Sailing from Hamburg

Setting off on your Arctic winter adventure

Your expedition cruise departs from Hamburg. Get settled in on your cosy expedition ship MS Otto Sverdrup as we sail north towards Norway and the Northern Lights. Our chances of seeing this amazing natural phenomenon increase the further north we go.

We exit the Hamburg channel into Cuxhaven, a popular departure point for German seafarers over the centuries. Here, we go alongside to enjoy a special ceremony to celebrate the start of our journey. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Hapag-Halle museum and a performance from a local sea shanty choir.

Celebration at sea

Enjoy a traditional festive feast

As we head towards the Norwegian coastline, your Expedition Team will host talks and answer your questions about the places, Christmas traditions, people and natural phenomena we're likely to encounter.

As in Germany and a few other European countries, Norwegians also celebrate Christmas on the 24th rather than the 25th December.

Enjoy a feast of rich oxtail soup, traditional fish terrine, succulent reindeer with tangy lingonberry marmalade, stewed cloudberries, and kransekake—a Norwegian confectionery made of almonds. God jul to all! 

Christmas in Bergen

Take a festive stroll through Norway's old capital

Surrounded by mountains and the sea, Bergen is one of Norway’s most beautiful and historic cities, with cobbled streets and alleys waiting to be explored.

Enjoy a walk around the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colorful wooden wharfs dating back to the 18th century. You'll feel like you have this charming city all to yourself, with the shops mostly closed for Christmas and the decorated streets much quieter than usual.

Take the funicular railway up to the top of Mount Fløyen—it takes just six minutes—for amazing views over the city, lit up with colorful Christmas lights.

Views from Mount Hoven

Enjoy the glacial beauty of Nordfjorden

Cruising into picturesque Nordfjorden, we pass Hornelen, Europe's highest sea cliff.

Nestled along the fjord are old fishing communities, such as Loen. We'll land here around noon and take the Loen Skylift to the top of Mount Hoven—climbing over 3,300 feet in just five minutes. The views to Mount Skåla and Lake Lo in the east, and Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden to the south, are unforgettable.

You can also try optional winter activities, including snowshoeing or sledding on the mountain, and hopefully kayaking on the fjord if time and weather allow.

The Helgeland coast

Relax and unwind among unforgettable scenery

Enchanting landscapes are all around as your Christmas expedition cruise sails through Helgeland county. Pick out the peaks of the Seven Sisters mountain range and see Torghatten Mountain, with its distinct hole right through the middle.

Take time on your day at sea to soak in a hot tub up on deck, visit the ship’s lounge, or enjoy another lecture from the Expedition Team, possibly on local folklore.  

You're now around the halfway mark of Norway's coastline and closing in on the Arctic Circle—the further north we sail, the greater your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. 

Enchanting Lofoten

One of the world's most spectacular destinations

As you cross the Arctic Circle this morning, you'll enjoy a special celebratory ceremony. A majestic wall of mountains then signals your arrival in stunning Lofoten.

We sail along Vestfjorden to the fishing town of Svolvær. Browse the shops and galleries along the promenade, with iconic red fishing huts known as rorbuer, and air-drying cod hanging on wooden racks or hjell.

Then it's time for an included visit to the Magic Ice bar, filled with ice sculptures, for a signature spirit to warm you up. Your Expedition Team will be on hand to suggest safe and spectacular hiking trails or snowshoeing areas as optional excursions.

Arctic Alta, Aurora city

Go snowmobiling or learn about Sámi culture

Lying 70º north of the Arctic Circle, Alta is the perfect destination for winter activities like snowmobiling, mountain hiking or riding fat bikes. It lies directly beneath the Auroral Oval—if conditions are right, you could be in for quite a show. Learn more about the aurora at an interactive exhibition in the modern Northern Lights Cathedral, where you’ll also be treated to a classical concert. Optional excursions include a visit to a Sámi village to learn more about their indigenous, semi-nomadic culture. You could also try snowshoeing or go hiking across the incredible tundra wilderness.

The North Cape

Visit the North Cape at the top of world

From the small town of Honningsvåg, enjoy a scenic bus ride past tiny villages and across a mountain plateau to the North Cape, just 1,300 miles from the Geographic North Pole.

