Oslo - Honningsvåg - Oslo

Astronomy Voyage

On The North Cape Line with an expert astronomer

Duration

15 days

Ship

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The Northern Lights shining over Tromsø
No matter the time of year, arriving at the North Cape is the experience of a lifetime
The Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta, northern Norway
Winter in Ålesund

Voyage overview

Sail with astronomy expert and our Chief Aurora Chaser Tom Kerss for unique insights of the Arctic Sky and the greatest light show on Earth, the Aurora Borealis. The backdrop to your Northern Lights experience is the beauty of the Norwegian coast, calling at a variety of ports from its southernmost point to its northermost.

  • This voyage is accompanied by renowned astronomer Tom Kerss, Hurtigruten’s Chief Aurora Chaser, and features exclusive talks and lectures

  • Enjoy an exclusive visit to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromsø with Tom Kerss and two inclusive excursions in Rørvik and Alta

  • Sail to the North Cape from Oslo and back, visiting a variety of interesting Norwegian towns and cities along the way

  • Enjoy exceptional all-inclusive food and drink and enhanced onboard activities aboard a small ship

Itinerary

The day-by-day programme will give you some ideas about what you can see during your voyage, but bear in mind that this itinerary is just an indication. After all, this is a sailing where the elements rule and weather conditions might vary.

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Day 1

Discovering Norway’s capital

Oslo

Discovering Norway’s capital

Oslo

Welcome to Norway. First stop: Norway’s thriving capital, Oslo.  

If you have time before you board your ship for the voyage ahead, you’ll want to explore the many charms this cosmopolitan capital has to offer. Make your way to the city centre, where you can take snaps of the architecturally distinct Rådhuset town hall, Royal Palace, and Oslo Cathedral.   

As afternoon turns towards evening, board your ship, MS Trollfjord. Once we’ve welcomed you and you’ve settled into your cabin or suite, you’ll meet your Coastal Experience Team. You’ll get to know each member of the team as they give lectures and organise onboard activities throughout your voyage.   

Meet your fellow guests in the ship’s two-storey panorama lounge and watch as the capital’s twinkling lights fade into the distance.

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Day 2

Settle in at sea

Settle in at sea

This is your chance to settle into your cabin, get a taste of Norway’s coastal cuisine in the ship’s three restaurants and bar, and start to get to know your fellow passengers. 

You’ll have time to simply watch Norway’s spectacular southern coast glide by. Take it all in from the expansive Observation Deck, from the comfort of your ship’s two-storey lounge and bar, or as you sweat it out in the panoramic sauna. 

As well as the views, this stretch of coast is home to more than its fair share of enthralling stories. Find out more about Norway’s coast and the voyage ahead in the lectures, presentations, and onboard activities planned for today.

Three Swords in the Rock is a memorial to the Battle of Hafrsfjord in Stavanger

Day 3

Fjord views and city culture

Stavanger

Fjord views and city culture

Stavanger

Today, you’ll wake to views of beautiful Lysefjord. The 26-mile-long fjord is home to one of Norway’s most famous sights: Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock), which towers 604 metres above the fjord’s shimmering waters. 

Kjerag mountain, at the end of the fjord, reaches even higher. Along the way, watch for mountain goats, waterfalls, and the famous Kjeragbolten, a glacial boulder wedged high up in a crevasse. 

You’ll spend much of the rest of the day in Stavanger, a colourful waterside city with an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. Discover the architectural relics of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, which includes Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of wooden houses, and Norway’s oldest cathedral, dating from the 12th century.  

You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, pop into a local boutique shop, or simply enjoy a beer on the waterfront.

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Day 4

A picturesque town

Ålesund

A picturesque town

Ålesund

After breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock at Ålesund, a town that spreads out across a string of islands.  

Many of the buildings here, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, were inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. You can get impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint.  

You can also visit the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway’s first marine science centre. This is one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, providing a home to seals, otters, and crabs, as well as many other kinds of marine life. You can even see Humboldt Penguins here, a species otherwise absent north of the equator.  

Join an optional excursion to explore Ålesund on foot or by bus, as your guide reveals the town’s surprising secrets to you.

