Start in the High Arctic, call at the research settlement of Ny-Ålesund at 78 degrees north, then follow the summer coast home to Bergen, all-inclusive aboard MS Trollfjord or MS Midnatsol. Fares for 2027 from £2,488 per person.
The southbound Svalbard Line turns the usual Arctic holiday on its head. Instead of building up to the far north, you begin there. You fly to Longyearbyen, board in Isfjorden, and on your first full day the ship takes you further north still, into Kongsfjorden and the scientific outpost of Ny-Ålesund, one of the northernmost permanently inhabited places on earth. From there the only way is south.
After a day crossing the Barents Sea, the Norwegian mainland returns and the voyage settles into a run of quieter ports that the larger cruise ships never reach: the island of Senja, Stokmarknes and Svolvær in Vesterålen and Lofoten, the little fishing village of Bessaker in Trøndelag, and finally Ålesund and the Hjørundfjord before the ship arrives in Bergen on the morning of day eight. It is the southbound half of the fifteen day Svalbard Line round voyage, and the half that spends more time in Svalbard.
£2,488per person, from
14 departures from Longyearbyen between 31 May and 13 September 2027
This is a summer voyage under the Midnight Sun and does not carry the Northern Lights Promise, which applies only to voyages of 11 days or more between 20 September and 31 March.
Who It Suits
Why choose the southbound route
If Svalbard is the reason you are going, the southbound voyage gives you more of it. Ny-Ålesund is only on this half of the route, and it is the place where the wildlife watching tends to be best, with glaciers, walrus and seabirds all around the fjord. Starting in Longyearbyen also makes it easy to arrive a day or two early, as Hurtigruten suggests, and spend time in the archipelago on land before you sail.
The mainland ports on the way home are smaller and gentler than those on the northbound leg, which makes for a relaxing second half: an island known as Norway in miniature, the birthplace of the Coastal Express, a village of a couple of hundred people, and a fjord that many Norwegians rate above Geiranger. For a ready made package that includes two nights in Longyearbyen beforehand and the rail journey from Bergen to Oslo afterwards, see Arctic Norway Frontier South, which uses this same voyage. To sail the opposite direction, the Svalbard Line North runs from Bergen up to Longyearbyen.
The Ships
Life aboard MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol
The voyage is sailed by MS Trollfjord or MS Midnatsol, two closely matched ships that alternate through the season; the fare table tells you which sails your date. Both have been refitted for Hurtigruten's Signature voyages, so the cabins are comfortable, the public rooms have big windows facing the scenery, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal.
The fare is all-inclusive. Breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner are served in Flora and Brasserie Árran, with unlimited selected drinks, and suite guests can also dine in Røst. Between meals there is the panoramic lounge, the outdoor decks, a sauna and a fitness room. The Expedition Team run talks and on-deck guiding each day and will help you choose and book excursions as you go.
Your Voyage
Day by day, Longyearbyen to Bergen
Seven days of port calls and one day at sea. Optional excursions are listed under the days where Hurtigruten offers them; they cost extra and can be booked with us in advance or with the Expedition Team on board. Not every excursion runs on every departure.
Day 1
Longyearbyen, where the voyage begins
Ports today · Longyearbyen
Your voyage begins in the largest settlement in Svalbard, a former mining town at the mouth of Longyeardalen, on Adventfjorden, a side arm of the great Isfjorden. Longyearbyen takes its name from John Munro Longyear, the American businessman whose Arctic Coal Company began mining here in 1906, and for over a century coal was its reason to exist. The last Norwegian mine in Svalbard closed in 2025, and the town now earns its living from research, education and travel. The University Centre in Svalbard teaches Arctic science to students from all over the world, and the town's few streets hold a surprising number of good restaurants, a brewery, the Svalbard Museum and the North Pole Expedition Museum.
Hurtigruten suggests arriving a day or two early, and we agree. It gives you time to take a boat trip or a guided hike, to see the old mining structures on the hillsides, and to absorb the oddity of a town where signs warn of polar bears at the edge of the settlement. In the afternoon and evening the ship sails out along Isfjorden and turns north up the west coast of Spitsbergen.
Day 2
Ny-Ålesund and Kongsfjorden
Ports today · Ny-Ålesund
Ny-Ålesund stands on the southern shore of Kongsfjorden at almost 79 degrees north. It was founded as a coal mining settlement by the Kings Bay company in 1916, and mining continued on and off until an explosion in 1962 killed 21 miners. The disaster caused a political storm in Oslo that brought down the Norwegian government the following year, and the mines never reopened. Instead the settlement became a research base, and today institutions from around a dozen countries keep stations here, studying the atmosphere, glaciers and climate. Around a hundred people live here in summer and only a few dozen through the winter.
