Astronomy Above the Arctic Circle: A Journey Along Coastal Norway

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

Cruise Line Terms and Conditions of Carriage Road Scholar participants enrolling in this program are subject to Hurtigruten's terms and conditions of carriage, which include an assumption of risk agreement, waiver of liability, and other important information regarding your rights and obligations. Participants are therefore encouraged to carefully review them in advance.You can view the cruise line’s terms & conditions by visiting their website at the link below: https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-us/practical-information/general-terms-and-conditions Choose General Terms & Conditions valid on or after November 1, 2024. No cruise documents will be sent to you prior to departure. You will just need your passport to embark on the ship. Please note that these voyages are not primarily cruise ships, they are maid of all work providing a lifeline for north Norway’s coastal communities. Besides being passenger ferries, they are also cargo ships and mail boats. The ship will make stops at 34 coastal communities along the way, day & night to support and supply the coastal communities it stops at. This itinerary represents a unique combination of cruise ship, public transport for the people living along the Norwegian coast, and cargo/post ships. Cargo handling is common at every port and is a popular activity to watch. As this is a working ship, the vessel can be noisy at all hours. ITINERARY DISCLAIMER ON BOARD THE SHIP: All routes and excursions are subject to change on board the ship – weather, sea, and ice conditions may affect the itinerary. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on December 5, 2026

Meet the group at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Bergen in Bergen, Norway

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in and Program Registration; 6:00 p.m. Orientation; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: Participants that have arranged their airfare through Road Scholar, and are arriving on the designated arrival date of the program will receive an arrival transfer. Please note, if you did not book your air through Road Scholar, you will NOT be able to join a transfer. If you are arriving independently, or have made your own flight arrangements, taxis, light rail, and buses all run to the city from the airport, see below for further links and information: Bus information can be found at this link: https://avinor.no/en/airport/bergen-airport/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-taxi/bus Taxi's are available outside the terminal building, see this link for further information: https://avinor.no/en/airport/bergen-airport/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-taxi/taxi A taxi will take about 20 minutes to get to the city. Light Rail info. can be found at this link: https://avinor.no/en/airport/bergen-airport/to-and-from-the-airport/bus-and-taxi/light-rail

Your trip ends on: Friday, December 18, 2026 in Bergen, Norway at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Bergen

End of Trip: After breakfast; 12:00 p.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Participants that arranged their airfare through Road Scholar, and are departing on the designated departure date of the program will receive a departure transfer. Please note, if you did not book your air through Road Scholar, you will NOT be able to join a transfer. If you are departing independently, you can ask hotel staff for help getting a taxi.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.