Estimated time of departure is 4:00 PM

All aboard at Dover! MS Maud is at the port, waiting to sail north to Norway´s magical snow-covered landscapes to hunt for one of nature’s greatest spectacles: The Northern Lights.

If you have the time, take a walk alongside the iconic White Cliffs of Dover that have become a symbol for England. One of the best places to do so is at St. Margaret’s Bay, which offers great views of the chalky coastline from its wide shingle beach.

Once you board the ship, pick up your complimentary expedition jacket, and settle into your cabin. Feel free to explore the ship before attending a mandatory safety drill. After the first of many delicious dinners and a welcome toast by the captain, you’ll meet your expert Expedition Team.

They’ll be your knowledgeable lecturers, warm hosts, and good-natured guides throughout your journey. Many of them grew up and live in the places you’ll visit, and they are passionate about sharing their homes with you.

But first and foremost, they’ll keep you safe and sound. Their first priority will be to run through important health and safety information with you and your shipmates.

As the ship sets sail, we’ll pass by the White Cliffs of Dover and head up to the North Sea. Stretch your sea legs and explore MS Maud, your cozy home away from home. Weather permitting, let the salty sea air envelop you on deck.

Or grab a relaxing glass of wine in the Explorer Lounge and Bar while the world passes you by through the panoramic windows. Your epic adventure to the Arctic is officially underway!

This day at sea gives you all the time you’ll need to ease into your journey. Start enjoying the range of onboard facilities such as the hot tubs, the sauna, and the indoor gym. Perhaps you’ll likely also be striking up conversations with the Expedition Team members and other crew members and guests.

The Expedition Team will begin their series of insightful lectures over in the Science Center. Each member of the Expedition Team specializes in a different subject. You’ll see that they’re 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 cruise along the Norwegian coast. Today’s topics might include the geology of the North Sea or the science behind the Northern Lights.

It’s not a sure thing, but you can expect wind and waves on the North Sea, which is known to be choppy this time of year. Our captain’s goal is to bring us into Bergen the next day, but Mother Nature is the boss and nothing is set in stone.

This is all part and parcel of the expedition experience, adding extra suspense and excitement to your adventure. Rest assured that we’ll make your cruise as safe and as smooth as possible, even if it means being flexible and adapting our plans to factor in the elements.

Depending on the weather conditions when we’re crossing the North Sea, we aim to arrive in Bergen in the afternoon. As our first port of call in Norway, we arrive at Bergen, one of the country’s most picturesque cities. Founded in 1070 A.D., Bergen was Norway’s capital for many years. You’ll see that the city hasn’t lost any of its local character, heritage, or charm.

Your included activity in Bergen is an excursion to Mount Fløyen. We’ll hop on Hurtigruten buses from where the ship docks and drive to the Fløibanen funicular (cable car). The ride to the mountaintop takes just six minutes. The summit is over 1,000 feet up, and you can bask in stunning views of city and its surroundings: seven mountains and the sea. If there’s time, we might also have an opportunity to venture into the alpine forest here for a short hike.

Once you’re back in the center of Bergen, don’t miss the historic UNESCO-listed Bryggen district, with colorful wooden houses along the wharf. This area dates back to the 14th century and now houses boutique stores selling Norwegian art and handicrafts. Across from Bryggen is Bergen’s famous fish market, where you can savor a host of sights, sounds, and scents.

In the morning, we sail into the Sognefjord, nicknamed the ‘King of the Fjords’, as it is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. Stretching 127 miles inland from the coast, we plan to cruise deep into the fjord to the tiny hamlet of Fjærland.

Only 300 people live here. Ashore, you’ll discover this idyllic village with many charming old buildings. Fjærland is a designated Norwegian Book Town. Picturesque second-hand book shops and stands can be found all over the small village.

This is where the Sognefjord meets Jostedalsbreen, one of Norway’s best-known glaciers. It’s the largest glacier on the European continent and has several smaller glacial arms stretching out in many directions, including Bøyabreen and Supphellebreen.

