The North Cape Line

Day 1 : Bergen

Bergen is Norway’s cultural and artistic hotspot. Take the transfer from the airport to your central city hotel and enjoy the rest of the day or evening at your leisure.
In many ways, Bergen is like a medieval living museum. Founded by King Olaf III in 1070 AD, Bergen was Norway’s capital for many years. As you wander its cobblestone streets and alleyways, you’ll note how this bustling city has lost none of its heritage and historic charm. Depending on how much time you have, you can take a funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. At the summit, you’ll be able to take in spectacular views of Bergen, its neighbouring fjords and surrounding mountains.

Day 2 : Bergen

You’ll go on a guided sightseeing tour of Bergen after your breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy visiting well-known sites such as Nordnes peninsula, medieval Håkon’s Hall, the Renaissance-era Rosenkrantz Tower, and 12th century St Mary’s Church, known as Mariakirken in Norwegian. Your tour will also take in the UNESCO-listed buildings in the Bryggen district and a visit to the 7 Fjell brewery, including a tasting session.

Day 3 : Bergen, embarkation

This morning will be at leisure until your transfer to the MS Trollfjord, which will depart by mid-afternoon. Once we’ve welcomed you aboard and you’ve settled into your cabin or suite, you’ll meet your Coastal Experience Team. You’ll get to know each member of the team well as they give lectures and organise onboard activities for you throughout your voyage. Grab yourself a drink in the ship’s two-storey panorama lounge and meet your fellow guests. As the ship sails from Bergen and into Hjeltefjord, your scenic adventure along Norway’s coast is underway.

Day 4 : Molde and Kristiansund

Molde is the capital and commercial centre of Romsdalen, which sits on the southern coast of the Romsdal Peninsula. There are a number of optional activities organised by your Coastal Experience Team that add to your experience of Molde. Accessible nearby on an optional excursion is the Atlantic Road, an icon of the Norwegian coast that often features in Hollywood movies. To get the best panoramic views of the area, join us on a hike to Varden viewpoint, following the trail from the town centre. Once you’re there, you can gaze at the town from above at the height of 402 metres above sea level and admire the 222 snowy peaks across Moldefjord. If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, you can pop into the Romsdal Museum, one of Norway’s largest folk museums about ten minutes away from the town centre.

Day 5 : Rørvik

The Vikna archipelago is a chain of around 6,000 islands, islets and skerries. The largest of the chain, Inner-Vikna, is where we’ll make our next stop. The town and its surrounding areas have a long history, with burial mounds found there that date back to ancient times. The area’s maritime legacy is well-documented across Rørvik’s many museums, particularly The Norwegian Coastal Museum. Similarly, at SalmoNor visiting centre, you can take a tour of a modern salmon farm and find out more about the Norwegian aquaculture industry that supplies the world with tasty Nordic salmon. Another major export is cod, and the town even has an annual Cod Festival in March. This species of fish is especially common in the waters of the archipelago during winter, so why not indulge yourself in some fresh cod cakes while here.

Day 6 : Lødingen

Lødingen is a village on the southwestern shore of Hinnøya, with a population of under 2,000. We’ll dock at around midday, using Lødingen as a base for a few hours to explore more of Hinnøya island, Norway’s largest island south of Svalbard. Wander the streets near the port and admire the traditional red fishing huts, or rorbuer, that line the shore. The highlight of this visit has to be the breathtaking fjords and mountains that the Norwegian coast is so famous for. Branching off of Andfjord, Gullesfjord cuts into the north side of Hinnøya, bordered by pristine mountain ranges. An optional excursion might take you on a boat safari, giving you the chance to get closer to the fjord. Challenge yourself to a hike in the mountains for the reward of majestic panoramas of the surrounding land and sea.

Day 7 : Alta

Alta is one of the bigger coastal towns we visit, with a population of over 10,000 people. A particularly famous part of the town is Alta River, one of Norway’s best salmon rivers. Here, large salmon are regularly caught, with some even weighing up to 24 kg. You won’t regret trying some fresh grilled salmon in one of the local restaurants. At 70 degrees north, this town is still far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good Northern Lights visibility, so keep your camera ready. If the skies are clear and the conditions are right, you should be able to get some amazing shots of the lights dancing above you. You can learn more about this incredible natural light show on a guided tour of the town. The Northern Lights Cathedral even has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicentre for ground-breaking research of the Aurora Borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Increased snowfall in the winter allows for some truly authentic Arctic excursions, like dogsledding. The snow and climate of Alta also creates the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel, located on the banks of river Alta. You’ll have the chance to visit and tour the world’s northernmost ice hotel, built out of snow and ice every winter and carved with different artistic themes by local sculptors.

Day 8 : Honningsvåg

The northernmost city on the mainland, Honningsvåg’s landscape is quite distinctive, with barely any trees or bushes. This far north, winters are long and snowfall is high, so get ready for some fantastic winter scenery and activities. Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains. You might even be able to try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Get a taste of the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round. Admire local art in the Once Upon a Dream art gallery, and don’t miss the Honningsvåg Church. This is the oldest building in the area, dating back to 1885.

A highlight may be a visit to the North Cape. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe, and as we’re visiting in winter, we can get there by snowmobile. Standing near the northern edge of Norway and looking out over the Barents Sea under the polar night sky is a truly special experience. Add the ethereal Northern Lights dancing in the sky above, and you’ve got a sight you’ll never forget.

Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.

Day 9 : Tromsø

Often called the “gateway to the Arctic”, Tromsø is Norway’s northernmost university city, and the ideal place to enjoy some proper winter activities, like dog sledding and snowshoeing. Sitting around 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø experiences Polar Night for just over a month in the winter, and will give you a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights. This urban city is buzzing with life, with everything from trendy restaurants and cafés to boutique shops selling local crafts and produce, and even high fashion. MS Trollfjord will be in port here for 13 hours, giving you plenty of time to both join optional excursions and explore the city yourself.

