Fly Stay Cruise - 12 Day Arctic Circle & Northern Lights of Norway -
Enjoy an exceptional-value holiday that seamlessly combines return flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels and/or tours with a cruise—removing the stress of planning so you can enjoy every moment from departure to return.
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Package Inclusions
✓ 7-night Premium Signature voyage
✓ Arctic Circle Explorer itinerary with longer stays in port and an overnight in Alta
✓ Return international Flights
✓ 1-night post-cruise stay in Tromsø
✓ All meals on board across multiple restaurants - buffet and seasonal à la carte dining
✓ Unlimited selected drinks on board
✓ Stand at the North Cape, the legendary ‘Top of Europe’ where ocean, wilderness and sky meet at the land’s edge
✓ Scenic winter cruising through the magical Lofoten Islands - rugged peaks rising from icy fjords
✓ Onboard Expedition Team with daily lectures, photography programme and Northern Lights guidance
✓ Breakfast at the Tromsø hotel
Inspiring Bonus Value
Exclusive fly-stay-cruise package savings on a Premium Signature voyage
Two nights in Tromsø, Norway’s Arctic capital
7-night cruise on MS Trollfjord, the flagship of Hurtigruten’s premium Signature fleet, with longer port stays and multi-restaurant dining
Sail above the Arctic Circle on a Premium Signature voyage in pursuit of the Northern Lights. Two nights in Tromsø plus 7 nights on Hurtigruten’s flagship MS Trollfjord, with longer stays in port, multi-restaurant dining, the magical Lofoten Islands and a visit to the ‘Top of Europe’ at the North Cape.
Description:
Your Arctic adventure begins today as you depart home on your included flights, bound for Norway’s far north. Settle in for the long journey ahead on your way to Europe.
Arrive into Tromsø, Norway’s Arctic capital, after your overnight flight. Clear customs and immigration and make your way to your central Tromsø hotel where you will check in for the night.
Tromsø sits 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, surrounded by snow-clad peaks and the frozen fjords that have made it the starting point for Arctic explorers for over a century. The rest of the day is at leisure to settle in and rest after your long journey. If you have time and energy, the Arctic Cathedral and the harbour are within easy walking distance of the hotel.
Special Information:
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Hotel check-in time is at 3pm. If arriving prior to this, you will be able to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
Tromsø enjoys around 24 hours of darkness in January due to the polar night. From mid-January onwards, the sun begins to return briefly each day, with several hours of twilight that offer beautiful blue and pink light for photography.
Inspiring Highlights:
This morning after breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your way the short distance to the Tromsø cruise terminal where MS Trollfjord awaits.
Once on board, settle into your cabin and meet your Expedition Team, the onboard experts who will guide you through the landscapes, nature and culture of Norway’s far north over the coming week. Explore the ship’s panoramic top-deck lounges, the 1893 Bar with its onboard pianist, Flora and Árran dining venues, and the wellness facilities.
As the ship slips its lines and sets sail in the evening, watch Tromsø’s lights fade astern. Enjoy your first dinner on board, with eyes on the dark sky outside for your first chance to glimpse the Northern Lights as the ship moves into the open Arctic waters.
Special Information:
MS Trollfjord departs from the Prostneset cruise terminal in central Tromsø, within walking distance of most hotels.
All guests must be on board at least 2 hours prior to the ship’s scheduled departure.
Inspiring Highlights:
Welcome to Narvik, a city cradled by fjords and ringed by snow-clad peaks. Founded as an ice-free port, Narvik played a pivotal role in Arctic exploration and World War II history, its harbours once alive with Allied convoys and iron ore ships.
Step ashore to visit the War Museum, where powerful exhibits reveal Norway’s wartime resilience, or take the cable car to the top of Mount Narvikfjellet for sweeping views of Ofotfjord and the surrounding mountains. In winter the light here feels almost otherworldly, a soft blue radiance that glows across the snow and sea.
Inspiring Highlights:
The Lofoten Islands appear on the horizon like a dream, jagged peaks rising straight from the sea with their flanks dusted in snow. In Svolvær, the lively heart of the archipelago, brightly painted rorbuer (traditional fishermen’s cabins) line the waterfront beneath the twin peaks of the Svolvær Goat.
Step ashore to explore art galleries inspired by Arctic light, browse the harbour stalls, or take in the rhythm of life by the sea over a coffee. As the day unfolds, MS Trollfjord sails the serene waterways of Lofoten and Vesterålen, passing landscape after landscape of dramatic fjords and mountains.
By evening, the ship enters the narrow and fast-moving Raftsundet channel, one of Norway’s most spectacular stretches of water, before reaching Stokmarknes, the birthplace of Hurtigruten itself. Here, the Hurtigruten Museum tells the story of how this small coastal company bound Norway’s coast together more than a century ago.
