Tromso
Tromso 03/22/2025
Often called the “gateway to the Arctic”, Tromsø is Norway's northernmost city, buzzing with everything from trendy restaurants and cafés to boutique shops selling local crafts and produce. Sitting around 217 miles/350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, the city usually has a blanket of snow in the spring and winter, giving the surrounding landscapes the look and feel of a winter wonderland. Tromsø’s position under the Auroral Zone also means it is a great place to spot the Northern Lights during winter, and even in spring and autumn too. Scan the skies as you go for an evening stroll on your first night in Norway.Once 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 1893 Bar, meet your fellow guests, and settle in as we set sail north.
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03/22/2025 |
03/22/2025 |
Honningsvag
Honningsvag 03/23/2025
Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day in Honningsvåg. The northernmost city on the Norwegian 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.The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is 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.The cape is marked with a famous globe monument, which demands a selfie or two… or five. When you’re ready, head inside North Cape Hall to warm up, and learn about life in the High Arctic through a short film and a variety of exhibits.Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.
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03/23/2025 |
03/23/2025 |
Alta
Alta 03/24/2025
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 at the Northern Lights Cathedral, which can be visited on our optional guided tour of the town. The cathedral even has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicenter for ground-breaking research of the Aurora Borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries. As part of the tour, you’ll also visit the Alta Museum, which chronicles the discovery of Northern Europe’s largest concentration of prehistoric rock art at the head of nearby Altafjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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 the 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. Head to the hotel’s ice bar, decorated with handcrafted ice sculptures and order a drink in an ice glass – no ice cubes needed.
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03/24/2025 |
03/24/2025 |
Longana
Longana 03/25/2025
The administrative center of a municipality with the same name, Lødingen is a village on the southwestern shore of Hinnøya, with a population of under 2,000. This is a port that our ships used to visit on one of our earlier coastal routes and returning here is a kind of homecoming for us.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. As you walk, you’ll likely notice the calming atmosphere that village life brings.The highlight of this visit has to be the breathtaking fjords and mountains that the Norwegian coast is so famous for. Branching off Andfjord, Gullesfjord cuts into the north side of Hinnøya, bordered by pristine mountain ranges. The area is popular among campers, who stay on the campsite or in cabins and fish for cod in the fjord during winter.From Lødingen, you can join a handful of optional excursions, including a fishing trip with a local, an immersive Sámi experience to learn more about their culture and history, or a visit to Dampskipsbrygga, Lødingen’s former wharf.
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03/25/2025 |
03/25/2025 |
Rorvik
Rorvik 03/26/2025
Continuing south, we’ll leave the land of the Polar Night as we cross the Arctic Circle in the early hours of the morning. 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. We aim to dock at the port town of Rørvik around midday, remaining there for about a few hours. 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. 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.Return to the ship in the late afternoon for your penultimate evening on board. Enjoy the ship’s facilities, such as the soothing panoramic sauna or sample some warming local aquavit in the top-deck bar.
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03/26/2025 |
03/26/2025 |
Molde
Molde 03/27/2025
To round off our journey, we’ll visit Molde, the capital and commercial center of Romsdalen that sits on the southern coast of the Romsdal Peninsula. We’ve stopped at this port many times before on our Coastal Express route, but this time we’ll be making a much longer stop, so you’ll have all the time you need to get your fill of the town.There are a number of optional activities organized 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 up to Varden viewpoint, following the trail from the town center. Once you’re there, gaze at the town from above at a 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 center. 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 travelers one last time.
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03/27/2025 |
03/27/2025 |
Bergen
Bergen 03/28/2025
This journey has taken you from Tromsø to the top of Europe, then all the way down to Bergen in the south. Reflect on your time on board as you watch our approach to the last port of the voyage, Bergen, in the early morning. Say your goodbyes to the crew and disembark.Now you can immerse yourself in Bergen's long history, from its ancient founding in the Viking era to its present-day development as Norway’s second-largest city. Visit well-known sites such as Nordnes peninsula, medieval Håkon’s Hall, the Renaissance-era Rosenkrantz Tower, and Mariakirken (St. Mary´s Church), which dates to the late 1100s. You might also want to take a short walk through the UNESCO-listed buildings in the Bryggen district. Once the haunt of 14th-century Hanseatic League traders, these colourful wooden wharves now house artisanal boutiques and galleries ideal for last-chance souvenir shopping. If there is enough daylight left, you could even take the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for great views over the city and the surrounding mountains. For dinner, enjoy the many stalls at the fish market which serve up fresh, flavoursome seafood, cooked on site, filling the place with sights, sounds, and smells that tantalise your tastebuds.
