The North Cape Express - Full Voyage
Sail the Norwegian coast, one of the world’s longest coastlines. Travel from Bergen to North Cape in Arctic Norway, at the top of Europe, and back south to the capital of Oslo. Learn about the communities that stretch along the coast and join in on exciting optional excursions that change according to the season. Join the North Cape Express in the beautiful city of Bergen for an autumn, winter, or spring voyage to Arctic Norway at North Cape—perhaps under the Northern Lights. Your ship will then turn around and sail back south toward Lindesnes, bound for the cosmopolitan capital, Oslo.
For the first time, we take guests on a voyage along the full length of the country’s incredible coastline, spending up to six hours at each port to better showcase the iconic flavors, adventures, and pristine beauty of Norway. Immerse yourself in the culture of modern cities and traditions of secluded villages. Be still in nature, savor local foods and flavors, listen for the splash of a breaching whale while you experience history in the making.
Your Ship: MS Trollfjord
The ship is named after the spectacular Trollfjord in Vesterålen. Inside she provides spectacular comfort in wide-open facilities and interior design that makes extensive use of Norwegian wood and stone. Undergoing a complete refurbishment in spring 2023, MS Trollfjord is an homage both to Norwegian nature and Hurtigruten's 130-year heritage sailing the Norwegian coast. The style of décor is classic, timeless, and unique in our fleet. You’ll notice details and flourishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia, harking back to a golden era of exclusive small-ship sailing.
Travel Insurance
For your protection AAA recommends Travel Insurance. Pre-existing medical conditions may be waived with proper coverage if travel insurance is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit only. Other conditions may apply; ask your travel advisor. AAA recommends Allianz.
- Transfers in Bergen (airport–hotel, hotel–ship)
- Two-night stay in a four-star hotel in the Bergen city center, including breakfast
- Complimentary water, tea, and coffee
- English-speaking Coastal Experience team
- Guests receive 600 NOK onboard credit per person*
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Onboard Credit: * Guests receive 600 Norwegian Kroner onboard credit per person for all North Cape Express voyages. The onboard credit is given in Norwegian Krone (NOK) on all Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express cruises. The USD equivalent will fluctuate due to the exchange rate at the time of usage. The offer is valid for new bookings, and North American residents 18 years or older only. The offer is limited to two persons per cabin. The onboard credit is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. Guests who do not use the full amount of the onboard credit during their purchased sailing will not be refunded the remaining credit.
Day 1: It’s only fitting for your Norwegian adventure to begin in Bergen, Norway’s cultural and artistic hotspot. Take the transfer from the airport to your hotel, located in the heart of the city. The rest of the day or evening is spent at your leisure. In many ways, Bergen is a living museum of medieval times. Founded by King Olaf III in 1070 AD, Bergen was Norway’s capital for many years. As you wander its cobblestone streets and alleyways, note how this bustling city hasn’t lost any of its heritage and historic charm.
Day 2: After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Bergen. Visit well-known sites like Nordnes Peninsula, medieval Håkon’s Hall, the Renaissance-era Rosenkrantz Tower, and the 12th-century St Mary’s Church, known as Mariakirken in Norwegian. After the tour, Bergen is yours to explore as you please. Depending on how much time you have, take a funicular train to the top of Mount Fløyen. At the summit, take in spectacular views of Bergen, its fjords, and the surrounding mountains.
Day 3: You’ll have time after your hotel breakfast to discover more of Bergen before boarding the ship. If you want to learn more about the city’s history, visit the Old Bergen Museum. Travel back in time as you stroll around this open-air museum, which features 50 reconstructed wooden houses from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Molde is the capital and commercial center of Romsdalen, which sits on the southern coast of the Romsdal Peninsula. You’ll have all the time you need to enjoy the town. To get the best panoramic views of the area, take a hike to Varden viewpoint, following the trail from the town center. Once you’re there, gaze down at the town from a height of 1319 feet above sea level and admire the 222 snowy peaks viewable across Moldefjord. If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, pop into the Romsdal Museum, one of Norway’s largest folk museums. It’s only ten minutes from the town center.
