Northern Lights Norway Expedition Cruise

Categories Scandinavia Norway Coastal Voyage - Hurtigruten Northern Lights Tours North Atlantic Islands Fjord Cruises Arctic Tours Arctic Cruises Arctic & N. Atlantic Cruises on Sale! Winter Tours Cruises

Once in a great while, a truly unique opportunity presents itself. This is one of those singular events. For one special sailing, the MS Finmarken will carry the very best of the MS Fram Expedition staff, helping to deliver lucky Finmarken guests on the Norway Winter Expedition of a life-time.

Included onboard activities:

Borealis “ The Magic Northern Lights”

Lectures given by our Expedition Team every day From Bergen to Kirkenes and back, also out on deck.

Arctic Circle ceremony

Meeting with a local fisherman boat in open water – deliver fresh fish

Fresh roasted fish cakes - Served at the entrance of Trollfjord.

The Captain talk

Sami History Presentation

King crabs - See alive king crabs from the Barents Sea.

Story about “Finnkjerka” - A sacred Sámi sacrificial rock formation

Ice dipping, In the Arctic Ocean – Vardø.

Seamanship on board - Learn to make marine knots.

“Fish on deck”. - Our Chef demonstrate how to fillet today’s catch.

Leaving the Arctic ceremony

Recap of the day every night by Expedition Team

Itinerary

Our expedition starts in Bergen. As we make our way north, you have the chance to enjoy interesting lectures and activities. Many of these activities happen out on deck and on land, so you get the chance to feel the crisp and fresh air. Enjoy the relaxed ambience of life on board and the opportunity to meet fellow passengers as you take in the spectacular winter landscapes.

Ålesund

We navigate through the skerries and islands further north before reaching the town renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, Ålesund. We recommend a tour to Mount Aksla for a perfect winter panoramic view. Lecture about the Aurora Borealis onboard by Pål Brekke between Ålesund and Trondheim.

The Royal City of Trondheim

Trondheim was Norway’s first capital. The warehouses along the river built on wooden stilts are a colourful contrast to the pure white snow that usually covers the city during winter.

Arctic Circle and Lofoten Islands

As we cross the Arctic Circle the hunt for the Arctic light begins. This occasion is marked with an Arctic Circle baptism on deck. You have the chance to learn more about the Aurora Borealis and to experience an authentic Lofotr Viking Feast. Later we enter the dramatic and narrow Raftsund. If the weather and ice conditions allow it, we also sail to the entrance of the famous Trollfjord, where you can enjoy freshly made fish cakes on deck.

Tromsø, the Gateway to the Arctic

After a morning stop in Finnsnes, we continue to the Arctic capital Tromsø. Perhaps take part in a husky sledging excursion or a trip to Polaria. As we sail along the coast there is a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. We gather on deck to search for this breathtaking phenomenon.

Honningsvåg and the North Cape

Honningsvåg is the nearest port to the North Cape. An included excursion to this breathtaking site puts you at 71° 10’ 21” N, only 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole. Join the presentation of the Sámi culture and history in pictures, words and music. Later on we pass a rock formation that is sacred to the Sámi people, Finnkirka.

Enjoy the spectacular lighting on this famous rock. Sometimes King Crab-fishermen share their catch of the day with us onboard here. At the next port, Kjøllefjord you can join a snowmobile trip to Mehamn, where you might see the Northern Lights on a clear, starlit sky

Kirkenes, the Expedition Turning Point

The turning point of our Coastal Voyage is just 10 kilometres from the Russian border. Kirkenes is home to the fantastic Snow Hotel and the base for several exciting excursions, including dog sledging and King Crab fishing.

Kirkenes also boasts several fascinating small museums, recounting the history and heritage of this remote frontier. The polar nights extend from 21 November to 21 January.

It is not completely dark during this time; the light and colour in the sky are amazing when the weather is favorable.

Southbound Voyage

As we turn south the northbound ports visited by night are now seen by day. In the afternoon the ship docks in Vardø.

We invite you to an ice-dipping in the Arctic Ocean!

Hammerfest and Tromsø

Before stopping in Hammerfest, you can enjoy an “Energy coffee” and a short introduction to “Melkøya - The northernmost natural gas terminal” on board. Our next major stop will be Tromsø where you have the option to take part in a very special musical experience, the Arctic Cathedral Midnight Concert.

Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands

Enjoy the stunning views of sheltered bays and glorious mountain landscapes wrapped in the cloak of a polar winter. We stop at Stokmarknes – home to the Hurtigruten Muesum, before continuing through the Raftsund, a picturesque and narrow channel between the Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands. As a tribute to the fishing history in Lofoten, our chef shows how to fillet the catch of the day on deck.

Arctic Circle, Seven Sisters

Enjoy the spectacular winter scenery of the picturesque Helgeland coast with its myriad islets and steep granite walls. As we cross the Arctic Circle again and sail past the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters we enter a world of legend and folklore.

Trondheim and Kristiansund

Today you have the opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim again. Nidaros Cathedral, where three Queens and seven Kings have been crowned, is Scandinavia’s largest medieval building. Later, on our way to Kristiansund, you can see the steep, pointed and snow covered peaks of the Romsdal Alps.

Bergen, Disembarkation

Today your expedition with MS Finnmarken has come to an end, but before we reach Bergen there are still a few nautical miles of fascinating winter scenery ahead of us as we slowly sail towards Bergen

Notes