Sublime Svalbard – From Hamburg via Norway’s Springtime Fjords

Your expedition cruise to Norway and Svalbard begins in Hamburg – a city full of history, art and culture. There's plenty to see and do here, so take some time to explore before boarding your expedition ship.

You'll discover many of the city's attractions in the old town district, ‘Altstadt’, including St Nikolai Memorial and the historic street of Deichstraße. Why not discover the interesting history of two UNESCO World Heritage sites – Chilehaus and the world's largest warehouse complex.

Once aboard, you'll collect your complimentary expedition jacket, meet your Expedition Team, explore the onboard comforts of your ship and settle into your cabin as we set sail.

The first stop on our journey to the Arctic is Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. As we approach, look out for the giant ‘Man Meets the Sea’ statues sitting by the shore.

Esbjerg is a blend of historic charm and modern Scandinavian chic, and it’s easy to get around on foot. A shuttle bus will take you into the centre to explore at your leisure. Why not treat yourself to a typical smørrebrød for lunch. You’ll find Denmark’s famous open rye bread sandwiches irresistibly displayed in many bakery windows.

After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye to Denmark as we set sail for Norway. Enjoy an afternoon at sea making the most of your ship’s facilities. Why not relax in the hot tubs or watch the world go by from the Explorer Lounge & Bar.  The first stop on our journey to the Arctic is Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. As we approach, look out for the giant ‘Man Meets the Sea’ statues sitting by the shore.

The first stop on our journey to the Arctic is Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. As we approach, look out for the giant ‘Man Meets the Sea’ statues sitting by the shore.

Esbjerg is a blend of historic charm and modern Scandinavian chic, and it’s easy to get around on foot. A shuttle bus will take you into the centre to explore at your leisure. Why not treat yourself to a typical smørrebrød for lunch. You’ll find Denmark’s famous open rye bread sandwiches irresistibly displayed in many bakery windows.

After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye to Denmark as we set sail for Norway. Enjoy an afternoon at sea making the most of your ship’s facilities. Why not relax in the hot tubs or watch the world go by from the Explorer Lounge & Bar.  The first stop on our journey to the Arctic is Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. As we approach, look out for the giant ‘Man Meets the Sea’ statues sitting by the shore.

As we reach Norway, we’ll head for the region of Haugesund. Known for its Viking connections, it was here that King Harald Fairhair first united Norway into a single kingdom. From this royal seat, Norway’s kings long controlled the renowned shipping route Nordvegen, or ‘the way to the north’, from which the country takes its name.

Today, this Viking past lives on in the area’s many historic sites. If conditions allow, we'll visit a recreated Viking settlement on the small island of Bukkøya, and on nearby Karmøy, you can delve deeper into Norway’s Viking and maritime history at the Nordvegen History Centre.

The coastal town of Haugesund is considered the birthplace of Norway. The Haraldshaugen Monument marks its unification into one kingdom in 872 and is said to be where the first king of Norway was buried. All the typical characteristics of a seaside Norwegian town are here: rustic timber houses, stunning sea views from the quays and magnificent vistas of fjords from the Steinsfjellet viewpoint. The region’s cultural heritage is inextricably linked to the sea; built on the herring industry, surrounding charming towns have thrived on its success and continue to do so today.

In the morning, we plan to cruise deep into Sognefjorden, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, to the tiny hamlet of Fjærland. Only 300 people live in this idyllic village with its many charming old buildings and weaving traditions. This is also the place where Sognefjorden meets Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European continent.

A visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum is the included activity of the day. There you can learn why glacier ice is blue and how the fjords were formed. You can even perform a few experiments with 1,000-year-old glacier ice and watch a panoramic film about Europe’s largest glacier.

Nestled at the end of the Romsdalsfjord, Åndalsnes is surrounded by soaring mountains, deep valleys and dramatic fjords. The scenery around this alpine town is simply awe-inspiring.

To take it all in, hop on the gondola from the town centre for the five-minute scenic journey up Mount Nesaksla, some 2,300 ft above sea level. Here you can revel in 360-degree views of the town and the towering mountains of Romsdalshorn and Venjetinden beyond.

To truly immerse yourself in this incredible landscape, join us for an exhilarating hike or, if conditions allow, you can enjoy a peaceful kayak paddle in the fjord.

A small town in Norway’s fjord country, Åndalsnes is a gateway to the rugged wilderness of the Romsdalfjord. Known as the 'village between the mountains and the fjords', it typifies Norway's striking natural beauty with its setting on a promontory lined by alps and set at the mouth of the Rauma River. The town itself is tucked under the lofty mountain peaks, backed by lush, green scenery. Nearby is the impressive Trollveggen, or 'Troll Wall', which at 6,000 feet is Europe's highest vertical cliff face and is often topped by cloud. The precipice is said to be the ultimate trial for rock climbers, who regularly flock here to accept the challenge. Åndalsnes is also the terminus of the famous Rauma Railway which runs 70 miles alongside the emerald-green Rauma river and through some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery to Dombås (2160 feet above sea level) where it then connects to the main Oslo to Trondheim line.