It was also the starting line for the race to fly to the North Pole. In May 1926 Roald Amundsen, Lincoln Ellsworth and Umberto Nobile left here in the airship Norge, crossed the Pole and landed in Alaska, and the mast they moored to still stands on the tundra. Two years later Nobile's airship Italia crashed on the return from the Pole, and Amundsen was lost while flying to join the search. You can walk among the old buildings, visit the small museum, send a card from the post office and buy souvenirs at the shop. Keep your phone switched off: the settlement is a radio silence zone, to protect the sensitive instruments.
Sailing in and out of Kongsfjorden is the other half of the day. The fjord is fed by great glaciers, and the ice and shallow shores attract walrus, seabirds, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer. Beluga whales are seen here at times, and very occasionally a polar bear.
Day 3 · Leaving Svalbard across the Barents Sea
Ports today · At sea
The archipelago drops away astern and the ship heads south for the mainland, a long day on open water that most guests find they needed after two days of Arctic intensity. Spend it on deck with binoculars, because whales and dolphins are often seen on this crossing, or in the lounge with a book and a view of nothing but sea. The Expedition Team fill the programme with talks on what you have just seen and what is coming, and the kitchen leans into Norwegian coastal produce.
This is also a good moment to sort through photographs and compare notes with other passengers. With the sun circling the sky all day and night in high summer, it is easy to lose track of time altogether, and nobody minds if you do.
Day 4 · Senja, Norway in miniature
Ports today · Tromsø, Senja
The ship's first stop back in Norway is a short working call at Tromsø to unload cargo, a reminder that Hurtigruten's ships have always carried freight as well as passengers. Then it continues to Senja, Norway's second largest island, and you go ashore at the fishing village of Torsken.
Norwegians call Senja little Norway because it seems to contain every landscape the country has. The outer coast facing the ocean is all jagged peaks, white sand beaches and clear water. Further in there are birch woods, lakes and farmland, and in the south the old pine forest and bog of Ånderdalen National Park. A designated National Tourist Route runs along the outer coast, with viewing points engineered out over the drops, and it is well worth the bus tour if you have not seen the island before.
Optional excursions
Senja scenic route by bus A three hour drive along the island's dramatic outer coast, stopping at the viewpoints.
Scenic guided e-bike tour Two and a half hours on electric bikes through Senja's fjord scenery.
Senja wildlife safari A boat trip of about two and three quarter hours among the islands and skerries, watching for seabirds and seals.
Fjord adventure by RIB A two hour high speed boat trip through the fjords around Torsken. June to August.
Day 5
Stokmarknes, Raftsundet and Svolvær
Ports today · Stokmarknes, Svolvær
The morning is spent in Stokmarknes, the small Vesterålen town where Richard With founded the Coastal Express in 1893 with the aim of carrying mail, goods and people up the coast on a regular timetable. The Hurtigruten Museum tells that story, and its centrepiece is the 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, preserved whole on dry land inside a glass hall, so you can walk her decks and see how passengers travelled in the 1950s.
The afternoon brings one of the finest stretches of water on the coast. The ship threads Raftsundet, the narrow strait between Hinnøya and Austvågøya, and when conditions allow it turns into the Trollfjord, whose entrance is barely wide enough for a ship and whose walls rise straight up on both sides. It ends the day at Svolvær, the main town of Lofoten, where the rock pinnacle of the Svolværgeita stands above the harbour and the art galleries and fish restaurants keep the quays busy.
Optional excursions
Fishing in Lofoten, summer About three hours out on the water trying your hand at the fishing that built these islands.
Kayaking in Lofoten A three hour guided paddle from Svolvær with the peaks around you.
Sea eagle tour in Lofoten by RIB A ninety minute fast boat trip to see white tailed eagles at close range.
Lofoten scenery and Henningsvær Two and a half hours by road to the fishing village of Henningsvær, spread across a string of small islands.
Day 6 · Bessaker, a village on the Trøndelag coast
Ports today · Bessaker
Overnight the ship crosses the open sea and the Arctic Circle, southbound this time, and in the afternoon it reaches Bessaker on the outer coast of Trøndelag. About 200 people live here, mostly connected to the sea, and the village keeps a festival every July. It is not a place of famous sights, and that is its charm: a harbour, a cafe, a small museum, low hills of rock and heather, and the chance to see how a Norwegian coastal community lives when there is no tourist trade to perform for.
The excursions here are among the most varied of the voyage. You can go out in an old fishing cutter, cycle up to a mountain hut, hike to a viewpoint, or spend an afternoon tasting the produce of the local farms and fjord.
