May 1, 2023

Set sail from the White Cliffs of Dover to the historic port of Harwich

All aboard at Dover! MS Maud is ready to bring you north toward Norway and ultimately Svalbard, the realm of the polar bear. Once on board the ship, you’ll meet your expert Expedition Team, your hosts and guides throughout the cruise.

When the ship sets sail, we pass the white cliffs of Dover and head up the North Sea, calling at Harwich, one of the most important ports on the Essex coast and the departure point for many historic explorers. In keeping with Harwich tradition, and to celebrate the start of our journey, we will present you a local sea shanty performance before crossing the North Sea.

May 2, 2023

Enjoy the ship’s superb facilities and learn about the places you‘ll visit.

The next day at sea will give you time to enjoy onboard facilities, such as the hot tubs, sauna, and indoor gym. The Expedition Team, experts in their respective fields, will begin their series of insightful lectures at the Science Center. As you will soon see, they are walking, talking treasure troves of stories and information.

They’ll share their extensive knowledge about the places, history, nature, people, and natural phenomena we’ll likely encounter during this winter voyage along the Norwegian coast. Today’s topics might include Norway’s climate, the weather along the North Sea, or the history of travel along the Norwegian coast.

May 3, 2023

We will call in delightful Egersund, featuring brightly colored houses.

Egersund is famous for its brightly colored wooden houses, a welcome and cheerful sight as you approach the harbor. People have lived around the area of Egersund since the Stone Age, and ancient runes have been found carved into rocks nearby. It’s also one of the best natural harbors in Norway. It used to be the most important in the country, in terms of the quantity of fish caught each year.

Enjoy exploring the delightful town center, which has preserved some of the best examples of wooden houses, with a few even dating back 160 years. The varied landscape surrounding the town is great for walking.

May 4, 2023

Experience stunning mountain views and explore the charming city of Bergen.

Bergen, one of Norway’s most beautiful cities, was Norway’s capital for many years. Your included activity is an excursion to Mount Fløyen. From the ship, we’ll hop on buses and drive to the Fløibanen funicular train. The summit is over 1,000 feet high, and you can bask in stunning views of city and its surroundings: seven mountains and the sea.

Back in Bergen, explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways of this thriving, compact city. Don’t miss the historic Bryggen district, with colorful wooden houses along the wharf. This area dates back to the 14th century and now houses boutique stores selling Norwegian arts and handicrafts.

May 5, 2023

Walk amid breathtaking scenery, then spend the evening in beautiful Ålesund.

Surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps, Hjørundfjord is one of the most scenic fjords in all of Norway and still undiscovered by most other cruise lines. After we anchor close to a settlement in the fjord, a local boat will take you ashore. There’s an optional guided walk through villages along Hjørundfjord, or you can opt for more exhilarating excursions such as a mountain hike or kayaking.

In the evening, we’ll call at Ålesund, a small town with cobblestone streets, spires, and ornate architecture. Look closely and spot the variety of stone statues carved into the buildings. As Norway’s fishing capital, Ålesund is also the site of the Atlantic Sea Park.

May 6, 2023

Embark on a day of adventure among Norway’s little-known islands.

Our plan today is to explore the islands off the coast of central Norway. As can be expected in an authentic adventure, the weather will determine our exact route and activities. If the weather is pleasant, we can stay out among the islands. If not, we can head into one of the sheltered bays.

Once the elements have dictated our destination for the day, we’ll drop anchor and use our small boats (RIBs) to land ashore. If conditions are right, you’ll be able to go hiking or kayaking as an optional excursion—or possibly even both. Frøya, one of the islands we may explore, is rich in wildlife.

May 7, 2023

View the dark ice of Norway’s second-largest glacier

Sailing the Holandsfjord off the Helgeland Coast, we arrive at Svartisen (‘Black Ice’), Norway’s second-largest glacier. The deep color of the ice includes turquoise and dark blue, but is never quite black. Surrounded by the Saltfjell mountain range, Svartisen is actually two separate glaciers separated by the long Vesterdalen valley.

Our aim today is to land on the local jetty and visit the Svartisen Glacier Museum. You’ll also have opportunities to take optional excursions near the glacier and its surroundings. From Svartisen, you’ll also see the Engen Glacier, Engenbreen, which can be reached on an extended optional excursion hike.

