Norway Coast on Board MS Trollfjord
A Review of Hurtigruten’s Signature Voyage –
The North Cape Line
Written by Karen at Blue Water Holidays - Thursday 11th December 2025
What better way to journey along the legendary Norwegian Coastline than aboard a Hurtigruten ship? As the original Norwegian cruise company, since 1893, travel like a local and experience what this majestic country has to offer!
Whilst Hurtigruten’s 11-night Coastal Express Voyage will always be a firm favourite with past and new guests alike, I was thrilled to be invited aboard one of the new-concept Signature Voyages, The North Cape Line. What makes these voyages different is they feature all-inclusive food and drink plus longer stays in handpicked ports during the daytime, allowing more opportunity to enjoy a shore excursion or to simply explore these enchanting destinations at your own pace.
My Experience
The North Cape Line can be enjoyed as a full 14-night sailing from Oslo and back or as a half voyage, North or Southbound. I flew from the UK to join the Southbound sailing above the Arctic Circle in Tromso, enjoying stunning aerial views of the winter landscape on my approach:
My home-from-home for the next 6 nights was MS Trollfjord, refurbished in 2023 and I thoroughly enjoyed the small-ship, relaxed feel onboard. It’s especially welcome to leave formal clothing behind and just be comfortable! Hurtigruten have no dress code onboard; all that’s required is plenty of warm layers, a good waterproof coat and sturdy footwear!
I stayed in a Category U Arctic Superior cabin located on lower Deck 4 which I found to be modern in design, comfortable and well equipped. These cabin types feature a clear view window, great for passing scenery!
Although nothing quite beats spending time on top deck sailing by a maze of fjords and islands, snow-capped peaks and traditional red & yellow wooden houses dotted along the waterfront:
Dining is a highlight on any cruise holiday for me and Hurtigruten did not disappoint! Across three exceptional restaurants, Flora serves buffet style breakfast and lunch with a la carte menu for evening meal. What I particularly liked is that every night is different and reflects flavours of the port visited that day - from cut of reindeer to pan-fried catfish, there was always something new and exciting to try!
Brasserie Arran was my favourite venue, especially for a spot of lunch but dinner is also served here. A smaller, open-seating venue, the dark wood décor gave a modern, yet warm feel and the Norwegian dishes served with a twist were delightful! I encourage anybody to try “Hurtigruten's chopped steak burger”
A special mention must go to the fine dining restaurant Rost which serves daily breakfast, lunch and dinner to Suite guests onboard. There is opportunity to dine here for guests staying in other cabin categories which I was lucky enough to experience; what a special treat! A five-course affair paired with wines hand selected by the resident sommelier was simply divine!
Highlights
My time in Norway was filled with unforgettable moments - here are my top three which truly stood out:
The Ice Hotel in Alta
A spellbinding and unique experience! Rebuilt each winter from blocks of sparkling ice and packed snow, giving it a completely new theme every year. Wandering around “Greek Mythology” inspired carvings which lined the corridors and decorated the rooms, was like stepping into a frozen fairytale. There is even a bar made of ice serving drinks in glasses also carved from ice!
North Cape
Described as the northernmost point of Europe, the iconic metal globe marks the spot where countless travellers stop for photos and on a clear day the views are impressive! Perched high above the Arctic Ocean this dramatic plateau feels like standing at the edge of the world. Even upon the approach, the raw and rugged landscape is a sight to behold…
Storseisundet Bridge
The most iconic stretch of the Atlantic Road, this famous bridge which appeared in the James Bond film “No Time to Die” is something of an architectural marvel. From a distance, it almost looks “Mission Impossible” like the road suddenly curves up into the sky before disappearing over the edge. No wonder it’s often called the bridge to nowhere! Crossing it is just as fun, giving you a few seconds of a gentle roller-coaster feeling.
The Northern Lights
And most memorable of all, seeing the Northern Lights from the ship was totally surreal. The perfect end to my time in this beautiful and breathtaking country.
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