The fishing village of Rørvik

Day 5

An ancient fishing town

Rørvik - surrounded by thousands of islands

An ancient fishing town

Rørvik - surrounded by thousands of islands

The cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago may look small but it has a huge history that is told through both the landscape and the town’s collection of museums. 

Here, you can join an optional excursion and time travel through the last 10,000 years and get a glimpse of the future, thanks to the Ice Age-carved landscape, carefully preserved 19th-century living rooms, and the ingenuity of Norwegian salmon production – each preserved and explained in three excellent museums. 

In the afternoon, we’ll continue sailing north through the Vikna archipelago made up of 6,000 islands, islets and reefs. The local gardens bloom with plum and apple blossoms in the spring, even at 65°N, thanks to the maritime climate.  

As we sail through the night, we’ll leave the Helgeland coast behind us as we cross the Arctic Circle.

The Northern Lights over the Hurtigruten Museum in Stokmarknes

Day 6

Lofoten islands and our historic birthplace

Svolvær – at the heart of Lofoten, Stokmarknes – the birthplace of Hurtigruten

Lofoten islands and our historic birthplace

Svolvær – at the heart of Lofoten, Stokmarknes – the birthplace of Hurtigruten

Today, we explore Lofoten. As soon as you see the towering peaks with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations.   

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær mid-morning. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the heart of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby mountain named for resembling a goat and its horns.   

A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, including winter fishing, paddling along the coastline in a kayak, or embarking on a bus tour to learn more about Lofoten’s history. 

We can’t visit the area without spending a couple of hours in Stokmarknes. It was here that the Original Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer Richard With. On the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in the Hurtigruten Museum’s glass building like a ship in a bottle.

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Day 7

The gateway to the Arctic

Tromsø – gateway to the Arctic

The gateway to the Arctic

Tromsø – gateway to the Arctic

This urban city, 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, is buzzing with life, with everything from trendy restaurants and cafés to boutique shops selling local crafts and fashion. MS Trollfjord will be in port here for eight hours.

You will visit the Science Museum of Northern Norway, learning more about the Northern Lights through a range of exhibits and installations. There will also be a stop at Tromsø Planetarium. Its full-dome ceiling offers 360-degree views and high-quality digital projectors show daily films about 'Experiencing the Aurora' and the constellations. Our expert astronomers will be joining you on the trip, so make sure to ask them lots of questions!

Tromsø is the place to tick off some of those bucket-list experiences. Optional excursions include dog sledding or snowmobiling through the snowy scenery, seeing reindeer, visiting a snow igloo, or exploring this remarkable Arctic city on a bus tour.

No matter the time of year, arriving at the North Cape is the experience of a lifetime

Day 8

The northernmost point

Honningsvåg – gateway to the North Cape

The northernmost point

Honningsvåg – gateway to the North Cape

Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day in Honningsvåg. This far north, winters are long and snowfall is high, so get ready for some fantastic winter scenery and activities.  

Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains with your Coastal Experience Team. On optional excursions, you could try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Get a taste of the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round.  

The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape which looks out over the Barents Sea, also available as an optional excursion. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe, and as we’re visiting in winter, you can even choose to get there by snowmobile.   

Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.

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Day 9

The city of Northern Lights

Alta

The city of Northern Lights

Alta

At 70 degrees north, this town is far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good Northern Lights visibility, so keep your camera ready.

On our included excursion, you can find out more about day-to-day life in Alta, see prehistoric rock art, and visit the Northern Lights Cathedral. The cathedral has an exhibition showing how Alta became the centre for 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 dogsledding. Alternatively, join your Coastal Experience Team on a hike to Mount Komsa. The views are mesmerising.

The snow and climate of Alta also create the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel. Located on the banks of river Alta and made from 250 tonnes of ice, this is the world's northernmost ice hotel, decorated with ice sculptures and wall carvings.

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Day 10

Arctic beauty awaits

Narvik

Arctic beauty awaits

Narvik

Narvik was originally developed as a year-round, ice-free port for the nearby iron ore mines. Nowadays, it’s known for its World War II heritage and as a gateway to active pursuits such as skiing, dog sledding and hiking. 

On optional excursions, you can dive into Narvik's intriguing past at the Narvik War Museum, where the town's World War II history comes to life with engaging exhibits and narratives.  

