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Do Hurtigruten and Havila coastal ships sail all year round?

Year-round sailings, ships, ports and the best seasons.

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Short answer

Yes, Hurtigruten and Havila both sail the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes all year round, and together they give the route daily departures. Hurtigruten has sailed year-round since 1893 and uses seven ships, while Havila has four. Summer brings the midnight sun, and from October to the end of March many passengers come for the northern lights.

Fjords and cruises a red train crossing a bridge, a small airplane above and a ferry on blue water below

Why

  1. Hurtigruten says its Coastal Express sails year-round, as it has done since 1893, with seven ships calling at 34 ports northbound and 33 southbound.
  2. Visit Tromsø states that Hurtigruten and Havila sail all year between Bergen and Kirkenes and call at Tromsø twice daily.
  3. Havila's four ships, Havila Capella, Castor, Polaris and Pollux, call at 34 ports, and its voyage north takes 7 days and the voyage south 6 days.

Details

A full round trip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back takes about 12 days, but you can also sail one way or only part of the route. Some detours are seasonal: Visit Norway notes that Havila sails into the Geirangerfjord from April to September.

Tip

Pick the season by what you want to see: May to July for the midnight sun, or October to the end of March for a chance of northern lights.

What may differ

Hurtigruten also sells separate cruises from Oslo on MS Trollfjord, the North Cape Line, which sails between September and April and is not part of the daily coastal route.

People also ask

  • Does Hurtigruten sail in winter?
  • Does Havila sail all year?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Sailing plans can change, so check Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages before you book.

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