Astronomy Cruise on The North Cape Line

Welcome to Norway. Your journey begins in Oslo, a capital shaped by sea, forest and forward-thinking design. Before boarding, take time to explore the city’s compact and walkable centre. Stroll along Karl Johans gate to the Royal Palace, visit the striking waterfront Opera House where you can walk on the roof for sweeping fjord views, or browse contemporary Nordic art at the National Museum. Along the harbour at Aker Brygge, cafés and restaurants offer a lively introduction to modern Oslo, while the medieval Akershus Fortress looks out across the fjord. Later, step aboard your ship and settle into the calm rhythm of life at sea. Meet the Expedition Team, whose talks and activities will bring the coastline’s history, nature and culture to life, and your expert astronomer for the voyage.

Today is a chance to settle into the rhythm of life on board. Take time to explore the ship and enjoy the flavours of Norway’s Coastal Kitchen, served across the restaurants and bar, where ingredients from along the coast shape each menu. Outside, the southern shoreline unfolds in a quiet procession of skerries, sheltered harbours and low-slung islands. Watch the scenery drift past from the Observation Deck, sink into a seat in the two-storey lounge and bar, or unwind in the panoramic sauna as sea and sky blend on the horizon. Beyond the views, your voyage includes exclusive lectures with our expert astronomer. Learn about the science and history of the Northern Lights (and other celestial phenomena) before joining them on the ship deck at nighttime to search for the aurora.

Today, you’ll spend much of the day in Stavanger, a colourful waterside city with an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. Discover the architectural relics of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, which includes Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of wooden houses, and Norway’s oldest cathedral, dating from the 12th century. You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, pop into a local boutique shop, or simply enjoy a beer on the waterfront. Optional excursions are also available, such as a guided city walk, as well as a Viking-themed bus tour.

After breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock at Ålesund, a town that spreads out across a string of islands. Many of the buildings here, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, were inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. You can get impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint. You can also visit the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway’s first marine science centre. This is one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, providing a home to seals, otters, and crabs, as well as many other kinds of marine life. You can even see Humboldt Penguins here, a species otherwise absent north of the equator. Join an optional excursion to explore Ålesund on foot, or explore the surrounding picturesque islands by bus, and visit a striking lighthouse next to a beautiful beach.

The cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago may look small but it has a huge history that is told through both the landscape and the town’s collection of museums. Here, you can join an optional excursion and time travel through the last 10,000 years and get a glimpse of the future, thanks to the Ice Age-carved landscape, carefully preserved 19th-century living rooms, and the ingenuity of Norwegian salmon production – each preserved and explained in three excellent museums. In the afternoon, we’ll continue sailing north through the Vikna archipelago made up of 6,000 islands, islets and reefs. As we sail through the night, we’ll leave the Helgeland coast behind us as we cross the Arctic Circle.

Today, we explore Lofoten. As soon as you see the towering peaks with fishing villages scattered around their bases, you’ll understand why this island chain is praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations. We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær in the morning. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the heart of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, with many shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby rock formation named for resembling a horned goat. A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, including winter fishing, paddling along the coastline in a kayak, or embarking on a bus tour to learn more about Lofoten’s history. We can’t visit the area without spending a few hours in Stokmarknes. It was here that the Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer, Richard With. On the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in the Hurtigruten Museum’s glass building like a ship in a bottle.

Welcome to Tromsø, the Northern Lights Capital. This city sits under the Auroral Oval and is a hub of Arctic culture, history and Northern Lights knowledge. Today you will visit the Arctic University Museum of Norway. Experience the Under the Lights exhibit and see the interactive working terrella – a magnetized sphere inspired by the experiment that Norwegian physicist Kristian Birkeland devised to simulate auroras in the laboratory at the end of the 1800s. You’ll also stop at the Planetarium. This state-of-the-art centre features a full-dome ceiling with 360-degree views and high-quality digital projectors showing daily films about the night sky.

Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day to explore Honningsvåg and its dramatic Arctic surroundings. Set on the island of Magerøya, this small fishing town is surrounded by rugged landscapes, with colourful houses clustered around its busy harbour. For many people, an unmissable highlight here is a trip to the North Cape, which is available as an optional excursion. Rising more than 300 metres above the Barents Sea, this great plateau offers far-reaching views across the ocean and a memorable sense of standing at the very edge of Europe. Another must is to sample king crab. This delicacy is abundant in the waters around Honningsvåg, and it’s served throughout the year. If you want to try it traditional-style, we offer an excursion that combines sampling locally-caught and prepared king crab with a tour to the North Cape, giving you two iconic experiences in one trip. Having reached the northernmost port on our voyage, we’ll turn south in the evening and begin the next stage of our journey along Norway’s coast.

