The Svalbard Line - South

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.

Ny-Ålesund: The World's Northernmost Research Settlement
Ny-Ålesund is the world's northernmost functional civilian settlement, located at 79 degrees north on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway. Situated on the southern shore of Kongsfjorden (King's Fjord), it is a remote community with a dramatic history and a crucial modern purpose.Current Function: International Research CenterToday, Ny-Ålesund operates primarily as an international center for Arctic and climate change research.

• Scientific Hub: It hosts permanent research stations for 19 institutions from 11 countries, focusing on atmospheric physics, biology, glaciology, and oceanography.

• Population: The permanent, year-round population is small (around 30–40 people), but it swells with up to 114 scientists during the summer months.

• Ownership: The town is owned and operated by the Norwegian state-owned company Kings Bay, providing all necessary facilities and infrastructure for the global scientific community.

History and Explorer HeritageThe settlement has a storied past, transitioning from industry to exploration and finally to science:

• Mining Town (1916–1962): Ny-Ålesund was originally founded as a coal mining community by Kings Bay Kull Comp. Mining operations were eventually deemed too dangerous and closed down after a series of fatal accidents, including a major disaster in 1962.

• North Pole Expeditions: It served as the starting point for famous attempts to reach the North Pole. Most notably, Roald Amundsen launched his successful 1926 expedition aboard the airship Norge from here, a historic journey that marked the first undisputed flight over the North Pole. The original mooring mast where the airship was tethered is still visible.

Visitor Information and Unique RulesThough primarily a research station, Ny-Ålesund is a port of call for various expedition cruises. Visitors should be aware of a few unique rules:

• Radio Silence: To prevent interference with the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s delicate geodetic station (which measures the Earth's movements), there is a zone of radio silence within a 20km radius of the settlement. Visitors must turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on all electronic devices, including phones, drones, and cameras.

• Protected Heritage: The town has Svalbard’s largest collection of protected cultural heritage sites, including many remnants of the old mining community.

• Attractions: Key sites include the small Ny-Ålesund Town and Mine Museum and the world's northernmost post office.

• Nature Protection: Visitors are asked to strictly remain on designated roads and wooden pathways to protect the fragile Arctic tundra and wildlife.

It’s time for us to say farewell to Svalbard and to Spitsbergen and sail south to mainland Norway.

On board the ship, use the day to relax. If skies are clear, enjoy some summer sun out on deck and keep on the lookout for whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

For some fascinating insights into local history and wildlife, catch a lecture delivered by the Expedition Team.

Enjoy the sumptuous food and drinks on board, courtesy of our Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept that features the finest, most flavoursome, local Norwegian produce.

You can also curl up with a good book in the lounge or chat about your hopes for the voyage ahead with new-found friends in the bar.

After a day at sea, we arrive in mainland Norway.

Our first stop of the day is Tromsø, to drop off any cargo from Svalbard and pick up cargo bound for ports to the south, before we continue south to Senja. The island is one of the country’s largest, and northern Norway’s fast-rising star destination, as you’d expect for a place ranked among CNN’s top ten most beautiful islands in the world.

Often proudly described by locals as a ‘mini Norway’, Senja has a concentration of diverse landscapes that mirror different parts of the Norwegian coast, from the sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lofty mountains of its northern coast to the rocky coastline and pine forests of southern Senja and Ånderdalen National Park. You'll find rolling hills and birch forests to the east.

Disembark in the charming fishing village of Torsken and explore by bus, e-bike, on foot, or take to the fjords on a wildlife safari on one of the optional excursions.

Start the day with a few hours in Stokmarknes, an historic town with a special place in our hearts. It’s the birthplace of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express.

It’s a fitting place for the Hurtigruten Museum, where you are immersed in the atmosphere of a different era on our retired 1956 ship, MS Finnmarken, proudly encased in glass on the waterfront.

After Stokmarknes, we’ll sail via Raftsundet and Trollfjord to Lofoten. The rest of the day is all about exploring this breathtaking archipelago. Hailed as one of the most spectacular areas in all of Norway, you’ll understand why as you see its jagged green cliffs rise dramatically out of the ocean, climbing high into the sky like giant teeth.

The beating heart of the archipelago is the town of Svolvær where your ship will be based. There are shops and restaurants to enjoy, and the hours can be spent exploring and getting to know the town yourself.

To experience the mountains, islands, and villages around Svolvær, choose from a variety of handpicked top Lofoten excursions. You can go fishing, kayaking, or sit back and enjoy the incredible scenery on foot or on a bus tour.

From the Lofoten Islands, we head south across the open sea and the Arctic Circle. Soak up the ocean views from the deck or simply soak in the hot tub. You’ll catch sight of the beautiful Norwegian coast again about an hour before we arrive in Bessaker, a small village in Trøndelag county.

We’ll spend the afternoon at Bessaker. Home to just 200 residents, it’s known for its excellent fishing opportunities and the surrounding waters boast plenty of skrei, coalfish and pollock. The annual fishing festival, held on the third weekend of July since 1979, attracts thousands of visitors.

 Explore Bessaker and its impressive natural surroundings at your own pace – you can expect live music, a warm welcome in the museum and tasty coffee and cake in the local pub and cafe to be waiting for you – or opt to join a hike, go on a bus tour to a local organic farm, sail on a nostalgic cutter fishing boat, or enjoy a guided e-bike tour.

The ship will make a brief stop in the town of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque position on a peninsula below Mount Aksla. If you’re joining the overland excursion to Hjørundfjord and Sæbo, this is where you disembark, or you can explore the town on foot. Near to Ålesund, cutting through the peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, some 1,700 metres high, is magnificent Hjørundfjord. Its picture-perfect position embedded in the Sunnmøre Alps means it is the area’s hidden gem and a secret from most other ships.

On the banks of one of Hjørundfjord’s branches is the idyllic village of Sæbø. It's a beautiful spot to enjoy at your own pace – but don’t miss the free concert in the church. You can see more of the area on an optional guided walk through the beautiful scenery of the Urke Valley.

We are fast approaching the last day of our voyage. What better way to celebrate our Svalbard Line experience than a farewell dinner on our last night.

We arrive back in Bergen in the morning. It’s time to disembark the ship, but not before saying fond farewells to your fellow passengers and to the crew who made your Svalbard Line journey such a comfortable one.

You’ve travelled as part of this historic, iconic voyage to pieces of paradise along the Norwegian coast you won’t soon forget. We know you’ll take fond memories of Norway’s coast and the Svalbard archipelago home with you.