s second-largest city, overlooked by the Børvass peaks. Admire fabulous street art or join an optional boat excursion to Saltstraumen, the world’s most powerful maelstrom.

The ship enters the Lofoten Archipelago in the afternoon. The Lofoten Wall, standing over 3,200 feet tall, is a stunning sight on the horizon.

Stamsund is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the islands, which is busiest between January and April when the Arctic cod—known locally as skrei—swim from the Barents Sea in the north down to Vestfjord to spawn.

This evening, you’ll know you’ve arrived in the pretty harbor of Svolvær when you see rows of traditional fisherman’s huts on stilts, known as rorbuer. This is the main town of the Lofoten Islands.

 

You dock in Harstad just after 7 a.m. Feel free to have a peaceful early morning stroll around town.

The ship then continues to Finnsnes, which connects the beautiful island of Senja via the impressive Gisund Bridge.

Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of seabirds, including puffins, as there are several colonies nearby. You may also spot whales in the waters here, especially during the winter season.

Then you’ll sail to the historic Arctic exploration capital of Tromsø, where you’ll have four hours to explore the city or join an optional excursion.

You’ll find Polaria (the world’s northernmost aquarium) and the nice waterfront. Pop into one of the many shops and restaurants in the city center, including Mack Brewery and the Ølhallen pub, a favorite local watering hole. There are also trendy cafés offering delicious cinnamon buns and where baristas create innovative coffee-foam art. Across the fjord from where the ship docks, check out the iconic Arctic Cathedral, with its beautiful stained-glass mosaic.

Leaving Tromsø in the early evening, you’ll head north for the trading post of Skjervøy, founded in 1622. On the way, you’ll pass the Lyngen Alps, which rise majestically from the sea.

The ship reaches the town of Hammerfest on the island of Kvaløya early in the morning. In the summer, herds of reindeer migrate to the island by the thousands.

You’ll know you’ve reached Havøysund when you see the wind turbines of the landmark Havøygavlen wind farm, which produces enough electricity to power 6,000 local homes.

In the mid-morning, you’ll arrive at Honningsvåg, the portal to the North Cape, where a globe monument marks the top of continental Europe. The optional excursion up to the dramatic promontory is very popular, so you’ll want to book early.

Near the entrance of the Kjøllefjord village, look out for the striking, building-like rock formation Finnkirka, an ancient sacrificial site once used by the indigenous Sámi. You can join an optional excursion to meet local Sámi, learn about their reindeer-herding life, and listen to joik folk songs.

You’ll reach the northernmost port of call, Mehamn, in the evening. If you’re visiting during the months of February and March, you might spot cod drying on outdoor wooden racks, called hjell, mainly destined for export.

The ship then sets off for Berlevåg. On the way, you’ll pass the tall Slettnes Lighthouse, the planet’s northernmost mainland lighthouse.

You call at Båtsfjord and Vardø during the night, before docking at Vadsø early in the morning.

The area around Vadsø is one of the most scenic and popular birdwatching spots in the Arctic, lying directly under the migration path of birds flying from east to west. Watch for Hooded Crows and Sea Eagles.

By the time you reach Kirkenes after breakfast, you’ll have traveled farther east than St. Petersburg and Istanbul! You’ll have many optional excursions to choose from to explore the area.

Kirkenes is just a few miles from the Russian border. This neighbor has had many influences on Norway, from road signs in both Norwegian and Russian to a monthly Russian market and the World War II Russian Monument.

Kirkenes is where the Norwegian Coastal Express changes direction and the ship heads south. Several of the places you stopped at during the night you'll now see during the day.

Back in Vardø, visit the solemn Witches’ Monument and the star-shaped Vardøhus Fortress, built in 1737. The northernmost fortification of any kind, it remains in use by the military to this day.

You’ll return to the small, bustling port of Båtsfjord and then make for Berlevåg in the late evening, crossing paths with the northbound ship.

You make stops at Mehamn and Kjøllefjord during the night before early-morning visits to Honningsvåg and Havøysund.

In the early afternoon, you’ll spend time in Hammerfest, once the northernmost town in the world (until Longyearbyen in Svalbard claimed the title).

