DEPARTS DAILY: 01 Oct 09 - 31 Dec 10
12 days / 11 nights from £1,095 pp

This Norwegian fjord cruise spends six nights traveling north from Bergen, all the way to Kirkenes, before returning to the south. Calling at 34 ports along the way you will get to know the very best of the dramatic Norwegian coastline. Relax and enjoy the stunning scenery and a great range of excursions.

While the summer months feature the midnight sun, the winter is a perfect time for a Northern Lights cruise.   The long dark nights provide some amazing views of the Northern Lights as you slip past snow covered mountains, plummeting in to the sea. 

We can tailor shorter cruise programmes and combine them with an activity or sightseeing holiday in Norway.  For a spectacular Arctic adventure, sail to Kirkenes, where you can spend a few days experiencing Arctic activities such as dog sled safaris, ice fishing and spending the night in a Snow Hotel.

Prices are based on availability and two people sharing a double or twin cabin / room:.

SAVE UP TO £490 per person on the prices below by booking early. Offer applies to all cabin types and travel dates, but is subject to availability.

We also offer shorter cruises.  Take the Northbound journey from Bergen to Kirkenes in just 7 days / 6 nights.

We offer a range of cabin types, but provide you with some popular options as a guide:

• Inside Cabin:  This is the lowest price option.  Cabin is basic, contains an upper and lower berth and wash basin.
• Outside Cabin:  Located on the middle deck, this cabin has a panoramic window, seperate beds, one bed can be turned to a sofa.

TOUR INCLUDES: 

• Direct return flights from London to Bergen with SAS – Scandinavian Airlines or Norwegian Airlines (we can also arrange flights from other airports upon request) 
• 11 nights onboard the ship in cabin grade of your choice 
• Full board during the voyage 

EXAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive the cultural city of Bergen, the gateway to the fjords, where your amazing journey begins. Depending upon your flight arrival you have the morning and afternoon at leisure. Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage city and the birthplace of the composer Edward Grieg. Explore the city on your own and in the evening transfer to the harbour for an evening departure of your ship. Settle into the gentle rhythm of life on board as the ship glides along the unspoilt coast. Relax and enjoy the stunning scenery. Sample the delicious cuisine for which Norway is renowned in the comfortable but informal dining room or make new friends in the bar. Share experiences with fellow passengers from the world over as well as meeting local people traveling between ports or simply wonder at the views from the panorama lounge as we look forward to the next port of call.

Day 2 A perfect start to your second day is an early arrival at the enchanting Art Nouveau town of Ålesund, which is situated across several islands at the entrance to Geirangerfjord. On departures between 15 April and 14 September the ship will sail into the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geirangerfjord, where tumbling waterfalls, rugged cliffs and majestic mountains are mirrored in the deep still water. Here we have the opportunity to join excursions ashore and weave through hairpin bends to overlook one of the world’s longest fjords.

Day 3 Continuing north, the medieval city of Trondheim is today’s highlight. Standing proud against the natural backdrop, its colourful history is reflected in handsome civic architecture. Excursions include the medieval Nidaros Cathedral or the enthralling Ringve Music Museum. While we sleep the ship plies its trade along the coast and enters the land of the Midnight Sun.

Day 4 In the early hours you experience the thrill of crossing the Arctic Circle as the voyage continues to the modern town of Bodø, from where we can join a Sea Eagle Safari and witness the world’s strongest maelstrom or whirling stream at Saltstraumen. The glorious Lofoten Islands are where the day draws to a close with a stop at the capital, Svolvær. The intriguing Magic Ice gallery of ‘art below zero’ is on the quayside and the stylish little town is just a few minutes away.

Day 5 A relaxing morning at sea precedes the arrival in Tromsø - the capital of the Arctic - where the Midnight Sun is visible from the end of May until the last week in July. The simple interior of the Arctic Cathedral gives prominence to a triangular stained-glass window filling an entire wall. The Polar Museum and the Polaria centre explore Arctic life over the centuries and are complemented by modern shops and cafés just minutes from our cabins.

Day 6 After an early call at Hammerfest you will arrive in Honningsvåg, the largest fishing village in Finnmark and doorway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape, mainland Europe’s northernmost point at 71º north.

Day 7 The vistas become more dramatic as the ship approaches the finale of the northbound voyage here in the far reaches of Europe. Benefiting from the warm currents of the Gulf Stream, this region is rich in sea life and the coast is largely ice free in winter allowing ships access to most harbours. Soon you reach Kirkenes, from where the emotive border with Russia lies a few kilometres away and the Sami communities of Northern Finland may be visited.

Day 8 Hammerfest, the world’s most northerly town boldly claims to be the first in Europe to have electric street lighting. Starting point of Bill Bryson’s journey described in Neither Here Nor There, this is the first major call. Continuing south, our night stop at Tromsø offers the opportunity to enjoy the Midnight Sun summer concert in the Arctic Cathedral.

Day 9 The memorable sights of the Lofoten Islands will stay with you forever as the ship meanders gently through this stunning network of inlets and isles. Moving on we reach what is the highlight of the voyage for many, where we hope to make a detour into spectacular Trollfjord. Sailing through the beautiful, mountainous island chains, rising to 1,000 metres in places, we can see fishermen’s cabins built on stilts along the waterfront, whilst in the air around us fly a wide variety of seabirds such as puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants and sea eagles. This remarkable day is completed with an evening return to Svolvær and a farewell to the islands at Stamsund.

Day 10 There is further excitement today as the ship crosses the Arctic Circle. Sailing past the famed peaks of the dancing Seven Sisters mountain range, folklore merges with the facts of nature – look out for Torghatten, which still bears the hole made by Hestmannen’s arrow in one of Norway’s popular legends. The award-winning new museum at Rørvik celebrates the important part the sea has played in defining today’s Norway.

Day 11 You have an early arrival in the fascinating medieval city of Trondheim. The voyage continues out of the Trondheimsfjord past Hitra Island to make brief calls at Kristiansund and Molde, known as the City of Roses and surrounded by 87 snow-capped mountains, before the midnight call at Ålesund and a last night at sea.

Day 12 The landscape becomes increasingly lush as the journey weaves through the islets and beautiful Bergen comes into view again. Before long it’s time to say good-bye to the ship and på gjensyn (until we meet again) to friends, fellow passengers and the crew, as you disembark early afternoon from your magnificent journey on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. Transfer to the airport for your flights back home.