0333 405 0194
Enquiries & Reservations
Choosing Your Voyage
Three voyages sail the Norwegian coast, and they are quite different. Here they are side by side, with a plain guide to who each one suits.
Three Voyages, One Coast
The quickest way to choose is by season. The Coastal Express sails all year round, on most days. The North Cape Line sails only in winter, from late September to early April. The Svalbard Line sails only in summer, from May to September.
After that, it comes down to pace and what is included. The Coastal Express calls at 34 ports, large and small. The two Signature voyages call at fewer ports, stay longer in each, and are all-inclusive.
Side by Side
| At a glance | Coastal Express | North Cape Line | Svalbard Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Original voyage | Signature voyage | Signature voyage |
| Length | 12 days, 11 nights | 15 days, 14 nights | 15 days, 14 nights |
| Route | Bergen to Kirkenes and back | Oslo to the North Cape and back | Bergen to Svalbard and back |
| Ports of call | 34 | 13, with a full day in each | 14 |
| When it sails | All year, on most days | Winter only, late September to early April | Summer only, May to September |
| Ships | Seven Original ships | MS Trollfjord | MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol |
| Food and drink | Full board | All-inclusive | All-inclusive |
| Fares | Basic or Select | All-inclusive | All-inclusive |
| Best for | Northern Lights or Midnight Sun, depending on the month | The Northern Lights | The Midnight Sun and the High Arctic |
| Northern Lights Promise | Departures 20 September to 31 March | Departures 20 September to 31 March | Does not apply, it sails in summer |
| Shorter versions | 7 days north or 6 days south | 7 days north or 9 days south | 8 days north or 8 days south |
Details are taken from our voyage pages and can change. For fares and dates, see each voyage page or call us.
The Original
This is the voyage Hurtigruten has sailed since 1893. The ship leaves Bergen, works north to Kirkenes over seven days, then returns in five. It calls at 34 ports along the way. Ports you pass at night going north, you see by day coming south.
Seven ships share the route, and each sails every 11 days. That gives a departure on most days, all year round, so you pick the date and the ship that suit you. You also pick the fare. Basic keeps the price down. Select lets you choose your cabin and your dining time.
Signature, Winter
A different kind of voyage. It sails from Oslo to the North Cape and back in a fortnight, and stops for a full day in each of thirteen ports. Stavanger, Ålesund, Svolvær, Tromsø, Alta and Bergen are among them.
It runs only in winter, so the northern half of the route lies under the aurora. The ship is MS Trollfjord and the voyage is all-inclusive, with meals and selected drinks covered.
Signature, Summer
The summer voyage, and the one that goes furthest. From Bergen it follows the whole coast north, then crosses the Barents Sea to Svalbard. Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund, at 78 degrees north, are the turning point.
It calls at fourteen ports, including small places such as Træna, Reine and Senja. Several of its ports are visited by no other Hurtigruten voyage. It sails from May to September under the Midnight Sun, all-inclusive, with an Expedition Team on board.
More Ways to Sail
Questions
The Coastal Express and the North Cape Line both sail through the Northern Lights season. The North Cape Line is built around winter, with a full day in ports such as Tromsø and Alta. The Coastal Express sails on most days, so you have more dates to choose from. Hurtigruten's Northern Lights Promise covers both on departures from 20 September to 31 March.
The Svalbard Line. It sails only in summer, from May to September, and goes as far north as Ny-Ålesund at 78 degrees. A summer sailing on the Coastal Express is the other way to see the Midnight Sun, and it gives you a wider choice of dates.
The Original voyage is the Coastal Express. It calls at 34 ports, sails all year round, and is sold on Basic or Select fares with full board. The Signature voyages are the North Cape Line and the Svalbard Line. They call at fewer ports, stay longer in each, and are all-inclusive.
No. The Coastal Express is full board, which means breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Select fare adds tea, coffee and WiFi. The North Cape Line and the Svalbard Line are all-inclusive, with meals and selected drinks covered.
Yes. The Coastal Express can be sailed north from Bergen to Kirkenes in 7 days, or south in 6 days. The North Cape Line and the Svalbard Line are also sold as one-way voyages, north or south.
Start with the season. If you want to travel in winter, look at the Coastal Express or the North Cape Line. If you want summer, look at the Coastal Express or the Svalbard Line. Then decide whether you would rather call at lots of ports, or at fewer ports with more time in each.
Still Deciding
We have been a UK agent for Hurtigruten since 1989, and our team have sailed the Norwegian coast themselves. Tell us when you want to travel and what matters most, and we will help you choose.