This makes Fjærland the perfect place to learn about how glaciers created Norway’s beautiful fjords, making a visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum a perfect included activity for the day.

At this award-winning museum, designed by world famous architect Sverre Fehn, you’ll engage with hands-on exhibits explaining 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.

Like the famous Geirangerfjord next door, the Hjørundfjord is part of the UNESCO-designated Fjords Norway area, which is notable for ‘exceptional natural beauty’. Surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps, with peaks soaring over 5,500 feet straight up from the sea, it’s one of the most scenic fjords in all of Norway and still undiscovered by most other cruise lines.

On a clear day, you’ll get the full 360° sensory experience: the bluest skies, the coniferous forests in fall foliage, and pastures for grazing covering the mountainsides. The still, pristine waters reflect this superb scenery in all its glory, perfectly merging the fjord and the landscape.

We’ll anchor near Urke or Sæbø. Both settlements are located in the fjord and a local tender boat will take you ashore to experience Norwegian nature and culture.

You can sign up for optional excursions to further explore the area. Join a guided walk through villages along the Hjørundfjord and learn about the history, nature, and royal connections of this splendid and gorgeous place.

Or, you can join exhilarating excursions, such as hiking up the mountain for incredible views. Or kayak the fjord, where exquisite silence is broken only by your paddle dipping into its waters.

Today, we’ll explore rarely seen areas of the rugged and raw Trøndelag coast on our way north toward Lofoten.

This is the heart of the Norwegian coast, both geographically and culturally. The beautiful city of Trondheim used to be the country’s capital. King Olav, later beatified as Saint Olav, is buried in the city’s Nidaros Cathedral, which was inspired by Notre Dame. King Olav met his glorious end during a battle at Stiklestad, also found along Trøndelag’s coast. His martyrdom paved the way for Norway’s conversion from Paganism to Christianity.

When Hurtigruten started sailing north of Trøndelag in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. Over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters. Today, we are the only ones with the knowledge and skill to guide you through its skerries and islets, fjord after fjord.

Trøndelag is also the spiritual home of kos, a uniquely Norwegian state of mind that celebrates the simple pleasures of warmth, kindness, and togetherness. As we explore the Trøndelag coast, combine kos with another quintessentially Norwegian concept: friluftsliv—an intense love of nature and the great outdoors.

As can be expected in an authentic adventure, the weather will determine our exact route and activities. If the weather is pleasant, we will explore the islands along the coast. If not, we can head into one of the many deep fjords. What may often look like a small gap in the coastline actually hides a deep fjord system that few ever visit. Unless you’re sailing with us!

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 take a hike or go kayaking on optional excursion—or possibly even both.

There are just a few places on Earth where you can sail north of the Arctic Circle during wintertime. The Norwegian coast is one of them The ship officially crosses the Arctic Circle sometime in the morning.

In the tradition of Norwegian sailors, we’ll mark the occasion by inviting you on deck for a special ceremony. Exactly what happens is something you’ll just have to find out on deck!

Then we’ll approach the Lofoten Islands, one of the most spectacular locations in all of Norway—and maybe even the world. As you approach the archipelago, the sight of the massive wall of mountains and dramatic peaks rising up out of the sea is something you’ll never forget. Serene fishing villages sit nestled in sheltered coves, which are even more charming if dusted with snow—and especially with the Northern Lights swirling above, if we’re lucky!

Then we’ll sail along the Vestfjord to arrive in Svolvær in the afternoon. This is the largest town in Lofoten, with about 4,800 residents, many of whom still work in the fishing industry. There are shops and art galleries to browse along the seafront promenade, and rows of rorbuer (fishing huts) to admire.

You’ll likely spot the wooden racks called hjell dotting the shores of the town. These racks are used to dry locally caught cod, which then becomes tørrfisk (stockfish in English), prized as a local delicacy. Fishing is clearly an important way of life in Lofoten. The lecture for the day may focus on how cod helped build Norway into a country.

