The North Cape Express | From Hamburg | Winter (2025)

All aboard at Hamburg!

MS Otto Sverdrup is waiting to carry you north to Norway´s magical landscapes.   

Our voyage begins in Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city. With links to trade and adventure that go back centuries, it's the perfect starting point.   

Hamburg is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the world's largest warehouse complex and the nearby Wadden Sea. If you have time, explore them before you board.    

Then, get settled on your comfortable ship, enjoy the first of many delicious, locally sourced meals, and get to know your Coastal Experience Team.

This is your chance to settle into your cabin, get a taste of Norway’s coastal cuisine in the ship’s three restaurants and two-storey lounge and bar, and start to get to know your fellow passengers. 

You’ll have time to relax as we leave Germany behind and cross the North Sea to Norway’s spectacular southern coast. Take it all in from the expansive Observation Deck, from your ship’s outdoor hot tubs and pool , or as you sweat it out in the panoramic sauna. 

As well as the views, this stretch of coast is home to more than its fair share of enthralling stories. Find out more about Norway’s coast and the voyage ahead in the lectures, presentations, and onboard activities planned for today.

Today, you’ll wake to views of the beautiful Lysefjord. The 26-mile-long fjord is home to one of Norway’s most famous sights: Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock), which towers 604 metres above the fjord’s shimmering waters. 

Kjerag mountain, at the end of the fjord, reaches even higher. Along the way, watch for mountain goats, waterfalls, and the famous Kjeragbolten, a glacial boulder wedged high up in a crevasse. 

You’ll spend much of the rest of the day in Stavanger, a colourful waterside city with an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. Discover the architectural relics of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, which includes Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of wooden houses, and Norway’s oldest cathedral, dating from the 12th century.  

You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, pop into a local boutique shop, or simply enjoy a beer on the waterfront.

After breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock at a town that spreads out across a string of islands.  

Many of the buildings here, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, were inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. You can get impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint.  

You can also visit the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway’s first marine science centre. This is one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, providing a home to seals, otters, and crabs, as well as many other kinds of marine life. You can even see Humboldt Penguins here, a species otherwise absent north of the equator.  

Join an optional excursion to explore Ålesund on foot or by bus, as your guide reveals the town’s surprising secrets to you.

The cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago may look small but it has a huge history that is told through both the landscape and the town’s collection of museums. 

Here, you can join an optional excursion and time travel through the last 10,000 years and get a glimpse of the future, thanks to the Ice Age-carved landscape, carefully preserved 19th-century living rooms, and the ingenuity of Norwegian salmon production – each preserved and explained in three excellent museums. 

In the afternoon, we’ll continue sailing north through the Vikna archipelago made up of 6,000 islands, islets and reefs. The local gardens bloom with plum and apple blossoms in the spring, even at 65°N, thanks to the maritime climate.  

As we sail through the night, we’ll leave the Helgeland coast behind us as we cross the Arctic Circle.

Today, we explore Lofoten. As soon as you see the towering peaks with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations.   

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær mid-morning. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the heart of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby mountain named for resembling a goat and its horns.   

A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, including winter fishing, paddling along the coastline in a kayak, or embarking on a bus tour to learn more about Lofoten’s history. 

We can’t visit the area without spending a couple of hours in Stokmarknes. It was here that the Original Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer Richard With. On the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in the Hurtigruten Museum’s glass building like a ship in a bottle.

This urban city 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle is buzzing with life, with everything from trendy restaurants and cafés to boutique shops selling local crafts and produce, and even high fashion. MS Trollfjord will be in port here for eight hours, giving you plenty of time to join optional excursions and explore the city yourself.  

You can visit the Polar Museum, which chronicles the city’s legacy of Arctic hunting and trade.  Head to the Polaria centre, an aquarium home to a variety of Arctic marine species, including seals. Across the water from Polaria, you’ll find the Arctic Cathedral, standing out in the cityscape due to its striking design and impressive stained-glass window.  

Tromsø is the place to tick off some of those bucket-list experiences. Optional excursions include dog sledding through the winter wonderland of the surrounding countryside, or exploring this remarkable Arctic city on a bus tour.

Arriving early in the morning, you’ll have a full day in Honningsvåg. This far north, winters are long and snowfall is high, so get ready for some fantastic winter scenery and activities.  

Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains with your Coastal Experience Team. On optional excursions, you could try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Get a taste of the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round.  

