DAY 1 / KIRKENES / EMBARKATION / BERLEVÅG 

Your southbound adventure begins in Kirkenes, which, at 30° East, is further east than both Istanbul and St. Petersburg. As the ship sets sail, take in spectacular views of this Arctic wonderland from deck or the panorama lounge.

In winter, there will be a presentation on Pomor trade history. The ship docks again in Vardø, Norway’s easternmost port, in the afternoon. Weather permitting, you may be invited to experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean. During the spring season, there will be presentation of “Life in the Sea,” and in winter, local Arctic divers will bring displays and lecture out on deck about ocean life. Continue along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord before reaching Berlevåg in the evening.

DAY 2 / MEHAMN / TROMSØ 

In the middle of the night, dock at Mehamn, where in winter it’s possible to join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe’s most dramatic natural areas. In Honningsvåg, enjoy an excursion and breakfast at the North Cape while discovering hidden parts of Finnmark.

Before stopping in Hammerfest, have an “energy coffee” on board and learn about Melkøya, the northernmost natural gas terminal. In autumn you’re invited to taste dried reindeer meat on deck. In Hammerfest, join a mountain hike or participate in a guided city tour, including the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, which was erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise measurement of the globe.

We continue south to Øksfjord. In winter, our crew will teach you how to tie maritime knots on deck. After crossing open water, make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy before sailing through the beautiful Lyngenfjord in spring. Surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Lyngen Alps, you may enjoy a visit from a local fisherman offering freshly caught prawns. Dock in Tromsø, known as “the gateway to the Arctic,” just in time to enjoy a Midnight Concert at the Arctic Cathedral. Alternatively, set off on foot and enjoy a local brew in one of the town’s many friendly pubs.

DAY 3 / TROMSØ / STAMSUND 

Arrive at Harstad this morning, where you have the opportunity to participate in a classic Hurtigruten’s excursion: A Taste of Vesterålen. The Risøyrenna channel is just seven meters deep, and was made especially for Hurtigruten in the 1920s, providing an inside route between Harstad and Sortland. The sandbanks are visible through the clear, green water.

Risøyhamn is a small village with only two hundred inhabitants. Here, the ship makes a short stop to deliver passengers, groceries, and mail. From this port, join a spectacular wintertime whale-watching experience, then continue via Sortland to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded more than a century ago.

Continuing south, it will appear as though the ship is sailing straight into a mountain wall, but the captain finds an opening and sails through the narrow Raftsund. In winter, as a tribute to the region’s fishing history, our on-board chef demonstrates how to fillet the catch of the day on deck.

Reach the spectacular Trollfjord, only two kilometers long and one hundred meters wide, surrounded by truly majestic mountains. Weather and time permitting, the captain will take a detour in here. Join a sea eagle excursion to see the king of birds up close. Reaching Svolvær, choose from several excursion options in summer, spring, and winter. From Svolvær, continue on to Stamsund, where you’ll see the spectacular peaks of the Lofoten wall. Leave the islands during the evening, setting course for the mainland.

DAY 4 / BODØ / RØRVIK 

Today, crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is a rite of passage. Celebrate with an Arctic traditions tasting out on deck. Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. All seven mountains are between 900 and 1100 meters high, and it’s easy to see how these “ladies” have inspired ancient myths. We take a short stop at Nesna, an idyllic old trading post, before moving on to Sandnessjøen. Nearby, the Vega Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site can be visited on an optional excursion during summer. In Brønnøysund, we offer an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre.

DAY 5 / TRONDHEIM / ÅLESUND 

Today, you’ll have another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. Journey through Trondheim’s 1,000-year history on a city walk. Back on board, the ship heads out of the majestic Trondheimsfjord, which is 170 kilometers long and up to 25 kilometers wide. Like all other Norwegian fjords, it is deep, at most 577 meters.

