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Norwegian Fjords
Bergen, Geirangerfjord, Flåm, Stavanger, Hardangerfjord, Ålesund, Trondheim. Sheer cliffs, waterfalls, red wooden houses. Short hops, lots of scenery – the classic entry-level route. Usually departs Hamburg, Kiel or Bergen.
Destination Northern Europe
North – fjords, northern lights and midnight sun
From Bergen to Honningsvåg, Reykjavík to Longyearbyen: the North is nature at its most dramatic. Steep fjords, glacier-white peaks, deep-blue seas – we'll find the route that fits you.
15+fjords
30+ports
May–Sepbest season
24hdaylight
All Northern Europe itineraries
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Itineraries from AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC, Hurtigruten, Costa, Holland America and Ponant. Filter by duration, season and departure port – or get personal advice from our team.
Regions of the North
Three regions, three worlds of nature
Norwegian Fjords, North Cape and Iceland – each region has its own drama and best time. We'll show you what's worth it and when.
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North Cape & Lofoten
Tromsø, Honningsvåg (North Cape), Lofoten, Svalbard/Spitsbergen. Midnight sun in summer, northern lights in autumn/winter. For photographers and adventurers – longer distances, more sea days, but unique nature.
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Iceland
Reykjavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður. Volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, whales. Often combined with Scotland, Faroes or Greenland. Season May–September, peak July/August.
Best time to go
When is the North at its best?
The North has a short, intense window. Pick a month and see which region is ideal – May to August are the undisputed months.
Mayis in 1 sub-region at its best
Ideal
Good
Off-season
Norwegian Fjords
Best time
Long days (up to 20h light), mild 15–22 °C, all waterfalls in full flow from snowmelt. Geirangerfjord and Flåm at their finest.
North Cape & Lofoten
Good time
May and September: transition to 24h day or start of northern lights season. Cooler (5–12 °C), but spectacular.
Iceland
Good time
May and September: slightly cooler, fewer passengers. First northern lights possible in September, Iceland shows its dramatic autumn side.
Why the North
Why the North is the most spectacular cruise
No region offers so much untouched nature per nautical mile. Fjords, glaciers, whales and northern lights – cruising is the only sensible way to travel here.
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Nature as the main attraction
In the North the ship is a window onto the landscape: you sail into the fjords, pass waterfalls and glacier faces within throwing distance. The most spectacular views come from your balcony – no ticket, no queue.
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Midnight sun & northern lights
In June and July the sun never sets north of the Arctic Circle – 24 hours of daylight, dinner on the sun deck at 11pm. From September to October the northern lights season starts in Tromsø and Iceland.
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Short flights, intense nature
Direct flights from Zurich to Bergen, Oslo or Reykjavík in 2–3h – or comfortable train journey to Hamburg and Kiel. After just a few hours you're in a landscape that feels virtually untouched.
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German-language options
AIDA and TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff) sail the North intensively with German-speaking crew, European cuisine and German excursions. Ideal if you want comfort and familiarity in rough nature.
Northern Europe consultation
Your Northern voyage starts with a conversation
Norwegian Fjords, North Cape or Iceland? 7 nights from Hamburg or 14 nights around Spitsbergen? German-language or international? Tell us what you're looking for – we'll suggest the right route and the right ship. No obligation, in your language, from Switzerland.
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Frequently asked
Northern Europe cruises – your questions
June to August is peak season with midnight sun, 15–22 °C in Norway and full infrastructure in every port. May and September are quieter and cheaper with fewer cruise tourists. Northern lights cruises run September to March, ideal October–February.
Classic fjord routes from Hamburg/Kiel last 7–10 nights. For North Cape and Lofoten you need 12–14 nights, Iceland usually 10–14 nights. Iceland–Greenland combinations or Spitsbergen expeditions run 14–18 nights.
Popular departure ports are Hamburg, Kiel, Warnemünde and Bergen (Norwegian Fjords), Tromsø (North Cape) and Reykjavík (Iceland). Hamburg and Kiel are easily reached by train from Switzerland in 8–10h. From Zurich there are direct flights to Oslo, Bergen and Reykjavík.
Even in summer temperatures drop to 5–10 °C at glacier passes, wind amplifies the chill. Recommendation: layered clothing with fleece, wind- and waterproof jacket, hat and gloves for outdoor areas. On board it's normally warm, smart casual works for restaurants.
AIDA and TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff) with German-speaking service and a large fleet, MSC and Costa for international flair, Hurtigruten for authentic coastal post experiences, Ponant and Silversea in luxury expeditions. For Iceland: also Viking Ocean and Oceania.
Yes – north of the Arctic Circle (from roughly 66° N, i.e. from Lofoten onwards) the sun doesn't set at all from late May to mid July. Even south of this (Bergen, Ålesund) it barely gets dark. Evening light on deck at 11pm is one of the most unforgettable cruise experiences.
Yes, family ships from AIDA, TUI Cruises, MSC and Royal Caribbean offer kids' clubs and child-friendly excursions. Note: fewer classic beach days, but many nature experiences (whale watching, waterfalls, fjord kayaking). We recommend from school age – long days and cooler temperatures can be tiring for younger children.