From the ship, it’s a short walk to your included visit to the multicolored Magic Ice bar. The former fish-freezing warehouse now displays a range of picturesque, selfie-suitable ice sculptures depicting life in Lofoten and Viking culture. Enjoy a signature drink to warm you up—served in an ice glass, of course!

The expert Expedition Team might show off its local knowledge by handpicking a few spectacular hiking trails or snowshoeing areas as optional excursions.

We arrive to Narvik in the morning, and will stay in port until tomorrow afternoon, giving you plenty of time to explore. This town is spectacularly situated on a peninsula surrounded by three fjords: The Ofotfjord, Rombaken, and Beisfjord.

The mountains also shelter the popular ski slopes from strong coastal winds. Narvik may be one of the northernmost towns in the world, some 137 miles into the Arctic Circle, but the North Atlantic Current provides it a milder climate than some would expect.

Modern Narvik made its name as a year-round port for Swedish iron mining, making the town a strategic target for Germany during World War II. Visit the Narvik War Museum to see exhibits and artifacts from the war, and learn about the heroism of the British and Allied troops who liberated the town from the Nazis.

In addition to the museum, you can enjoy galleries, shops, and restaurants specializing in seafood that is locally sourced from the fjords. Feeling adventurous? Try the reindeer!

Optional excursions include riding the cable car for breathtaking views at the top of Mount Narvik or taking an optional excursion to hike, go snowshoeing, or kayak on the fjords. Optional excursions might also include ice-fishing in small lakes close to Narvik or meeting local Sámi who are indigenous to the area.

An optional excursion to Polarparken could also be an option; it is the largest and northernmost animal park in the world. Huge enclosures house the likes of wolves, bears, lynx, moose, and reindeer. If you visit at feeding time, you might be able to glimpse these animals up close.

We arrive in Vesterålen early in the morning. It spans an area from Andøya in the north to Sortland in the south. Few have ever heard of Vesterålen. Even fewer have explored its wild and diverse beauty. Our plan is for you to spend the entire day doing exactly that.

Vesterålen is known as a hiker’s paradise, offering both easy hikes for great views and more challenging hikes. We also plan to put our kayaks in the water, giving you the opportunity to join an optional kayaking activity. Whales here often peek their heads up in the winter, so you might even see one from your kayak.

Weather permitting, we plan to dock in Sortland, Risøyhamn, or Harstad. Sortland is the area’s administrative capital. With a population of around 10,000 people, it’s the largest town in Vesterålen. It’s nicknamed ‘the blue city in the straight’, due to the many blue houses located in the city center.

Approximately 200 people live in Risøyhamn, making it a small village—even by Norwegian standards. But the first settlements here date back to the Stone Age thanks to teeming fishing grounds and natural shelter from wind and waves. To reach Risøyhamn, we have to sail through the artificial channel of Risøyrenna. Finished in 1922, it was specifically intended for Hurtigruten to access Vesterålen and Risøyhamn.

Should weather conditions be harsh, we’ll port in Harstad, located a little further inland. The church just outside of Harstad is considered to be the world’s northernmost medieval church. Nearby, you’ll find the Trondenes Historical Center and the Adolfkanonen, an enormous cannon from World War II, and the last remaining one of four built by the Nazis. Harstad also features splendid scenery for you to explore on an optional hike.

It’s time to explore Tromsø, the capital of the Arctic. But before we do, we’ll be on the lookout for humpback whales out on deck or from the Explorer Lounge. These gentle giants are known to frequent the winter waters here, feeding on the abundant herring. The Expedition Team will also be on the lookout and alert you to any sightings.

We’ll reach the city of Tromsø in the early morning, and spend the day and evening exploring its captivating history, culture, and bold architecture. One of the most striking landmarks in Tromsø is the Arctic Cathedral, especially when it’s lit up at night. Its eye-catching, massive stained-class window and modern architecture are well worth seeing up close.