For a journey through the heart of the region, hop aboard the Arctic Train and travel along the iconic Ofoten Railway, treating yourself to panoramic views of majestic mountains. For panoramic views of Narvik from above, ride the cable car to the top of Narvikfjellet.

Narvik sits on a peninsula where three beautiful fjords meet. It was originally developed as a year-round, ice-free port for the nearby iron ore mines. Nowadays, it’s known for its World War II heritage and as a gateway to active pursuits such as skiing, dog sledding, and hiking. 

Get to know Narvik's past at the Narvik War Museum complete with engaging exhibits that bring to life the town’s strategic importance during World War II. 

For an impressive panorama of Narvik, the best thing to do is ride the cable car up Narvikfjellet. At the top, you’ll be treated to astounding views of the town and the three surrounding fjords.    

Torghatten in winter, Norway

Day 11

Cruise the inner coastal route

Cruise the inner coastal route

After Narvik, we head south along the enchanting Norwegian coast. You’ll be in awe of  windswept islands, sheltered bays, and some of the most beautiful fjords in the world. It’s also inhabited by a wide range of wildlife, such as majestic Sea Eagles. 

When we started sailing north of the Trøndelag region in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. But, over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters. Today, we are among the few with the maritime knowledge and skill to take you through the many skerries, islets and hidden fjords that characterise this stretch of coast.

Situated in the heart of the Romsdalsfjord, the small town of Åndalsnes is the mountaineering capital of Norway

Day 12

Alpine village by the fjord

Åndalsnes

Alpine village by the fjord

Åndalsnes

After docking in the town centre in the morning, you have the chance to explore Åndalsnes, a picturesque coastal town located along Isfjord at the end of Romsdalsfjord.  

The literal highlights of Åndalsnes are the mountains that tower over the town. They are the reason the town has become Norway’s go-to destination for hikers, climbers, skiers, and more. The Troll Wall, a 1,000 metre vertical cliff along the Romsdalen valley also attracts adrenaline seekers the world over. 

Take in the sights with a city walk and a relaxing ride on the Romsdal Gondola which takes you to the top of Nesaksla Mountain, 708 metres above sea level. There, enjoy a 360-degree view of the mighty Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre below, and the Rauma river.

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Day 13

Beautiful Bergen

Bergen – gateway to the fjords

Beautiful Bergen

Bergen – gateway to the fjords

Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, the old capital of Bergen is one of Norway’s most picturesque and historic cities, as well as being its second largest.  

Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colourful wooden wharfs dating back to the 14th century. Bergen’s famous fish market is worth a visit, too. It promises to be a feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of bountiful, fresh seafood which can be cooked there and then for you. 

One of the best-known attractions in Bergen is the Fløibanen funicular, which brings you to the top of Mount Fløyen. The summit has a wonderful view over the city, the nearby fjord, and the other surrounding peaks.

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Day 14

The city of lighthouses

Kristiansand

The city of lighthouses

Kristiansand

We spend the last afternoon of your voyage in Kristiansand, Norway’s fifth-largest city, sitting along the southern tip of the country,  

Kristiansand is on a mission to become the most sustainable port in Europe. Find out more about this admirable quest on an optional excursion that includes a visit to Odderøya Island.  

Or delve into Kristiansand’s 20th-century military past on an optional excursion to Batterie Vara. Originally built as a German fort in World War II, it features the world’s second largest cannon ever to be mounted on land.  

Back on the boat, we’ll end our voyage on a high note with an end-of-trip farewell dinner. Take this opportunity to trade photo highlights and experiences with your fellow travellers one last time.

A bridge over a body of water with a city in the background

Day 15

Back where we began

Oslo

Back where we began

Oslo

From the south to the north, and back to the south, reflect on your journey as you watch our return to our first – and now last – port of the voyage, Oslo, in the early morning. Say your goodbyes to the crew and disembark the ship, marking the end of your travels with us.   

You’ve sailed on The North Cape Line, getting to know Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent. During the journey, you’ll have experienced Norway’s varied climate, seen majestic mountains and fjords, and maybe gazed up in awe at the Northern Lights once or several times.   

