Cruise Norway – Winter Coastal Voyages (October – March)

CORONAVIRUS STATUS UPDATE:  From January 2021 there are 5 ships sailing the Norwegian coastal voyage route for local access and freight transport. Further sailings for other ships are being considered to start in early 2021. The size and scale of the restart is dependent on national and international travel restrictions, government support and other external factors outside of Hurtigruten's control. As of 03/08/2020 Hurtigruten has temporarily suspended all expedition sailings only on MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen until further notice. All Antarctica expedition sailings departing in Winter 2020-21 are also cancelled.

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Offer: Book a NEW Hurtigruten voyage for travel in 2021, 2022 or 2023 to qualify. Cancel for ANY reason in the future and you'll get your deposit (less a small cancellation fee) back within 14 days. Book by 31 January 2021. (T&Cs apply)

Winter is perhaps the most special time to discover the wild and untamed nature of Norway. It also provides the best and most reliable chance of experiencing the Northern Lights flickering across the Arctic sky.

In winter, the light along the Norwegian coast is at its most beautiful. With days being shorter, there are even more opportunities for the Aurora Borealis to make an appearance. Wintertime also brings the ‘blue hour’ a period of prolonged twilight as the sun rests just below the horizon. This special light creates a romantic mood that is made all the more magical by the scenery of snow-covered mountains.

Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyages between October and March take you past fjords, mountains and coastal cities. The further North you travel, the shorter the days become. Above the Arctic Circle, between November and January, the sun does not rise at all – which gives you more time to hunt the Northern Lights!

During September and October, on day 2 of the northbound voyages, Hurtigruten is the only company that sails into Hjorundfjord, coastal Norway’s best kept secret. Also known as ‘The Autumn Fjord’, this is gem of a fjord displaying amazing Autumn colours.

Choose from the 11-night Classic Round Trip (from Bergen to Kirkenes and back again), the 6-night Voyage North (from Bergen to Kirkenes) or the 5-night Voyage South (from Kirkenes to Bergen).

With daily departures throughout the year, the route travelled stops at 34 locations along the way, some so remote and small many larger vessels are unable to enter. Ports visited by night on the northbound voyage are seen by day on the southbound journey. You can also incorporate just one or two nights on a port-to-port trip as part of your tailor-made Norwegian holiday package. 

Norway Coastal Voyage October – March
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During the day, there are many excursions to choose from. Most of the ships feature dedicated onboard Expedition Teams. These guides all have expert local knowledge offering a unique, in-depth perspective of the best of Norway with a series of lectures, hikes, excursions and food tastings, helping you to get the most our of your adventure. You can purchase a ‘Hiking Bundle’ of 3, 5 or 8 walks during your expedition. You select which specific walks you want when you are on board.

These Teams are all officially Canon Photography trained and a 45-minute free photography demonstration is included on these ships.

On a Hurtigruten voyage, the food is as important as the nature you explore and the excursions you take, so they are proud to present ‘Norway’s Coastal Kitchen’. Whether it be a lavish buffet or à la carte menu, they serve foods based on the season’s best ingredients, fresh from local suppliers from many of ports visited that day.

Hurtigruten is committed to safeguarding nature, wildlife and culture in all the waters they sail in. It’s goal is to operate its ships completely emission free. By introducing the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ships, it has already taken large steps towards this goal. It was also the first cruise company in the world to remove all unnecessary single-use plastic across the entire fleet.

See Hurtigruten’s online brochures to discover more about their destinations, their ships and life on board during a Norwegian voyage.

Note: we will update prices and offers on this website when regular sailings resume. In the meantime, please ask us for a quotation.

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Bergen. Transfer by airport coach or taxi (pay locally, full details provided) to central Bergen where you stay for one hotel night B&B.

Day 2: Day at leisure to explore Bergen. In the early evening catch the free transfer from central Bergen to the quayside to board your ship which departs at 9.30 pm. Stay 11 nights on a full board basis in an ‘unspecified’ (basic category, upgrades available) shared cabin.

Days 3 – 12: Experience the heart and soul of coastal Norway on this 2,500 nautical mile journey. You will visit 34 ports both northbound and southbound, discover cosmopolitan cities, market towns and rural hamlets, cross the Arctic Circle and have the opportunity to learn about the culture, arts, history, landscape and wildlife or Norway at lectures presented by the on-board Expedition Team. Over 70 optional shore-based excursions are also available throughout the voyage (may be booked in advance or on board).