Historically, Tromsø was a frontier town visited mostly by hunters and explorers. It also served as a launching point for several Arctic expeditions. Today, the city has been called the ‘Paris of the North’, because of its international and cultural diversity.

Browse its shops or try one of its many restaurants to sample the region’s fresh and locally sourced foods. Feel like meeting some of the friendly locals? Tromsø is home to the world’s northernmost brewery, Mack Bryggeri, which also runs Ølhallen, a lively pub filled with locals chatting and enjoying a pint or two.

Your included activity in Tromsø is a visit to the Polar Museum, which is housed in a converted 1830s warehouse on the seafront. You’ll enjoy exhibitions that cover the city’s heritage as a base for the famous trappers Henry Rudi and Wanny Wolstad. Wanny was the first female hunter in Svalbard. Tromsø also played a crucial role in the expeditions of legendary explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.

Winter activities available in Tromsø include optional excursions with our Expedition Team on nature hikes, snowshoeing, and hunting the Northern Lights on a bus ride. And like many places in Arctic Norway, when there is enough snow later in winter, the landscape becomes the ideal place to engage in some exhilarating dog sledding.

Start the day by arriving at the small town of Honningsvåg. You’ll visit one of Europe’s northernmost points as part of an included excursion.

The scenic bus ride from Honningsvåg brings you past small bays and tiny villages, then crosses a mountain plateau before arriving at the spectacular North Cape. At 71°10’21´N, it is just 1,300 miles away from the Geographic North Pole, with only the Svalbard Archipelago in between.

Stand at the cliff’s edge and gaze across the sparkling sea. The North Cape is likely the closest you’ll get to the top of the world. Snap the obligatory selfie at the Globe Monument before visiting the North Cape Hall for exhibits and a short film chronicling the cape’s history. Back in Honningsvåg, stroll along the pretty harbor, and check out the charming shops, houses, and church. Like many towns in northern Norway, fishing is the primarily industry and source of income here. Local restaurants offer fresh fish and seafood, with king crab on the menu all year round. This is the ship’s turning point. From here, we start our return trip southbound.

Alta lies at 70 degrees north—well above the Arctic Circle. This is one of the northernmost towns in the world, with a population over 10,000. It’s the biggest city in the vast wilderness of Troms and Finnmark County, making it the perfect destination for winter activities.

We’ll arrive here early in the morning and will stay until tomorrow afternoon. The town is directly beneath the Auroral Oval, a zone known for consistent Northern Lights activity. If the sky isn’t overcast and the conditions are right, get ready for nature’s most spectacular show...

You’ll learn more about the Aurora at the modern Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta, located at the end of a charming pedestrian street. This titanium-clad building and its spiral belfry dominate the skyline here. It’s even more impressive when illuminated at night.

An interactive exhibition in the cathedral chronicles how Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland established Alta as the epicenter for groundbreaking Northern Lights research in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ll also be treated to a classical concert in the cathedral as part of your visit.

The following day will show you that Alta is about much more than just hunting for the Northern Lights. Alta is also home to several dog-sledding teams, some of which compete in the biggest races in the world. Visit one of the teams on an optional excursion. Or take a snowmobile tour, a mountain hike, or ride a snow-equipped fat bike in the hills around Alta.

Troms and Finnmark County form part of the traditional territory of the indigenous Sámi people, whose livelihoods still revolve around semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Not far from Alta is Máze, a Sámi village located along the Kautokeino River, which you can visit to experience Sámi culture and food as part of an optional excursion.

When more snow falls and deep winter arrives, Alta is prime territory for visits to ice hotels, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. The ice hotel in Sorrisniva, for example, has a new design every year and is open to visitors for tours. You can also join optional excursions to go snowshoeing and hiking in the incredible tundra wilderness.

