The routes
- The Norwegian fjords — Bergen, Geiranger, the West Fjords
- Iceland — Reykjavik, and sometimes Akureyri or Ísafjörður
- The Lofotens & the North Atlantic
- The Baltic & the Hanseatic cities
- Greenland & the edge of the ice, on longer voyages
Sail under the midnight sun, where summer daylight stretches endlessly across the sky. From the rugged ice fields of Svalbard and Iceland to the dramatic Norwegian fjords, your ship defines your experience: intimate 200-guest vessels navigate deep into narrow, winding fjords, while you can enjoy resort-style amenities aboard grander ships in the wider coastal waters and Baltic capitals.
Depending on the town, step right off the ship into a bustling square in Stockholm or take a smaller tender boat into a remote fjord village like Geiranger. In cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, the deep-water ocean docks sit outside the city center, so plan for a 30- to 45-minute ride to reach famous sights like the Rijksmuseum or the Nyhavn canals. If weather forces a tender cancellation in a fjord, you still enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views right from the deck.
Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, Celebrity, MSC, Viking, and Cunard sail the fjords, Iceland, and the Baltic from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Southampton, and the Norwegian ports. Hapag-Lloyd and the expedition lines go farther north, toward Svalbard and Greenland.
A fjord cruise of about a week tends to include Bergen, Geiranger, and Flåm. In a small place like Geiranger you often come ashore by tender. An Iceland cruise tends to include Reykjavik. A Baltic cruise tends to include Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, and Helsinki. Nyhavn is the canal quarter in Copenhagen. Ocean ships for Amsterdam dock at IJmuiden, about 30 to 45 minutes from the Rijksmuseum, which holds Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. If weather cancels a tender in a fjord, the view from the deck is still the reason you came. A longer sailing can add the Lofotens, Svalbard, or Greenland.
In port
- Embark on guided waterfall walks through the dramatic Norwegian fjords.
- Explore Reykjavik and head out on a scenic whale-watching excursion.
- Admire the iconic red fishing cabins dotted along the Lofoten Islands.
- Wander along the Nyhavn canal and visit Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
- Discover the cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan and the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
- Witness the spectacular northern lights on clear nights later in the season.
Most Baltic and Norway stops end in the afternoon. Bryggen is the old wharf in Bergen. Nyhavn is the canal in Copenhagen. The Rijksmuseum is in Amsterdam, and it holds Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. Ocean ships dock at IJmuiden, not in the canals. The museum is about 30 to 45 minutes from the pier. An overnight in Copenhagen or Stockholm leaves the evening free. Extra nights in London, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen are for a museum and a neighborhood.
When to go
Fjord cruises run from June through August, when there is midnight sun. In September you may see the aurora. Farther north, the season is shorter.
In port
What to expect in port
Bryggen is the old wharf in Bergen. Nyhavn is the canal in Copenhagen. The Rijksmuseum is in Amsterdam, and it holds Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. Ocean ships dock at IJmuiden, not in the canals. The museum is about 30 to 45 minutes from the pier.
- Time in port
- A stop in a fjord village can mean a few hours ashore by small boat. A stop in a Baltic capital runs longer.
- Worth the time
- The Bryggen wharf is in Bergen, and the fish market serves a shrimp sandwich: cold peeled shrimp on buttered bread, with mayonnaise and lemon. In Copenhagen, a New Nordic menu is local seafood, vegetables, and foraged herbs, and those tables are booked before you sail. The Rijksmuseum is in Amsterdam. It holds Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. The Anne Frank House is the rooms where she hid. Ocean ships dock at IJmuiden, not in the canals. The museum is about 30 to 45 minutes from the pier. Lunch can fit if the ship leaves later. The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is a hotel for the nights before or after the cruise. Nyhavn and Rosenborg are in Copenhagen. Hotel d’Angleterre is a hotel if you want the night in the city. Gamla Stan is in Stockholm. The Vasa Museum holds the warship Vasa, raised from the harbor. Grand Hôtel looks across the water at the palace.
- Travelers
- This suits people who want long summer light and small harbors, and who do not mind the weather being part of the trip.
- Also
- If the ship is alongside, you can walk to the old square. If the tender is canceled, you stay on board.
In port
Where the ship docks, and what you can do there
Geiranger is a fjord village in Norway. Copenhagen is a Baltic capital. Iceland and Amsterdam are on other sailings.
See the portsSample itineraries
These are typical routings and ports. Ships, dates, and fares change.
Fjord classic
7 nights
June–August
Bergen, or another Norwegian port. Cruises on the Baltic often start in Copenhagen
A smaller ship if you want to sail the narrow water, or a big ship if you want the resort on board
- Geiranger or another fjord
- Flåm
- A coastal town
Iceland and north
10–14 nights
Summer
Rotterdam, London, or a Norwegian port
Expedition or a traditional line that reaches Reykjavik
- Reykjavik
- A stop on the south coast
- The Lofotens, if the sailing goes that far
Baltic cities
9–10 nights for Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm. A 7-night cruise stops in fewer cities
May–August
Copenhagen or Stockholm round trip
A city-port ship, not an ice ship
- Tallinn
- Helsinki
- Stockholm or Visby
- A stop in a Hanseatic town
Planning Northern Europe Cruises?
Choose the fjords, Iceland, or the Baltic. A seven-night cruise does not cover all three.