The North Cape Line from Hamburg - Winter (2025-26)

Setting sail for Norway

All aboard at Hamburg! Your ship is waiting to carry you north to Norway´s magical landscapes. 

Our voyage begins in Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city. With links to trade and adventure that go back centuries, it's the perfect starting point. 

Hamburg is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the world's largest warehouse complex and the nearby Wadden Sea. If you have time, explore them before you board. 

Then, get settled on your comfortable ship, enjoy the first of many delicious, locally sourced meals, and get to know your Expedition Team. 

Settle in at sea

This is your chance to settle into your cabin, get a taste of Norway’s coastal cuisine in the ship’s three restaurants and two-storey lounge and bar, and start to get to know your fellow passengers.

Relax into life on board as we leave Germany behind and cross the North Sea to Norway’s spectacular southern coast. Take it all in from the expansive Observation Deck, from your ship’s outdoor hot tubs, or as you sweat it out in the panoramic sauna.

As well as endless sea views, this stretch of your voyage brings you plenty of enthralling stories. Find out more about Norway’s coast and the voyage ahead in the lectures, presentations, and onboard activities planned for today. 

Fjord views and city culture

Today, you’ll wake to one of Norway’s most photogenic towns. Stavanger is a colourful waterside city with an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. It’s easy to spend the day exploring Stavanger’s Viking heritage, finding out for yourself why the city is so well known as a foodie destination, or simply wandering its pretty cobbled streets.

Discover the architectural relics of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, which includes Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of wooden houses, and Norway’s oldest cathedral, dating from the 12th century. 

You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum or simply enjoy a beer on the waterfront. 

A picturesque town

After breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock at Ålesund, a town that spreads out across a string of islands.

Many of the buildings here, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, were built in the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. You can get impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint.

You can also visit the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway’s first marine science centre. This is one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, providing a home to seals, otters, and crabs, as well as many other kinds of marine life. You can even see Humboldt Penguins here, a species otherwise absent north of the equator.

Join an optional excursion to explore Ålesund on foot or by bus, as your guide reveals the town’s surprising secrets to you.

An ancient fishing town

The cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago may look small as we sail into it this morning, but it has a huge history that is told through both the landscape and the town’s collection of museums. 

Here, you can join an optional excursion and time travel through the last 10,000 years and get a glimpse of the future, thanks to the Ice Age-carved landscape, carefully preserved 19th-century living rooms, and the ingenuity of Norwegian salmon production – each preserved and explained in three excellent museums.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue sailing north through the Vikna archipelago made up of 6,000 islands, islets and reefs. The local gardens bloom with plum and apple blossoms in the spring, even at 65°N, thanks to the maritime climate.

As we sail through the night, we’ll leave the Helgeland coast behind us as we cross the Arctic Circle. 

Lofoten islands and our historic birthplace

Today, we explore Lofoten. As soon as you see the towering peaks with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations. 

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær in the morning. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the heart of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby rock formation named for resembling a goat and its horns.  

A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær. Go deep-sea fishing or paddle along the coastline in a kayak. Spot Sea Eagles on a heart-pumping RIB ride or embark on a bus tour to learn more about Lofoten’s history. 

We can’t visit the area without spending a couple of hours in Stokmarknes. It was here that the Original Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer Richard With.  

On the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in the Hurtigruten Museum’s glass building like a ship in a bottle. Inside, you’ll also find interior sections from DS Finnmarken, built in 1912. Meanwhile, your ship waits to continue the journey outside.

The gateway to the Arctic

This urban city 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle is buzzing with life, with everything from trendy restaurants and cafés to boutique shops selling local crafts and produce, and even high fashion. Your ship will be in port here for the full day, giving you plenty of time to join optional excursions and explore the city. 

You can visit the Polar Museum, which chronicles the city’s legacy of Arctic hunting and trade. Head to the Polaria centre, an aquarium home to a variety of Arctic marine species, including seals. Across the water from Polaria, you’ll find the Arctic Cathedral, standing out in the cityscape due to its striking design and impressive stained-glass window.

Tromsø is the place to tick off some of those bucket-list experiences. Optional excursions include dog sledding through the winter wonderland of the surrounding countryside, or exploring this remarkable Arctic city on a bus tour. 

The northernmost point

Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day in Honningsvåg. This far north, winters are long and snowfall is high, so get ready for some fantastic winter scenery and activities. 

Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains with your Expedition Team. On optional excursions, you could try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Get a taste of the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round.  

