Travel across the frozen Barents Sea on a snowmobile-driven sleigh amid the fantastic scenery. An experienced fisherman will accompany us and tell us all about the giant crustaceans that have made these icy waters their home.

Red king crabs are considered ‘royalty’, simply because of their size. A single king crab can weigh up to 22 pounds and have an impressive leg span of around 6.5 feet.

Watch as the fisherman cuts a hole in the ice and hauls crab cages out of the depths. Be ready to lend a hand if he asks!

We continue via snowmobile to the quaint boathouse that is located beside the fjord. After the chef prepares and cooks the crab, we’ll settle down to a hearty meal with today’s catch. It doesn’t get any fresher than this! The portions will be generous and the crab delicious, so you’ll surely leave the table satisfied.

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Just north of the Trollfjord is the realm of the sea eagle and it is here that a smaller vessel lies ready to take you out to see the king of the birds close up. First you accompany the Hurtigruten ship into the Trollfjord where you will see it turning around in the narrowest of spaces, a magnificent sight alone! The eagle safari begins in earnest when you leave the Trollfjord, starting with the gulls, which dive for fish right from your hand. You then pass through a narrow seaway flanked by a range of steep mountains. This is where the sea eagles dwell and can be viewed as they come flying in to get a share of the banquet. We let these beautiful, rare birds of prey circle the boat a few times, before we throw fish into the sea for them to dive in and collect. It’s all so close, so wild and so rare that some people forget to take pictures, but if you’re lucky, you may observe several majestic birds. From here the safari sets its course for Svolvær and you are left with the experience of seeing the King of Birds up close – memories that will stay with you forever.

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Join us on an unforgettable snowmobile trip to one of Europe’s most extreme and exciting natural areas. During this excursion you will travel from the old trading post and fishing village of Kjøllefjord over the mountains to Mehamn. Along the way, the guides will tell you about the Sámi people, the geographic and climatic conditions, what life is like on the Finnmark coast, and how the local population utilise nature in both the summer and winter months. Some of Norway’s best instructors will ensure that proper training is given before you hop onto your own snowmobile for this once in a lifetime trip through fascinating scenery. Experience the snow-clad valleys, the fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerising Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky. Back in Mehamn, the world’s northernmost mainland town, located on the often wild and stormy Finnmark coast, we rejoin the Hurtigruten ship to continue our voyage.

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

At the Lofotr Viking Museum the largest Viking building ever found has been recreated. The original Chieftain’s house was established in about 500 AD and was inhabited until around 900 AD, and the rebuilt version exhibits finds from this era. The Chieftain and the Lady of the house invite you to join them for a real Viking feast in the banquet hall. Experience the magic and excitement as they make sacrifices to the Gods, praying that the sun will return to avoid Ragnarok. After the Viking feast, served with home-brewed mead, you will travel by bus to Svolvær and re-join your ship.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Join us on a miniature polar expedition led by some of the Arctic’s friendliest creatures – dogs! Our sled tour takes place on the island of Kvaløya, where we’ll enjoy stunning views of the ocean and surrounding mountains as we glide over the glistening landscape. During the polar night (usually late November through late January, depending on region), the only lights to guide us will be the stars moon, so headlamps will be attached to our sleighs.  In the spring, the climate is milder and the days are longer, so count on longer sunlight. 

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour. Special outerwear will be provided for this tour; however, we recommend dressing in warm, comfortable clothing.

Please note: Optional tours can only be pre-purchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

This excursion begins with a short drive to the Kirkenes Snowhotel, next to the Gabba Reindeer Safari Park, where you are fitted with warm outdoor clothing: snow overalls, shoes, a hat, and gloves. Then you meet the dogs, who eagerly await whisking you across the snowy terrain. There are two passengers per sled, and each sled has its own 'musher' (guide). Several of the guides are active mushers with years of experience, so just sit back and enjoy the ride. The track we follow crosses frozen lakes and wide-open snowy plateaus, providing you with a genuine Arctic wilderness experience. If you're lucky, the northern lights will make a magical appearance. During spring, the sun returns, resulting in a different, yet equally exhilarating experience due to many more hours of daylight and a milder climate. Afterward, you gather around the fire and drink hot lemonade. Those who wish may visit the Snowhotel and the reindeer enclosure at the park.