The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape which looks out over the Barents Sea, also available as an optional excursion. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe, and as we’re visiting in winter, you can even choose to get there by snowmobile.   

Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.

At 70 degrees north, this town is far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good Northern Lights visibility, so keep your camera ready.  

On an optional excursion, you can find out more about day-to-day life in Alta, see prehistoric rock art and visit the Northern Lights Cathedral, which has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicentre for ground-breaking research of the Aurora Borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries.  

Increased snowfall in the winter allows for some truly authentic Arctic excursions, like dogsledding. You can try this on wheels if you’re here when there’s no snow on the ground! The snow and climate of Alta also create the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel. Located on the banks of river Alta, the world’s northernmost ice hotel. 

Alternatively, join your Coastal Experience Team on a hike to Mount Komsa. The views are mesmerising.

Narvik was originally developed as a year-round, ice-free port for the nearby iron ore mines. Nowadays, it’s known for its World War II heritage and as a gateway to active pursuits such as skiing, dog sledding, and hiking. 

On optional excursions, you can dive into Narvik's intriguing past at the Narvik War Museum, where the town's World War II history comes to life with engaging exhibits and narratives.  

For a journey through the heart of the region, hop aboard the Arctic Train and journey along the iconic Ofoten Railway, treating yourself to panoramic views of majestic mountains. For panoramic views of Narvik from above, ride the cable car to the top of Narvikfjellet.

After Narvik, we head south along the enchanting Norwegian coast. You’ll be in awe of the windswept islands, sheltered bays, and some of the most beautiful fjords in the world. It’s also inhabited by a wide range of wildlife, such as majestic Sea Eagles. 

When we started sailing north of the Trøndelag region in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. But, over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters. Today, we are among the few with the maritime knowledge and skill to take you through the many skerries, islets and hidden fjords that characterise this stretch of coast.

After docking in the town centre in the morning, you have the chance to explore Åndalsnes, a picturesque coastal town located along Isfjord at the end of Romsdalsfjord.  

The literal highlights of Åndalsnes are the mountains that tower over the town. They are the reason the town has become Norway’s go-to destination for hikers, climbers, skiers, and more. The Troll Wall, a 1,000 metre vertical cliff along the Romsdalen valley, also attracts adrenaline seekers the world over. 

Take in the sights with a city walk and a relaxing ride on the Romsdal Gondola, or take the train along The Golden Route, named by Lonely Planet as ‘the most scenic train journey in Europe’.  

Whichever activities you choose, today brings you the best views of Isfjord and Romsdalsfjord, and the surrounding peaks.

Surrounded by seven mountains and the sea, the old capital of Bergen is one of Norway’s most picturesque and historic cities, as well as being its second largest.  

Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and discover its colourful wooden wharfs dating back to the 14th century. Bergen’s famous fish market is worth a visit, too. It promises to be a feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of bountiful, fresh seafood which can be cooked there and then for you. 

One of the best-known attractions in Bergen is the Fløibanen funicular, which brings you to the top of Mount Fløyen. The summit has a wonderful view over the city, the nearby fjord, and the other surrounding peaks.

Today is your last full day on MS Otto Sverdrup, as we sail back across the North Sea to Hamburg. 

Make the most of the relaxed atmosphere on board. If you haven’t yet been in the sauna, hot tubs, or pool, nor had your fill of your favourite flavours in the restaurants and bar, now is your last chance!  

Your Coastal Experience team will host a series of activities, perhaps including a photo recap of your voyage. The Captain’s Farewell Dinner is likely to be a highlight, too.  

This is a great time to take stock of the last two weeks, sort through your photographs, and exchange contact details with the new friends you made on the voyage. And don’t forget to spend at least a few minutes on deck, filling your lungs with the fresh sea air.

Your voyage ends back in Hamburg. If you didn’t get a chance to explore this beautiful city 15 days ago, make sure you do now.  

Many of the city's attractions are clustered in the Altstadt district, including the St Nikolai Memorial and historic Deichstraße street. Hamburg’s beautiful canals have earned it the nickname ‘Venice of the North’, and a canal tour is a great way to explore the city. 

You’ve sailed on The North Cape Express, getting to know Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent. During the journey, you’ll have experienced Norway’s varied climate, seen majestic mountains and fjords, and maybe gazed up in awe at the Northern Lights once or several times.   

We hope you’ll cherish each of the memories of The North Cape Express that you’ll take home with you. Come sail with us again soon, on another iconic voyage of our spectacular home: the Norwegian coast.