In the Wake of The Coastal Express | Summer

Our voyage begins in Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city. With links to trade and adventure that go back centuries, it's the perfect starting point.  

Hamburg is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the world's largest warehouse complex and the nearby Wadden Sea. If you have time, explore them before you board.   

Then, get settled on board the comfortable MS Otto Sverdrup, enjoy the first of many delicious, locally sourced meals, and get to know your Coastal Experience Team.

Today, we cross the North Sea so you can enjoy the day aboard MS Otto Sverdrup. Admire the views from the expansive Observation Deck, or take advantage of the heated outdoor pool and hot tubs.   

Photography enthusiasts can pick up some pointers from our onboard photographer. You'll find the Explorer Lounge & Bar a comfy place to read or watch the world glide by.  

You can also enjoy one of the daily themed talks by the Coastal Experience Team, such as Vikings or Norway’s oil and gas history. Listen as they share their stories and knowledge of the places you’ll be visiting.

Stavanger has an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. Discover the architectural relics of Old Stavanger, including a magnificent 12th-century cathedral. You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, pop into a local boutique shop, or simply enjoy a beer on the waterfront.   

Leaving Stavanger, we enter the Lysefjord to experience some of the most striking vertical cliffs of all the Norwegian fjords. As we sail through the fjord, you can enjoy impressive views from the ship, especially of the 1,980 ft high Preikestolen viewpoint, famously known as ‘Pulpit Rock’.

Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, the old capital of Bergen is one of Norway’s most picturesque and historic cities. Get ready for its wealth of inimitable experiences. 

Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colourful wooden wharves dating back to the 14th century. Explore the cobbled streets and alleys on foot, stopping at fascinating museums, artisanal boutiques, cafés, or a pub for a glass of local Hansa beer.  

For amazing views of the city, the mountains, the sea, and beyond, you could take the funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen.

After Bergen, we head north along the enchanting edge of the Norwegian coast. 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.  

You’ll be in awe of the landscapes as we sail through this region 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. Look out for Sea Eagles as you gaze in wonder at the exceptional beauty of this coastline.

There’s plenty to enthral you in Helgeland, from remote archipelagos to beautiful fjords and icy glaciers. The Arctic Circle also slices through the coast here, marking the southernmost point at which the Midnight Sun shines for 24 hours a day. 

On cruises from May through July, you could explore a wild and remote island in Træna or discover a hidden fjord. From August, you could gaze in awe at Svartisen, the second-largest glacier on mainland Norway.

Today we visit Senja, a lesser-travelled island – perhaps due to its remoteness – that features on CNN’s top 10 list of the ’World’s Most Beautiful Islands’.  

Nicknamed 'Miniature Norway' due to the diversity of its landscapes, Senja's northern coastline has sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and lofty mountains. Southern Senja and Ånderdalen National Park offer rocky coastline and pine forests. You'll find rolling hills and birch forests to the east. 

Based on the weather conditions, your Captain will decide where best to drop anchor so you can go ashore and explore.

Standing at the edge of the North Cape – the northernmost point of Europe – there’s only the Svalbard archipelago between you and the Geographic North Pole, 1,300 miles away.  

Take in cliff-edge views across the sparkling sea, then take a selfie at the Globe Monument before visiting the North Cape Hall’s exhibits on the area's history.   

Depending on how the conditions are locally, we’ll either dock alongside Honningsvåg or anchor outside the fishing village of Skarsvåg. Either way, this is the northernmost point of our cruise. From here, we begin our trip southbound.

Set in a majestic landscape, Tromsø is a small, cosmopolitan city with a big past that has plenty of fascinating sights to discover. 

At the Polar Museum, discover the city’s heritage as a base for famous trappers and legendary explorers including Roald Amundsen. See the Arctic Cathedral – with its huge stained-glass window, it’s one of the most striking landmarks in Tromsø. You can also take the Fjellheisen cable car to the top of Storsteinen for incredible views.

Today we explore the famed Lofoten Islands. With steep mountains, beautiful beaches and bays, and pretty fishing villages, the archipelago is unlike anything you’ve seen. 

With its iconic red fishing huts, known as rorbuer,  dotted against a backdrop of granite peaks, Reine is an idyllic place to visit; you’ll see why this is one of Norway's most-photographed sites! And if the weather conditions aren’t right, there are plenty of other, equally memorable ports in the area to explore, such as Svolvær.

On our second sea day of the trip, we head south from the Lofoten Islands along the enchanting ’inside passage’ of the Norwegian coast. As well as the views of the area’s fjords, windswept islets and skerries, it’s another opportunity to admire the navigation skills of your Captain. 

As you gaze out from the deck of MS Otto Sverdrup at one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the world, look out for birds swooping and soaring across land and sea. This is a wonderful area for birdwatching. Or you could simply soak in the hot tub.

Surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps, Hjørundfjord is one of the most scenic fjords in Norway and largely undiscovered by other cruise lines. We anchor close to one of two fjord settlements, Urke or Sæbø, and go ashore in our small boats to experience Norwegian nature and culture up close. 

It's a beautiful spot to enjoy at your own pace. Or, you might have the opportunity to join a guided walk among the villages to discover the area’s history and nature, see incredible views on a mountain hike, or soak up the silence while kayaking in the still fjord waters.

The Haugaland region is known for its Viking connections. It was from here that the Viking king, Harald Fairhair, united Norway into a single kingdom, and the country’s Viking past lives on in a plethora of historic sites. 

If weather conditions allow, we'll visit a recreated Viking settlement on the small island of Bukkøya. On the nearby island of Karmøy, the Nordvegen History Centre in Avaldsnes delves into the characters of sagas and ancient poems. 

For a more recent perspective, the coastal city of Haugesund played an important role in Norway’s herring fishing heritage, while the atmospheric town of Skudeneshavn has beautiful beaches and charming, 19th-century wooden buildings.

It's our last day at sea and your voyage is drawing to a close. Now that you’re fully acquainted with the Vikings, it’s easy to picture their longships forging this same journey across the North Sea.  

Make the most of your last full day on MS Otto Sverdrup. Scan the waves for seabirds and perhaps even dolphins, which occasionally like to follow us. Soak in the hot tub, work out in the gym, make use of the Science Center, or relax in the Explorer Lounge.   

Don’t miss the Coastal Experience Team as they wrap up the journey with a review of the highlights of our memorable voyage.

Your voyage ends back in Hamburg. If you didn’t get a chance to explore this beautiful city 15 days ago, make sure you do now.  

Many of the city's attractions are clustered in the Altstadt district, including the St Nikolai Memorial and historic Deichstraße street. Hamburg’s beautiful canals have earned it the nickname ‘Venice of the North’, and a canal tour is a great way to explore the city.