We hope you’ll cherish each of the memories of The North Cape Line that you’ll take home with you. Come sail with us again soon, on another iconic voyage of our spectacular home: the Norwegian coast.

The North Cape Express | From Oslo | 2025/26

About your trip

What's included

For guests in cabins

Enjoy an impressive range of included benefits when you choose from our selection of comfortable options: Polar Inside, Polar Outside, and Arctic Superior cabins.

Accommodation

  • Choice of cabin type

  • Choice of cabin location

  • Accommodation in a comfortable cabin with ensuite bathroom

Read more about the cabins on MS Trollfjord

Food and drink

  • Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ship’s main restaurant, Flora

  • Daily lunch and dinner in Brasserie Árran

  • Unlimited selected drinks in Flora, Brasserie Árran, and 1893 Bar during opening hours

  • Unlimited selected tea and coffee

  • Afternoon snack in the bar

  • Culinary demonstrations and food tastings

Read more about the restaurants on board

Life on board

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship and in your cabin

  • Multi-lingual Coastal Experience Team

  • Daily themed lectures, photography guidance, arts and crafts sessions

  • Access to the fitness room and sauna

  • Music entertainment and library access

  • Selection of equipment for outdoor activities off ship

  • English speaking Coastal Experience Team

  • Tour Manager and lectures from a renowned astronomer

  • Exclusive excursion to the Planetarium in Tromsø

  • UNESCO Rock Art & Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta

  • Access to Cameralla photo sharing app

Read more about your onboard experience

Upgrade your voyage with:

  • Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner in award-winning fine-dining restaurant, Røst

  • Unlimited selected drinks in Røst during opening hours with an upgraded wine selection

  • Unlimited handcrafted cocktails in the bar during opening hours

  • Afternoon tea with sparkling wine

  • Hurtigruten clothing package, including shell jacket, wool sweater, wool hat

  • Camera equipment and binoculars rental

  • Wide range of optional seasonal excursions and guided hikes

For guests in suites

For the absolute best in onboard comfort, cuisine, service, and beautifully appointed rooms, choose our Signature voyages suite experience.

Accommodation

  • Choice of suite type

  • Choice of suite location

  • Fast track, priority check-in

  • Accommodation in a stylish, spacious suite with ensuite bathroom

  • No charge on any items in your suite’s minibar

  • Daily minibar refill

  • King-size beds

  • Daily turndown service

Read more about the suites on MS Trollfjord

Food and drink

  • Choice of dining times during restaurant opening hours

  • Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ship’s main restaurant, Flora

  • Daily lunch and dinner in Brasserie Árran

  • Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner in award-winning fine-dining restaurant, Røst

  • Exclusive dinner with the ship’s officers

  • Unlimited selected drinks in Flora, Brasserie Árran, Røst, and 1893 Bar during opening hours

  • Unlimited cocktails in the bar during opening hours

  • Unlimited tea and coffee (selected types offered)

  • Culinary demonstrations and food tastings

  • Occasional afternoon tea with cakes and sparkling wine

Read more about the restaurants on board

Life on board

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship and in your suite

  • Multi-lingual Coastal Experience Team

  • Access to the fitness room and sauna

  • Daily themed lectures, photography guidance, arts and crafts sessions

  • Music entertainment and library access

  • Selection of equipment for outdoor activities off ship

  • Visit to the bridge when in port – at the Captain’s discretion

  • Complimentary use of binoculars

  • English speaking Coastal Experience Team

  • Tour Manager and lectures from a renowned astronomer

  • Exclusive excursion to the Planetarium in Tromsø

  • UNESCO Rock Art & Northern Lights Cathedral in Alta

  • Access to Cameralla photo sharing app

Read more about your onboard experience

Upgrade your voyage with:

  • Camera equipment rental

What's Not Included

  • Flights and transfers 

  • Travel insurance 

  • Optional seasonal excursions 

  • Luggage handling 

  • Optional hikes with the Coastal Experience Team

Notes

  • Prices are in EUR per person based on two people travelling together sharing a cabin for two 

  • Not all cabin categories are available for all departures 

  • Single cabin pricing available on request 

  • Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled and subject to availability

Optional Excursions

Explore your destination even further with our wide range of exciting excursions. The excursion programme presented is an indication of some of the excursions that may be available during your voyage.