Today we dock at Senja, one of the most ruggedly beautiful and rarely visited islands in Norway. This scenery will leave you awestruck, and you’ll understand why it made CNN Travel’s list of ’10 of the world’s most beautiful islands’.

We will find a location to drop anchor, possibly at one of the outer ports, weather permitting. Should weather conditions be rough, we might move to Finnsnes. Either way, everything is set for a great day for exploring.

Senja is Norway’s second-biggest island, with fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, most of whom work in the fishing and aquaculture industries. The captain will decide where to drop anchor or at which port we can dock. Should the weather be rough on the coastal side, we’ll seek a bit more shelter in a bay or inlet.

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.

In the morning, we’ll dock at the picture-perfect fishing village of Reine, tucked into the Lofoten Islands. This is where red-painted rorbuer, covered in snow, cling to a string of islands beneath sharp granite mountain ranges. The nearly 1,500-foot-tall Reinebringen is one of the most distinctive peaks and is especially dramatic with a dusting of snow.

This combination of setting and colors makes Reine one of the most photographed landscapes in all of Norway. Cross your fingers that the Northern Lights are active above the village, which would be the cherry on top of this little slice of paradise.

After marveling at the scenery and the pretty town of Reine, you’ll move to today’s included activity. A 30-minute bus ride will take you to Å, one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages in Norway.

The Norwegian Fishing Village Museum sits at the heart of this tiny village, and covers fishing’s importance and the development in Lofoten over the past 250 years. Explore at your leisure and you’ll discover that the village is a museum, and the museum is the village!

Later, we’ll return to Reine, where you can join optional excursions to hike with the Expedition Team or even try some winter kayaking. These views will make those options tempting. Then rejoin the ship and marvel at the surrounding scenery, which is spellbinding whether it is bathed in the Northern Lights or not.

Spend time in the ship’s lounge today, soak in a hot tub, or step out on deck. Whatever you do, don’t take your eyes off the scenery as we sail through Helgeland County, noteworthy for its jagged mountains and thousands of islands.

Count the peaks of the Seven Sisters mountain range, long fabled to be the petrified bodies of seven troll sisters caught out at sunrise. Let the Torghatten mountain amaze you, with its distinct hole right through the middle. Local legend has it that the mountain was a hat worn by the troll king, which turned to stone when it was pierced by an arrow.

The Expedition Team will continue their onboard lectures, ranging from local folklore and fairy tales to the history of navigation, from lighthouses to satellites, along the coast. You can also pick up tips from the professional onboard expedition photographer about how best to capture the Northern Lights when they appear.

Start the day with a scenic cruise into Nordfjord. Early in the morning, we’ll pass by Hornelen, Europe’s highest sea cliff. The fjord’s runs off from Jostedalsbreen, Europe's largest mainland glacier, and flows west into the ocean just south of the Stadlandet Peninsula.

As you might expect, today’s lectures center on Norway’s geology, including the formation of its fjords, mountains, and glaciers. You might also learn more about the Vikings who used to inhabit the region; their thirst for exploration still beats in the hearts of Norwegians today.

You’ll spot numerous old fishing communities located along the fjord that actually date back to pre-Viking times. One such place is Loen, where we dock around noon. At the very heart of the Nordfjord, in the shadow of the mighty Jostedalsbreen (the Jostedal Glacier), Loen is the perfect place to explore this gorgeous area.

We’ll use our small boats (RIBs) land at a floating jetty, the starting point for the Loen Skylift. The cable car climbs over 3,300 feet in just five minutes, to the top of Mount Hoven. At the summit, you’ll be treated to unforgettable views over the fjord. Gaze at Mount Skåla and Lake Lo to the east, with the Jostedal Glacier and Olden to the south.

With this scenery as your backdrop, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in one of several optional winter activities on the mountain, such as snowshoeing or sledding. Time- and weather-permitting, you might also have an opportunity to do some exciting winter kayaking on the fjord.

