Norway Summer Cruise | Dream by Luxury Escapes

Norway in summer is nothing like the stereotype of icy fjords and dark winter nights. Between June and August the country’s 2,500-kilometre coastline turns into what feels like a different destination altogether: days where the sun stays up past midnight, ports buzz with local summer festivals, and travellers have the chance to see puffins, reindeer and sea eagles up close.

There are many ways to see Norway in summer, but one of the best is from aboard a Havila Voyages vessel as it sails the Norwegian Coastal Route between Bergen to Kirkenes. This isn’t a mega-cruise ship teeming with casinos and waterslides. It is a line of sleek hybrid ships that double as ferries for locals and as a front-row seat for travellers who want to see Norway in a different light.

Here are five reasons why summer is the sweet spot for your next cruise. 

1. The days are longer

Night owls, this one is for you. Cross the Arctic Circle in summer and bedtime almost becomes optional. Tromsø welcomes round-the-clock daylight from late May to mid-July, while Kirkenes keeps the sun above the horizon well into August. That extra light changes your experience, as it means shore excursions aren’t squeezed into a narrow daytime window.

Post-dinner boat trips around the Lofoten Islands are normal, as are passenger gatherings up on deck 8 or 9 for mugs of warm cider and servings of Norwegian sour cream porridge enjoyed under the golden haze of the Midnight Sun. Havila’s ships can also switch to near-silent battery power in UNESCO-protected fjords, so passengers can stand on deck at midnight and hear nothing but the low hum of the engine and the slosh of water against the hull.  

2. Greater opportunities for wildlife encounters

Summer coincides with breeding season for many Arctic species. Whale watching improves the further north you sail: orcas and humpbacks follow the herring north, and porpoises can surface alongside the ship. Puffins crowd the cliffs of Røst and Bleik, while sea eagles show off their impressive wingspan overhead. A seafari, one of the localised excursions from Havila’s program, is a great way to get close-up views of these giant birds.

Reindeer are far easier to see in summer, when herds graze on grassy open tundra instead of vanishing into snow. Sami herders guide them to higher pastures, so you might see whole groups picking their way across ridgelines. Reindeer fur changes from white to camouflage-friendly brown in summer so one tip is to not write off that odd-shaped boulder you see from afar while sailing around Finnmark’s coastline as just a rock – it may well be one of Rudolph’s cousins.

3. The taste of summer

Dining on Havila is as much a window into Norway as the scenery itself. Menus change every three days, to reflect the region and the traditional tastes of the ports that supply much of the ship’s kitchens. In summer, the menu leans fresh and bright. Fish comes straight off the boats – cod, halibut, trout – often cooked simply with herbs or butter, while the short growing season brings a burst of berries, greens and wild herbs. Think seafood soups with a bisque-like lift, trout with dill and lemon, cloudberries over cream. The rotating lunch and dinner menus keep the guest dining experience interesting; passengers up to the task may challenge themselves to sample all the small plates (upwards of one dozen) from each region’s lunch menu.

4. Smooth sailing ahead

In summer months, the Norwegian Sea tends to be gentler. Havila ships benefit from longer, calmer stretches, particularly once past Bergen and heading north into fjord country. Wave heights are lower, swells have reduced fetch, and the wind tends to settle in the afternoon in many coastal areas. It makes taking photos from deck easier, and means more time can be spent in the guest lounges or doing laps of the outdoor decks rather than being confined to your cabin (as lovely as they are). The hybrid Havila vessels switch to battery-only mode through sensitive fjords and some of the more picturesque inlets, which cuts engine noise dramatically.

5. Ports Worth Stopping For 

Along the Bergen-to-Kirkenes route, each stop offers its own character and highlights. Ålesund stands out with its Art Nouveau architecture, rooftop viewpoints and colourful harbours. Trondheim has a rich Viking history with a lively student town atmosphere and cafés lining cobblestone streets. Tromsø is perfect for waterfront strolls and long daylight evenings, while Honningsvåg serves as the gateway to the North Cape, the northernmost tip of mainland Europe. The Christmas shop in Honningsvåg is worth a stop no how many months there are until Santa’s visit.

Images: Havila + Shutterstock.