Mar
2018
Hurtigruten Arctic Highlights Mini Cruise
Fancy a real adventure?
Try this Hurtigruten Arctic Highlights mini cruise on for size. Sail inside the Arctic Circle and witness some of Norway's remotest coastline.
Oh no, the ship has sailed on this cruise
Sorry, the ship has sailed on this mini cruise and I'm sure it was a blast! Never mind though, there are plenty more mini cruises to choose from.
About this cruise
Your adventure starts at the airport, as you'll need to fly to Tromsø in the heart of the Arctic Circle to board your ship. Conveniently, Hurtigruten sells a package that includes return flights, transfers, and hotel accommodation.
Regional departures are available from Bournemouth, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, London Gatwick, Manchester, and Norwich airports, subject to availability.
Once in Norway, you'll transfer to an unremarkable quayside in Tromsø where the views are anything but. Your ship will pull in, and your cruise on a working vessel starts here.
Hurtigruten runs a fleet of 'working ships' which are a cross between a cruise ship and a ferry. Cabins and facilities are rather basic, but you're not here for the ship - you're here for the stunning breathtaking scenery. And Norway delivers that in droves. Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife and you may even spot the Northern Lights.
The ships run to an unforgiving schedule as they are an essential lifeline to remote communities in the north. Unlike on a cruise ship where there's only one port of call per day, Hurtigruten vessels stop frequently through the day and night. Some stops are brief at a mere 15 minutes which is enough time to offload a couple of pallets of produce. Others are for several hours where there's much more work to do. At such stops, I'd encourage you to join the optional shore excursions to get the most out of your brief time on land.
The cruise from Tromsø heads to Kirkenes before it heads back down. The day stops on the way up become night stops on the way back down, and vice versa. You won't want much sleep on this sailing as you'll want to admire the ever-changing scenery.
Once back in Tromsø (it'll be around midnight), head to your hotel for some kip before flying home the next day.
On selected departures, Hurtigruten includes an extra night in Tromsø so you'll have a full day to explore the small city at your own speed.
Tried and Tested
I sailed on this very mini cruise. I flew from London Heathrow with SAS, sailed Tromsø to Kirkenes and back on Nordlys, and stayed at the Radisson Blu Tromsø hotel. It's a short and sweet itinerary but fuelled my desire to sail around Norway, particularly to Svalbard.
The Route
The itinerary for this mini cruise is:
| Day | Date | Port | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thursday 8th March 2018 | Fly to Tromsø and board ship | Late |
| 2 | Friday 9th March 2018 | Honningsvåg | Stops throughout the day |
| 3 | Saturday 10th March 2018 | Kirkenes | Stops throughout the day |
| 4 | Sunday 11th March 2018 | Hammerfest; Tromsø | Stops throughout the day |
| 5 | Monday 12th March 2018 | Fly back to the UK | Morning |
Why choose this taster cruise?
- 4 night adventure trip with Hurtigruten inside the Arctic Circle
- Various departures up to March 2018
- Fly to Tromsø and sail round-trip to Kirkenes
- Add an optional extra night in a hotel in Tromsø (subject to availability)
So you know, the map above shows point-to-point lines which may cross land. Don't worry, your will not sprout legs and run across dry land. Instead it's water all the way! Mapping is approximate, and the scheduled times are estimates. Your trip is subject to change as, occasionally, operators have to alter itineraries due to bad weather or unforeseen events.
The Price
Oh no, the ship has sailed on this cruise
Sorry, the ship has sailed on this mini cruise and I'm sure it was a blast! Never mind though, there are plenty more mini cruises to choose from.
More choices
Not quite right? Here are some other suggestions that may suit better.