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The Norwegian Fjords

Twelve nights inside the fjords on a ship small enough to tie up in the old quarters, with six hours of daylight in July and none at all in January.

A steep fjord wall rising out of still water

Route overview

Bergen north to Kirkenes and back, hugging a coast that drops six hundred metres straight into the sea. The ship turns into each fjord rather than sailing past it, which is the difference between seeing Norway and visiting it.

The ship

At 240 guests it can use the quays in the old quarters rather than anchoring offshore, and it carries enough tender capacity to land everybody inside an hour.

Best bits

The Geirangerfjord at eight in the evening with the waterfalls running full, and the night in the Lofoten Rorbu when the sea is flat and the mountains are lit from below.

Practicalities

Fly to Bergen and home from Kirkenes or Tromsf. Winter departures are for the aurora and the black-and-white light; summer is for the midnight sun and the hiking.

Day by day

Ports are called at in daylight wherever possible; the overnight stops are the ones worth having.

  1. Days 1 to 2

    Bergen to the Sognefjord

    Board in the old Hanseatic quarter, then sail into Norway's longest fjord as the light comes down the water.

    Stay Aboard the ship

    Travel Board at Bergen

  2. Days 3 to 4

    Alesund and Geiranger

    A morning in the art nouveau town, an afternoon in the Geirangerfjord with the Seven Sisters falling off the cliff above.

    Stay Aboard the ship

    Travel About 9 hours cruising

  3. Days 5 to 6

    Trondheim

    Disembark for the old trading streets and the lift bridge, and reboard in time for the sail-out at dusk.

    Stay Aboard the ship

    Travel Docked overnight

  4. Days 7 to 9

    Lofoten

    Two days among the granite peaks that rise straight out of the water, with a Rorbu cabin ashore for one night.

    Stay Aboard the ship and one night ashore

    Travel Zodiac and coach to the cabins

  5. Days 10 to 11

    Tromsf and Hammerfest

    The Arctic cathedral, then the northernmost town in Europe and a night of low sun on the ice.

    Stay Aboard the ship

    Travel About 12 hours cruising

  6. Day 12

    Kirkenes

    Disembark by the Russian border with the border lights still on and a transfer to the airport.

    Stay Kirkenes

    Travel Disembark and fly via Oslo

Questions

Which month for the fjords?

June and July for the light and the hiking, February and March for the aurora and the snow-lit peaks. September and October are quieter and the colours are extraordinary.

Do I need to book the shore excursions?

The included walks do not need booking. The Lofoten Rorbu night and the dog-sled day do, and they sell out first.

Is it cold on the top deck?

Wind makes more difference than temperature. The ships issue heavy anoraks, but bring a cap that fits under the hood.

Last updated 30 October 2026

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