Inspiring Highlights:
Harstad sits sheltered among fjords and islands, a place where northern tradition meets striking natural beauty. Once a Viking stronghold and later a hub for Arctic trade, the town remains deeply connected to its coastal roots.
Step ashore to explore Trondenes Church, one of Norway’s oldest stone churches dating back to the Middle Ages, or visit the Trondenes Historical Centre for fascinating insights into the region’s long maritime and cultural heritage. Wander the harbour, browse local galleries and shops showcasing northern arts and craftsmanship, or follow trails to the surrounding hills for sweeping panoramas of the fjords below.
Inspiring Highlights:
Today’s sailing carries you through some of Norway’s most spectacular Arctic landscapes, including the Lyngen Alps, a jagged spine of ice-tipped peaks rising against the skyline. These are wild, living waters where the light shifts moment to moment and sea eagles may be spotted tracing wide circles overhead.
By evening, MS Trollfjord arrives in Alta, gateway to the vast wilderness of Finnmark where frozen rivers wind through wide tundra and silence seems infinite. Tonight the ship is docked alongside the quay in Alta, ready for a full day of exploration tomorrow.
Inspiring Highlights:
This morning wake to the quiet magic of Alta. Outside, the world is hushed under snow, the light soft and pearly against the frozen landscape. This is a place of vast tundra, deep silence and the heartlands of Sámi culture.
Optional excursions take advantage of the season. You might find yourself being pulled along behind a team of huskies, trying snowmobiling across the open tundra, or heading out on a whale-watching trip along the icy coast. In town, the strikingly modern Northern Lights Cathedral awaits, its spiralling design echoing the aurora that paints the night sky. The Alta Museum, home to the UNESCO-listed Alta rock carvings that tell stories of life thousands of years ago, offers a deeper window into Arctic history.
This evening, after the city’s aurora viewing or your chosen excursion, return to MS Trollfjord for dinner and a chance to spot the Northern Lights from the ship’s panoramic decks.
Special Information:
Today’s optional excursions are weather and condition dependent. Husky sledding, snowmobiling and Igloo Hotel experiences should be pre-booked through Hurtigruten or local operators.
Layered warm clothing, waterproof outerwear, sturdy footwear, hat, gloves and shoe grips for snow are essential for shore activities.
Inspiring Highlights:
Few moments in travel match the feeling of standing at the North Cape, considered mainland Europe’s northernmost point. From Honningsvåg, you can choose to journey across the Arctic tundra to reach the cape itself, where a sheer cliff drops 300 metres into the restless ocean below. The air feels charged, the silence vast, a meeting place of the elements.
Back in Honningsvåg, wander the colourful harbour, visit the North Cape Museum, or warm up in a local cafe watching fishing boats drift in and out. As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, the journey south back toward Tromsø begins.
Inspiring Highlights:
Your Arctic voyage comes full circle this morning as MS Trollfjord arrives back into Tromsø. The city’s lights shimmer beneath the surrounding mountains, a welcoming sight after a week among fjords, islands and frozen horizons.
After breakfast on board, disembark the ship and transfer the short distance to your central Tromsø hotel for one final night. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore what you may have missed before embarkation, stroll the harbour, visit Polaria aquarium, or simply enjoy a final coffee while watching the ships come and go.
Special Information:
On disembarkation day, breakfast is included on board. Lunch and dinner are at your own arrangement.
Inspiring Highlights:
Your Arctic Norway adventure draws to a close today. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your way to Tromsø airport for your flight home, routing via Oslo and a Middle East or Asian hub before continuing to Australia.
Settle in for your long journey as you reflect on a week beneath the Arctic skies, the Northern Lights overhead and the wild beauty of Norway’s far north.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier departure experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Welcome home. Your flights land today, completing your Arctic Norway journey. We hope you return with memories of frosted peaks, midnight aurora skies and the wild beauty of Norway’s far north, and that you will think of us for your next adventure.
Premium Signature voyage - Longer port stays, multi-restaurant dining and unlimited selected drinks on MS Trollfjord
Northern Lights - Sailing entirely within the Arctic Circle aurora zone with expert guidance
Top of Europe - Stand at the legendary North Cape where ocean, wilderness and sky meet at the land’s edge
Lofoten Islands - Scenic winter cruising past rugged peaks rising from icy fjords
Tromsø - Norway’s Arctic capital, the Arctic Cathedral, harbourside dining
Narvik - Cable car to Mount Narvikfjellet, War Museum, Ofotfjord views
Svolvær - Heart of the Lofoten Islands, harbourside fishermen’s cabins
Raftsundet Channel - Dramatic narrow waterway between Lofoten and Vesterålen
Stokmarknes - Birthplace of Hurtigruten and home of the Hurtigruten Museum
Harstad - Medieval Trondenes Church, Viking and maritime heritage
Lyngen Alps - Scenic cruising past ice-tipped peaks and frozen fjords
Alta - Overnight stay in the gateway to Finnmark and Sámi heartland
Honningsvåg - Arctic harbour town and base for the North Cape excursion
MS Trollfjord - Premium Signature Voyage
MS Trollfjord is the flagship of Hurtigruten’s Premium Signature voyages, a smaller premium expedition ship named after the dramatic fjord she navigates in the Vesterålen archipelago. Signature voyages deliver an elevated experience compared to standard Hurtigruten coastal sailings, with longer stays in port, multi-restaurant dining and unlimited selected drinks across the ship’s bars and restaurants. With a guest capacity of around 500, MS Trollfjord offers a calm, intimate atmosphere that lets the spectacular Norwegian coast take centre stage.