Optional excursions
Nostalgic cutter fishing boat trip Three hours on a traditional wooden fishing boat along the coast.
E-bike tour to Møllerhytta A three hour ride on electric bikes to a mountain cabin above the village.
Hike to Storskardheia mountain A three hour guided hike for wide views over the coast and islands.
Traditional Norwegian forest hike A gentler two hour walk through the woodland near Bessaker.
Roan, flavours of fjord and farm Three and a half hours visiting local producers and tasting what the land and sea provide.
Day 7
Ålesund and the Hjørundfjord
Ports today · Ålesund, Hjørundfjord
The ship makes a short stop in Ålesund, the Art Nouveau town rebuilt after a fire destroyed most of it in a single night in January 1904. Guests joining the overland excursion to the Hjørundfjord and Sæbø leave the ship here. The rest of the day belongs to the Hjørundfjord, which cuts deep into the Sunnmøre Alps between peaks that rise to around 1,700 metres. It sees far fewer visitors than Geiranger, and the villages along its shores have stayed small and quiet.
Sæbø, a village on one of the fjord's arms, is a lovely place to explore at your own pace, and Hurtigruten's advice is not to miss the free concert in the church. For a closer look at the mountains, the guided walk through the Urke valley climbs from the fjord shore into one of the most dramatic side valleys in the region. In the evening there is a farewell dinner on board, the last of the voyage.
Optional excursions
Mountain peaks and fjords, a scenic bus tour A six hour overland tour from Ålesund through the Sunnmøre mountains and fjord villages.
Ålesund on foot A ninety minute guided walk through the town's turrets, towers and decorated facades.
Hike in the Urke valley A guided walk of a little over three hours from the Hjørundfjord into the valley above Urke.
Day 8
Bergen, journey's end
Ports today · Bergen
The ship comes into Bergen in the morning and you say goodbye to the crew and the friends you have made since Svalbard. A week ago you were at 79 degrees north among walrus and glaciers; now you are in a city of cafes, painted wooden houses and window boxes, and the contrast is part of the pleasure.
If your flight is not until later, or you have added a night, there is plenty to fill the time. Walk through Bryggen, the old Hanseatic wharf; take the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for the view over the harbour; and eat at the fish market. Bergen has been a trading city since the Middle Ages, and it still has the confidence of a place that once looked to the whole of northern Europe for its business.
Optional excursions
Fjord cruise to Mostraumen A three and a half hour boat trip from Bergen into a narrow, steep sided strait with waterfalls tumbling down to the water. Available as a post voyage programme.
Svalbard Essentials
Treaty, wildlife and the rules for visitors
Svalbard belongs to Norway under the Svalbard Treaty, signed in Paris on 9 February 1920 and in force from 14 August 1925. The treaty gave Norway sovereignty while guaranteeing citizens of all the signatory nations equal rights to economic activity, which is why Russia's Arktikugol still mines coal at Barentsburg, Svalbard's second largest settlement, on Grønfjorden to the west of Longyearbyen. One practical result for visitors is that Svalbard has no visa requirement of its own, though you must have a passport or national ID to go ashore.
The polar bear is the archipelago's emblem and has been protected since 1973. The Norwegian Polar Institute's 2015 count put the number living in Svalbard at about 264, with more on the sea ice further north. The rules exist to keep both bears and people safe, and the Expedition Team brief everyone on them. In summer the far more common sights are walrus, Arctic foxes, seals and the Svalbard reindeer, a small, short legged subspecies found nowhere else. The Midnight Sun lasts in Longyearbyen from around 20 April until late August.
Watch
A guide to the Svalbard Line's ports
Life in Norway's short film runs through the ports of the Svalbard Line, Ny-Ålesund and Svolvær among them, with notes from an officer of MS Trollfjord and help with the pronunciation.
Fares
Svalbard Line South fares 2027
All prices are per person in pounds, for two people sharing a cabin, voyage only. The ship alternates between MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol, so it is shown for each date. Prices move with demand, and these are the lowest we found for each sailing. There are 14 southbound departures in 2027, the first on 31 May and the last on 13 September.
