If you really want to experience Norway, take a 12-day, 7-day or 6-day cruise on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage's brand new ships. The Coastal Voyage, "Hurtigruten", offers daily departures from Bergen and Kirkenes. Each voyage both northbound and southbound calls at 34 ports! The ports visited during the day on the northbound voyage is called at during the night on the southbound cruise, and vice versa. Port calls vary from 45 minutes up to six hours. The 12-day roundtrip Bergen voyage covers the 1,250-mile west coast of Norway. You sail by lot's of fjords and fishing villages before crossing the Arctic Circle. Here, close to the North Cape, you experience the midnight sun in the summer. The 7-day northbound voyage ends up in Kirkenes, close to the Russian border, while the 6-day southbound voyage starts in Kirkenes.

Click here for a Virtual Norwegian Coastal Voyage Cruise

The Coastal Voyage, Hurtigruten, also carries cargo. But you will hardly notice and "the postal boat" service with working Norwegians only add to the real experience of Norway. The NCV millennium ships are modern with the latest technology and comfort you would expect to find on new cruise ships. There is a non-tipping policy on the ships but you may want to reward the Norwegian crew for excellent service.

The Norwegian Coastal Voyage launched the MS Midnatsol in April 2003. The 15,000-ton, 674-passenger ship has a modern design, and the ship's interior is dedicated to the Norwegian summer. "Midnatsol" means Midnight Sun and large glass surfaces allow the outside light to enter – creating a proximity to nature throughout the ship. She has a large two-story panoramic lounge on the two upper decks and a top deck with saunas, a gym, a bar, and a large sundeck. Deck 5 houses the main restaurant, cafes, an arcade with playroom, shops and lounges. Deck 8 also has several lounges, including an Internet cafe, TV lounge, and a library. There are 19 suites, some with a balcony. All cabins have telephones and heated bathroom floors. The suites and inside cabins all have TVs.

The 2002-built, 643-passenger ship MS Finnmarken is decorated in Art Nouveau style, reminiscent of the first Coastal Voyage ships' Old World elegance. Norwegian artists have decorated Finnmarken with drawings, watercolors, oil paintings, charcoal drawings, lithographs, and sculptures. There are 32 suites, some with a balcony and Jacuzzi. All cabins have telephones and TVs. The bathrooms have heated floors. The fitness center, on deck 8, has saunas and a massage parlor. You will also find the hair salon and the Internet cafe on deck 8 while the outdoor swimming pool is on deck 7. Several restaurants, bars, panoramic lounges, observation areas, and indoor and outdoor cafes are located throughout the ship.

The 2002-built MS Trollfjord is Midnatsol's sister-ship. MS Trollfjord has Norwegian wood and stone throughout the interior. Large windows let the light and scenery into the public areas – even the elevators are made out of glass. Norwegian artists have decorated the ship. The sauna and fitness area are located on the top deck. Here passengers can enjoy the spectacular views from the large outdoor area or from the panoramic balcony. On deck 8, there are numerous bars, panoramic areas, a library, and Internet cafe. Deck 5 houses two restaurants and several cafes. There are 19 suites, some with a balcony. Suites and inside cabins have TVs. All cabins have heated bathroom floors.

Cruise Only:
We offer cruise-only packages to customers worldwide. A typical 12-day cruise sails daily roundtrips from Bergen (south-north-south) or from Kirkenes (north-south-north).
Main ports: Bergen, Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo, Svolvaer, Harstad, Tromso, Hammerfest, Honningsvag, Vardo, Kirkenes, Vardo, Honningsvag, Hammerfest, Tromso, Harstad, Svolvaer, Bodo, Trondheim, Alesund and Bergen.

A typical 7-day cruise sails from Bergen to Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo, Svolvaer, Harstad, Tromso, Hammerfest, Honningsvag, Vardo and Kirkenes.

A typical 6-day cruise sails from Kirkenes to Vardo, Honningsvag, Hammerfest, Tromso, Harstad, Svolvaer, Bodo, Trondheim, Alesund and Bergen.

To view a detailed day-by-day sailing schedule and a map outlining the ports, click itinerary schedule/map.

Air
If you arrange air, note that Amsterdam has three departures to Bergen per day (110 minutes), Copenhagen has four departures to Bergen per day (85 minutes), and London has several departures to Bergen per day (120 minutes).
If you do not sail roundtrip Bergen, then you will disembark in Kirkenes. For air schedules in Norway, visit www.scandinavian.net, www.sasbraathens.no, www.norwegian.no or www.wideroe.no.

If you are traveling from the United States, you may want to consider an air/sea package (see below). If you are traveling from other countries, we will subtract the cost of the transatlantic air.

Train
If you are in Oslo, you may consider to take the scenic train journey from Oslo across the mountains to Bergen. The ride takes 6 1/2 hours and the price one way is approx. $100.

