If taking a cruise ship through Norway’s majestic fjords is not on your travel list, add it now!
Norway is, to put it simply, divine. Teeming with glaciers, fjords, picturesque villages, and friendly people, everywhere you go, there is something worth seeing. And, with more coastline than any country in the world, save for Canada, cruising up and down Norway’s waterways is like nothing else.
In summer, the west coast is a pageantry of color, with lush, forested fjords, buttressed by the backdrop of charming, vibrantly painted coastal structures. In winter, when the arctic air settles in, the heavenly wonders of the aurora borealis light up the night sky. So alluring is the landscape, UNESCO has honored Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord by adding them to its World Heritage List. It is little wonder then, that generations of writers and royals alike have called the Norwegian coastline the most beautiful cruise in the world. Luckily, for all of us then, there is one cruise line that has custom designed its ships to sail the legendary fjords – Hurtigruten.
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten means Express Route and it takes its name from the costal Norway route that it started. The company has roots dating back to 1866, when it began as a ferry and indeed it still operates as that today. In recent years, however, it has begun to do more than offer a ferry service to the people of Norway. It now offers a combination of more traditional cruising, ferry services, and expedition cruising.
What makes Hurtigruten so special among cruise lines is the variety and volume of ports, at least one a day and sometimes two, as well as the views. On Hurtigruten’s ships, you sail inside the fjords whenever possible. This experience is something that other cruise lines can usually get just a taste of, as most ships are too large to sail down the deep and narrow channels. Other lines have some limited itineraries sailing up fjords, but this is Hurtigruten’s specialty.
The views on a Norway Cruise with Hurtigruten will take your breath away.
When sailing with Hurtigruten, you’ll stop at cities that, sometimes, no other cruise line stops at. These unusual ports of call let you leave behind the clamor of everyday life, as you step into a tiny fishing village. These coastal towns overflow with quaint, colorful coastal homes, nestled into the side of mountains, affording everyone who visits a panorama second to none.
With crisp, clean air, the serene surroundings of Norway are unparalleled. Taking a Norway cruise with Hurtigruten is different than the typical cruise experience. This is a sailing meant for quiet contemplation while staring out the windows of a complimentary bar, wondering in awe at the beauty of the world around you. These ships are smaller, with fewer guests and a complete lack of crowds. You’ll never feel rushed or crowded and the attentiveness and friendliness of the staff leaves you wishing to never leave.
Northern Lights
Perhaps the most obvious and widely desired sight of these northern reaches is the aurora borealis or northern lights. Many have dreamed of seeing these haunting green illuminations, but most of the places we live are either too bright or too far south to have a good chance of catching them. Not so in Norway where they are a near nightly event – sometimes they are so powerful they can be seen in the capital city of Oslo.
Words fail to capture how stunning the northern lights lights really are.
As anyone who has laid eyes up their glowing green brilliance can attest, there is nothing more amazing than seeing the northern lights shimmer and flow from the bow of a ship on a Norwegian winter’s night. And although it may be cold as you sail through the artic waters, just inside are hot coffees, tea, and even cocoa. The moment that the chill is too much, all you need do is open the door and step up to grab your drink. Then, when the infusion of warmth has worked its wonders, step back out to take in more of the heavenly splendor. These displays can last hours at a time, so you’ll get plenty of time to take them in.
If you’re worried that you might book a trip and not see them, those chances are vanishingly low. In fact, Hurtigruten is so certain that you will see the northern lights, if you book a Norway cruise in the winter they guarantee if you do not see the Northern Lights, you get a free cruise the following year.
Many travelers ask if you can see the northern lights in the summer and the answer is, no. In the far northern and southern regions of the world, summertime means long days, filled with light. In these far-flung places, the light of the sun, even when below the horizon, makes for a twilight that lasts through even the smallest hours of the morning. Because of that, to see the northern lights, it must be winter.
Itineraries
Although we’re focusing on Hurtigruten’s North Cape Express, many of the Hurtigruten itineraries take you through, or start in, the charming city of Bergen. This beautiful coastal town is known as the gateway to the fjords. Within the city you’ll find amazing places including the Fantoft Stave Church, which dates to 1150, the reconstructed Hanseatic buildings of Bryggen, a UNESCO World Hertiage Site, and the Edvard Grieg Museum.
Sailing northward will take you through the city of Molde and the nearby Trollveggen, a 3,300-foot-high mountain with near vertical rock faces. You’ll also stop in the utterly delightful and stunningly gorgeous fishing village of Lødingen as you make your way northward towards Alta and its famous Northern Lights Cathedral. At the end of your northward journey you’ll arrive in Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in mainland Norway.
The charming city of Lødingen where, as far as I know, the only Norway cuise to stop here is Hurtigruten.
As you turn around and make your way back down the coast, the ship will take you through Tromsø, where you can book wintery adventures on a dog sled and on to Stokmarknes, the historic birthplace of Hurtigruten and a museum dedicated to its history. Further down the coast will bring you to Svolvær, a historic fishing village, now a delightful tourist town replete with wonderful restaurants and local pubs.
Actual dog sledding in Tromsø. This alone made the trip worth it!
Continuing southward, you’ll often pass an island just past Brønnøysund, where you’ll find the Torghatten mountain. This iconic natural feature is instantly recognizable by the tunnel that runs through its center. According to local lore, the troll Hestmannen was chasing a young woman, Lekamøya. When Hestmannen realized that he would not catch her, he shot an arrow at her instead. But the Troll King Sømna threw his hat in the path of the arrow to protect Lekamøya. When the sun rose, the hat turned to stone and the hole left by the arrow is the tunnel we see today.
Further south still, you’ll sail into the city of Ålesund, renowned for its art nouveau architecture and the Geirangerfjord UNESCO World Heritage site. As you cruise past Bergen, Hurtigruten will cruise into one of Norway’s most famous fjords, the Hardangerfjord. At 111 miles long, it is the second longest fjord in the country, and fifth longest in the world. Nearing the end of your cruise, you’ll pull into Kristiansand, a sprawling port town featuring perfectly walkable shopping areas, the Bystranda, a Blue Flag beach with marvelous summer waters, and a charming Christkindlmarkt, opening in late November.
Your journey may end, or indeed begin, in Oslo, the capital of Norway. The city is more than worthy of spending several days in no matter the season. Among the many wonderful sites to visit are the Royal Palace, where the Norwegian royal family resides for most of the winter, and a WW II museum, dedicated to the Norwegian resistance, which is conveniently located next to the medieval castle of Akershus, which is open to the public and still used for ceremonial functions of celebrations.
Near Christmas, when you start or end your Norway cruise in Oslo, go to the Christkindlmarkt.
If you decide to stay for several days before or after your cruise, you will be more than comfortable at any one of the dozens of world-class hotels inside the city. Nor will you go hungry as Oslo is becoming known for its culinary offerings – you’ll find no shortage of mouthwatering restaurants, usually within a couple blocks of wherever you are staying.
We’ve done the journey ourselves and we know that every minute was worth it. Don’t wait for someday with a Norway cruise, take the trip, you won’t regret it.