Day 13: Your ship docks in Bergen at 08.15 am. You disembark after breakfast and take a transfer to central Bergen to check in at your hotel for one night B&B. Afternoon at leisure to explore Bergen.

Day 14: Transfer by airport coach or taxi (pay locally, full details provided) to Bergen Airport. Fly Bergen to Dublin.

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Bergen. Transfer by airport coach or taxi (pay locally, full details provided) to central Bergen where you stay for one hotel night B&B.

Day 2: Day at leisure to explore Bergen. In the early evening catch the free transfer from central Bergen to the quayside to board your ship which departs at 9.30 pm. Stay next 6 nights on the ship on a full board basis in an ‘unspecified’ (basic category, upgrades available) shared cabin.

Days 3 – 7: Experience the beauty of the Norwegian coastline and enjoy the lectures on board and the optional excursions and activities offered en route. The ship’s route takes in some fantastic ports such as Ålesund, Trondheim, Tromsø and Hammerfest, to name just a few. If travelling between 1st June and 31st August the ship heads into the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geirangerfjord. You will also voyage through the majestic Lofoten Islands and cross the Arctic Circle.

Day 8: Your ship docks in Kirkenes in the morning where you disembark and take a transfer to Kirkenes Airport. Fly to Norway’s capital city, Oslo, where you stay for one night B&B in a quality Oslo hotel located near the airport.

Day 9: Fly Oslo to Dublin.

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Kirkenes. Transfer from airport to your hotel in central Kirkenes where you stay for one night B&B.

(NB: Subject to flight schedules on your travel dates, you may fly Dublin to Oslo, stay one night in Oslo, and fly to Kirkenes on the morning of day 2).

Day 2: Morning at leisure to explore Kirkenes or perhaps take a local excursion. In late morning catch the free transfer from central Kirkenes to the quayside to board your ship which departs at 12.30 pm. Stay next 5 nights on the ship on a full board basis in an ‘unspecified’ (basic category, upgrades available) shared cabin.

Days 3 – 6: Experience the beauty of the Norwegian coastline, enjoy the lectures on board and select from more than 20 optional excursions and activities offered on this itinerary. The route south takes you through dramatic glacial scenery and allows you to see some of the world’s most beautiful fjord landscapes, a highlight of which are the Lofoten Islands which are visited in daylight.

Day 7: Your ship docks in Bergen at 08.15 am. You disembark after breakfast and take a transfer to central Bergen to check in at your hotel for one night B&B. Afternoon at leisure to explore Bergen.

Day 8: Transfer by airport coach or taxi (pay locally, full details provided) to Bergen Airport. Fly Bergen to Dublin.

We price each voyage on request because a) we create a package around the voyage specifically to suit you and b) Hurtigruten prices are constantly changing. This is due to their frequent special deals such as early booking offers, onboard credit deals or their great value no single supplement offers for those travelling alone.

Click on the link below for guide prices for the starting price for standard packages throughout the year which will give you an indication of the budget required for each. When quoting for you, we will always check for any special deals or less expensive dates which apply on or around your travel window and will offer you the best value option available. 

  • Return flights Dublin/Bergen  or Dublin/Kirkenes including taxes
  • One 20kg checked bag per person
  • 2 nights B&B in twin room in a central hotel (1 before and 1 after the voyage)
  • Transfers to/from ship in Bergen and Kirkenes
  • 5, 6 or 11 night full board voyage in a shared cabin category of your choice
  • Lectures on board
  • Meals & beverages other than as stated
  • Optional excursions and tours
  • Airport transfers in Bergen and Oslo (easy coach or taxi, full details provided)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Add extra days in Bergen and/or Oslo before and/or after your voyage and experience the beautiful Bergen Railway. Changes to the cost will apply.
  • Single Supplement (if applicable) priced on request.

For the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights you need to be above the Arctic Circle between October and early April. You also need to be under the Northern Lights Oval, the ring that circles the Magnetic North Pole. They tend to show best between 8pm and 2am.

Northern Norway is one of the only easily accessible and habitable Northern Lights locations in the world situated under the Aural Oval. Despite scientists’ best efforts, no correlation has been found between the 11 year solar cycle and observations of the Northern Lights within the Oval. The Oval extends further south during the peak solar cycle, allowing the Lights to be seen in more areas, but the solar cycle itself does not increase the frequency or intensity of showings.

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Image credits: Hurtigruten, Paul Halton, Project Travel

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