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Throughout history Lofoten has been the home and workplace of generations of fishermen; indeed, the Lofoten fishing season, in spring is still vital to the people and the local economy. Many people associate Lofoten with its precipitous, dramatic and often fabled mountains, together with its picturesque fishing villages, but Lofoten is so much more. You’ll find quiet bays, white sandy beaches, sheltered fjords and, perhaps surprisingly, large green agricultural areas. It is said that the light in Lofoten is unlike anywhere else in the world, which is why artists from Norway and abroad have always come here for inspiration. In Henningsvær, we will visit a gallery where several Norwegian artists portray the beauty of the archipelago and we will also see a slide show that captures the unique atmosphere here. We will have a short photo stop, both before and after the visit, for you to fully take in the stunning scenery. Just find a good seat and enjoy the view!

Please note: The timing of this optional tour conflicts with one of Vantage's included features/excursions. Please keep this in mind when booking this tour.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Join us on a historical journey as the bus takes us from Stamsund to Borg, and on to the Lofotr Viking Museum. On the trip to Lofotr, the guide will tell you about the Viking Ages, the museum and how life was for the Vikings who lived here. Upon arrival we are invited in to experience the Chieftain’s house, which has been recreated in full size, and features exhibits of finds from the Viking age. The Chieftain and the lady of the house welcome us to join them for a real Viking feast in the banquet hall; a taste of the Viking age, with traditional food, costumes, singing and dancing in authentic surroundings. After the feast, served with home-brewed mead, we then travel by bus to Svolvær, learning more about the history of Lofoten along the way before re-joining the ship.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Norway is one of the world’s major exporters of fish and seafood. Every day, Norwegian seafood is enjoyed by approximately 37 million people around the world. Norway’s fertile coast, with its cool and clear water, offer the optimum conditions for sustainable and responsible aquaculture. This excursion starts with a short bus tour of Brønnøysund before we cross the magnificent Brønnøysund Bridge and continue to Toft and the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre. Here you will learn about farming and the surrounding environment. Here you can meet the salmon, see what they eat and how they live. You can even take part in the feeding, and learn about modern farming. The interactive centre offers you the chance to try out an underwater camera, taste the salmon, and ask questions of the resident guides who will be with you every step of the way.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Join us for an excursion that takes you through Lofoten's many fishing villages and towns, starting in Stamsund and ending in Kabelvåg. Our first photo stop is Gimsøy Church, situated in the village Gimsøy. We continue to Kabelvåg, the oldest fishing village in Lofoten and previously also the largest. It was here the commercial part of the Lofoten fishery started more than 1000 years ago. In Kabelvåg we visit Gallery Espolin, which has the largest collection of the beloved artist Kaare Espolin Johnson’s works. He is known for his depiction of the sea, Lofoten and the fishermen’s hard life. Close to the gallery lies the Lofoten Museum where you can experience the local fishermen's history at one of the most preserved squires in Lofoten. Here, on the site of the medieval town Vågar, you’ll find the main building from the year 1815, authentic fishermen's cabins and boathouses featuring Nordland boats. Our last stop is Vågan Church in Kabelvåg, also known as the Lofoten Cathedral. The church was built in 1898 in the Gothic Revival style and is with its 1100-1200 seats one of Norway's largest.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Today, we head to Saltstraumen, where you will witness the world’s most powerful tidal current! Four times a day, 13 billion cubic feet of water are forced in and out through a passage 150 metres wide and 31 metres deep. On our exciting journey through this wild landscape there is a good chance we will be able to observe sea eagles whilst also taking in the awesome scenery and observing parts of the Caledonian Fold Belt, a range of mountains dating back over 250 million years. While we sit safely and comfortably in sturdy rubber boats, operated by highly experienced and knowledgeable pilots, you can be sure to enjoy a day of rare adventure in harmony with nature, eagles and the deep blue sea.

Please note: Optional tours can only be prepurchased up to 30 days prior to departure. After that, tours may be purchased on-site (subject to availability.)

Embark on a walking tour through the historical center of Oslo, called Kvadraturen, as your local guide points out buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries and tells you the story behind the unmissable, massive sculpture of a hand pointing to the ground. Then, hop on a boat to cruise Oslo Fjord — an inlet that reaches all the way to the North Sea — and admire the city’s surrounding tranquil landscapes.

Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!

The tour is available during your optional trip extension in Oslo, Norway.

Take a thrilling drive down the Atlantic Road, from Kristiansund to Molde. Known as “the world’s most beautiful drive,” this awesome feat of engineering stretches across the lush coastal landscapes of several islets and islands. The vistas of the surrounding ocean are simply incredible. Along the way, we’ll stop for an authentic Nordic dinner experience.

Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!