The North Cape Express and The Svalbard Express

All guests must present valid travel ID documents when they check-in to a voyage. This can be either:

• A valid passport with a validity of six months post-voyage

• A national ID card with travel rights (for Nordic residents and residents of Schengen countries)

These requirements apply to both the North Cape Express and the Svalbard Express, as the ships sail from ports with a high level of security. If you are traveling on the Svalbard Express, please note that Svalbard is outside the Schengen area.

All guests should obtain up-to-date advice on passport and visa requirements from the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of the destination or country(ies) through which you are travelling.  

We do not accept any liability if you are unable to travel or if you incur any other loss because you have not complied with passport, visa or immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us for any fines or other losses we incur as a result of your failure to comply with passport, visa or immigration requirements or health formalities.

Though we always do our utmost to stick to our sailing schedule, the weather on the Norwegian coast often has other plans. 

When the water is too choppy or the fog is too thick, your safety comes first, every time. That's the case even if it means we have to change our itinerary or cancel onshore excursions at the last minute.

 

Just like weather on the Norwegian coast, we can't control what wildlife you get to see on your voyage with us. A lot depends on the season, migration patterns, and pure luck.

Nature and wildlife on the Norwegian coast are unpredictable, but really, that’s what makes the surprise encounters all the more special. 

If your chosen departure date for The Svalbard Express or The North Cape Express is more than three months (90 days) from the date you are booking, your voyage may include flights and/or onshore hotel nights before or after your voyage.

Example:

You want to travel on The Svalbard Express on 19 August.
The current date of you making the booking is 18 May.
There are 91 days between the two dates.

As the date you want to travel is more than three months (90 days) from the current date of making the booking, your Svalbard Express voyage may include flights and/or hotels.

To benefit from the included package, please make sure you book your voyage early, by at least three months (90 days).

If your chosen departure date for The Svalbard Express or The North Cape Express is less than three months (90 days) from the date you are booking, your voyage will NOT include any flights or onshore hotel nights before or after your voyage.

Your voyage may therefore be shorter than the published voyage by a day or two. This will be reflected in the travel dates and price when booking.

Example:

You want to travel on The Svalbard Express on 19 August.
The current date of you making the booking is 22 May.
There are 87 days between the two dates.

As the date you want to travel is less than three months (90 days) from the current date of making the booking, your Svalbard Express voyage will NOT include any flights or hotels.

Your travel date will change by one or two days to be 20 or 21 August. The shorter itinerary will also be reflected in the price.

If you’re travelling on a full voyage, you’ll be able to choose your cabin grade and cabin number at no extra charge (subject to availability). If you’re on a half voyage, it is not possible to choose your exact cabin number. 

Please note that cabins on decks with access to outside areas may sometimes have an obstructed view and/or have other passengers walking past the window. Some cabins may experience noise and vibration during docking and loading of goods. This varies depending on the location of your cabin. Please ask our reservations team for advice on the best cabin location for you.

During your voyage, our onboard Coastal Experience Team will enhance your experience by offering an exciting programme of activities and 'edutainment'. Join one of their expert lectures and learn about Norway's wildlife, history, culture and geology, or listen to one of their 'tiny talks' about natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights. 

Our Coastal Experience Team also issues a daily programme of optional onshore excursions and activities, including hikes, snowshoeing or fishing trips. They also have photo equipment for rent and are on hand to help you get the most out of your photography during your voyage. 

• Read more about your Coastal Experience Team

Norwegian Kroner (NOK) is the onboard currency.

We operate a cashless system on board and accept Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Diners Card. You can also use your cabin card on board to order snacks, drinks, meals, excursions, and guided hikes. The balance is then settled at the end of your voyage.

Our chefs can cater for special diets and some food allergies if you let us know ahead of time. It is very important that, at the time of booking, you make a point to tell us clearly about any food allergies you have.

To avoid delays, all guests must be ready for boarding no later than 15 minutes before departure in all ports. If you board the ship in Bergen, you need to be in the terminal no later than 30 minutes before departure.

You’ll have the option to explore the ports we visit at your leisure. Please ensure that you are back on board in time, especially if the ship arrives with a delay but departs on time to keep to schedule. The departure time will always be clearly displayed at the gangway.

Please note that the ship cannot wait for late passengers. If you miss your ship, you will need to arrange transport by yourself and at your own expense to the next port on the schedule.

Luggage handling is not included for disembarking guests on The Svalbard Express. In Bergen, all travellers need to walk through customs with their luggage and transport their own luggage from the cabin. Information regarding luggage handling and disembarkation at other ports is available when on board.

