Today, you’ll get the chance to see more of the Arctic Capital before joining MS Trollfjord in the afternoon. 

As part of an inclusive sightseeing tour, you’ll visit three of Tromsø’s most famous attractions: the Arctic Cathedral, Polaria centre, and Mount Storsteinen. 

We start by giving you a birds-eye view of the city with a cable-car ride up to the mountain ledge at Storsteinen, some 420 metres above sea level. From the viewing platform at the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding islands, mountains, and fjords.  

The tour continues to the famous Arctic Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece and town landmark. The modern building stands out in the cityscape due to its striking design and impressive stained-glass window.  

We will also visit the Polaria centre, where you’ll find an Arctic aquarium, educational displays, and a panoramic cinema. The cinema screens a movie focused on polar wildlife and habitats, while at the pool, you can watch seals play and feed. 

Once we’ve welcomed you aboard MS Trollfjord and you’ve settled into your cabin or suite, you’ll meet your Coastal Experience Team. Meet each member of the team as they give lectures and organize onboard activities throughout your cruise.

Alta is one of the bigger coastal towns we visit, with a population of over 10,000 people. A particularly famous part of the town is Alta River, one of Norway’s best salmon rivers. Large salmon are regularly caught here, with some even weighing up to 53 lbs. You won’t regret trying fresh grilled salmon in one of the local restaurants.

At 70 degrees north, this town is still far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good northern lights visibility, so keep your camera ready. If the skies are clear and the conditions are right, you should be able to snap some amazing shots of the lights dancing above.

You can learn more about this incredible natural light show on a guided tour of the town. The Northern Lights Cathedral even has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicenter of ground-breaking research of the aurora borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Increased snowfall in the winter allows for some truly authentic Arctic excursions, like dog-sledding. The snow and climate of Alta also creates the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel, located on the banks of river Alta.

You can tour the world’s northernmost ice hotel, built out of snow and ice every winter and carved with different artistic themes by local sculptors. Head to the hotel’s ice bar, decorated with handcrafted ice sculptures. Order a drink in an ice glass—no ice cubes needed.

Continuing south, we’ll leave the land of the polar night as we cross the Arctic Circle in the wee hours of the morning.

The Vikna archipelago is a chain of around 6,000 islands, islets, and skerries. The largest of the chain, Inner-Vikna, is our next stop. We aim to dock at the port town of Rørvik around midday and stay there for a few hours.

The town and its surrounding areas have a long history, with burial mounds that date back to ancient times. Rørvik’s museums document the area’s maritime, particularly the Norwegian Coastal Museum.

Similarly, at the SalmoNor visitor’s center, you can take a tour of a modern salmon farm and find out more about the Norwegian aquaculture industry that supplies the world with tasty Nordic salmon.

Another major export is cod, and the town even has an annual Cod Festival in March. Cod is especially common in the waters of the archipelago during winter. Why not indulge in some fresh cod cakes?

Return to the ship in the late afternoon for your second-to-last evening on board. Enjoy the ship’s facilities, such as the soothing panoramic sauna, or warm yourself up with some local aquavit in the top-deck bar.

This journey has taken you from Tromsø to the top of Europe, then all the way down to Bergen in the south. Reflect on your journey as you watch our approach to the last port of the voyage, Bergen, in the early morning.   

Say your goodbyes to the crew and disembark for a transfer to your hotel in Bergen, including a guided sightseeing tour that charts the city´s long history from its ancient founding in the Viking era to its present-day development as Norway’s second-largest city. 

Visit well-known sites such as Nordnes peninsula, medieval Håkons Hall, the Renaissance-era Rosenkrantz Tower, and Mariakirken (St. Mary´s Church), dating back to the late 1100s.  

Your guide also takes you on a short walk through the UNESCO-listed buildings in the Bryggen district. Once the haunt of 14th-century Hanseatic League traders, these colorful wooden wharves now house artisanal boutiques and galleries ideal for last-chance souvenir shopping.  

After the tour, the rest of the day in Bergen is yours to spend as you like. You might want to go to the top of Mount Fløyen via the Fløibanen funicular for great views over the city and the surrounding mountains.  

For dinner, enjoy the many stalls at the fish market which serve up fresh, flavorsome seafood, cooked on site, filling the place with sights, sounds, and smells that tantalise your tastebuds.  

*Please note that if the date you make your booking is less than 90 days before your chosen departure date, your voyage will start on Day 2 in Tromsø and end on Day 8 in Bergen.