Cruising Holidays Home > Norway Coast Cruises > Norway Classic Cruises > Classic Round Voyage
The twelve-day, full round voyage navigates northbound to Kirkenes (seven days), before turning south to sail back to Bergen.
Ports visited by night on the northbound voyage are seen by day on the southbound journey, ensuring that all passengers get to know the very best of the dramatic and interesting Norwegian coastline. Of the 34 ports of call the main ones are listed in the below itinerary.
More information about the Hurtigruten fleet
Optional flights from UK to Bergen, with our International Flight Package, or contact us for alternatives.
Depart from Bergen, the cultural gateway to the fjords, enjoy the relaxed ambience of life on board and an opportunity to meet fellow passengers as you take in the spectacular landscapes.
An early arrival at the Art Nouveau town of Ålesund affords an opportunity to go ashore and explore this pretty town.
Departures between 14 April and 14 September will sail into the UNESCO site of Geirangerfjord where tumbling waterfalls, rugged cliffs and majestic mountains are mirrored in the deep still water.
GEIRANGERFJORD: Between 15 April and 14 September, we voyage into the famous Geirangerfjord, recently established as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we have the opportunity to join excursions ashore and weave through hair-pin bends to overlook one of the world's longest fjords.
Waterfalls cascade down the cliffs that rise 1400m above the Norwegian Sea, into some 500m of water below. This is truly a mountain lover's delight.
ÅLESUND: After it was destroyed by fire in 1904, this pretty little town was rebuilt in the fashionable Art Nouveau style of the era. So much of Ålesund is surrounded by water, and the very town itself appears to be floating serenely alongside our vessel.
Visit the viewing point at Mount Aksla for fantastic views of the town. Smoked wild salmon is a delicious local speciality.
Continuing north you head for the medieval city of Trondheim, whose colourful history is reflected in its handsome civic architecture.
Excursions include the medieval Nidaros Cathedral or the enthralling Ringve Music Museum. Evening departure towards the land of the Midnight Sun.
TRONDHEIM: This attractive city was Norway's first capital, between 997 and 1380, it was here that the new kings of old Norway received their ceremonial blessing. Rebuilt in the 17th century, this cosmopolitan city boasts wide streets lined with brightly coloured houses and gabled warehouses. The magnificent Nidaros Cathedral is one of the main attractions.
Crossing the Arctic Circle you continue to the modern town of Bodø, from where you can join our Saltstraumen Safari and witness the world's strongest maelstrom.
BODØ: Like many towns in northern Norway Bodø was completely rebuilt after the war. It is a very modern town with a buzzing commercial centre. The Norwegian Aviation Museum is one of the most popular museums and off the coast is Saltstraumen, the world's strongest maelstrom or 'whirling stream'.
A relaxing morning at sea precedes our arrival in Tromsø, the capital of the Arctic. Modern shops and cafés provide a vibrant contrast to the stunning stained glass of the Arctic Cathedral, whilst the Polar Museum and Polaria centre explore Arctic life over the centuries.
TROMSØ: Tromsø has been the starting point for many polar expeditions. A university town, blessed with a girdle of peaks reminiscent of Switzerland, Tromsø is one of the most pleasant of coastal towns.
Following an early call at Hammerfest you arrive in Honningsvåg, the portal to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape.
HONNINGSVÅG & THE NORTH CAPE: Honningsvåg is the largest fishing village in Finnmark and was completely rebuilt after the last war. It is the nearest port of call to the North Cape and from here it is possible to take an excursion to Nordkapp at 71° north.
The vistas and sea life become more dramatic as you approach Kirkenes, just a few kilometres from the Russian border and the Sami communities of Northern Finland. Here you bid farewell to our northbound passengers and welcome those joining the southbound voyage. As you turn south the northbound ports visited by night are now seen by day, each season bringing its own beauty to the journey, as spring and summer flowers give way to autumn and the glaciers reflect the dazzling rays of the sun. A highlight of this journey is a daylight sailing through the legendary Lofoten Islands, for many the most beautiful part of the Norwegian coast.
KIRKENES: Kirkenes, turning point of our Coastal Voyage, has fewer than 10,000 inhabitants - but its airport handles around 100,000 passengers a year. Just 6 miles from the Russian border, the town was razed to the ground in 1944. The deep fjord in which the harbour lies limits the effect of the Gulf Stream, and in winter it can begin to ice over. Mining, saw mills, and catering for the Russian fishing fleet all help to keep this vibrant little town alive and kicking, despite its remote location.
Hammerfest, the world's most northerly town is our first major stop, before continuing to Tromsø and a chance to enjoy the midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral.
HAMMERFEST: Hammerfest, the world's most northerly town, is at the same latitude as northern Siberia, but largely ice free thanks to the Gulf Stream. The fur trade and international trade with neighbouring Russia brought prosperity, as did the growing fish processing industry.
Its strategic position made it the ideal base for Germany's fleet during World War II. Visit the amusingly named Polar Bear Club for a taste of Arctic natural history.
Passing through the Lofoten Islands the ship negotiates a stunning network of inlets and isles. You can opt for an overland excursion from Harstad, rejoining the ship in Sortland, before moving on to what is the highlight of the voyage for many, a possible detour into the spectacular and dramatic Trollfjord. This remarkable day is completed with an evening return to Svolvaer and a farewell to the islands at Stamsund.
HARSTAD: Originally a flourishing centre of the herring trade, Harstad has moved into the shipbuilding industry with equal gusto. Fertile farmland to the east supplies raw materials for the dairy and meat processing industries, whilst to the west, the offshore harvest of oil from the ocean bed has meant continued prosperity for this lively port town, which plays plays host to 5,000 vessels a year.
The glorious Lofoten Islands is where the day draws to a close with a stop at the capital, Svolvaer. The intriguing Magic Ice gallery of 'art below zero' is on the quayside and the stylish little town is just a few minutes away.
THE LOFOTEN & VESTERÅLEN ISLANDS
These beautiful, mountainous island chains, rising to 1,000 metres in places, are some of the oldest in the world, fjorded during the Ice Age. Many of the fisherman's cabins are built on stilts along the waterfront in the small settlements here. Tiny islands like Røst are home to nesting seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, eider ducks, cormorants and sea eagles. Legends of the Lofoten Islands Tour, which spends more time here.
Crossing the Arctic Circle and sailing past the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters you enter a world of legend and folklore, before a chance to enjoy the award-winning maritime museum at Rørvik.
An early arrival in the medieval city gives you an opportunity to explore Trondheim and maybe a visit to the Nidaros Cathedral. The voyage then continues out of the Trondheimsfjord and past Hitra Island, making brief calls at Kristiansund and Molde before a midnight call at Ålesund.
MOLDE: Molde, famed for its fabulous gardens and also known as the 'City of Roses'. A thriving coastal town set in magnificent scenery, and surrounded by 87 snow-capped mountains. The town is host to an international jazz festival in August, and the older parts are filled with charming wooden buildings.
Our arrival in Bergen sees the end of this magnificent journey and it's time to say goodbye to the ship and "på gjensyn" (until we meet again) to friends, fellow passengers and our crew.
We recommend adding our Land Package, which includes a transfer from Bergen quay to hotel and 1 night stay including breakfast at Strand Hotel or similar (Standard), Radisson SAS Norge or similar (Superior).
Optional flights from Bergen to UK, with our International Flight Package, or contact us for alternatives.