The Vikna archipelago is a chain of around 6,000 islands, islets, and skerries. The largest of the chain, Inner-Vikna, is the next stop. Aiming to dock at the port town of Rørvik around mid-morning and stay there for most of the day. The town and its surrounding areas have a long history, with burial mounds that date back to ancient times. Rørvik’s museums document the area’s maritime, particularly the Norwegian Coastal Museum.
Lødingen is a village and administrative center on the southwestern shore of Hinnøya, with a population of under 2,000. 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. As you walk, you’ll likely notice the calm atmosphere of village life. The highlight of this visit is definitely the breathtaking fjords and mountains that have made the Norwegian coast so famous.
Alta is one of the bigger coastal towns you 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. Large salmon are regularly caught here, with some even weighing up to 53 lbs. You won’t regret trying 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 snap some amazing shots of the lights dancing above. You can tour the world’s northernmost ice hotel, built out of snow and ice every winter and carved with different artistic themes by local sculptors. Head to the hotel’s ice bar, decorated with handcrafted ice sculptures. Order a drink in an ice glass—no ice cubes needed.
Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day in Honningsvåg. Honningsvåg is the northernmost city on the mainland, and its landscape is distinctive, with barely any trees or bushes. This far north, winters are long and the snowfall is high, so prepare for fantastic winter scenery and activities. Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains. You could even try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Taste 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. The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe. Having reached the northernmost point of your voyage, you’ll turn around and begin going south and sail away in the evening.
Today you’ll get the chance to see the Arctic Capital itself. 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. 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. 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.
Today, explore Lofoten, 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. You can’t visit the area without spending some time in Stokmarknes. This historic town is part of Vesterålen, an archipelago just northeast of Lofoten. For us, this place is particularly special. Shipping pioneer Richard With founded the Original Coastal Express here in 1893. A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, including snowshoe hikes, scenic bus tours to Lofoten’s highlights, or an exhilarating horse ride along a white sandy beach.
Surrounded by islands and water, Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula that juts out from the mainland. Around 5,000 people live in this small town, many in colorful houses against a backdrop of gentle slopes and dramatic mountain peaks. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the harbor and stroll 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 stone church built in neo-Gothic style. For some extra excitement, you may be able to go kayaking or island-hopping on an RIB safari. On an island south of Brønnøysund, you’ll find Torghatten mountain, recognizable by a natural tunnel that runs through the center. According to local lore, the hole is the result of a troll who fired an arrow at a young woman who rejected his advances. As the Troll King threw his hat to protect her, the sun began to rise, turning the hat to stone with a hole in the middle from the arrow.
As you approach the shore, you might notice the distinctive architecture. Every detail of the buildings, from the bright colors to the rounded spires, were inspired by 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 enter a fairy-tale town, filled with narrow streets lined with unique houses. If you don’t fill up your camera’s memory card with this, snap some impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint. The 418 steps leading there might look intimidating, but the views 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 and skimming your hand over the pristine water as marine life swims in the depths below.
Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, you sail past some of Norway’s most famous fjords—none more so than Hardangerfjord.This stunning waterway is one of Norway’s finest. Mountain scenery is everywhere you look, with white peaks towering over the fjord and reflecting off the shimmering water below. Reaching 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. You also have Haraldshaugen, a national monument reputed to be the first king’s burial site. Why not step back in time to the Viking Age at Nordvegen Visiting Center, which features exhibitions presented by a fictional Harald Fairhair himself?
In the early morning, you reach Farsund. There, you can hike the sandy beaches of Lista and see Lista Lighthouse. You may also be able to visit a German fortress. This fort was used in World War II and is remarkably well-preserved, with many of the original barracks still intact. Learn all about the area’s wartime history on a guided tour of this historic site, 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. Enjoy a guided walk and notice that the city is built on a very uniform grid plan, with several straight roads running from the harbor all the way through the city. These roads show architecture from different eras, which reveal the extensive rebuilds the city had to endure after major fires in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even a World War II attack. Back on the ship, you’ll end the cruise on a high note with a farewell dinner.
From south to north and back down, reflect on your journey as you we approach Bergen, your last port of call, Oslo, in the early morning. Say goodbye to the crew before disembarking and ending of your travels. This marks the end of your trip on the North Cape Express, exploring Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent.
The North Cape Express - Full Voyage, with Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express
