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In Search of the Northern Lights (Norway), a cruise by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Cruise · 14 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

In Search of the Northern Lights

Fred. Olsen's Balmoral charts a two-week Arctic route from Southampton to Norway, crossing the Arctic Circle and calling at towns such as Ålesund, Narvik and Trondheim, with time to search for the Northern Lights from the ship and shore.

Duration
14 nights
Departs
28 Feb 2027
Sails from
Southampton
Returns to the same port
Ship
Balmoral
From
£1,899
per person, sharing

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Crossing the Arctic Circle

  2. Evening Aurora Borealis from Narvik

  3. Husky sledding and tobogganing opportunities

  4. Cruising the Seven Sisters mountain range

  5. Visits to Ålesund, Narvik, Trondheim and Molde

About the trip

Setting off from Southampton, Balmoral heads north for two days at sea before the first Norwegian port, Ålesund, where Art Nouveau touches the waterfront and the town’s steep hills reward a stroll. After crossing the Arctic Circle, the ship cruises between dramatic peaks including the Seven Sisters range and Torghatten with its famous cave piercing the mountain.

Narvik is the northernmost call, giving time to try husky sledding or tobogganing on snow-carpeted terrain. From here, an evening in search of the Aurora Borealis offers a contrast to the daylight hours spent cruising the Tjeldsundet Strait and Ofotfjord. A call at Trondheim introduces a city originally founded by the Vikings, before Balmoral returns south via Molde, another town framed by fjords and mountains.

This Fred. Olsen cruise omits the rush for a more observed pace, with plenty of sea time to watch the landscape and sky for signs of the Northern Lights. The ship is small enough to slip into fjords where larger vessels might hesitate, making it a quietly practical way to travel this far north along the Norwegian coast.

50°N55°N60°N65°N70°N
The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Southampton
  2. 2 Ålesund
  3. 3 Narvik
  4. 4 Trondheim
  5. 5 Molde

Itinerary

The route, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Southampton, England

  2. Day 2

    At sea

  3. Day 3

    Ålesund, Norway

  4. Day 4

    Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway

  5. Day 5

    Ofotfjord, Norway

    Scenic cruising

  6. Day 6

    Narvik, Norway

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Flights
Not needed if you join at Southampton
What’s included
Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Accessibility
Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Cabin
Interior Room

For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is In Search of the Northern Lights?
In Search of the Northern Lights is a 14 nights cruise holiday.
Where does In Search of the Northern Lights depart from?
In Search of the Northern Lights departs from Southampton.
Who operates In Search of the Northern Lights?
In Search of the Northern Lights is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines aboard Balmoral.
How much does In Search of the Northern Lights cost?
Prices for In Search of the Northern Lights start from £1,899, subject to availability.

The operator

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports

A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.

You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to United Kingdom? Our United Kingdom guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

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