Sailing from Dover, this expedition cruise takes in the best of Norway’s spectacularly scenic coast on a summer adventure under the glow of the Midnight Sun. You’ll journey to hidden and famous fjords, visit charming coastal cities, idyllic fishing villages, and the North Cape in the Arctic, and explore remote island archipelagos few ever visit.
Midnight Sun Expedition Cruise – 15 days
Sailing from Dover, this expedition cruise takes in the best of Norway’s spectacularly scenic coast on a summer adventure under the glow of the Midnight Sun. You’ll journey to hidden and famous fjords, visit charming coastal cities, idyllic fishing villages, and the North Cape in the Arctic, and explore remote island archipelagos few ever visit.
On this summer adventure, you’ll have the chance to visit places like picturesque Reine in Lofoten, Lysefjord where you’ll see the famous Preikestolen viewpoint, and the stunning tranquillity of Hjørundfjord. Above the Polar Circle in the Arctic North, you’ll experience the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun, creating endless days drenched in hazy warm hues and lighting up Norway’s fjords and mountains. The atmosphere in summer here is very chilled, humming with the social buzz of local people hanging out late into the night, just as you might well be.
Norway’s best-kept travel secrets
With Hurtigruten’s unique advantage to sail close to the coast and land at places few expedition ships can, you’ll have the opportunity to explore locations that are harder to reach. Discover remote and rugged islands shaped by the elements like Værlandet; working fishing villages and well-preserved idylls such as Træna and Senja; and unspoilt fjords where fewer visitors venture like Hjørundfjord. This expedition truly captures the authentic spirit of the Norwegian coast – its history, its nature and its culture.
Day 1: Day 1 - Dover
All aboard at Dover! MS Maud will set sail due north from Dover, bound for summer adventure along miles and miles of stunning Norwegian coastline. We’ll pass through the Dover Strait, with the white cliffs of Dover receding into the distance, and head out to the North Sea. Stretch your newly-found sea legs out on deck and get to know the different areas of the ship, your new home away from home for the next two weeks.
Day 2: Day 2 - At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea as we head north to the rugged Norwegian coastline. You’ll have plenty of time to de-stress, relax and really get into the mood for this expedition cruise. Admire the waves from MS Maud’s expansive Observation Deck, settle into a good book together with a freshly baked pastry from the Fredheim restaurant, or take full advantage of the gym and hot tubs.
Day 3: Day 3 - Bergen
Enjoy a day at sea as we head north to the rugged Norwegian coastline. You’ll have plenty of time to de-stress, relax and really get into the mood for this expedition cruise. Admire the waves from MS Maud’s expansive Observation Deck, settle into a good book together with a freshly baked pastry from the Fredheim restaurant, or take full advantage of the gym and hot tubs.
Day 4: Day 4 - Hjorundfjord
Like famous Geirangerfjord next door, Hjørundfjord is part of the UNESCO designated Fjords Norway area which is notable for “exceptional natural beauty”. However, unlike its neighbour which gets a bit too popular in the summer, Hjørundfjord can bask in its beauty in tranquillity thanks to being off the beaten tourist track. Surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps with peaks soaring 1,700 metres straight up from the sea, it is one of the most scenic fjords in all of Norway and still undiscovered by most other cruise lines.
Day 5: Day 5 - At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea as we head north to the rugged Norwegian coastline. You’ll have plenty of time to de-stress, relax and really get into the mood for this expedition cruise. Admire the waves from MS Maud’s expansive Observation Deck, settle into a good book together with a freshly baked pastry from the Fredheim restaurant, or take full advantage of the gym and hot tubs.
Day 6: Day 6 - Reine & Lofoten
The approach to Lofoten is not to be missed as a formidable wall of mountains greets you. The islands here are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The breath-taking scenery is a masterpiece of distinctive peaks, sheltered bays, untouched beaches, and paradisaic fishing villages.
Day 7: Day 7 - Honningsvag
Arriving in the small town of Honningsvåg in the late afternoon, you’ll now visit one of the northernmost points in Europe as part of an included excursion. The scenic bus ride from Honningsvåg passes small bays and tiny villages, then crosses a mountain plateau before arriving at spectacular North Cape. At 71°10’21´N, it is just 2,100 kilometres away from the Geographic North Pole, with only the Svalbard Archipelago in between. There’s the obligatory selfie at the Globe Monument to snap before visiting the North Cape Hall for several exhibits and a short film which chronicle the history of the cape.