May 8, 2023

Visit idyllic Reine and the historic fishing village of Å.

After gliding along a coast filled with distinctive peaks, sheltered bays, untouched beaches, and picturesque fishing villages, we’ll aim to land in idyllic Reine in the morning. As part of an included activity, you’ll board a bus to the historic fishing village of Å, which features well-preserved houses, a smithy, an old cod liver oil press, and a bakery. The local museum explains how cod fishing was been key to Norway’s establishment as a country.

From Reine, we sail to Trollfjord, a narrow waterway where vertical mountain walls loom above. Weather conditions permitting, you might experience the ship sailing so close to the cliff walls that you’ll feel like you can reach out and touch them.

May 9, 2023

Encounter fascinating history and culture at the gateway to the Arctic.

We arrive in Tromsø in the early morning. Spend the entire day and evening exploring its captivating history, culture, and bold architecture. Historically, Tromsø was a frontier town visited mostly by hunters and explorers, and acted as a launch point for several Arctic expeditions. Today, you can browse the shops, sample the region’s fresh produce, or visit the world’s northernmost brewery.

Your included activity in Tromsø is a visit to the Polar Museum, and optional excursions include nature hikes and scenic bus rides.

May 10, 2023

Experience the spectacular North Cape and the best seafood in Europe

Starting the day by arriving at the small town of Skarsvåg, you’ll now visit one of the northernmost points in Europe as part of an included excursion. The scenic bus ride brings you past small bays and tiny villages, then crosses a mountain plateau before arriving at the spectacular North Cape.

Take a selfie at the Globe Monument before visiting the North Cape Hall for exhibits and a short film chronicling the cape’s history. Your included visit to the North Cape can also be combined with experiences on the island of Magerøya, where local restaurants have the best seafood dishes, and king crab is available all year round.

May 11, 2023

Island nature reserve with a spectacular coastal scenery

Roughly midway between the mainland and the island of Spitsbergen, we arrive at Bjørnøya (meaning ‘Bear Island’). The island is actually more renowned for birdlife than for sightings of polar bears! Except for a small meteorological station, the entire island is a nature reserve. It’s mainly flat and dominated by shallow lakes, but the landscape starts to get more mountainous in the south.

The coast is spectacular, including striking rock columns and caves. Tall cliffs dominate the southern tip of the island, making for fantastic views. Conditions permitting, we may go ashore for hikes and do small-boat (RIB) cruising. You may even be able to go kayaking in an optional activity.

May 12, 2023

Watch for bears and other animals at this polar national park.

Today we explore the wonderfully varied landscape of Hornsund, part of the South Spitsbergen National Park and one of the most spectacular natural corners of the world. On a clear day, you may see Hornsundtind towering 4,700 feet above sea level. The chance to see polar bears makes a visit to Hornsund extra special. Keep an eye out for other animals like walrus, seals, reindeer, and Arctic fox.

Our custom-made expedition vessels allow us to attempt landings where other ships can’t. This gives us a better chance of seeing the 15-mile-long Hornsund up close. Depending on weather and sea ice, there are also optional excursions to enjoy, such as hiking, kayaking, and small-boat (RIB) cruising.

May 13, 2023

Prepare for a day of exploration in this glacier-carved region.

Enter explorer mode as we sail into the second-longest fjord in Svalbard. This lush system is rich in wildlife and vegetation, surrounded by immense valleys carved out by glaciers some 10,000 years ago. Remains of Svalbard’s whaling and hunting heritage can be found along the beaches and bays.

South of the fjords lies the famous Isfjord Radio station. This former radio and weather station now serves as one of the most beautifully situated hotels in the world. The landscape of the inner parts of the Isfjord is constantly changing, so we will decide where to go and what to do when we arrive based on weather and ice conditions.

May 14, 2023

Look out for reindeer and historic ruins at beautiful Bellsund.

The 12-mile-long sound of Bellsund derives its name from the bell-shaped mountain Klokkefjellet at its mouth. You might catch sight of migrating Svalbard reindeer as they graze the lush vegetation that is richly fertilized by droppings from the seabirds above—just the circle of life at work!