After breakfast, we’ll say hello to the little fishing village of Kalvåg, situated far up the coastline with the open North Sea to the west. Its name literally means ‘Frozen Bay’ in Old Norse. As its name implies, it isn’t always possible for our ships to land here. This will depend on the local weather and sea conditions at the time.

If you do come ashore here, you’ll discover one of the best kept secrets of the Norwegian coast. No other expedition ships visit Kalvåg, so you’ll experience an authentic slice-of-life community who will likely be thrilled to have visitors.

Our captains have sailed these waters as part of our traditional Norwegian coastal voyages for decades, and always wished there was time to stop and show you more of this charming village. We’ve listened to their expert recommendation and that’s exactly what you’ll do on this expedition cruise.

Admire an open-air art exhibition and walk around Kalvåg’s collection of old waterfront buildings, ranging from restored wooden wharfs to warehouses for salting herring. Cozy-looking houses are clustered around the bay, with the reflections of their lights shimmering off the water like candles. The wonderful winter atmosphere is even more captivating if the village is coated with a blanket of snow. 

Your final day of exploration begins with Mosterøy and Klosterøy in the morning, two of the many islands located around the city of Stavanger. The islands are relatively exposed to the sea, so landing ashore here will depend on the waves and wind conditions.

Mosterøy is a lovely island, made up of a mixture of cattle pastures, horticulture, and cute neighborhoods. To the west of the island is Fjøløy fort, a small coastal battery built by the German army in 1941 during World War II.

Klosterøy measures less than one square mile, but is home to the historic Utstein Abbey and Utstein Church, more than 800 years old. The abbey is Norway’s best-preserved medieval monastery, sitting among beautiful surroundings. Parts of the monastery are hired out as a venue for concerts, seminars, and conventions. On arrival, you might just be greeted by guides in medieval costume.

The islands are connected by bridges and tunnels and all roads here lead to the city of Stavanger on the mainland.

This is the oil and energy capital of Norway, an international, cosmopolitan city that is as hip as it is historic.

Learn more about Norway’s off-shore wealth on an optional excursion to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. It’s possibly the only one of its kind in all of Europe, and built as a replica of an oil platform.

Few places in Norway have embraced the culinary scene as well as Stavanger. Stavanger’s two Michelin-star restaurants have helped earn it the nickname of ‘The Food Pantry of Norway’. You can stroll down Øvre Holmgate and peek at the cafés, pubs, restaurants, and boutique stores.

Modernity may thrive in the avant garde gastronomy and Scandi street art, but the city’s proud history is never far from sight. Take a walk around the Gamle Stavanger neighborhood, which features 170 of Europe’s best-preserved wooden houses from the 18th century. You can also see Norway’s oldest domkirke (cathedral), constructed in Anglo-Norman style around 1125 A.D. by an English bishop and virtually unchanged since the 1300s.

The end of the expedition is on the horizon. By this stage of your journey, you’ll likely regard your fellow explorers as friends, after finding so much in common in your interests and passion for nature.

Chat with your shipmates over a snack at the bistro-style Fredheim restaurant and share your favorite stories from the expedition so far. Enjoy drinks at the Explorer 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.

If you’d rather spend this last day at sea in quiet contemplation, just check out your camera roll—you’ll hopefully have multiple images of the Northern Lights to sift through. Or head to the gym to clear your mind and take stock of everything you’ve seen and experienced, then relax one last time in the soothing sauna.

Estimated time of arrival is 9:00 AM

We’ll pass the White Cliffs of Dover in the early morning hours and dock at the city’s harbor. After a final breakfast, the time will come to bid a fond farewell to the ship, the captain, the crew, the Expedition Team, and your new-found friends.

As you head ashore, you’ll take with you special memories of Norway in winter: wonderful fjords, fascinating towns and cities, friendly people, and the magical Northern Lights.

Dover is the gateway to the English countryside, the lush counties of Kent and Surrey, and beyond that, the melting pot of London. Before leaving the area, consider visiting Dover Castle, said to be the largest castle n England.

There is 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!