The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape which looks out over the Barents Sea. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe. Travel there by bus or quad bike on one of our optional excursions. 

Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening. 

The city of Northern Lights

At 70 degrees north, this town is far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good Northern Lights visibility, so keep your camera ready as we sail towards and away from Alta when the skies are dark and clear.

On an optional excursion, you can find out more about day-to-day life in Alta, see prehistoric rock art and visit the Northern Lights Cathedral, which has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicentre for ground-breaking research of the Aurora Borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Increased snowfall in the winter allows for some truly authentic Arctic excursions, like dogsledding. You can try this on wheels if you’re here when there’s no snow on the ground! The snow and climate of Alta also create the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel. Located on the banks of river Alta, it’s the world’s northernmost ice hotel. 

Alternatively, if conditions are right, you can join your Expedition Team on a hike to Mount Komsa. The views are mesmerising. 

Arctic beauty awaits

Narvik sits on a peninsula where three beautiful fjords meet. It was originally developed as a year-round, ice-free port for the nearby iron ore mines. Nowadays, it’s known for its World War II heritage and as a gateway to active pursuits such as skiing, dog sledding, and hiking.

Get to know Narvik's past at the Narvik War Museum complete with engaging exhibits that bring to life the town’s strategic importance during World War II.

For an impressive panorama of Narvik, the best thing to do is ride the cable car up to Narvikfjellet. At the top, you’ll be treated to astounding views of the town and the three surrounding fjords.

Cruise the inner coastal route

After Narvik, we head south along the enchanting Norwegian coast. You’ll be in awe of windswept islands, sheltered bays, and some of the most beautiful fjords in the world. It’s also inhabited by a wide range of wildlife, such as majestic Sea Eagles.

When we started sailing north of the Trøndelag region in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. But, over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters. Today, we are among the few with the maritime knowledge and skill to take you through the many skerries, islets and hidden fjords that characterise this stretch of coast.

Alpine village by the fjord

After docking in the town centre in the morning, you have the chance to explore Åndalsnes, a picturesque coastal town located along Isfjord at the end of the Romsdalsfjord.

The literal highlights of Åndalsnes are the mountains that tower over the town. They are the reason the town has become Norway’s go-to destination for hikers, climbers, skiers, and more. The Troll Wall, a 1,000 metre vertical cliff along the Romsdalen valley also attracts adrenaline seekers the world over.

To take in the sights go on a relaxing ride on the Romsdal Gondola, which takes you to the top of Nesaksla Mountain, 708 metres above sea level. There, enjoy a 360-degree view of the mighty Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre below, and the Rauma river.

Beautiful Bergen

Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, the old capital of Bergen is one of Norway’s most picturesque and historic cities, as well as being its second largest.

Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colourful wooden wharfs dating back to the 14th century. Bergen’s famous fish market is worth a visit, too. It promises to be a feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of bountiful, fresh seafood which can be cooked there and then for you.

One of the best-known attractions in Bergen is the Fløibanen funicular, which brings you to the top of Mount Fløyen. The summit has a wonderful view over the city, the nearby fjord, and the other surrounding peaks.

Reflections of Norway

Today is your last full day on board, as we sail back across the North Sea to Hamburg. 

Make the most of the relaxed atmosphere on board. If you haven’t yet been in the sauna or hot tubs, nor had your fill of your favourite flavours in the restaurants and bar, now is your last chance!  

Your Expedition Team will host a series of activities, perhaps including a photo recap of your voyage. The Farewell Dinner is likely to be a highlight, too. 

This is a great time to take stock of the last two weeks, sort through your photographs, and exchange contact details with the new friends you made on the voyage. And don’t forget to spend at least a few minutes on deck, filling your lungs with the fresh sea air. 

Return to Hamburg

Your voyage ends back in Hamburg. If you didn’t get a chance to explore this beautiful city 15 days ago, make sure you do now.  

Many of the city's attractions are clustered in the Altstadt district, including the St Nikolai Memorial and historic Deichstraße street. Hamburg’s beautiful canals have earned it the nickname ‘Venice of the North’, and a canal tour is a great way to explore the city. 

You’ve sailed on The North Cape Express, getting to know Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent. During the journey, you’ll have experienced Norway’s varied climate, seen majestic mountains and fjords, and maybe gazed up in awe at the Northern Lights once or several times.   

We hope you’ll cherish each of the memories of The North Cape Express that you’ll take home with you. Come sail with us again soon, on another iconic voyage of our spectacular home: the Norwegian coast.