Hurtigruten's Air/Sea Independent Vacations
We offer cruise-only packages to customers worldwide and the cruise-tour packages below less the cost of trans-atlantic air. If you are based in North America, NCV offers year-round independent vacations which include: transatlantic airfare from New York (or other add-on departure cities), hotel accommodations,rail journey Oslo-Bergen, and the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. The packages also include transfers between Oslo Airport and Oslo Downtown, the Oslo Card, the Bergen Card, a three-course dinner in Bergen. Some programs combine Norway and other Scandinavian countries (and include air). Here is a summary of the programs (contact us for details):

Highlights of Norway
12-day program features a northbound sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes, three nights in Oslo, one night in Bergen and a scenic train journey from Oslo to Bergen.

Norwegian Holiday
13-day program features a southbound sailing from Kirkenes to Bergen, three nights in Oslo, one night in Kirkenes, two nights in Bergen and a scenic train journey from Bergen to Oslo.

Grand Norway
17-day program features a roundtrip sailing from Bergen to Bergen, two nights in Oslo, two nights in Bergen and a scenic train journey from Oslo to Bergen.

Scandinavian Sampler
15-day program features a southbound sailing from Kirkenes to Bergen, two nights in Reykjavik, Iceland, three nights in Oslo, one night in Kirkenes, two nights in Bergen and a scenic train journey from Bergen to Oslo

Raftsundet, North Norway, as experienced on board a Hurtigruten ship (photo credit: Frithjof Fure/NTR)

Each one-way voyage calls at 34 ports!

Hurtigruten's Air/Sea ESCORTED Packages
NCV offers escorted tours May through September in Norway. The tours combine land and fjord exploration with the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. NCV promises complete comfort on deluxe motorcoaches and overnight stays at first-class hotels. Here is a summary of the all inclusive air-sea-land programs:

Spectacular Norway
15-Day Escorted NCV Vacation Featuring a Northbound Sailing.
This escorted program lets you combine the spectacular beauty of Norway's coastline and countryside, the charm of the cities and villages, and fascinating Lapland in Northern Norway. Majestic mountains, awe-inspiring fjords, fascinating museums and sights will all be part of your memorable journey.

Norway Splendor
18-Day Escorted NCV Vacation Featuring a Roundtrip Sailing.
This escorted program offers you the ultimate Norway experience, combining a roundtrip Norwegian Coastal Voyage with in-depth land and fjord exploration, giving you the opportunity to truly learn more about this fascinating and spectacular part of the world.

Special Savings
- Savings for children age 4-15 (cruise only). Children under 4 sails free if they do not require their own bed (cruise only).
- Off-season savings
- Early-bird savings
- Single savings in off-season
- CruiseScandinavia savings on ALL sailings to ALL passengers worldwide.

We offer the right cruise at the right price. Call 1-800-334-6544 (U.S.) or +1-212-480-4521 (International) or go to How to Book.

For 2004 departure dates on the brand new millennium ships, visit MS Midnatsol, MS Finnmarken, or MS Trollfjord

Photo essay of the voyage

Read letters from customers around the world.

Evaluate shore excursion programs

Read about pre and post fjord tours and lapland tours

Antarctica/Chilean fjord cruises

Greenland cruises

Spitsbergen cruises

Virtual Norwegian Coastal Voyage Cruise (hi-speed internet connection recommended)

Take our virtual Antarctica cruise — hi-speed internet connnection recommended.

Sailing schedule northbound from Bergen 2008:
MS Midnatsol: January 2,13, 24 February 4,15, 26 March 8, 19,30 April10, 21 May 2, 13, 24 June 4, 15, 26 July 7,18, 29 August 9, 20, 31 September 11, 22 October 3, 14, 25
MS Finnmarken: January 5, 16, 27 February 7, 18, 29 March 11, 22 April 2, 13, 24 May 5, 16, 27 June 7, 18, 29 July 10, 21, August 1, 12, 23 September 3, 14, 25 October 6, 17, 28
MS Trollfjord: January 10, 21 February 1, 12, 23 March 5, 16, 27 April 7, 18, 29 May 10, 21 June 1, 12, 23 July 4,15, 26 August 6, 17, 28 September 8, 19, 30 October 11, 22

Sailing schedule southbound from Kirkenes 2008:
MS Midnatsol: January 8, 19 (in dock), 30 February 10, 21 March 3, 14, 25 April 5, 16, 27 May 8, 19, 30 June 10, 21 July 2, 13, 24 August 4, 15, 26 September 6, 17, 28 October 9, 20 November 1, 12, 23 December 4, 15, 26
MS Finnmarken: January 11, 22 February 2,13, 24 March 6 , 17, 28 April 8, 19, 30 May 11, 22 June 2, 13, 24 July 5, 16, 27 August 7, 18, 29 September 9, 20 October 1, 12, 23 November 4, 15, 26 December 7, 18, 29
MS Trollfjord: January 16, 27 February 7,18, 29 March 11, 22 April 2,13, 24 May 5, 16, 27 June 7, 18, 29 July 10, 21 August 1, 12, 23 September 3, 14, 25 October 6, 17, 29 November 9, 20 December 1, 12, 23

We offer the right cruise at the right price. Call 1-800-334-6544 (U.S.) or +1-212-480-4521 (International) or go to How to Book