Sailing along the coast, you’ll realise the importance of fish to Norwegian coastal communities. Kristiansund’s location has provided the town with a wealth of opportunities in the fishing, shipbuilding, and oil industries. This town is now regarded as Norway’s “cured cod capital” because of its long history of exporting this dried and salted fish. Here, you can join a trip to the Atlantic Road, one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. As we cross the open sea to Molde, the “city of roses,” take in the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps.

DAY 6 / ÅLESUND / BERGEN / DISEMBARKATION 

During the night, the ship will call at Ålesund, Torvik, and Måløy as your exciting voyage draws to a close. Before docking in Bergen, admire a few nautical miles of fascinating scenery, such as the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedals glacier.

The ship calls at Florø, a modern town which is the oldest in Sogn og Fjordane county and the westernmost in Norway. A few nautical miles south of Florø, we navigate the estuary of the mighty Sognefjord. Get the best views of the archipelago en route, before disembarking in Bergen.

• Voyage in cabin category of your choice, on a full-board basis
• English-speaking Tour Leader on board

Travel Documents / Visas

1. Passport

Canadian citizens must have a valid passport for entry to Norway. It should be valid for at least 3 months after your return.

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

2. Visa

No visa is required for citizens of Canada to enter Norway.

Packing List

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We strongly recommend purchasing travel medical insurance for travel outside Canada. Details on coverage available through our website can be found here.

Smoking

Not permitted anywhere indoors. There are designated areas on the outside decks.

Weather

Bergen

Winter: January – March / November – December

• Days in the low 0s, nights around freezing or somewhat below.

Spring/Fall: April – May / September – October

• Days in the mid to high 0s, nights in the low 0s. September a bit warmer.

Summer: June – August

• Days in the high 10s to low 20s, nights in the low 10s.

Being a coastal climate, rain can be expected on 2 out of 3 days. The heaviest Rainfall / sometimes snow is in the winter months.

Tromsö

Winter: January – March / November – December

• Days around or slightly below freezing. Nights as cold as -5 to -8C.

Spring/Fall: April – May / September – October

• Days in the mid to low 0s. Nights around freezing.

Summer: June – August

• Days in the low to mid 10s. Nights in the  high 0s.

Tromsö is noticeably dryer than Bergen in the winter months, but in summer  it is similar with 2 out of 3 days likely precipitation.

Arrival / Departure

If you are booking a cruise-only program, you must make your own way to the port of departure:

1. Northbound and Roundtrip: Bergen

In Bergen, the Hurtigruten ships sail from: Hurtigruten Terminal, Nøstegaten 30, N-5010 Bergen. You can pre-book through our office the Hurtigruten shuttle bus between the airport and the port.

If you are taking a taxi, you can simply ask the taxi driver to get you to “the Hurtigruten Terminal”.

Luggage lockers are available in the terminal and cost NOK 30 (3 x 10 kr.) The terminal is staffed and open for luggage check-in from 1:00PM until 2:30PM. Passenger check-in begins at 3:00PM and boarding takes place from 4:00PM to 7:30PM. Cabins are available from 6:00PM. Please note that the latest check-in time in the terminal is at 7:30PM during the entire year for all voyages.

2. Southbound: Kirkenes

In Kirkenes, Hurtigruten ships sail from the port which is about 20 mins bus/taxi ride from the airport. Similarly, there is a Hurtigruten shuttle which can be pre-booked with your cruise.

Please ensure that your arrival travel arrangements give you adequate time to get to the port taking into account potential travel delays (particularly from overseas). Assuming you are connecting, take into account the potential for luggage delays as it is very difficult to get delayed luggage forwarded to the ship.

When disembarking in Bergen, luggage will be delivered to the baggage belt in the terminal. On the last day of the roundtrip voyage you will be asked to vacate your cabin a few hours before arrival. Information regarding luggage handling and disembarkation at other ports is available on board.

Money

The currency of Norway is the Norwegian Kronor (NOK).

