Norway's Land of the Northern Lights

Day

Date

Arrival

Departure

10th Mar 2028 Friday

Tilbury (London)

17:00

London is one of the world's greatest cities. Diverse, ethnically and linguistically, it offers an intoxicating mix of grandeur, history, style and culture. From ancient streets, leafy parks and grand architecture to iconic landmarks, neon lights, world-class shopping and a cool arts scene, there's nowhere in the world quite like this thriving metropolis. Known as Londonium to the Romans, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. The City of London is the capital's 1.12 square mile historic nucleus and modern financial centre and often is referred to as the "Square Mile." The rest of London stretches for a remarkable 30 miles on both sides of the River Thames. Contemporary museums, such as the Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery, add an option to beloved standards like the Victoria and Albert Museum (better known as the V&A) and the National Gallery. You can splurge on Saturday morning along Portobello Road or stroll Jermyn Street for gentlemen's shops bearing royal warrants. (Prince Charles gets his pyjamas at Turnbull & Asser.) But it's also fun to join the flocks of shoppers at fashion-forward boutiques along New Bond Street, Regent Street or -- less expensively -- within the markets and funky shops of Brick Lane in the East End. Visitors typically spend most of their time in and around the West End, where London's main attractions -- Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross Road's book shops, Covent Garden, Soho, Regent and Oxford Streets, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Carnaby Street -- are located. Further west are the pricier neighbourhoods of Belgravia, Kensington (Kensington Palace, Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall), South Kensington (Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum), Knightsbridge (Harrods, Harvey Nichols), Mayfair, Chelsea (Kings Road) and Notting Hill (Portobello Road). The City of London's financial district (home to St. Paul's Cathedral, Fleet Street, Tower of London) is a must for history lovers. In medieval times, the City constituted most of London, but over the years, urban areas sprawled far beyond. As the City's boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, it is now only a tiny part of the metropolis, though holds city status in its own right.

11th Mar 2028 Saturday

At Sea

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

12th Mar 2028 Sunday

At Sea

13th Mar 2028 Monday

Ålesund

09:00

17:00

Alesund is located on a series of islands along Norway's coast. It is best known for its art nouveau architecture, which you can see walking through town and learn about at the Art Nouveau Center. After much of the town burned in a 1904 fire, the city was rebuilt in this striking architectural style.

14th Mar 2028 Tuesday

Trondheim

08:00

17:00

Trondelag, or Trondheim, has been the city of kings ever since Viking king Olav Tryggvason sailed up the Trondheim Fjord in his longboat more than 1,000 years ago and founded Nidaros, after the River Nid. In 999, Olav invited Leif Eiriksson to stay there as his guest, after which the famous seaman sailed off to Greenland and on to America. Olav himself was canonized as Norway's patron saint with a cathedral built at his gravesite. By the Middle Ages, this central Norwegian city had become an important religious pilgrimage centre and trading hub. After a devastating fire destroyed much of Trondheim in the late 17th century, the city was rebuilt using a gridiron plan with broad avenues intended as firebreaks. This layout has survived, lending an elegant air to Norway's third-largest city. Trondheim also enjoys a youthful energy; one of every six residents is a student. Nidaros Cathedral remains Norway's religious centre, attracting thousands each July for St. Olav's festival. Locals like to say, "Without Trondheim, all that would be left of the history book of Norway is the cover."