Check out the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, shop for souvenirs at the Polar Bear Society, or take the path behind the town to the viewpoint on Mount Salen.

You’ll continue cruising Norway’s coastline south to Øksfjord and then continue to Skjervøy, surrounded by mountain peaks. You’ve been docking at this vital fishing port since 1896.

If you’re visiting in the winter, you might spot the orcas and humpback whales that gather here to feed on herring.

As you make the way to Tromsø, you might also glimpse views of the Lyngen Alps, which boast some of the highest peaks in all of Norway.

You dock at Tromsø just before midnight. In the summer months, stroll the still-busy city in glorious 24-hour daylight.

On this day, you’ll be exploring the archipelagos of Lofoten and Vesterålen, true highlights of the scenic Norwegian route.

After a call at Finnsnes in the early morning, the ship calls at Harstad. Here lies the world’s northernmost medieval stone church on the peninsula: the white-washed Trondenes Church.

Next, you’ll stop at Risøyhamn, the smallest port of call. Then it’s off to Sortland, where the landscape slowly transforms from hills to mountains towering over 3,280 feet high.

Stokmarknes is where Captain Richard With launched The Norwegian Coastal Express in 1893. Visit Hurtigrutemuseet, a building resembling a ship in a bottle. It chronicles the Hurtigruten legacy, centered around retired ship MS Finnmarken from 1956.

Sailing along Raftsund, the Captain may choose to take the ship into the tiny Trollfjord. The mountain walls look so close, you’ll think you can reach out and touch them! To exit the fjord, the ship rotates 180 degrees in a single spot, then sail back out. Remember to look out for sea eagles here, too.

You’ll reach Svolvær in the evening. The huge mountain that sits above the town is named the ‘Svolvær Goat’, due to its supposed resemblance. Do you agree?

The ship then sails to Stamsund, eventually passing the giant granite cliffs of the Lofoten Wall.

The ship calls at Bodø in the wee hours of the morning and then at Ørnes at 7 a.m. Then, you’ll cross over the Arctic Circle just after breakfast. You’ll commemorate the moment with the time-honored tradition of tasting a spoonful of cod liver oil.

Next, you’ll make a short stop at Nesna before sailing on to Sandnessjøen, the gateway to the magnificent Helgeland Coast.

Admire the stunning landscape of the Seven Sisters mountain range, with peaks stretching up to 3,600 feet. According to legend, seven beautiful troll princesses were caught outside as the sun rose as they fled from an unwanted suitor. The sun turned them into the seven beautiful mountains you see today.

Don’t miss the distinctive hole passing straight through Torghatten Mountain! There is also a local legend as to how the mountain came to have such a hole. Make sure you ask your Coastal Expert about it!

You’ll reach Brønnøysund in mid-afternoon. Explore the bustling marina on a walk along Havnegata. In the center of town is Brønnøy Church, a Neo-Gothic-style stone church dating back to 1870.

The last stop of the day is the cozy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna Archipelago.

The ship arrives in Trondheim early in the morning. It’ll be time to say your goodbyes to the new-found friends you made on board, including the Captain, crew, and fellow guests.

If you have time before your flight home or your next adventure, why not stroll around Trondheim in the early morning as the city wakes? You could even extend your stay here by a night or two.

Visit the sacred Nidaros Cathedral, the resting place of St. Olav. Then walk to the Gamle Bybro bridge for a photo opportunity over the Nid River.

Treat yourself to quality coffee and a Nordic patisserie in one of the Bakklandet district’s many chic cafés. Then walk up to Kristiansten Fort for sweeping views of Norway’s third-largest city.

Your journey doesn’t have to end in Trondheim, either. A range of offers of post–cruise Post-Programs to add to your trip, including a tour of Oslo.

One advantage of disembarking in Trondheim is being able to take the Dovre Railway to Oslo, which is a seven-hour scenic route through Norway, stretching over 340 miles. The line passes through the stunning Gudbrandsdalen Valley and across the mighty Dovrefjell mountain range. It’s a fantastic way to round off your Norwegian coastal cruise.