Day 8: Day 8 - Tromso
Looking for Arctic adventure? Tromsø is the place to find it. Set far above the Arctic Circle, the Midnight Sun shines here from May 20 to July 22. It never gets dark during the peak of the summer and the town brims with almost round-the-clock activities. There are lots of great hiking trails to explore and watersports around the harbour. You can join optional excursions like hikes with our Expedition Team, kayaking, boat trips and scenic bus tours.
Day 9: Day 9 - Senja
Today, we dock at Senja, one of the most ruggedly beautiful and less-visited islands in Norway. You’ll be awestruck by the scenery on display here and understand why it made CNN travel’s list for ’10 of the world’s most beautiful islands’.
Senja is Norway’s second largest island but counts fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, most of whom are employed in fishing and aquaculture. The captain will decide on a location to drop anchor or a port where we can dock. Should the weather be rough on the coast side, we will seek more shelter in the bays or inlets.
Day 10: Day 10 - Traena
In the morning, we sail along the coast of Helgeland with nothing but sky and sea ahead. In the distance, you can see mountains rise from the horizon. This is Træna, an archipelago of over 400 islands and islets right on the Arctic Circle. We plan to go on a scenic walk around the village of Husøya where most of Træna’s 454 inhabitants live.
Surprisingly, the community on the islands has a Nordic-Hawaiian vibe, which is probably best appreciated in summer. There is a permanent outdoor photography exhibition, a themed café, and even a local ‘Waikiki Beach’.
Day 11: Day 11 - Kristiansund
After the past few days spent exploring tranquil and isolated coastal settings, get ready for a change of tempo today. We dock at Kristiansund which is one of the most densely populated cities in Norway. Its urban area is spread across four islands with bustling waterfronts, scenic marinas and distinctive architecture, decorated in shades of red, yellow and green.
Day 12: Day 12 - Vaerlandet
Today, we will explore the area around Værlandet, the westernmost islands of Norway, and the outlet of Sognefjord. At only 3.5 square miles and with only 200 people, Værlandet itself is a small island even by Norwegian standards and the island is rarely visited by cruise ships. The windswept islands in and around Værlandet face the North Sea and are a stark contrast to the sheltered fjords. Here, where even the trees are small and bent by the wind, small communities exist, surviving largely on fishing and a little tourism. The coastal islands are also home to many animals, so be on the lookout for seals, otters, porpoises, eagles and deer.
Day 13: Day 13 - Lysefjord
Your final day of exploration begins as we arrive at Mosterøy and Klosterøy in the morning, two of the myriad of islands that lie around the city of Stavanger. Mosterøy is a lovely island that is made up of a mixture of pastures for cattle, horticulture, and cute neighbourhoods all around. Klosterøy is less than a square mile in size but home to the historic Utstein Abbey and the 800-year old Utstein Church. The stone church is a protected site and while it seats up to 300 people, it is only used for special occasions. You’ll explore the abbey, Norway’s best-preserved medieval monastery.
Day 14: Day 14 - At Sea
It’s our final day at sea and the last full day of this memorable expedition cruise. As we cross the North Sea, you may spot seabirds and dolphins that like to follow the ship.
Day 15: Day 15 - Dover
We’ll sail past the white cliffs of Dover and into the English Channel during the early hours of the morning and finally dock at the city’s harbour. After breakfast, it’ll be time to say a fond farewell to everyone on MS Maud who have made your expedition so special.
The Hurtigruten line was originally launched to transport people and goods along the coast of Norway. It was particularly prevalent in winter when infrastructure was still in its infancy and land travel was generally more difficult. Even though there are now alternative means of transport, the Hurtigruten line still runs, calling at 34 ports along the Norwegian coastline.
They are though, not traditional cruise ships and life on board a Hurtigruten ship is vastly different to what you might expect onboard a traditional cruise liner and offers less in terms of entertainment. However, as a majority of their ships are much smaller than traditional cruise ships (150 – 500 passengers as opposed to 1000s) it means that they can enter the fjords in both winter and summer. And because they stop at so many ports, you will get to see more of the Norwegian coastline as opposed to just the ‘highlights’.
They also don’t fall short when it comes to comfort and amenities. The cabins are all elegantly furnished with a choice of cabin to suit all budgets. One of the most popular ships, the MS Polarlys, was refurbished in 2016. Featuring a modern, Arctic-inspired interior, there are three restaurants offering a range of different cuisine, a Multe bakery and ice cream bar, a sauna and fitness room. On deck you can while the time away and take in the view from one of the two hot tubs, or if you prefer, enjoy a drink at the bar at the front of the ship.
But Hurtigruten really does come into its own with its on-board Expedition team. Passionate and experienced about all things ‘Norwegian’, the team host lectures, presentation programmes and activities on a regular basis.
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