Optional Private Excursions
Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!
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Bergen Walking Tour - 3 hours
Bergen may perhaps be a relatively small city (population of 260,000) however it is overflowing with history (the first settlement here were over 900 years ago), culture, incredible nature, gourmet restaurants and cosy cafe’s
Bryggen, the ancient Hanseatic Wharf, which is one of the best known European dwelling places from the Middle Ages, comprises a maze of characteristic wooden buildings with pointed gables facing the harbour.
This unique architectural gem is now listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most significant examples of the history and culture of a medieval settlement. Bryggen thrives today as a honeycomb of painter’s and craftsmen’s workshops, plus access to the interior of some of the buildings themselves where history has been preserved as it was originally.
The Fløibanen funicular in Bergen is one of Norway's best-known attractions. Fløibanen can be found in the heart of Bergen. Fløibanen is a funicular cable car that takes you 320 metres above sea level. In just a few minutes you find yourself on top of a mountain with a perfect view of the city and its surroundings. You have not seen Bergen before you have taken Fløibanen.
| Basis: |
Private tour. |
| Duration: |
3 hours. |
| Start / End: |
City center Hotel or address. |
| Vehicle: |
01st Class. |
| Guide: |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances: |
Fløibanen funicular. |
| Meals: |
None. |
| Difficulty: |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes: |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
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Bergen and its outskirts tour – 5 Hours
Experience the picturesque beauty and historical sights of Bergen during this leisurely 5 hour sightseeing excursion.
We drive out of the city centre to Troldhaugen, the home of the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. The home, an unassuming wooden house stands amongst the trees at the Hill of the Trolls (Troldhaugen).
Then it is a short drive to the Fantoft Stave Church, originally built in Fortun Sogn in 1150, it was relocated to Fantoft in 1883 where it was rebuilt after it was destroyed in a fire in 1992. In the Middle Ages there were approximately 800 stave churches throughout Norway, today only 30 are left standing.
On return back to the city centre of Bergen, explore by foot the famous Bryggen harbour front - the colorful old Hanseatic merchant buildings from the middle Ages. Destroyed by a large fire that wreaked havoc, the area was rebuilt in 1702. Now a protected area and listed on the Unesco World Heritage List, the narrow alleyways that run between the rows of houses made for an enchanting stroll that will take you back in time.
Your next stop is the Mt. Fløien Funicular station. The Fløibanen funicular takes you up to a height of 320 meters above sea level. It is a short journey up, on exit of the funicular a magnificent panorama over the city of Bergen, the surrounding mountains and sea awaits you. Return back to the harbor front district by funicular. Some free time has been set aside for you to peruse the Fish and Flower market at the Marbour front.
| Basis: |
Private tour. |
| Duration: |
5 hours. |
| Start / End: |
City center Hotel, address or Pier. |
| Vehicle: |
01st Class. |
| Guide: |
English-speaking. Other languages on request. |
| Entrances: |
Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen, Fantoft Stave Church, Fløibanen funicular. |
| Meals: |
None. |
| Difficulty: |
Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces. |
| Notes: |
Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. |
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Bergen -Hike to Mount Fløien and lunch at Bergen´s Fish Market – 5 hours
You start this journey by meeting our guide and taking Bergen´s funicular, one of the trademarks of the city.
The funicular railway is one of Norway's most famous attractions. The trip starts in the heart of the city and takes you 320 meters above sea level. In just 6 minutes, you will find yourself on top of Mount Fløyen. After enjoying a panoramic view of Bergen we will start our hike!
Our guide will take you through the beautiful surroundings, enjoying the views of the city, the fjords and mountains while discovering the local nature. You will do this hiking at your own pace.