Nestled at the end of the Romsdalsfjord, Åndalsnes is surrounded by soaring mountains, deep valleys and dramatic fjords. The scenery around this alpine town is simply awe-inspiring.

To take it all in, hop on the gondola from the town centre for the five-minute scenic journey up Mount Nesaksla, some 2,300 ft above sea level. Here you can revel in 360-degree views of the town and the towering mountains of Romsdalshorn and Venjetinden beyond.

To truly immerse yourself in this incredible landscape, join us for an exhilarating hike or, if conditions allow, you can enjoy a peaceful kayak paddle in the fjord.

Today, we'll sail into Holandsfjord off the rugged Helgeland coast, and head towards the Svartisen glacier. Covering 230 square miles and with 60 ‘tongues’, this incredible geographical feature is Norway’s second largest glacier after Jostedalsbreen.

Meaning ‘black ice’, the epic Svartisen is made up of two separate glaciers, Vestisen and the Østisen, which are divided by the half-mile-long Vesterdalen valley. The ice colour can range from turquoise to dark blue, although never quite black.

If conditions allow, your Expedition Team will land at a local jetty and lead you ashore, where we’ll take a hike to get a panoramic view of this incredible glacier.

Approaching the dramatically steep mountains of Lofoten by ship is an experience that’s unforgettable. You’ll be in awe of the landscapes as we sail towards this region of windswept islands, sheltered bays, and some of the most beautiful fjords in the world. Look out for Sea Eagles as you admire the exceptional beauty of this stretch of coastline.

Today we aim to explore the famed Lofoten Islands from the fishing port of Svolvær. Learn how the rugged landscapes and a history of fishing have influenced life in Lofoten or explore the soul-stirring landscape up close on a hike with your Expedition Team.

Set in a majestic landscape, this small, cosmopolitan city has an exciting past and plenty of fascinating sights to discover.

It was the base for many a historic Arctic expedition, including those of Roald Amundsen, and its situation 250 miles north of the Polar Circle has led to it being called the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’. At the Polar Museum, discover the city’s exploration heritage, and see the Arctic Cathedral – with its huge stained-glass window, it’s one of the most striking landmarks in Tromsø. You can also take the Fjellheisen cable car to the top of Storsteinen for incredible views.

Discover majestic Arctic landscapes at Europe’s northernmost point !

The captivating North Cape marks mainland Europe’s northernmost point. This rugged promontory on the north of Magerøya island truly feels like the end of the Earth.

Here, we’ll venture across the wild Arctic landscape towards the cape’s towering cliff edge, which sits around a thousand feet above the Barents Sea. Feel a sense of awe as you take in the panoramas, and as you gaze towards the horizon, think of the adventures yet to come as your voyage heads even further north.

Discover more about the history of this remarkable site at the North Cape Hall.

Spend the day at your leisure as we sail across the Barents Sea deeper into the Arctic towards the Svalbard archipelago. Savour the quiet moments, simply appreciating the peaceful feeling of being at sea. This is a rare opportunity to disconnect and get a break from the modern world.

Feeling active? You can enjoy a workout in the gym or simply relax in the sauna while gazing out at the view. As ever, our Expedition Team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and offer insights about these Arctic islands.

Svalbard’s largest island Spitsbergen showcases Arctic beauty in its untouched glory; a wilderness of steep mountains, glaciers and beautiful islands.

Over the next four days you’ll visit some of the world’s most dramatic fjords, while watching and listening for glaciers as they creak and calve icebergs into the sea.

Reaching farther north, sea ice might affect our course as we attempt to make our way to Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. There, we plan to cruise into deep fjords headed by sparkling glaciers that flow into the blue water.

Each day will be different. From landings to kayaking, be ready for anything as your Captain and Expedition Team decide on the best landing sites and activities based on the day’s conditions. Perhaps we’ll head to the snowcapped peaks of Hornsund, or visit Ny-Ålesund, the starting point for Roald Amundsen’s expeditions north with the airship ‘Norge’. Now a hub for global science and climate research, you can still see remnants of the town’s history.

Delight in the rare chance to seek the region’s apex predator, the magnificent polar bear, in its natural environment following the sea-ice edge hunting for seals.

The generous daylight of the Midnight Sun gives us plenty of time to explore this breathtakingly scenic area

Your Norway and Svalbard adventure draws to a close in Longyearbyen, where you’ll catch your flight back to Oslo.

You'll return with a wealth of knowledge about Arctic animals, geology, history, polar ice and climate change – and memories of an incredible experience that will last a lifetime.

If you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, why not spend some more time in the Arctic and join our optional Post-Programme.