Astronomy Cruise on the Coastal Express

The Astronomy Voyage is a themed version of our Coastal Express voyage, sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. It follows the same route and includes all the highlights, but with an added astronomy programme led by expert lecturers. You’ll attend talks, lectures and enjoy an exclusive visit to Tromsø’s planetarium - all designed to deepen your understanding of the Northern Lights and the night sky.

This tour includes a dedicated Tour Manager and a professional guest lecturer who accompany you throughout. However, it’s not a guided land tour - shore excursions along the coast remain optional (and at an additional cost) and are led by local guides.

Each Astronomy Voyage features one of our expert lecturers, depending on your departure date. All are leading voices in astronomy, with decades of experience bringing the wonders of the night sky to life.

• Dr John Mason MBE (6 October 2026, 3 November 2026, 28 February 2027, 28 March 2027): A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Principal Lecturer at the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester. He has appeared many times on the BBC’s The Sky at Night alongside Sir Patrick Moore.

• Dr Sadie Jones (5 November 2026): Astronomy Public Engagement Leader at the University of Southampton. She runs the Aurora Zoo citizen science project, helping people around the world study and understand the Northern Lights.

• Dr Darren Baskill (2 January 2027 & 30 March 2027): Lecturer and outreach officer at the University of Sussex, with over 25 years of public science experience. He previously worked at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where he created the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

• Dr Daisy Dobrijevic (26 January 2027): Daisy Dobrijevic is the reference editor and astrotourism lead at Space.com, where she oversees skywatching content covering auroras, eclipses, meteor showers, and other major night-sky events.

You can meet all our Astronomy Voyage lecturers and read more about their lecture topics here.

The tour is full board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, served in the ship's main restaurant. Unlimited tea, filter coffee and water are complimentary throughout the day, but other drinks are subject to payment.

You can choose your cabin category when you book. We offer four types of cabin categories, ranging from cosy inside cabins to spacious suites.

Flights and airport transfers are not included. You'll need to arrange your own travel to and from Bergen, where the voyage begins and ends. Alternatively, you can choose to add an arrival or departure package during the booking process, and we'll take care of everything for you.

This voyage includes a guided visit to Tromsø’s planetarium on Day 5, plus an onboard lecture series led by your astronomy expert. Other optional shore excursions can be booked at an additional cost.