Honningsvag Cruise Port

Honningsvag, Norway

Honningsvag brands itself as the northernmost city in the world and acts as the gateway to the North Cape, billed as the end of the world.

From all of that, you can probably guess that the city is the very north of Norway, on the large island of Mageroya to be precise.

The port can be reached all year around, with mainstream cruise ships visiting in the summer and offering their guests the chance to enjoy the Midnight Sun whilst coastal cruise ferries offer the chance to sail under the Aurora Borealis.

Honningsvag is a stunningly beautiful port of call in the Norwegian Arctic that reminded us of a small Cornish fishing village but just one that had been moved to one of the remotest parts of the world and surrounded by mountains.

Cruises To Honningsvag

Our Visit

We were fortunate enough to visit the port of Honningsvag in June 2019 onboard the Norwegian Spirit cruise ship, which was pre its refurbishment.

Our journey took us on a round trip from Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords and then up to the Norwegian Arctic.

Unfortunately, I would suffer an injury just before setting sail and that would limit my mobility whilst in the port but as a visit to the famous North Cape was something I had always wanted to do, I made sure I able to go and I am so glad I did.

The North Cape is billed as the northern most point of continental Europe and whilst there are actually some parts more to the north, it is still impressive.

There is a globe statue, a café, a shop and some paths to explore the cliff tops all with having incredibly views out over the Arctic Ocean and whilst you have already sailed in the waters below and many may have already come from Svalbard to the north, it is still easy to imagine why many thought this was the end of the world.

The journey to and from the North Cape take you past some incredible scenery and we got to see 100’s if not 1000’s of Reindeers.

Upon our return to the ship, we would take the small stroll to the towns harbour where there are many brightly coloured buildings with some housing tourist shops, café’s and even an ice bar.

The town and harbour are a great place to simply take a stroll or take a seat and take in the incredible scenery and watch the locals come and go in small boats.

We would leave relatively early to experience the Midnight Sun whilst sailing past the North Cape, which was an incredible experience especially as we had a beautiful summers day with blue skies to enjoy it in.

Honningsvag Cruise Guide

In this guide we take you through all that you need to know about visiting the port of Honningsvag on a cruise holiday based on both our own experience of visiting there and also on the research that we did before going.

If you have already booked a cruise that calls into the port and want to make the most of your time onshore, this guide should do just that.

It should also be useful for those who are still at the research stage and who are trying to decide whether a visit to the town is right for them or not.

Type of Cruises Available

As one of the remotest cruise ports of call in Europe, you are somewhat limited by the types of cruises you can take to visit the port.

One option is to take a roundtrip from a Northern European cruise port, such as Dover, Southampton, Oslo of Rotterdam which all offer a range of itineraries in throughout the summer on mainstream lines.

Another option is to take a repositioning cruise that offer an exploration of the Atlantic Arctic and that usually start in a port such as New York or Reykjavik and end in ports such as Copenhagen, Oslo, Southampton or even Barcelona.

The final option is to visit the town on a coastal cruise ferry, usually operated by Hurtigruten that sail all year around from Bergen.

Honningsvag Cruise Port Location

The Honningsvag cruise dock is located just across the town small harbour from the town centre but within easy walking distance whilst there is a large gift shop right next to where you exit your ship.

If you arrive onboard a smaller ship or a coastal cruise ferry, you will dock even closer which makes Honningsvag a fantastic port for those who just love to walk off of their ship, stroll around town and simply enjoy been in such a beautiful part of the world.

Honningsvag Cruise Facilities

The port doesn’t offer any facilities as such but as it is only a port of call with no turnaround facilities that is also located in the heart of the town, it doesn’t need to offer any.

Honningsvag Attractions

If you are wanting an all-action port of call with lots to do and see, Honningsvag isn’t for you but if you are wanting an authentic experienced of an Arctic town full of history and culture, it is a great place to visit.

A large tourist information office and shop welcome you as you exit the ship and is a great place to start your visit and book any excursions.

Outside of it is a statue of Bamse, a heroic dog who became famous for its wartime efforts.

There is a small but beautiful church on the outskirts of town and a couple of small museums that can give visitors an insight into the history of the town and culture of the local Sami people.

There are a couple of bars and cafes in the town, mostly around the harbour, and there is an ice bar and perhaps most touristy, a year around Christmas shop which is quite a juxtaposition as most visit during the summer months.

A stroll around the harbour and the chance to simply sit and watch the locals go about their daily lives was an ‘attraction’ in its own right for us.

Honningsvag Shorex

There are a few options for those who want to head off and explore the region, with most also giving plenty of time to walk around the town itself either before or after.

The most popular option and the one we took was a coach ride to the North Cape, where you can walk along the cliff tops and feel like you are at the end of the world.

Another option is to take a boat ride from the town harbour with a number of different journeys offered include RIB rides and the chance to visit the sea birds of Stappen Island.

If you want a more adventurous day, you can explore the region onboard an ATV or for those with a big budget, it is possible to see the best of the region on a helicopter tour.

Best Time To Visit Honningsvag

It is possible to visit the town all year around via the coastal cruise ferry service but if you want to head there on a more traditional cruise ship, it is only during the summer when you will be able to visit.

Heading there in summer does give you the chance to experience the Midnight Sun whilst a visit in winter will likely see you experienced the stunning Aurora Borealis.

The main cruise season for ships heading to the port is from June to September but with the majority of your time spent outside, we would recommend visiting in July or August to have the best chance of dry weather.

Transport

If you are staying in the town whilst onshore, there is no transportation on offer, but none needed as the port is easy to explore on foot.

Honningsvag Cruises From UK

If you want to visit the town on a cruise holiday directly from the UK, you can do and there are a few different ports offering the chance to do just that.

Honningsvag Cruises From Southampton

The port of Southampton offers the widest range of ships, lines and itineraries sailing to the north of Norway from the UK that call into Honningsvag.