Enjoy cliff-edge views across the sparkling sea, then take a selfie at the Globe Monument before visiting North Cape Hall’s exhibits on the cape’s history. You may even see the Northern Lights above.

Back in Honningsvåg, enjoy a stroll by the pretty harbor, browsing the charming shops, houses and church. Or sample king crab at one of the many local fish restaurants. This is the ship’s turning point. From here, we begin our trip southbound. 

Tromsø's winter delights

Celebrate New Year in a winter wonderland

It's New Year's Eve and we may be treated to the sight of majestic humpback whales en route to Tromsø. The city is especially pretty at this time of year and offers a wide range of optional excursions, from hiking, snowshoeing and dogsledding.

Or you could take in the town's sights. Like the Arctic Cathedral or the world’s northernmost brewery, Mack Bryggeri. We'll visit the fascinating Polar Museum, before heading back to the ship to see in the New Year.

Who knows, we may be treated to both fireworks and the Northern Lights as the clock counts down to midnight.

New Year in Reine

Discover the idyllic villages of Reine and Å

What a way to bring in the New Year, surrounded by the stunning beauty of the Lofoten Islands.

We dock at the fishing village of Reine in the morning, where you'll see why it's one of the most frequently photographed landscapes in Norway. Red fishing huts cling to a string of islands beneath granite mountain ranges.

From here, a 30-minute bus ride will take you to Å, one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages in Norway. You’ll explore the tiny village as part of a guided tour. Back at Reine, why not try hiking or winter kayaking with the Expedition Team.

The coast of Trøndelag

Exploring windswept islands and sheltered bays

Your Christmas expedition cruise today travels through the windswept islands along the coast of Trøndelag.

We hope to come ashore at the island of Frøya, although as ever we will be guided by the weather and conditions. This special place is a paradise for birdwatchers and home to many kinds of seabirds, like seagulls, cormorants, ducks and sea eagles. If we get to go ashore, you may also see seals, mink, otter, hare and deer.

You can also choose optional activities like hikes and kayaking, or join our Expedition Team's lectures on local settlements and coastal navigation.

Charming Ålesund

From marine life to mountain peaks

Your winter expedition cruise continues to the captivating city of Ålesund, famous for its charming architecture and cobblestone streets. After a fire razed much of the city to the ground in 1904, it was rebuilt in the fashionable style of the time: Art Nouveau.

Nestled into the rocky coastline is the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway's first marine science centre and today's included activity. Here you'll find Humboldt penguins, seals and otters.

You can take a hike to the summit of Mount Aksla for incredible views over the city. Reward yourself with a delicious warm svele—a thick, crescent-shaped pancake—at the top.

Pretty Hardangerfjorden

An eclectic landscape of orchards, glaciers and rose gardens

Enjoy the views as we sail towards Hardangerfjorden, the second longest fjord in Norway. Its hillside apple orchards supply the fruit for the award-winning local cider.

Today, we'll explore the beautiful villages of either Sunndal or Rosendal, depending on conditions. From Sunndal, close to the Bondhus Glacier, you can join an optional scenic hike or kayaking excursion with the Expedition Team.

In Rosendal, visit the magnificent Baronial manor, its interiors preserved since 1927. A path through the stunning rose garden—blooming in July—leads you to the dramatic Hatteberg Waterfall.

Reflections of Norway

Reflect on festive memories as we sail

Your Christmas cruise is coming to an end but there's time today to take it all in as you relax onboard in the hot tubs or sauna.

You might want to edit and curate your festive photographs with the help of our onboard photographer. Or spend time with the Expedition Team in the Science Center discovering more about the places you've visited.

Then sit back and enjoy the panoramic views from the Explorer Lounge, and chat with fellow guests over a drink, reminiscing over the great experiences you've shared on this seasonal expedition cruise.

Arrival in Hamburg

Explore more of Hamburg before you go

Our expedition cruise docks in Hamburg. You'll still have time to enjoy a final breakfast on board before you leave. There's much to see and do in Hamburg so it's worth staying a little longer to explore—a wonderful finale to this festive expedition.

You'll discover most of the city's attractions in the Altstadt, including St Nikolai Memorial and Deichstraße Historic Street. You can also explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chilehaus and the world's largest warehouse complex.