Among the activities on offer is a guided tour of the Polar Museum which chronicles the city’s legacy of Arctic hunting and trade. For live animals, head to the Polaria centre, an aquarium home to a variety of Arctic marine species, including seals. Across the water from Polaria, you’ll find the Arctic Cathedral, standing out in the cityscape due to its striking design and impressive stained-glass window. There may also be opportunity to visit some of Tromsø’s surrounding fjords and possibly the rugged island of Senja.

Day 10 : Stokmarknes and Svolvær

Lofoten is a striking group of islands that rise out of the Norwegian Sea. As soon as you see the towering peaks around you with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is so often praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations. We can’t visit the area without spending some time in Stokmarknes. This historic town is part of Vesterålen, an archipelago just northeast of Lofoten. It was here that the Original Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer Richard With.

The Coastal Express soon became a lifeline for Norway’s remote coastal communities, and fittingly, its legacy has been immortalised in the place where it all began. Standing on the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in a glass building like a ship in a bottle. This is Hurtigrutemuseet, the museum that chronicles the history of Hurtigruten.

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær in the afternoon. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the south of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby mountain named for resembling a goat and its horns. A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, which may include snowshoe hikes, scenic bus tours to Lofoten’s highlights, or an exhilarating horse ride along a white sandy beach.

Day 11 : Brønnøysund

Surrounded by islands and water, Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula that juts out of the mainland. Around 5,000 people live in this small town, many in colourful houses against a backdrop of gentle slopes and dramatic mountain peaks. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the harbour and take a walk along Havnegata. Drop into one of the pubs for a snack, or treat yourself to a meal in a local restaurant. Wander the visitors’ marina, or visit an 1870 Neo-Gothic stone church. For some extra excitement, you may be able to go kayaking, or island-hopping on a RIB safari.

You can also look forward to visiting the Vega Islands. Made up of over 6,500 islands, reefs, and skerries, this island chain has apparently been inhabited since the Stone Age. The archipelago received status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, in recognition of the sustainable lifestyle led by generations of islanders and their practice of farming eider down.

On an island south of Brønnøysund, you’ll find Torghatten mountain, recognisable by a natural tunnel that runs through the centre. According to local lore, the hole is the result of a troll who fired an arrow at a young woman who had rejected his advances. On an optional excursion, you can take an hour’s walk up to the hole in the mountain. Peer through the tunnel and enjoy the view of the islands around.

Day 12 : Ålesund

After a hearty breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock mid-morning at Ålesund, a town that spreads out across a string of islands. As we approach the shore, notice the distinctive style of architecture. Every detail of the buildings, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, was inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. Almost the entire town received a makeover in the style when it was rebuilt after a major fire in 1904.

As you leave the waterfront, you’ll find yourself in a fairy-tale town, wandering narrow streets lined with unique houses. The 418 steps leading to the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint are well worth the effort.

Optional activities may include a fjord tour of either Geirangerfjord or Hjørundfjord. If weather allows, kayaking may even be an option. Imagine gliding across the surface of the fjord, skimming your hand over the pristine water as marine life swims in the depths below you.

Day 13 : Hardangerfjord & Haugesund

Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, we sail past some of Norway’s most famous fjords, none more so than Hardangerfjord. At 179 kilometres in length, it is the second longest fjord in the country, and fifth longest in the world. The stunning waterway is one of Norway’s finest. See mountain scenery everywhere you look, with the white peaks that tower over the fjord being reflected in the shimmering water below. The region is also famous for its apple products, from jams and juice to its award-winning cider, which one food writer described as ‘Nordic Champagne’.

Weather permitting, we may be able to dock at Rosendal or one of the other picturesque settlements that cling to the shores by the fjord. A small, charming village, Rosendal’s main highlight is the 16th century Barony, a manor famous for its beautiful rose garden and landscaped grounds. We’ll reach Haugesund, the ‘Home of the Viking Kings’ in the afternoon. The nickname is inspired by sites such as St. Olav’s Church, built in 1250 by King Håkon Hå. There’s also Haraldshaugen, a national monument reputed to be the first king’s burial site.

Day 14 : Farsund and Kristiansand

In the early morning we’ll reach Farsund. There, you’ll get the chance to hike the sandy beaches of Lista and see Lista Lighthouse. You may also be able to visit a German fortress used in World War II before we sail to Kristiansand.

Sitting along the southern tip of the country, Kristiansand is Norway’s fifth largest city, with a population of 112,000 people. We aim to be alongside late afternoon, giving you a few hours to explore. The city is built on a very uniform grid plan, with several straight roads running from the harbour all the way through the city, featuring architecture from different eras, speaking to the extensive rebuilds the city had to go through after major fires in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even a World War II attack.

On an optional excursion, you’ll visit the working Lindesnes Lighthouse, which marks Norway’s southernmost point. See the beacon that has been guiding seafarers to safety on dark nights since the early 20th century and learn about the long history of the site that goes all the way back to 1656.

Back on the boat, we’ll end our voyage on a high note with an end-of-trip farewell dinner. Take this opportunity to trade photo highlights and experiences with your fellow travellers one last time.

Day 15 : Oslo

Reflect on your journey as you watch our approach to our last port of call, Oslo, in the early morning, and disembark for a transfer to your hotel in Oslo. The rest of the day is spent on your own at leisure.

Day 16 : Oslo

Checking out of your hotel in Oslo after breakfast marks the end of your voyage.