Onboard, you will be issued a cruise card which you can use to charge all purchases during your voyage. You must provide a Visa, American Express, Diners or MasterCard that is valid for at least 3 months after your trip date.

The final bill will be charged to your account in Norwegian Kronor (NOK).

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in most towns and cities in Norway. Regrettably, currency exchange facilities do not exist aboard the ship.

Gratuities (Tipping)

It is not usual practice to leave a tip onboard Hurtigruten ships in Norway. However, if you feel that a crew has provided exemplary service, there are tip boxes in the restaurant onboard.

Laundry

Laundry rooms with washing machines, dryers and irons are available on all ships. You can buy laundry payment tokens at the ship’s reception desk.

Excursions

There are numerous shore excursions available at all major ports along the way. To obtain the most up-to-date list of shore excursions and costs, please contact our office for details.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light to Moderate – Ultimately the activity level depends on you. Some guests are content to spend the majority of time on board enjoying some of the world’s most beautiful coastline as it passes by.

Depending on the time of year, there are excursions ranging from zodiac boats to dogsledding and more. Please consult us to determine the right mix of activities for you.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your cruise fare (unless you have booked a port-to-port ticket). Beverages are available for purchase onboard but coffee and tea is complimentary.

Breakfast is usually served from 7:30AM (open seating), lunch from 12:00PM-1:00PM (open seating) and dinner from 6:30PM (assigned seating). During the high season, there may be two lunch and evening meal sittings – the times will be displayed on board. The voyage begins with a buffet dinner on departure from Bergen, and (for roundtrip voyages only) ends with brunch on the arrival day back in Bergen. Breakfast consists of a wide selection of cold meats, cheeses, eggs, cereals and fruit, with fresh-baked bread, pastries and often “sveler” (small pancakes) and waffles freshly cooked in the restaurant. The all-inclusive package includes a mixture of buffets and set menus for lunches and dinners, while for those guests who wish to enjoy an enhanced dining experience, the à la carte menu available for a small additional charge.

Language

Norway educates their citizens in English from a very young age. You will not likely run into any language difficulties.

Medical Facilities

There are no doctors aboard the ships as typically there are many ports of call each day and medical assistance is seldom far away. Some crew members will be trained in first aid and in the most urgent cases, medivac evacuation is readily available.

Noise

By this point you will know that travelling on Hurtigruten is not like a conventional cruise, but rather a hybrid between a cargo ship, car and passenger ferry and cruise line. To this end, docking and departing, loading and unloading activities occur day-in and day-out, every single day. Some cabins, particularly on lower decks adjacent to the cargo doors, will experience noise. While most passengers take this in stride given the nature of the journey, if you are someone who is particularly bothered by this, then please make your concerns known at the time of booking so that we can endeavour to secure a cabin away from such areas. Please note that there is no part of any ship which is completely silent and noise free.

Phone & Internet

Most of the ships have a telephone in each cabin. Charges will vary depending on the destination called as it is obviously a ship-to-shore system.

Mobile phones will work in proximity to many of the ports along the way. Check with your mobile provider about roaming packages for Norway or alternatively, if your phone is unlocked, you can obtain a prepaid SIM card for Norway which will undoubtedly be considerably less expensive than any roaming plan if you plan to do a lot of phone calls or use a lot of internet data.

All ships have Wi-Fi although not all ships have Wi-Fi available in the cabins. Please contact us at the time of booking and we can advise if the ship you are considering has the facility you require.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to Norway. However, we suggest you consult your physician with any specific personal requirements for this program.

You must have travel insurance to participate on this voyage.

Safety & Security

Our ships are equipped with the latest in emergency communication, life boats and other equipment to deal with any kind of problematic event. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office for more details.

There are currently no security threats in Norway, one of the safest countries in the world.

Details can be found at: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/norway

Suggested Reading

Norway and its Fjords

History of Norway

Norway and the Norwegians