At 70 degrees north, Alta is far above the Arctic Circle and sits under the Auroral Oval – making it a prime location for Northern Lights viewing. In Alta, you’ll visit Bossekop to learn about the history of aurora research and photography. This area was one of the top aurora altitude research locations and the backdrop for the oldest surviving auroral photograph, taken by Martin Brendel in 1892. Famous aurora scientists, such as Carl Størmer, also measured the height of the aurora here with remarkable accuracy. Next up, the Northern Lights Cathedral. The spiral of its titanium-clad spire symbolises the extraordinary phenomena of the aurora borealis. Downstairs, the interactive Borealis Alta exhibition explores the science and history, including Sámi myths, of the Northern Lights. Then, return to the ship for dinner and another evening of stargazing at sea.

Narvik sits on a peninsula surrounded by fjords and mountains, deep inside the Arctic Circle. The town grew around its year-round, ice-free harbour, developed to export iron ore brought by rail from the mines of northern Sweden. Today, its dramatic setting makes Narvik a gateway to some of the remarkable landscapes and wildlife of northern Norway. For sweeping views, ride the cable car up Narvikfjellet, where mountains rise around the waters of the Ofotfjord below. You can also explore farther afield on an optional excursion. Join the Arctic Train for a journey along the historic Ofoten Railway, climbing high above Rombak fjord towards the Swedish border. Built more than a century ago, the line passes through rugged mountain scenery and remote stations including Katterat and Bjørnfjell. Alternatively, visit Polar Park, the world’s northernmost wildlife park. Accompanied by an expert guide, you can learn about Arctic wildlife and see animals including wolves, bears, lynx, wolverines, reindeer, moose and Arctic foxes.

After Narvik, we head south along the enchanting Norwegian coast. You’ll be in awe of windswept islands, sheltered bays, and passing by some of the most beautiful fjords in the world. It’s also inhabited by a wide range of wildlife, such as majestic sea eagles. When we started sailing north of the Trøndelag region in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. But, over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters. Today, we are among the few with the maritime knowledge and skill to take you through the many skerries, islets and hidden fjords that characterise this stretch of coast

After docking in the town centre in the morning, you have the chance to explore Åndalsnes, a picturesque coastal town located along Isfjord at the end of Romsdalsfjord. The literal highlights of Åndalsnes are the mountains that tower over the town. They are the reason the town has become Norway’s go-to destination for hikers, climbers, skiers, and more. The Troll Wall, a 1,000-m vertical cliff along the Romsdalen valley also attracts adrenaline seekers the world over. Take in the sights with a city walk and a relaxing ride on the Romsdal Gondola which takes you to the top of Nesaksla Mountain, 708 metres above sea level. There, enjoy a 360-degree view of the mighty Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre below, and the Rauma river. For those who love train rides, don’t miss the opportunity to join an excursion riding the Golden Train, which has been called “the most scenic railway journey in Europe” by Lonely Planet.

Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, the old capital of Bergen is one of Norway’s most picturesque and historic cities, as well as being its second largest. Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colourful wooden wharfs dating back to the 14th century. Bergen’s famous fish market is worth a visit, too. It promises to be a feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of bountiful, fresh seafood which can be cooked there and then for you. One of the best-known attractions in Bergen is the Fløibanen funicular, which brings you to the top of Mount Fløyen. The summit has a wonderful view over the city, the nearby fjord, and the other surrounding peaks. Another option is to join an excursion by cable car to Mount Ulriken, the tallest of the city’s seven mountains. On this tour you’ll also get to visit Fantoft stave church, a beautiful replica of the 12th century Viking church which stood nearby.

We spend the last afternoon of our voyage in Kristiansand, Norway’s fifth-largest city, sitting along the southern tip of the country, Kristiansand is on a mission to become the most sustainable port in Europe. Find out more about this admirable quest on an optional excursion that includes a visit to Odderøya Island. Or delve into Kristiansand’s 20th-century military past on an optional excursion to Batterie Vara. Originally built as a German fort in World War II, it features the world’s second largest cannon ever to be mounted on land. Back on the ship, we end our voyage on a high note with a farewell dinner. Take this opportunity to trade photo highlights and experiences with your fellow travellers one last time.

From the south to the north, and back to the south, reflect on your journey as you watch our return to our first – and now last – port of the voyage, Oslo, in the early morning. Say your goodbyes to the crew and disembark the ship, marking the end of your travels with us. You’ve sailed on The North Cape Line, getting to know Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent. During the journey, you’ll have experienced Norway’s varied climate, seen majestic mountains and fjords, and maybe gazed up in awe at the Northern Lights once or several times. We hope you’ll cherish each of the memories you’ll take home with you. Come sail with us again soon, on another iconic voyage of our spectacular home: the Norwegian coast.