Ports visited today: Tromsø, Skjervøy
Many of the epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point;
the famous explorer Roald Amundsen sourced both crew and supplies here.
With the presence of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the city has cemented
its position as the polar capital of Norway. Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic
Cathedral, is the most famous landmark with its modern design and
extraordinary stained glass window. Tromsø is also home to the world’s
northernmost university and the large number of people arriving here has
created a vibrant cultural scene with numerous restaurants and cafés
constantly teeming with life. (D)

Ports visited today: Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg,
Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, and Berlevåg
Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg. This small port is the gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape which rises 300m from the ocean, and at 71° 10’ 21” north it puts you a mere 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole. Standing atop the North Cape Plateau you’ll get the eerie feeling of being at the end of the world. This evening, as you approach Kjøllefjord, you pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sámi people and now the site of an impressive light show, Finnkjerka. (B, D)

Ports visited today: Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø, Kirkenes, Vardø, Båtsfjord and Berlevåg
The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes. And at longitude 30 east, you are actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. The well-policed Russian border and the Kola peninsula are both close by which explains why the road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian. The terrain, culture and geography of Kirkenes offer the opportunity to take part in some fabulous Arctic excursions. Departing Kirkenes at lunchtime, you reach Vardø, Norway’s easternmost port, later in the afternoon and continue along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord before reaching Berlevåg in the evening. (B, D)

Ports visited today: Mehamn, Kjøllefjord, Honningsvåg, Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord, Skjervøy, Tromsø
Your first major stop of the day is Hammerfest. Founded in 1789 to develop trade with Russia, Hammerfest reconfirmed its position as Norway’s polar capital of its time, acting as a base for hunting expeditions to the high Arctic. In Hammerfest the Meridian Column, erected in 1854, commemorates the first precise measurement of the globe, an achievement so important that it’s become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As early as 1891, wave energy provided power to the first electric street lighting in Northern Europe, and energy innovation is still a signature for Hammerfest with its large Liquid Gas Plant just outside town. From here, your next major stop will be Tromsø where your voyage comes to an end. (B, D)

After breakfast in your hotel this morning, a choice of optional winter excursions
are available before you are transferred back to Tromsø airport for your flight
back to Gatwick. (B)