Classic Voyage North

Departing all year round, our 7-day Classic Voyage North, is perfect for that taste of the Arctic. If you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, join us for a winter expedition. Or, if, on the other hand, summer is more your thing, then why not take advantage of the around the clock daylight under the Midnight Sun.

Gateway to the Fjords and The Northern Lights

Your journey of discovery starts in the historic city of Bergen with a 7-day exploration of Norway’s major coastal cities and remote villages. From Bergen, we head far beyond the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes, meandering through breathtakingly beautiful fjords and natural valleys. You’ll also get the chance to take part in some exhilarating activities, as you discover the best of what Norway has to offer. Awaken your senses as you:

• Discover fjords, mountains, islands and waterfalls that will take your breath away
• Cross the Arctic Circle to
  • hunt the Northern Lights in winter
  • enjoy around the clock daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer
• Take part in adventurous and exciting land and sea excursions
• Learn from our experienced Hurtigruten guides as they lead lectures and activities both at sea and on shore

Our itinerary will give you a few ideas about what you can expect to see and do on your coastal voyage but bear in mind that this is just an indication of what you can experience.

Day 1 Bergen

Gateway to The Fjords

This amazing voyage starts from the lovely city of Bergen. Founded in 1070 AD, Bergen is steeped in history and still retains a great deal of its charm and character. With its colourful wharfs and cobblestone alleyways there’s plenty to see and do before you set sail.

Once onboard, it’s time to kick back, relax and take in the spectacular landscape as we sail north from Bergen along the Viking route of Hjeltefjord.

Hurtigruten guides are onboard several of the ships and guests are welcome to join them for lectures, activities or hikes during the many port stays. Talk to us if you’d like to know more about optional excursions or activities.

Day 2 Florø - Molde

The Natural World at your Fingertips

Enjoy early morning in the breath taking Nordfjord as we sail past West Cape to Molde, an attractive coastal town with an amazing view of no less than 222 mountain peaks across the fjord. En route, we stop off at Ålesund. Renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture and the famed Atlanterhavsparken aquarium, Ålesund is a City to behold.

In the autumn we set sail for the Suhnnmøre Alps to explore Hjørundfjord. The fjord’s pristine natural landscape of steep rock walls, lush green meadows, lonely mountain farms and tiny villages is quite simply, unforgettable.

Day 3 Kristiansund - Rørvik

Where Old meets New

Home to Norway’s only gothic cathedral and the burial place of St Olav, Trondheim, founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997, is a unique mix of the ancient and modern. However you decide to explore – cycle, tram or even kayak on the river Nid, you’ll certainly delight in what this City has to offer. And for the more adventurous, don’t forget our Hurtigruten guides are on hand for a guided hike of the area.

Day 4 Brønnøysund - Svolvær

The Arctic awaits!

Join us on deck for the Arctic Circle ceremony as we cross the Arctic Circle on course, to Ørnes the site of Norway’s second-largest glacier known as Svartisen. Our course takes us along the beautiful, meandering Helgeland coast. Home to thousands of islands, bird colonies, naturally steep mountains and troll legends, the coastline is often cited as one of the most enjoyable parts of the route.

As we head towards Bodø, you will be given the opportunity (by small boat) to experience the Saltstraumen Maelstrom, one of Norway’s more unusual natural occurrences. Guaranteed to occur four times every 24 hours, the tides cause one fjord to drain into another, creating the equivalent of a maelstrom at sea.

Day 5 Stokmarknes - Skjervøy

Following our Polar Heroes

A busy but exciting day, the ship docks briefly at Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes before docking for a prolonged stay at Tromsø. Dubbed the ‘Capital of the Arctic’, Tromsø is often described as the ‘Paris’ of the north. It really is something out of the ordinary and offers something for everyone.

Almost 400km north of the Arctic Circle, thanks to the Gulf Stream, it has a surprisingly moderate climate. Packed with snow and with the skies lit up by the northern lights, during the winter, it’s the perfect backdrop to enjoy sports such as skiing and dogsledding.

‘Back in the day’ it was the starting point for several Arctic expeditions – today the Polar Museum, set in a traditional wharf house dating back to the 1830s, recounts the polar history.

Day 6 Øksfjord – Berlevåg

The North Cape

Rising 307 meters above the Arctic Ocean stands the majestic North Cape, the northern tip of Europe, the heartland of the Sámi people and home to millions of birds during the nesting season.

Day 7 Båtsfjord – Berlevåg

The Russian Border

Kirkenes, located in the extreme north-eastern part of Norway and just a few kilometres from the Russian border and is the ship’s turning point for the return journey. The area around Kirkenes was a common Norwegian-Russian district until 1826 when the present border was settled. Although renamed Kirkenes after the Church that was built in 1862, there are still strong bonds and cultural influences from Russian today.

Life On Board

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.

Features at a glance:

• Expedition Team
• Three restaurants
• Multe bakery and ice cream bar
• Explorer bar lounge
• Wi-Fi
• Sauna
• Hot tubs
• Fitness room
• Conference room
• Lift
• Car deck