Following your first night in Svalbard, today’s mini-adventure takes you aboard hybrid-electric catamaran, MS Bard. Make the most of the summer climate as you take in Spitsbergen’s magnificent landscapes at Billefjord and Nordenskiöldbreen.

MS Bard is a groundbreaking new catamaran for day cruises. Whenever it approaches glaciers, wildlife, or settlements, it will run silently on electric propulsion. Its specially designed propellers create minimal noise and vibration so as not to disturb Arctic wildlife.

Early in the season, there might still be ice in Billefjord. Switching to the boat's electric motor, we’ll carefully and silently follow the ice’s edge on the lookout for seabirds, walrus, and seals. Enjoy views of the beautiful and vast Nordenskiöld glacier, which crumbles icebergs into the fjord.

Along the way, spot the abandoned coal mining town Pyramiden in the distance, so named after the shape of a nearby mountain. It remained a ghost town for many years, but there have been recent attempts by various individuals to repopulate the area.

On the outer park of Billefjord is Skansbukta, another small settlement and gypsum mine lost to time under the impressive cliffs. MS Bard will also sail past Svenskhuset, the oldest standing building on Spitsbergen and site of the tragic lead poisoning that claimed the lives of 17 hunters and sailors through tinned food.

Admire views of the fjord, glacier, mountains, and Arctic flora in bloom. Then make your way back to Longyearbyen on MS Bard, settling in at your hotel for your last night there.

Wake up early today for impressive views of Kongsfjord, one of the largest fjords in the area. Its entrance is guarded by two colossal creaking glaciers that regularly deposit ice into the fjord.

This stretch is great for spotting walrus basking on shore and for spotting different species of migrating birds, including puffins, king eiders, pink-footed geese, and guillemots.

Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer can sometimes be spotted on land, while the white beluga whale has also been known to surface in the waters here. If we’re very lucky, we might even see a polar bear prowling the coast for bearded and ringed seals.

At the tip of Brøgger peninsula, on one of Kongsfjord’s shores, is Ny-Ålesund. Like Longyearbyen, it began as a coal mine, but transitioned into a host for scientific stations from the mid-20th century. During the summer, there are over a hundred researchers based in the town, representing 20 glaciology and climate institutes from more than 10 countries.

Wander around what is one of the northernmost settlements in the world, drop in at the local museum and souvenir shop, or send a far-flung postcard back to friends and family from the small post office.

You can also take a guided tour of the Amundsen monument, erected in honor of the great Norwegian explorer’s record-breaking flight to reach the North Pole in 1926. Amundsen flew the airship Norge from Ny-Ålesund and landed in Alaska three days later, successfully doing so via the North Pole.

We’ve arrived back to mainland Norway and our first stop of the day is Tromsø. The ship will drop off cargo from Svalbard and pick up cargo bound for ports to the south.

Calling back into Tromsø after reaching Svalbard follows in the footsteps of history. Most explorers and sailors returning from their Arctic expeditions would stop back in the city. The fashion and food they found there seemed so stylish and refined compared to the stark frontier towns that they nicknamed Tromsø ‘the Paris of the North’.

The ship then continues south towards Senja, one of the country’s largest islands and northern Norway’s fast-rising star destination, as you’d expect for a place ranked among CNN’s top ten most beautiful islands in the world. Often proudly described by locals as a ‘mini Norway’, Senja seems to have a concentration of landscapes inspired by different parts of the Norwegian coast. 

To best explore this fairytale island, we’d recommend disembarking in Tromsø and joining one of our optional excursions. 

The ship continues south and reaches the midpoint of the Norwegian coast. This is the Helgeland Coast, a well-known stretch full of distinctive mountains that have inspired charming myths and local folklore.

We will base the ship in the town of Brønnøysund, which features a lovely marina and a Neo-Gothic stone church from 1870. Spend time exploring the town or join an optional excursion like kayaking, cycling, or a thrilling RIB ride.

One highlight of the area is visiting the Vega archipelago, a cluster of some 6,500 islands, skerries, and islets. There’s a UNESCO world heritage center on the island of Gardsøy which showcases how highly prized eider down is harvested from the local eider ducks by providing little huts for them to build their nests in.

Further along from Brønnøysund is the unique Torghatten Mountain. The first thing you’ll notice about Torghatten is the hole that pierces right through its center. Legend has it that a spurned troll fired an arrow at his would-be lover after she rejected him, and Torghatten Mountain is the fossilized hat of a Troll King who attempted to block the arrow.

At an easy pace, it takes about an hour to reach the hole in Torghatten on an optional excursion. The panoramic view of the trees and islands stretching out before you is well worth it.

You’ll arrive in Bergen, a beautiful city on Norway’s west coast. Majestic peaks famously surround the city, earning Bergen the nickname of ‘The City of Seven Mountains’.

It’s time to disembark the ship and take a transfer to the airport. Say a fond farewell to your fellow passengers and the crew of MS Trollfjord, who made your Svalbard Express journey so comfortable.

You won’t soon forget the slices of paradise you’ve seen along the Norwegian coast as part of this iconic cruise. If you’ve taken in optional excursions, you will have photos of you kayaking, hiking, fishing, or cycling in some of the most beautiful scenery you’ve ever seen.

We know you’ll take fond memories home with you and we wish you a safe onward journey. This is the Svalbard Express. We hope to see you back here with us soon.