If you only have time to sail in one direction, is one more intersting than the other as far as the ports of call? I read that the ship doesn't stop at the same ones. I am not certain that I want to try and sail the whole coast, either. The northern part seems like it would be the most dramatic scenery, and I would spend some extra time in the Bergen area anyway on my own.

Time of year I'm thinking of is September or October if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance...

The ports of call are exactly the same northbound and southbound, except that on summer northbound voyages, the ships go into the Geirangerfjord and call off Geiranger. The schedule is arranged so that ports visited in daylight northbound are mostly during the night southbound, and vice versa.
Travelling southwards in summer, the ships cruise into Trollfjord which is not possible in winter because of the danger of avalanches.
I've done the round trip once and wouldn't like to say which direction was the more scenic, though the most memorable part in both directions was Lofoten and Vesteraalen.

Thanks, GeoffHamer. I should have clarified... meant to ask which ports of call were more interesting in the daytime if I only had time to sail one direction. I guess in the summer it doesn't matter as much since there is longer sunlight.

Thanks for your advice.

We only did Kirkenes to Bodo. The stops frankly didn't mean much, since most weren't in the town center and those in the middle of the night -- although still light (in June)-- were deader than doornails, and they really don't stop for long enough to go do much touring.

To me it was all about the cruise itself. Once we got to Bodo, we flew to Trondheim and then drove south from there taking our time.

We sailed from Bergen to Kirkenes in late July. It never did get dark, just a very long twilight. By October, say, the days would be quite short. Some ports -- Aalesund, for example -- were visited for several hours. Others, only minutes. It's a wonderful scenic voyage, so free of hassles.

You are going by the same scenery in each direction. The most dramatic scenery is between Trondheim and Tromso. The Lofoten Islands have some off the best scenery.

This is not a trip that you take for the ports of call although some of them are charming. Trondheim is a significant city and you have 4 hours there in each direction. Tromso is also of some size and you stop about 4 hours on the way up and about 1 1/2 hours on the way back which is just enough time for the concert at the Arctic Cathedral which is definitely worth your time.

The trip is relaxing with loads of beautiful scenery and some wildlife. The scenery along the North Cape is the least dramatic. The Hurtigruten attracts a well-educated, well-traveled, older crowd. The food is typically Norwegian. Do not expect the same type of entertainment or dining as on a Carribean cruise or conventional cruise ship. The people who take the Hurtigruten would probably not like the typical cruise ship.

I thought that late May and June were ideal times to travel due to the lack of darkness.

Do a search on "Hurtigruten" on the Norway board of Trip Advisor.

Thank you for all the kind replies. I have never taken a cruise of any kind.

I have hopes to witness the Northern Lights, which is why I want to maybe do it in October.

The main decision for me is actually African safari or Scandinavian tour. lol!

Thanks again.

idnas71:

As you will be travelling in september or october, I suggest you take the southbound route.

Other posters have correctly mentioned the passage through the Lofoten Islands to be the most scenic part. As the northbound voyage passes through the Lofoten and Versterålen islands during the night, you will miss much of the scenery.

The southbound voyage, however, crosses the Lofoten archipelago during daytime, and I can assure you that it is really breathtaking! As added bonuses, the southbound voyage will allow you to see the seven sisters mountains in daylight and stop long enough at Stokmarknes in the afternoon to visit the Hurtigruten Museum.

Hope this helps, enjoy your trip

Phil.

Ah, Phil... thank you! That is exactly the knowledge I was hoping to gain. What landmarks or features would I be passing by during daylight hours one way and missing on the other. Of course, I understand daylight is not as long during the time of year I am thinking of traveling.