Cultural remains from other periods can be seen throughout Bellsund. You can still catch sight of ruins from the 1900s mining settlements, which you can see when we spend the day exploring the area on landings, hikes, and optional kayaking activities, weather permitting.

May 15, 2023

Wind down after your exciting Svalbard experience.

After our Svalbard adventure, we start our journey southward, crossing the Barents Sea. It’s named after the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz, who discovered Spitsbergen and Bear Island. Unwind in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, soak in the hot tub, or simply contemplate the endless horizon.

The Expedition Team will continue its onboard lecture series, possibly talking about the battle of the Barents Sea during World War II. Spend time in the Science Center and learn some useful hints on expedition photography from our onboard expert.

May 16, 2023

Spend a day exploring the diverse landscapes of ‘Miniature Norway’

Today we dock at Senja, one of the most ruggedly beautiful and rarely visited islands in Norway. Optional excursions may include guided hikes or kayaking. Sometimes referred to as ‘Norway in miniature’, the island’s diverse landscapes seem to change in the blink of an eye.

Senja’s northern coastline features lofty mountains that plummet straight into the sea, with isolated coves and sandy beaches along crystal-clear turquoise waters. Southern Senja boasts a rocky coastline and pine forests, and is home to Ånderdalen National Park. Senja’s eastern side has gentler, more forgiving landscapes, with rolling hills and birch forests.

May 17, 2023

Enjoy an excursion to a 400-island archipelago in the Arctic Circle.

As we sail along the Helgeland coast with nothing but sky and sea ahead, mountains rise from the horizon. This is Træna, an archipelago made up of over 400 islands and islets, right on the Arctic Circle. We’ll go for a scenic walk around the village of Husøya, where most of Træna’s fewer than 500 inhabitants live.

Optional excursions might include hiking, island-hopping, enjoying a sauna, observing sea eagles, tasting local fish, or taking a dip in the Norwegian Sea.

There’s also Kirkhellern ‘Cathedral’ Cave on the island of Sanna. The acoustics make it ideal for outdoor concerts, but the main draw is evidence of human life in the cave as far back as 9,000 years ago.

May 18, 2023

Dabble in science or simply relax and watch the world float by.

An important part of any expedition cruise is knowing how to enjoy the moment. Remember to take time to reconnect with nature and the world around you. Settle into a sofa in the panoramic Explorer Lounge, soak in a hot tub on deck, or sit back and take in the serene scenery.

There’s more to learn during lectures from the Expedition Team, and you can dabble in science in the onboard Science Center. We also support a number of Citizen Science projects, which we encourage you to join.

May 19, 2023

Learn all about glaciers and how they shaped the Norwegian landscape.

In the morning we plan to cruise deep into Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, to the tiny hamlet of Fjærland. Only 300 people live in this idyllic village, which includes charming old buildings and picturesque second-hand book shops. This is also the place where Sognefjord meets Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European continent.

A visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum is the included activity of the day. Learn why glacier ice is blue and how the fjords were formed. You can even perform a few experiments with 1,000-year-old glacier ice and watch a panoramic film about Europe’s largest glacier.

May 20, 2023 - May 21, 2023

Take the time to relax with friends and look back on your adventures.

On the return journey, spend time chatting with new friends and hark back on the best moments of your expedition together. Enjoy drinks at the Explorer Lounge & Bar over friendly banter and share stories of past adventures. You might even spot a few members of the crew and Expedition Team here too.

Make the most of your day at sea aboard MS Maud. Soak in the hot tub, work out in the gym, or relax in the Explorer Lounge, or edit photos from your trip. Don’t miss the Expedition Team as they review the highlights of your memorable expedition cruise to the Svalbard Archipelago and the Norwegian coast.

May 22, 2023

Say farewell to your ship, its Captain and crew, and the Expedition Team

We arrive at Dover during the early morning hours and dock at the town’s harbor. After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your home for the past 21 days. Before leaving the area, consider visiting Dover Castle, said to be the largest castle in England. There is also a rare Roman lighthouse here, one of only three in the world and reputedly the U.K.’s oldest building.

You can also take a tour of the underground hospital and secret World War II tunnels that run beneath the castle complex. Whatever’s next for you, we wish you a safe onward journey and look forward to seeing you on your next adventure!