This itinerary has been on our bucket list for a while, and we have simply been waiting for the right window of opportunity to make it happen. Originally, I focused on the Hurtigruten options, but when Havila entered the scene with their newer ships, the incentive to finally book the trip grew even stronger.
While considering when to go, our goal was to find that sweet spot: cold enough to feel like a true Arctic adventure, but not so cold that the North Cape would be inaccessible. The shoulder seasons—late spring or early autumn—seemed ideal, offering a balance where the weather begins to warm while snow still lingers on the mountains. After much discussion, we decided on the last two weeks of March, right at the cusp of spring.
We booked over the phone, as we weren’t satisfied with the online cabin options and didn’t want to risk reserving something only to change it later without knowing if our preferred areas of the ship were available. The process was excellent. I called the local number and was assisted by a gentleman with a Scandinavian accent who spoke very good English. We were able to select a cabin we liked on our chosen itinerary, and after providing our details and ending the call, we promptly received an email with payment instructions. I was very impressed—everything was set up efficiently and professionally.
So, on this cruise, things are a little different as there are only a few of what I would define as the “Actual Port Stops” where you have enough time (usually 2 to 6 hours) to treat it like a traditional cruise excursion:
In a “normal cruise” sense—your ship docks for several hours to allow for meaningful exploring, dining, or long walks—the 34-port coastal express route is very different. Most stops are only 15 to 30 minutes to swap mail and cargo. See the itinerary map below for the full list of stops
The following are what I would consider to be the nearest to actual port stops
Northbound (Days 1-7)
Ålesund (Day 2): Usually 3+ hours.
Trondheim (Day 3): A long morning stop (approx. 3 hours).
Bodø (Day 4): Typically a couple of hours in the afternoon; long enough to explore the harbour and the town centre.
Tromsø (Day 5): A major stop (usually 4 hours).
Honningsvåg (Day 6): The gateway to the North Cape. The ship stays for several hours specifically for the Cape excursions.
Kirkenes (Day 7): The turnaround point. The ship stays for about 3.5 hours, allowing for winter snowmobile trips or summer king crab safaris.
Southbound (Days 8–12)
Hammerfest (Day 8): A morning stop of about 1.5 to 2 hours. Just enough time to see the Polar Bear Society or the Meridian Column.
Tromsø (Day 8): Revisit in the evening. This is usually where the famous Midnight Concerts happen
Svolvær (Day 9): An evening stop in the heart of Lofoten (usually 2 hours). Great for a quick walk through the fishing village galleries
Trondheim (Day 11): A morning return (approx. 3 hours). A second chance to see what you missed on Day 3.
Ålesund (Day 11): A brief evening stop, but beautiful for seeing the city lights before the final leg.
The rest are essentially “Quick” Stops (such as Torvik, Nesna, Øksfjord, or Mehamn, etc). These are considered “working stops” where you can usually step onto the pier for 15 minutes to stretch your legs, but their advice is to stay within sight of the gangway as the ship departs very quickly.
The full itinerary and details are below, but be warned its quite a long list.
| Date | Location | Time in port | Arrival | Departure |
| Friday, March 20, 2026 | Bergen | 8:15 PM | ||
| Saturday, March 21, 2026 | ||||
| Florø | 15 mins | 2:45 AM | 3:00 AM | |
| Måløy | 15 mins | 5:15 AM | 5:30 AM | |
| Torvik | 10 mins | 8:20 AM | 8:30 AM | |
| Ålesund | 615 mins | 9:45 AM | 8:00 PM | |
| Molde | 30 mins | 10:35 PM | 11:05 PM | |
| Sunday, March 22, 2026 | ||||
| Kristiansund | 15 mins | 2:45 AM | 3:00 AM | |
| Trondheim | 180 mins | 9:45 AM | 12:45 PM | |
| Rørvik | 20 mins | 9:40 PM | 10:00 PM | |
| Monday, March 23, 2026 | ||||
| Brønnøysund | 10 mins | 1:35 AM | 1:45 AM | |
| Sandnessjøen | 15 mins | 4:35 AM | 4:50 AM | |
| Nesna | 10 mins | 6:00 AM | 6:10 AM | |
| Ørnes | 10 mins | 10:00 AM | 10:10 AM | |
| Bodø | 135 mins | 1:05 PM | 3:20 PM | |
| Stamsund | 25 mins | 7:15 PM | 7:40 PM | |