Onboard dining is across multiple venues, with fjord-to-fork Norwegian cuisine prepared from fresh, local ingredients. Flora offers a buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner with seasonal flavours. Árran serves traditional Norwegian dishes for lunch and dinner. Røst, the award-winning fine-dining restaurant, is reserved for Suite category guests. The 1893 Bar features an onboard pianist each evening.
Other facilities include a sauna and fitness room, top-deck panoramic lounges for Northern Lights viewing, on-deck culinary demonstrations and tastings, and a six-strong Signature Expedition Team providing daily lectures, a photography programme and Northern Lights guidance throughout the voyage.
Guaranteed Cabin - What This Means for You
Your cabin is booked on a Guaranteed basis. This means you’re confirmed in your selected cabin category (or higher), however your specific cabin number will be allocated by the cruise line closer to departure. You may receive an upgrade at no additional cost, but cabin location and deck cannot be requested. Rest assured, you’ll enjoy all the features and inclusions of the category you’ve chosen.
Included Cabin Type - Polar Inside Cabin
Polar Inside cabins offer a comfortable retreat with twin beds that can be configured as a double, ensuite bathroom and Hurtigruten’s signature ‘koselig’ design philosophy of warm, contented comfort. While interior cabins do not have a window, all public areas of the ship including the panoramic lounges, top-deck observation areas and dining venues offer extensive views for Northern Lights viewing.
Polar Outside Cabin - from $900 per person, twin share. Solo fare on application.
Polar Outside cabins feature a window with views of the passing coastline and the chance to spot the Northern Lights from your own bed. Enjoy the same comfortable bedding and ensuite bathroom as the Polar Inside category, with the added natural light of a window-side stay.
Arctic Superior Cabin - from $3,600 per person, twin share. Solo fare on application.
Arctic Superior cabins offer a premium upgrade with more space, enhanced amenities and prime views of the Norwegian coastline. The elevated layout provides a more spacious retreat after a day exploring ashore, with all the standard Signature voyage inclusions of dining, drinks and onboard experiences.
Payment Information
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
Cooling Off Period
This product is eligible for for a 3 day cooling off period
Terms and conditions
Please review the terms and conditions here:
https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au/page/terms-and-conditions
Starting Point
Your starting hotel may differ from the original itinerary. Please refer to your final documentation which will be provided approximately 14-30 days before departure for your confirmed hotel list. If you need to book pre-tour accommodation independently, we suggest you do this only once you have received your final hotel list for your tour. If you would like to book something sooner, we recommend that you book using a flexible rate that can be cancelled through your chosen third-party provider without penalty.
Travellers will arrive at various times throughout the day depending on flights booked. If arriving before standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm, you are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available as there are no scheduled activities on day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
Note: if you need to apply for a tourist visa before departure, we recommend using the details of the suggested hotel on the tour itinerary if you wish to fulfil this before the release of your final tour documentation. Please refer to our visa section for more information on whether or not a visa is required for your destination.
Arrival Details
Airport transfers are not included as part of your package. However, we trust that your journey from the airport to the hotel will be comfortable and hassle-free.
To make your way to your hotel from the airport, there are various connections by express train or limousine bus. The airport information desks can provide helpful advice, too.
Optional Airport Transfers - Transfer Portal
Depending on the package purchased, you may have the option to add airport transfers to your booking and you can do so through your Traveller Hub account. We partner with an online marketplace where travellers can compare and select the transfer of their choice.
Inspiring Vacations acts as an agent on behalf of our transfer service partner and any service is delivered by the provider. Inspiring Vacations cannot be held liable for any loss resulting from the transfer service provided. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure any transfer booked meets the requirements of any other travel arrangements. Likewise, your tour leader or any of our on-ground representatives cannot be held responsible for the service of your transfer nor are they in a position to assist with amending your reservation. Any transfer booking is separate from any other booking with Inspiring Vacations, regardless of whether purchased with regards to the same travel journey.
When you make your transfer service booking, you will receive a confirmation email and this will include your meeting instructions, as well as direct contact details. Please ensure you print and bring this with you as you will need to ensure you can make direct contact with your transfer service provider.
