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Cruise Itinerary

• Day 1: UK to Bergen, Norway

  Fly direct to Bergen. Upon arrival, be transferred to your ship for your 11-night/12-day full board cruise. Your voyage starts in the second largest city in Norway and gateway to the fjords.

• Day 2: Alesund, Norway

  Ports visited today: Florø, Måløy, Torvik, Ålesund, Molde Your Hurtigruten ship navigates the skerries and islands further north before reaching Ålesund. Marvel at the inspiring architecture in the Apotekergate and Kongensgate pedestrian precinct, perfect examples of the Art Nouveau style. Don't miss out on the view from Mount Aksla but beware, there are 418 steps to the top!

• Day 3: Trondheim, Norway

  Ports visited today: Kristiansund, Trondheim, Rørvik When visiting the old royal city of Trondheim, be sure to get a good view from the Gamle Bybro ("Old Town Bridge"). Dating from 1861, this neo-gothic wooden bridge used to be the only way into the town centre. Nidaros Cathedral, built between 1070 and 1300, is Norway's largest Gothic religious edifice. In the neighbouring Archbishop's Palace, the Norwegian Crown Jewels are kept.

• Day 4: Arctic Circle

  Ports visited today: Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær This morning, between Nesna and Ørnes, you pass a globe on a small islet which heralds your crossing of the Arctic Circle. Passengers sailing in Arctic waters for the first time are given an Arctic Circle baptism by Njord, the ruler of the Seven Seas. This comes in the form of an ice cube down your front or back but is entirely optional.

• Day 5: Tromso, Norway

  Ports visited today: Stokmarknes, Sortland, Risøyhamn, Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø, Skjervøy During the night your Hurtigruten ship navigates the narrow Raftsund strait. After a stop in Harstad, situated on the largest island of Norway, Hinnøya, you continue via Finnsnes to Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Many of the epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point; the famous explorer Roald Amundsen sourced both crew and supplies here. With the presence of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the city has cemented its position as the Polar Capital of Norway. Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic Cathedral, is the most famous landmark with its modern design and extraordinary stained-glass window. Tromsø is also home to the world's northernmost university and the large number of people arriving here has created a vibrant cultural scene with numerous restaurants and cafes constantly teeming with life.

• Day 6: Honningsvag, Norway

  Ports visited today: Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg, Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, Berlevåg After a brief and early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg. This small port is the gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape which rises 300m from the ocean, and at 71° 10' 21" north it puts you a mere 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole. Standing atop the North Cape Plateau you'll get the eerie feeling of being at the end of the world.

• Day 7: Kirkenes, Norway

  Ports visited today: Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø, Kirkenes The last port on the Hurtigruten Voyage North is Kirkenes. And at longitude 30 east, you are further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. The well-policed Russian border and the Kola peninsula are close by which explains why the road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian. Being at the north-easterly terminus of Hurtigruten, the only choice from here is to set south again but spending a few days in Kirkenes offers you the opportunity to take part in some of the adventurous Arctic activities available nearby.

• Day 8: Hammerfest, Norway

  Ports visited today: Mehamn, Kjøllefjord, Honningsvåg, Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord, Skjervøy, Tromsø Breakfast at the North Cape including a visit to a Sámi family form part of an early morning excursion (at extra cost). Your next stop, Hammerfest, was a settlement back to the Stone Age and is still playing an important role as a fishing port. Founded in 1789 to develop trade with Russia, Hammerfest reconfirmed its position as Norway's Polar capital of its time, acting as a base for hunting expeditions to the High Arctic. In Hammerfest the Meridian Column, erected in 1854, commemorates the first precise measurement of the globe, an achievement so important that it's become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Day 9: Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands, Norway

  Ports visited today: Tromsø, Finnsnes, Harstad, Risøyhamn, Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvær, Stamsund The Vesterålen and Lofoten Island are amongst today's highlights. Before you reach them, you pass through Risøyrenna, a channel that was specially constructed for Hurtigruten, providing the vessels an 'inside route' between Harstad and Sortland. Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded, is the location of the Hurtigruten Museum. Entry is free for all Hurtigruten passengers. You continue through the narrow Raftsund, the picturesque narrow channel between the Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands, where, time and weather permitting, you'll take a detour into the spectacular Trollfjord where steep cliffs hug the ship's sides. Then it's on to Svolvær, the main settlement on the Lofoten Islands followed by Stamsund where the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten Wall can be viewed. You leave the islands during the evening and set course for the mainland.

• Day 10: Arctic Circle

  Ports visited today: Bodø, Ørnes, Nesna, Sandnessjøen, Brønnøysund, Rørvik The Helgeland coast with hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls is worth getting up early to experience. Today will also be your last one north of the Arctic Circle as you cross it between Ørnes and Nesna. This part of the coast is rich in local lore with stories including the legend of the Seven Sisters, a picturesque row of peaks, and the myth about how the arrow from Hestmannen's bow formed the hole in Torghatten Mountain. The Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is close to your call in Sandnessjøen.

• Day 11: Trondheim and Kristiansund, Norway

  Ports visited today: Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde, Ålesund Today gives you another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. Nidaros Cathedral, in which three Queens and seven Kings have been crowned, is Scandinavia's largest medieval building, and Norway's crown jewels are kept in the adjacent Archbishop's Residence. Passing the islands of Munkholmen and Hitra you then cross the open sea to Molde, known as the 'city of roses' due to its lush Gulf Stream location. You will notice the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps glinting in the sun. The town of Kristiansund, located on the scenic Atlantic Road, holds the rather obscure title of Norway's 'cured cod capital' because of the nature of its main export.

• Day 12: Rocky Islands & Bergen, Norway

  Ports visited today: Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy, Florø, Bergen Today, your Hurtigruten voyage will come to an end when you arrive in the City of Seven Mountains, Bergen. But before that, you still have a few nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of you such as the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedalsbreen glacier, Norway's longest fjord - the mighty Sognefjord and the picturesque Bergen Archipelago. Take home your memories of the world's most beautiful voyage and the many seafaring companions and friends you've made along the way.