15th Mar 2028 Wednesday

At Sea

16th Mar 2028 Thursday

Tromsø

08:00

20:00

Up until a few years ago, Tromso was a little-known city (outside of Norway), where hotels would close down over the bleak midwinter months. Then came the 2008 BBC TV show "Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights" -- and all that changed. Tromso was featured heavily in the documentary and was thrust firmly into the spotlight. The city's fortunes changed overnight, with tourist numbers swelling at the very time of the year the hotels used to close -- deep midwinter -- searching for the aurora borealis. New hotels opened, a brand-new cruise terminal -- which also houses Visit Tromso, the tourist information centre -- and a number of new restaurants, shops and cultural attractions also opened to cater for this influx. Tromso, also known as the Gateway to the Arctic and the Northern Lights Capital, is one of the largest city north of the Arctic Circle. Spanning more than 965 square miles, this Norwegian city is nearly as large as the entire country of Luxembourg. Established in 1794, Tromso now has about 72,000 inhabitants, many of whom are students attending a handful of local institutions, including the Norwegian College of Fishery Science at the University of Tromso, one of only two colleges in the world dedicated solely to fishing as a livelihood, and the Centre for Peace Studies. Although the locals refer to Tromso as an island, the city actually comprises the island of Tromsoya, Kvaloya and parts of the mainland to the east. (Tromsoya is connected to the mainland by the iconic Tromso Bridge, where you'll also find the iconic Arctic Cathedral.) It's worth noting that if you think Oslo is pricy, prepare yourself for Tromso. Taxis start at 175 NOK (about $20); in the supermarket, burgers are also $20 -- and do not even think about purchasing alcohol (wine starts at around $50 a bottle). A meal for two in a restaurant can take you north of $300 with wine. This can be debilitating, particularly if you want to experience the town. Our tip is to budget accordingly. Hurtigruten ships run year-round; other ships start calling from mid-February through December. It's well worth spending a few days in this beautiful city and getting to know it and the surrounding area.

17th Mar 2028 Friday

Alta

12:00

Located on Norway's Northern coast, Alta is best known as a prime destination for viewing the Northern Lights. It's situated right on the head of Alta Fjord, but has a surprisingly mild climate, which makes it an ideal place for travelers who enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking and fishing. Alta also has a deep indigenous culture and history that is evident throughout. Sami Siida offers a look at the traditional Sami lifestyle and Hjemmeluft, where cruisers can check out rock carvings dating back to some time between 4200 and 500 B.C., has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Those who get a kick out of a bit of schtick should head to the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel -- a luxury hotel that is entirely made of ice and is only open between January and when it begins to melt in the Spring -- for a meal or any number of activities, from ice fishing to a snowmobile safari.

18th Mar 2028 Saturday

At Sea

18th Mar 2028 Saturday

Alta

02:00

19th Mar 2028 Sunday

Narvik

13:00

23:00

Narvik, on the northwestern mainland of Norway, opposite the Lofoten Islands, is an important Norwegian port on a deep-water fiord, which offers year-round ice-free access to the Norwegian Sea despite being north of the Arctic Circle. It is hard to believe that today's placid waters of Narvik Fjord were the scene of epic naval and land action in the last war. The town now presents an altogether more serene face to the world, though its wartime hardship is eloquently commemorated in the Krigsminne Museum, as well as a memorial park honouring the heroism of the Royal Marines who fell here.

20th Mar 2028 Monday

Bodø

09:00

22:00

Bodø, located just north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and vibrant city life. Surrounded by stunning mountains and the vast Norwegian Sea, Bodø is a great base for exploring the region's dramatic landscapes, including the world's strongest tidal current, Saltstraumen. It's also a great place to experience the midnight sun in summer and the Northern Lights in winter.

21st Mar 2028 Tuesday

At Sea

22nd Mar 2028 Wednesday

Geiranger

10:00

19:00

Geiranger is a tiny little village, situated at the end of the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Geirangerfjord. The real draw is the fjord itself, with its green mountainsides, snowcapped peaks and fairytale-esque waterfalls. You'll get up-close views of the fjord -- and the famous Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls -- as you sail in and out of Geiranger; in summer, it'll be light out for both the early morning arrival and afternoon or early evening departure. The scenic cruising will be the highlight of a Norwegian fjords itinerary.

The town of Geiranger can be traversed from end to end in about five minutes. It's got the requisite souvenir shops, restaurants serving up reindeer and caramel-tasting brown goat cheese, a charming old church and the Fjordcenter to get your fjord 411. But mostly it serves as a jumping-off point for tours in the area. For a bird's-eye view of the fjord scenery, head up to scenic viewpoints like Dalsnibba or Eagle's Bend or take to the skies in a helicopter. Or go the other direction, and hop in a kayak to get closer to nature and feel the enormity of the mountains above you. For a bit of history and culture, visit a mountain farm and learn about how people live in this remote area.

About 150 to 200 cruise ships visit Geiranger every year, bringing more than 700,000 tourists during the May-through-September tourist season. With up to five ships in port at a time -- you wouldn't think the harbour could fit that many -- tours book up and the streets in town get packed. If you've got your heart set on a specific tour, do your research and consider booking in advance. Geiranger is such a beautiful place, it would be a shame not to see it to its fullest.

23rd Mar 2028 Thursday

At Sea