You may walk down to the city center or take the funicular. The tour ends at Bergen´s Fish Market, a place that has a long history that dates to the 1200s. Since then, the market has been one of the most important places for trade between fishermen, farmers, and the inhabitants of the city. Here you will say goodbye to our guide and enjoy a delicious and traditional Norwegian lunch. You will be served a traditional fish platter that includes local delicacies such as king crab, lobster, langoustines, oysters, and creamy mussels.
Basis: Private hiking/walking tour.
Duration: 5 hours (incl 4 hours for funicular and hike, plus time for lunch on your own).
Start / End: City/Fish Market.
Inclusions: English-speaking guide, Other languages on request, Entrance to Funicular, Lunch at the Fish Market (Luxury platter: King crab, lobster and langoustines in garlic butter, oysters and creamy mussels. Served with salad, bread, aioli and tarragon dip, tap water). Vegetarian option available (Filled spicy portobello mushroom covered in melted local cheese, served on a bed of vegetables and sweet potato purée.)
Not included: Vehicle
Physical Activity Level: Grade Moderate. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Tour can operate: afternoon/evening
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. Bring appropriate clothing and shoes.
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Bergen Art & Design Walking Tour visiting KODE Art Museum and Arven silver factory – 4 hours
You start this walking tour with our guide, visiting two of the main attractions in Bergen for art and design lovers.
We will pay a visit to KODE 3 Museum, which The Rasmus Meyers Collection and a great compilation of works by Edvard Munch, one of the most renowned Norwegian painters.
Among the highlights of the collection are paintings from the Golden Age of Norwegian art, as well as historical interiors from the Bergen area. The presentation includes highlights from the careers of other famous Norwegian artists such as J.C. Dahl, Harriet Backer, Erik Werenskiold and Gerhard Munthe.
We continue our tour by visiting Arven´s workshops. In 1868 Theodor Olsen brought international expertise when he established his own sterling silversmithery and store and quickly became a leader in Bergen’s arts and crafts community. Following his death in 1890, the silver smithery and store continued under the name of Theodore Olsen managed by the Aase family for many generations until 2016 when it became Arven AS. Today, Arven is a modern and innovative factory which is constantly developing new and exciting products through bold design work in cooperation with contemporary designers but preserving traditional techniques and classic design.
During your private visit you will be greeted by your host offering you a special welcome with a drink and a taste of delicious Norwegian local produce cheese and snacks, all served using their beautiful cheese slices and knives we create.
Your visit continues with a presentation about the story of silversmithing in Bergen, about Arven, our history, our products, and our way of working. Afterwards there will time for your questions and participation to “show and tell” how each visitor can make their own stamped pendant!
You are then guided to our workshop and witness where our silver cutlery and jewelries are crafted. There will be a little “ceremony” in the workshop where each visitor gets their own Arven medal.
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: 4 hours walking tour.
Start / End: City.
Vehicle: None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.
Entrances: KODE 3 Museum and Arven Silver Factory.
Meals: None.
Physical activity level: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair accessible: NO
Tour operates: morning, afternoon. Tour not available on Mondays.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. The tour is not offered on Sunday and Monday.
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Bergen Food Tour – 3,5 hours
During your private visit you will visit Bryggen, which is on UNESCO’s list of world heritage. Your guide will take you through the old part of the city and you will have 5 stops with tastes on your experience. Your also visit the famous Fishmarket including a stop for a sweet surprise.
Bergen is a vibrant port city in the heart of the fjords. The second largest city of the country with 275, 000 inhabitants, it has a long history in international trade in seafood, reflected in its traditional and coastal gastronomy. The city’s food culture originating from sea biodiversity is considered the most sustainable in Europe. Deeply linked to healthy nutrition, gastronomy in Bergen thrives on organic food, the production of which is supported by more than 3,000 farmers and 200 artisan food entrepreneurs. In addition to this, another 6,500 people are employed by the aquaculture industry and fisheries.
Basis: Private tour.
Duration: 3,5 hours walking tour.
Start / End: City.
Vehicle: None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.
Entrances: None
Meals: Tastings of local specialties and 1 beer or soft drink
Difficulty: Grade Easy. Walking required over uneven surfaces.
Notes: Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. The tour is not offered on Sunday and Monday.
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03/28/2025 |
03/28/2025 |
The Signature Collection – Exclusive Amenities
