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.