| Svolvær | 55 mins | 9:20 PM | 10:15 PM | |
| Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | ||||
| Stokmarknes | 10 mins | 1:30 AM | 1:40 AM | |
| Sortland | 15 mins | 2:55 AM | 3:10 AM | |
| Risøyhamn | 15 mins | 4:35 AM | 4:50 AM | |
| Harstad | 35 mins | 7:10 AM | 7:45 AM | |
| Finnsnes | 30 mins | 11:00 AM | 11:30 AM | |
| Tromsø | 240 mins | 2:15 PM | 6:15 PM | |
| Skjervøy | 15 mins | 10:10 PM | 10:25 PM | |
| Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | ||||
| Øksfjord | 10 mins | 1:50 AM | 2:00 AM | |
| Hammerfest | 40 mins | 5:05 AM | 5:45 AM | |
| Havøysund | 15 mins | 8:30 AM | 8:45 AM | |
| Honningsvåg | 215 mins | 10:55 AM | 2:30 PM | |
| Kjøllefjord | 20 mins | 4:40 PM | 5:00 PM | |
| Mehamn | 20 mins | 6:55 PM | 7:15 PM | |
| Berlevåg | 10 mins | 10:00 PM | 10:10 PM | |
| Thursday, March 26, 2026 | ||||
| Båtsfjord | 30 mins | 12:00 AM | 12:30 AM | |
| Vardø | 45 mins | 3:00 AM | 3:45 AM | |
| Vadsø | 20 mins | 6:55 AM | 7:15 AM | |
| Kirkenes | 210 mins | 9:00 AM | 12:30 PM | |
| Vardø | 55 mins | 4:05 PM | 5:00PM | |
| Båtsfjord | 30 mins | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | |
| Berlevåg | 10 mins | 10:25 PM | 10:35 PM | |
| Friday, March 27, 2026 | ||||
| Mehamn | 10 mins | 1:20 AM | 1:30 AM | |
| Kjøllefjord | 10 mins | 3:25 AM | 3:35 AM | |
| Honningsvåg | 15 mins | 5:45 AM | 6:00 AM | |
| Havøysund | 15 mins | 8:00 AM | 8:15 AM | |
| Hammerfest | 105 mins | 11:00 AM | 12:45 PM | |
| Øksfjord | 15 mins | 3:50 PM | 4:05 PM | |
| Skjervøy | 15 mins | 7:30 PM | 7:45 PM | |
| Tromsø | 105 mins | 11:45 PM | ||
| Saturday, March 28, 2026 | ||||
| Tromsø | 1:30 AM | |||
| Finnsnes | 20 mins | 4:20 AM | 4:40 AM | |
| Harstad | 30 mins | 8:00 AM | 8:30 AM | |
| Risøyhamn | 15 mins | 10:45 AM | 11:00 AM | |
| Sortland | 30 mins | 12:30 PM | 1:00 PM | |
| Stokmarknes | 60 mins | 2:15 PM | 3:15 PM | |
| Svolvær | 120 mins | 6:30 PM | 8:30 PM | |
| Stamsund | 15 mins | 10:15 PM | 10:30 PM | |
| Sunday, March 29, 2026 | ||||
| Bodø | 60 mins | 2:30 AM | 3:30 AM | |
| Ørnes | 10 mins | 6:25 AM | 6:35 AM | |
| Nesna | 10 mins | 10:25 AM | 10:35 AM | |
| Sandnessjøen | 30 mins | 11:45 AM | 12:15 PM | |
| Brønnøysund | 145 mins | 3:00 PM | 5:25 PM | |
| Rørvik | 30 mins | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | |
| Monday, March 30, 2026 | ||||
| Trondheim | 180 mins | 6:30 AM | 9:30 AM | |
| Kristiansund | 60 mins | 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM | |
| Molde | 30 mins | 9:15 PM | 9:45 PM | |
| Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | ||||
| Ålesund | 40 mins | 12:30 AM | 1:20 AM | |
| Torvik | 10 mins | 2:35 AM | 2:45 AM | |
| Måløy | 15 mins | 5:45 AM | 6:00 AM | |
| Florø | 15 mins | 8:15 AM | 8:30 AM | |
| Bergen | 2:45 PM |
It’s a very small ship for us, and the cabin we have chosen is a centrally located Seaview Superior Double on deck 5. It’s right next to the atrium and close to the stairs, so if we are in our cabin when the Northern Lights alarm is sounded, we shouldn’t have too far to travel to get out on deck.
And there you have it—the next fortnight is mapped out! I’ve gone for a slightly different approach with the labels this time, because our days are so full of different stops, and because of this, I’ve grouped them under general daily themes rather than individual port names.
We are really looking forward to seeing Norway’s incredible fjords and immersing ourselves in its culture.
Havila will be a new company for us and on a vessel that’s part ferry, part cruise ship—a ‘Hybrid Cruise’ that offers the best of both worlds.
The next update will be after we’ve checked in at our hotel in Bergen, which will mark the beginning of our Norwegian Coastal experience.
Having done the Hurtigruten route, I can honestly say it was one of the best trips of my life. The cabins look much plusher too. Looking forward to reading the blog – and enjoy, it really is a trip of a lifetime.
What an interesting cruise. That’s a good amount of time in Tromso but too much in Bodo. But I can wait to see the rest of your pics from all the other places. And it will be interesting how the food is and if they can do a good job feeding Nicole. Looking forward to the entire cruise full of posts.