14-night Europe cruise from Hamburg, Germany on MS Finnmarken
The The North Cape Line – Winter from Hamburg is a 14-night Europe cruise aboard MS Finnmarken, operated by Hurtigruten. Departing Hamburg, Germany on December 25, 2026, the voyage visits 11 ports including Stavanger, Norway, Alesund, Rorvik. Fares start from $4,750 per person.
Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.
Hamburg, Germany
Located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Hamburg will fascinate you from the moment you first set eyes on its elegant and austere buildings looking onto the port, one of the largest in Europe.
When you reach this destination on an MSC Cruise of Northern Europe, you can get a taste of its glorious history. Hamburg is a cosmopolitan, wealthy and fashionable city, with an aggressive economy, that still prides itself of the title “free Hanseatic city”.
It has, in fact, never cut its umbilical cord with maritime trade that has its heart in the port where your cruise liner will be waiting for you. Many tourist come here to visit the Reeperbahn, the red light district, but if you want to take in the atmosphere of the city, you shouldn’t miss an excursion to Speicherstadt (Warehouse Town), where the cobbled streets, gables and turrets combine to make the area on the other side of Zollkanal (Tax Canal) a world apart from the city opposite.
Another city icon, St Michaelis, at the western edge of the city centre by Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse, is Hamburg’s iconic church and no wonder. More than any other building, the “Michael” mirrors the city’s irrepressible spirit. Burned down after a lightning strike in1750, it was rebuilt in Baroque style under Ernst Georg Sonnin but it again accidently caught fire in1906.
In 1945, the Allies obliterated the roof and decor of church number three. Reconstructed again to Sonnin’s plans, it is now the finest Baroque church in North Germany. Probably the most gratifying attraction during an excursion on an MSC Cruise is the scenery you can admire from one of the best views over Hamburg: the 360-degree panorama takes in Speicherstadt, the container port and shipping on the Elbe, the Alster lakes, and the five spires of the churches and Rathaus.
Stavanger, Norway
Attractive and friendly, Stavanger offers visitors arriving on an MSC cruise a variety of activities. Starting from a visit to the town itself, that has a centre full of shops, narrow streets climbing up the hill and an attractive cathedral.
You should walk around the old part of town facing the sea where your cruise ship will be anchored. In Stavanger you can enjoy visiting museums. Amongst the most interesting area the oil museum, the canning museum, the Rogaland art museum or the children’s museum.
Take a stroll in the environs of Stavanger instead to explore the 23 iron figures that form the “Broken Column” a sculpture by Antony Gormley. In Hafrsfjord look for the three swords in the rock, a monument celebrating the Vikings’ battle of 872 A.D. led by King Harald I. Nearby is the Jærmuseet science centre, elected the “best museum in Norway” in 2009. But the region of Stavanger is known especially for its fjords and in particular the Lysefjord.
The mountain walls drop almost a thousand metres vertically along the 42 kilometres of coast, for that is the depth of the sea in this narrow passage. An excursion on the waters is an experience you won’t forget. Also because from here one can admire one of the most famous attractions in Norway, the Preikestolen (the Pulpit), a rocky outcrop soaring 600 metres above the fjord. With an hour and half’s walk from the driveway you can reach this exceptional work of nature .
Another tourist attraction is Kjerag, a peak rising 1100 metres above sea level that dominates the Lysefjord, with its northern face plummeting into the sea. But it’s a little lower down, at about 980 metres that you find a natural masterpiece generated by the elements: the Kjeragbolten, a massive rock jammed between two rock faces.
The excursion takes up most of the day, but the awesome spectacle is worth the effort.
Alesund
Visiting Ålesund on an MSC cruise of Northern Europe means plunging into a fairytale atmosphere. After a devastating fire, the town was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century in art Amazing venue on the sea nouveau style.
The streets of Ålesund are filled with turrets, spires and splendid decorations that make it truly unique; if you enjoy this style, you should visit the Jugendstilsenteret, the National Art Nouveau Centre. You can admire the centre of Ålesund from above by climbimg up the 418 steps that lead you to the panoramic heights of Mount Aksla with a view of the islands that surround the town and of the Sunnmøre Alps.
In alternative you can reach the Sukkertoppen, the “sugar peak”, by taking a walk that starts from Hessa, just above the port where your MSC cruise ship is anchored. To get a closer look at the traditional architecture you should instead go the island of Godøy, where you can visit Alnes, a picturesque fisherman’s village built very close to the beach where you find local crafts and food sold in the courtyards.
Book an excursion to the characteristic lighthouse from where you have a wonderful view of the ocean. You cannot claim to have visited Norway on an MSC cruise if you haven’t visited a fjord, so don’t miss an excursion to Geirangerfjord. Dropping from the tall mountains that surround it are wonderful waterfalls like the Brudesløret (the Bride’s Veil) and the De syv søstrene (Seven Sisters) or the Storseterfossen, behind which you can take a walk.
And if you like more challenging paths you could climb up the Ørnevegen (the Eagle’s Path), twisting up from sea level to 620 metres above in just 11 hairpin bends!
Prices come from third-party data feeds via Hurtigruten and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works
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Follow the entire sailing from its first day to its last, with the route and schedule in one view.
Day 1·Dec 25, 2026
Hamburg, Germany
Located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Hamburg will fascinate you from the moment you first set eyes on its elegant and austere buildings looking onto the port, one of…
The name Finnmarken has a proud history within Hurtigruten, with two former ships taking the same title. The first, DS Finnmarken, was a steamship built in 1912. This was replaced by the motorship, MS Finnmarken, in 1956. The former was a classic icon of elegant Norwegian sea travel, with carved wooden interior ornamentation. The latter is a showcase from the golden age of post-war coastal liners.
The present-day MS Finnmarken – which sailed under the name MS Otto Sverdrup between 2021 and 2025 – was constructed in 2002 and underwent renovation in 2020. Natural Scandinavian materials like granite, oak, birch and wool were used in the refurb to create a relaxed and stylish atmosphere that adds to the premium feel while on board.
To bring the ship right up to date, a 2025 upgrade has seen the pool deck refined, as well as other technical improvements implemented.
This comfortable ship offers the chance to indulge yourself in the wellness area, complete with gym, treatment rooms and sauna. You can enjoy a heated swimming pool and hot tubs on Deck 7, while outdoor observation areas are located on the two middle and uppermost decks.
MS Finnmarken is a hybrid-powered ship with battery packs that enable greater fuel efficiency and lower NOx and CO2 emissions. It is also equipped for shore power connectivity, which cuts emissions when docked in ports where shore power is available.
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