Departure date
Ship
Polar Inside
Polar Outside
Arctic Superior
Expedition Suites
31 May 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,726
from £3,391
from £4,279
from £10,269
7 June 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,637
from £3,247
from £4,293
from £6,635
14 June 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,674
from £3,315
from £4,441
from £7,260
28 June 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,656
from £3,272
from £4,616
from £6,994
12 July 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,616
from £3,261
from £4,288
from £6,964
19 July 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,582
from £2,988
from £4,288
from £5,945
26 July 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,565
from £3,047
from £4,260
from £6,624
2 August 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,514
from £2,949
from £4,260
from £6,072
9 August 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,565
from £3,118
from £4,148
from £6,454
16 August 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,626
from £3,097
from £4,334
from £6,649
23 August 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,626
from £3,112
from £4,142
from £10,137
30 August 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,543
from £2,925
from £4,169
from £6,234
6 September 2027
MS Trollfjord
from £2,488
from £3,030
from £4,105
from £6,261
13 September 2027
MS Midnatsol
from £2,664
from £3,044
from £4,239
from £6,179
Fares are per person in pounds, based on two sharing, and were checked on 20 October 2026. They are subject to availability and may change; call 0333 405 0194 for current prices. Single supplements on request. Not all cabin categories are available on every sailing.
All-Inclusive
What is included in the fare
As a Signature voyage, the Svalbard Line South includes your meals and selected drinks throughout. Polar Inside, Polar Outside and Arctic Superior cabins share one set of inclusions; Expedition Suites add fine dining and a premium drinks list.
What's included
Cabin Polar Inside, Polar Outside and Arctic Superior
Suite Expedition Suites
Food and drink on board
Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner Self service buffets in Flora, plus lunch and dinner in Brasserie Árran
Included
Included
Unlimited selected drinks Selected beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks
Included
Included
On-deck food tastings
Included
Included
Fine dining at Røst
Not included
Included
Unlimited selected cocktails
Not included
Included
Life on board
Expedition Team programme Themed lectures, on-deck guiding and evening talks
Included
Included
Fitness room, sauna, panoramic lounge and outdoor deck
Included
Included
WiFi Limited on the Barents Sea crossing, and unavailable for several hours around Ny-Ålesund
Included
Included
Not included: flights, hotels and transfers unless booked with us, optional shore excursions and travel insurance. You can arrange travel insurance online here.
Flights & Hotels
Flying to Svalbard and home from Bergen
Hurtigruten does not offer UK flight packages for this voyage, but we can arrange flights and connections for you on request. The usual pattern is a flight from the UK to Longyearbyen, connecting in mainland Norway, and a flight home from Bergen at the end. We will work out the timings around your departure date.
Since the ship sails from Longyearbyen in the afternoon or evening, we strongly suggest flying up at least a day before, both to protect against delays and to give yourself time in Svalbard. We can book hotel nights in Longyearbyen and an extra night in Bergen at the end. If you would like the whole journey packaged, including two nights in Longyearbyen and a rail journey on to Oslo, look at Arctic Norway Frontier South.
Flights, hotels and transfers are priced individually on request. Call 0333 405 0194 for a quote.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Svalbard Line South and North?
The southbound voyage starts in Longyearbyen and ends in Bergen. It gives you more time in Svalbard, including a call at Ny-Ålesund, then calls at Senja, Stokmarknes and Svolvær, Bessaker, Ålesund and the Hjørundfjord. The northbound voyage calls at Åndalsnes, Træna, Reine, Tromsø and Honningsvåg and ends in Longyearbyen.
Should I arrive in Longyearbyen early?
Yes. Hurtigruten suggests arriving a day or two before the ship sails, and we agree. Flights to Svalbard can be affected by weather, and a night or two in Longyearbyen lets you take a boat trip or guided walk before the voyage starts.
Why do I have to switch my phone off at Ny-Ålesund?
Ny-Ålesund is a radio silence zone that protects sensitive research instruments, so mobile phones, WiFi and similar transmitters must be switched off. Expect several hours without any connection while the ship is there.
Which ships sail this voyage?
MS Trollfjord or MS Midnatsol, depending on the date. Both are Signature ships with the same all-inclusive dining and facilities, and you stay on one ship for the whole voyage.
Do I need a visa for Svalbard?
Svalbard has no visa requirement of its own, but you need a valid passport or national ID card to go ashore. As you will travel via mainland Norway, the usual Schengen entry rules for Norway apply.
What wildlife might I see?
Walrus, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, seals and large numbers of seabirds are all likely in Svalbard, and whales are often seen crossing the Barents Sea. Polar bears live in Svalbard but sightings from the ship are very rare.
Are shore excursions included?
No. The optional excursions at Senja, Svolvær, Bessaker and Ålesund cost extra and can be booked with us in advance or with the Expedition Team on board.
Can you arrange my flights?
Yes. Hurtigruten has no UK flight packages for this voyage, but we can arrange flights to Longyearbyen and home from Bergen on request, with hotels at either end.
Is the Northern Lights Promise included?
No. The promise applies to voyages of 11 days or more between 20 September and 31 March. This voyage lasts eight days and sails in summer, when it is too light for the aurora.
Which languages are spoken on board?
Hurtigruten's official languages on board are Norwegian, English and French, and some staff also speak German.
