Set sail from Bergen, Norway's second-largest city and gateway to the fjords. Visit the UNESCO-listed wharfs in the colorful Bryggen district, explore the famous fish market, and take the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for stunning views. Before boarding, relax in our comfortable guest lounge and enjoy delicious meals made from fresh coastal produce. Follow the old Viking route along the Hjeltefjord, and let our Coastal Experience Team guide you through onboard activities, lectures, and optional hikes as we sail Norway's coastline.

Alesund is famous for its stunning Art Nouveau architecture and Atlanterhavsparken, one of the largest saltwater aquariums in northern Europe. If you're traveling with us in spring or winter, you'll have plenty of time to explore this picturesque town. During summer, from June to August, we sail to the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, a preserved and protected piece of paradise with towering mountain cliffs and several waterfalls, including the famous Seven Sisters, cascading into the fjord. In spring (April to May) and fall (September to October), your ship will sail to Hjørundfjord, nestled in the Sunnmøre Alps. We'll also stop at the scenic village of Urke to admire the view of thousand-year-old farms, the fjord, and the lush mountainsides. Our last port of call is Molde, where you'll witness the breathtaking view of the 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called the "Molde Panorama," during the summer. From mid-June to late August, the streets and gardens are filled with roses of all shades and scents, solidifying Molde's nickname as the "City of Roses."

This voyage section brings you to the Trondelag 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 our 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, propped up on stilts by the river’s edge, now house various restaurants. From Bakklandet is Kristiansten Fort, which has beautiful panoramic views of the city and fjord. The ship sails northwest in the afternoon, passing the ochre-colored Kjeungskjaer Lighthouse, islets, and rocky reefs. After that, we head towards charming Rorvik.

As you cross through the Arctic Circle early in the morning, your Arctic tour of Norway begins. You mark the moment with a traditional ceremony that will wake you up. Above the Arctic Circle in summer, you enjoy the sun 24 hours a day, while in winter, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights significantly improve.
Forces of nature In the morning, we dock in Ornes, near Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen. The pier here is famous for the ‘Love Bench,’ where sweethearts declare lasting romance with a padlock. Then we sail to Bodo, 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. Standing over 3,200 feet tall, the Lofoten Wall 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. In the evening, you know you’ve arrived in the pretty harbor of Svolvaer 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 and 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. As several colonies are nearby, keep your eyes peeled for various seabirds, including puffins. Next, we sail to Tromso's historic Arctic exploration capital, where you have four hours to explore the city or join an optional excursion. Along the waterfront, you find Polaria, a center exhibiting environmental research in the Arctic with a small aquarium. Pop into one of the many shops and restaurants in the city center, including Mack Brewery and the Olhallen pub, a favorite local watering hole. There are also cafes offering delicious cinnamon buns where baristas create innovative coffee-foam art across the fjord from where the ship docks, and check out the iconic Arctic Cathedral, which has its beautiful stained-glass mosaic. Leaving Tromso in the early evening, we head north for the trading post of Skjervoy, founded in 1622. On our way, we pass the Lyngen Alps, which rise majestically from the sea.

The ship reaches the town of Hammerfest on the island of Kvaloya early in the morning. In the summer, thousands of herds of reindeer migrate to the island. You’ll know we’ve reached Havoysund when you see the wind turbines of the landmark Havoygavlen wind farm, which produces enough electricity to power 6,000 local homes. In the mid-morning, we arrive at Honningsvag, the portal to the North Cape, where a globe monument marks the top of continental Europe. An optional excursion takes you to North Cape from Honningsvag by bus, passing herds of reindeer, depending on the season. Near the entrance of the Kjollefjord village, look out for the striking, building-like rock formation Finnkirka, an ancient sacrificial site once used by the indigenous Sami. You can join an optional summer excursion to meet local Sami, learn about their reindeer-herding life, and listen to joik folk songs. We reach our 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, which are mainly destined for export. The ship then sets off for Berlevag. On the way, we pass the tall Slettnes Lighthouse, the planet’s northernmost mainland lighthouse.

