Svalbard & Northern Norway Explorer

Day 1: Tromsø

Arrive in the Norwegian city of Tromsø, where you'll embark on your cruise. The gateway to the Arctic at 69° north is famed for its midnight sun in summer and dazzling Northern Lights come winter. The striking Arctic Cathedral, with its stained-glass windows, hosts atmospheric midnight concerts, while the Fjellheisen cable car lifts you to sweeping views atop Mount Storsteinen.

Down in the historic centre, charming wooden houses line the streets, and the Polar Museum tells tales of daring early explorers. Adding a surprising flourish, the world’s northernmost Alpine Botanic Garden flourishes here too.

Day 2: Bear Island

Travel to Bear Island (Bjørnøya), Svalbard’s southernmost island, today, home to the Barents Sea’s largest bird cliff. Near Kapp Kolthoff, just south of Sørhamna, steep precipices host vast colonies of seabirds, including Atlantic puffins, northern gannets, glaucous gulls, great skuas, black-legged kittiwakes, little auks, and both common and Brünnich’s guillemots.

Over time, the ocean has carved the coastline into dramatic sea stacks, caves, and tunnels – most famously the striking sea tunnel at Perleporten.

Days 3 to 8: Exploring Svalbard

Deep in the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is the kingdom of the polar bear – an icy wilderness of immense glaciers and strikingly varied polar landscapes.

In the far north, sweeping fjords give way to lingering sea ice, a crucial hunting ground for bears. Closer to Longyearbyen, the scenery softens into tundra and beaches where snow once ruled.

Alongside its estimated 600 polar bears, this Arctic haven is also home to walrus, Svalbard reindeer, ringed seals and Arctic foxes.

Day 9: Sailing at sea

Sea days are far from dull. They offer the perfect chance to slow down, soak up endless ocean views from the observation deck, and simply let the world drift by.

It’s a time to connect with fellow travellers, swap stories, or dive into the ship’s well-stocked library of reference books.

Join an expert-led lecture for deeper insight into the region, or sharpen your photography skills with hands-on tips from our professional onboard photographers.

Day 10: Visiting Skarsvåg (Nordkapp)

Skarsvåg, Europe’s northernmost fishing village, lies on Magerøya Island, just a short journey from Nordkapp (North Cape), the continent’s northernmost point above the Arctic Circle. Marked by its iconic globe monument, this dramatic headland is as far north as you can go in mainland Europe; only Svalbard lies between here and the North Pole.

Along these rugged coastal cliffs, over a million seabirds nest each summer, including Atlantic puffins, arctic skuas, razorbills, northern gannets, white-tailed eagles, common eiders and great cormorants.

North Cape has long captivated explorers with its stark beauty, where the Arctic Ocean crashes into towering cliffs. Cruising here offers an unforgettable brush with nature’s raw grandeur and the magnetic pull of the high Arctic.

In summer, the cape is bathed in the haunting light of the midnight sun – when day never quite gives way to night.

Day 11: Disembark in Tromsø

Return to this Arctic gateway today, ready to travel further in Europe or head home. 

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.