The sockets used on board are the 220v AC, two-pin Continental type. Please bring your own adapters with you if needed.

Your voyage is full board with all meals included.

As part of our Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept, dishes are made from locally sourced ingredients, many of which are freshly fished, plucked, and farmed, and then delivered directly to our ships at the ports we visit.

Breakfast is served from 7am in the main restaurant Flora, and consists of a selection of cold meats, cheeses, eggs, cereals, and fruit, with freshly baked bread, pastries, and sveler pancakes. Lunch and dinner are served à la carte from 12pm and 6pm.

Brasserie Árran takes its inspiration from Norway’s Sámi people, and serves traditional dishes for lunch and dinner.

Suite guests can also choose to dine Røst, our fine-dining restaurant, where a Norwegian-inspired afternoon tea and à la carte dinner is served. Cabin guests can also dine here for an additional charge. Check the opening times when on board.

On evenings with fixed seating, Suite guests can request their preferred dining time when booking, although this may be subject to availability. Cabin guests will be assigned their dining time when they first check-in on board.

• Read more about the restaurants onboard MS Trollfjord

It is not standard practice to tip on MS Trollfjord, but if you feel that certain crew members should be rewarded for providing an exceptional service, there are tip boxes in the restaurant together with envelopes.

We offer complimentary Wi-Fi on board MS Trollfjord. 

Please note that signal varies depending on different locations on the ship. As the ship sails in remote regions of Norway, speeds may also be slower and not suitable for streaming services.

There will be a fully trained, qualified nurse on board. The ship is also never too far from land should urgent medical assistance be required.

While on board, all guests are asked to maintain good hand hygiene, and to wash hands regularly. You are required to wash or sanitize your hands before all meals. Hand sanitizer is available all over the ship.

We use air-conditioning systems that provide constant air supply - the air is not recycled.

All guests must have personal travel/health insurance. If you depend on medication, please remember to bring sufficient supplies to last through any unforeseen delays. Such delays, while rare, can and do happen. We also recommend that you keep your medication in your hand luggage, properly labelled, and with clear instructions for its use.

If you need to bring a prescription, Norwegian pharmacies require this in paper format with a doctors' signature. Mobile, email or app prescriptions will not be accepted.

Norwegian and English are the official onboard languages. The Coastal Experience Team, reception staff, and crew also often speak German as well.

Most of our excursions can also be conducted in two or three languages. Please contact the Coastal Experience Team on board for further information.

It is a requirement that all passengers attend a compulsory safety briefing in Bergen, Longyearbyen, Tromsø, or Oslo, depending on where you first board the ship. If your voyage starts in Bergen, the safety briefing will be in the terminal lounge before embarkation. In Longyearbyen, Tromsø, or Oslo it will be on board the ship after embarkation. The briefing lasts between 10-15 minutes and is mandatory for all guests, including those who have travelled with us before. 

The briefing will include a demonstration of how to put on a life jacket and the instructions to be followed in the unlikely event of an evacuation or other emergency during the voyage. There will be an opportunity to ask questions if you have any concerns. Please familiarise yourself with the emergency procedures as shown on the diagram on your cabin door and in public areas, and ask at reception if in doubt.  

There is an onboard shop stocked with a selection of high-quality, handcrafted, local goods. We sell clothing by well-regarded Norwegian brands, outdoor equipment suitable for excursions and hikes, as well as authentic gifts and souvenirs. There is also a small selection of toiletries available for purchase.

We recommend pre-booking excursions to avoid disappointment due to limited capacity. You can pre-book excursions up to four weeks before your voyage, and any remaining excursion places are sold on board and charged in Norwegian Kroner at the ship’s exchange rate.

Please note that all excursions are provisional and subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the viability of certain excursions. Excursions may also be subject to minimum/maximum numbers.  

Smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaping, is only permitted in designated areas on the outside decks. However, all forms of smoking are strictly forbidden even in designated areas when the ship is in port and refuelling. The crew will advise guests when this is the case.

MS Trollfjord is equipped with stabilisers for smoother sailing. However, there may still be some swaying when winds and waves are high.

Since 2018, we have banned the use of non-essential plastics on our ships, and encourage our guests not to bring them on board. Please remember to turn off lights when leaving your cabin and unplug any electrical transformers when not in use. When ashore, kindly bring your litter back to the ship or dispose of it in public bins.

Rubbish sorting and recycling is standard practice aboard MS Trollfjord. 

Whenever we are near wildlife, please heed the advice of your Coastal Experience Team and excursion guides, and act in a way that does not interfere with the wildlife’s natural behaviour.

• Read more about our green credentials