During the night, we call at Batsfjord and Vardo before docking at Vadsø early in the morning. The area around Vadso 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 we reach Kirkenes after breakfast, you’ve traveled farther east than St. Petersburg and Istanbul! You have many optional excursions to choose from to explore the area. Kirkenes is where the Norwegian Coastal Express changes direction and the ship heads south. We stopped at several places during the night we’ll now see during the day. In Vardo, visit the solemn Witches’ Monument and the star-shaped Vardohus Fortress, built in 1737. The northernmost fortification of any kind remains in use by the military to this day. We return to the small, bustling port of Batsfjord and then make for Berlevag in the late evening, crossing paths with the northbound ship.

You make stops at Mehamn and Kjollofjord during the night before early-morning visits to Honningsvag and Havoysund. Almost the northernmost settlements. In the early afternoon, you spend time in Hammerfest, which has the largest population on a list of the world’s northernmost settlements. See the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, shop for souvenirs at the Polar Bear Society, or take the path behind the town to the viewpoint atop Mount Salen. Mountains and marine mammals. You continue cruising Norway’s coastline south to Oksfjord and then continue to Skjorvoy, surrounded by mountain peaks. We'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 your way to Tromso, 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.

Today, you’re exploring the archipelagos of Lofoten and Vesteralen, which are true highlights of our 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, we stop at Risoyhamn, our 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 the retired ship MS Finnmarken from 1956. Sailing along Raftsund, the Captain may choose to take the ship into the tiny Trollfjord if the weather allows. The mountain walls look so close you think you can reach out and touch them! The ship rotates 180 degrees in a single spot to exit the fjord, then sails back out. Remember to look out for sea eagles here, too. We reach Svolvaer in the evening. Due to its supposed resemblance, the massive mountain above the town is named the ‘Svolvaer Goat.’ The ship then sails to Stamsund, eventually passing the giant granite cliffs of the Lofoten Wall.

The ship calls at Bodo in the morning and then at Ornes at 7 a.m. Then, you cross over the Arctic Circle just after breakfast. You commemorate the moment with the time-honored tradition of tasting a spoonful of good ol’ Norwegian cod liver oil! Next, you make a short stop at Nesna before sailing to Sandnessjoen, 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 about how the mountain came to have such a hole. Make sure you ask your Coastal Experience Team about it! You reach Bronnoysund in mid-afternoon. Explore the bustling marina on a walk along Havnegata. In the center of town is Bronnoy Church, a Neo-Gothic-style stone church dating back to 1870. Your last stop of the day is the cozy fishing port of Rorvik in the picturesque Vikna Archipelago.

You spend the morning in Trondheim and sail past beautiful island scenery and some of Norway’s smallest communities before exploring Kristiansund and Molde. Stroll around Trondheim in the early morning as the city wakes. Then, visit the sacred Nidaros Cathedral, the resting place of St. Olav. Walk to the Gamle Bybro bridge for a photo opportunity over the Nid River. Perhaps 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. We dock at Kristiansund’s harbor in the late afternoon. The town is spread over three islands and is known for being Norway’s ‘Bacalao Capital’ (called klippfisk in Norwegian) for the salted cod that’s dried out on the surrounding cliffs. Take a walk around the cobblestone streets of the old town and tour the lively port. You can also head up to the old watchtower at Varden Viewpoint for lovely panoramic views. The second-to-last port of the day is Molde, where you can spot the tops of the Romsdal Alps. Flowers should bloom in this ‘City of Roses’ between mid-June and late August.

At least for this time around, your voyage reaches its end today. During the previous night, we called Alesund and Torvik. On our approach to Maloy, you might glimpse the Norwegian Coastal Express heading north (if you're up early enough). You can see the Nordfjord, under the enormous Jostedal Glacier, mainland Europe's largest. The ship then docks at Floro in the morning. There, you can take in the harbor and marina. Leaving Floro, you see Stabben Lighthouse, a favorite subject for photographers. Enjoy stunning views as we cross the mouth of the Sognefjord, the longest and widest fjord in all of Norway.
As we reach our final port in the afternoon, the ship navigates through our scenic route's last islands and skerrie and sails down the Hjeltefjord into Bergen.