In Case of Emergency
Although we strive to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, unforeseen circumstances can occasionally arise during travel. If any issues arise during your tour, it's essential to promptly communicate them to your tour leader or local representative. This ensures they can take immediate action to address the problem and mitigate any negative impact on the remainder of your journey.
We understand that there may be instances where your tour leader or local representative is unable to resolve a situation to your satisfaction. In such cases, we encourage you to request that the tour leader or local representative escalate the matter to their direct manager for further assistance.
When your final tour documentation is released, this will include an emergency contact for our local travel partner while you are on tour.
Finishing Point
Your finishing hotel may differ from the original itinerary. Please refer to your final documentation which will be provided approximately 14-30 days before departure for your confirmed hotel list. If you need to book additional post-tour accommodation, please do so once you have the final hotel list. We recommend booking a flexible rate that can be changed or cancelled without penalty should there be any unforeseen changes to your booking.
Travellers will depart at various times throughout the day depending on flights booked. Check-out time is generally from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. This service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost payable directly.
Departure Details
Airport transfers are not included as part of your package. However, we trust that your journey from the hotel to the airport will be comfortable and hassle-free.
As an added service, we do offer airport transfers at an additional cost which can be booked via your Traveller Hub. We recommend you wait until you receive your final documentation to book transfers as your start and end hotels will only be confirmed at this point. Please note that if you are choosing to book an independent airport transfer service, your Inspiring Vacations Tour Leader cannot be held responsible for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise, nor can they resolve any concerns that you may have with your transfer service.
To make your way to the airport, there are various connections by train or limousine bus. Most destinations offer ride-share services, such as Uber or Didi. If you're having any problems, you can speak to hotel reception before your departure.
Accommodation
All hotels listed are subject to change; any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding requests cannot be guaranteed and are always on a request basis with the hotel.
Bedding Configuration
Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, but we can not guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with two options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $6,205.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your room throughout the entire tour.
Please note when choosing Single Supplement for this tour, your room will generally consist of a double or semi-double bed. Occasionally there may be a hotel that will provide a single bedded room for single travellers.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with them and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such as adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), making separate payments and having individual access to our Traveller Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
Ships
This cruisetour operates on two Holland America ships across the 2027 Alaska season — Westerdam and Nieuw Amsterdam — depending on your selected departure date. Both are Vista-class sister ships offering a similar onboard experience, carrying around 2,000 guests with the same range of dining, entertainment and stateroom categories. Specific ship allocation will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Itinerary Changes
Please note that as part of our commitment to constantly improving our passenger experience, there may be itinerary changes between the time of booking and when you travel. These changes are always made with your experience in mind and will be clearly communicated in advance if they affect your booking.
Trusted Travel Partner Tour
Your chosen tour will be operated by one of our trusted travel partners. These are meticulously crafted tours designed by established travel partners we know and trust. These tours offer a unique and exciting way to explore the world, packed with incredible sights and experiences.
Documentation
Travel documentation is sent digitally 30 days before departure. No postal documents are issued. You must complete your cruise personaliser directly with the cruise line. We cannot complete this on your behalf. Visit the Know Before You Go section for guidance, and you will receive an email reminder when it is time to complete this.
Visas & Entry Requirements
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your tour and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your tour. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the visa entry requirements for your nationality via our page here:
https://inspiringvacations-8357211.hs-sites.com/visa-information
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date.
We need your passport information to get everything ready for your tour so the information on your booking must match your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is strongly recommended on all our tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. It is also important to consider forced pre-tour cancellations and how your chosen insurance policy may cover such circumstances, so please keep this in mind when choosing your provider.
We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international tours, you will be asked by your tour leader for your travel insurance details if they were not already added to your Traveller Hub account pre-departure.
If you have credit card insurance your Inspiring Vacations tour leader or local guide may require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details before arriving in-country.
Before you depart, you will be asked to submit your Travel Insurance details through the booking holder's Traveller Hub account through the Inspiring Vacations website. This is to ensure that we have this information readily available should we ever need it.
Official Travel Advice
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, we recommend referring to the official travel advisory website of your home country for the latest updates on your chosen destination. These websites provide valuable information on:
Here is a help link to get you started:
In the unlikely event of a situation that could potentially disrupt your tour, we want to assure you of the following:
By staying informed and working together, we can ensure a fantastic travel experience for you. We will post our own travel updates to our website here.
Post-Tour Feedback
Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a link to a post-purchase survey, which is your opportunity to share your feedback with us on your booking experience and interactions with our Sales and Customer Success teams. This feedback is invaluable to ensure that we are servicing our customers to the best of our ability.
Terms and Conditions
For the full terms and conditions for by Inspiring Vacations, please see HERE.
This is a flight inclusive package.
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost. Select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’.
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
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