Hurtigruten Svalbard Line adds 2026 land tours

Published on Aug 29, 2025, 11:36 am CDT

5 min read

Hurtigruten will expand its premium coastal program in 2026 with two itineraries that blend rail, land, and Arctic sailing around the Svalbard archipelago. The packages center on the Hurtigruten Svalbard Line and add a two-day Norway in a Nutshell rail journey from Oslo to Bergen, an Open Village experience in Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø, and, on the longer option, a mini-cruise aboard the classic MS Serenissima. Departures span summer 2026 with starting prices from $5,432.00 and $8,181.00.

Key Points

Why it matters: Adds deeper cultural access and wildlife days to the Hurtigruten Svalbard Line.
Travel impact: Two choices, 13 or 17 days, with rail, village visits, and Arctic excursions.
What's next: Open Village launches on The Svalbard Line from May 2026.
13-day package includes Svalbard Line, two nights on land, and a Bard catamaran tour.
17-day package adds four nights of wildlife sailing on MS Serenissima.
29 total departures in 2026, with all-in starting rates published.

Snapshot

Hurtigruten's 2026 expansion pairs the scenic Norway in a Nutshell rail route from Oslo with northbound Svalbard Line sailings and time ashore in Longyearbyen. Guests on both itineraries receive two hotel nights in Svalbard and a wildlife and glacier day on the hybrid-electric MS Bard catamaran. Open Village programming will be included on The Svalbard Line, giving travelers curated access to Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø, with community-led activities and local food. The longer, 17-day option adds a four-night Serenissima mini-cruise focused on fjords, glaciers, and high-latitude wildlife, including attempts to reach 80 degrees north when conditions allow.

Background

The Svalbard Line is Hurtigruten's summertime, premium coastal voyage linking Bergen with Svalbard, calling at small communities along Norway's coast before crossing to Longyearbyen. Open Village is Hurtigruten's new community-first shore-experience concept developed with local partners in Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø, designed for small-ship access and limited group sizes. The MS Bard is a hybrid-electric sightseeing catamaran used for quiet glacier and wildlife cruising near Longyearbyen. MS Serenissima, a classic small expedition ship with about 100 guests, operates short Svalbard mini-cruises that complement land stays and day tours. The 2026 packages bundle these elements to reduce transfer friction, add depth, and keep groups small.

Latest Developments

Hurtigruten Svalbard Line packages add rail and Arctic days

Two new 2026 itineraries combine an overnight in Oslo with a two-day Norway in a Nutshell journey to Bergen, followed by a seven-night northbound Svalbard Line sailing to Longyearbyen. The 13-day option includes two nights in Svalbard and a full-day Wildlife and Glacier cruise on the MS Bard, then concludes with a tasting-menu finale at Huset. The 17-day option mirrors the rail and coastal portions, adds the same Bard day, then extends with a four-night expedition aboard MS Serenissima, emphasizing wildlife viewing, fjord landings, and, weather permitting, a push beyond 80 degrees north with a call at Ny-Ålesund. Published 2026 prices start at $5,432.00 for 13 days and $8,181.00 for 17 days.

Open Village comes to The Svalbard Line

Open Village, launching on The Svalbard Line from May 2026, will open doors in three coastal communities, Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø. Expect village-wide welcomes, access to historic buildings, concerts, local guides, and culinary tastings, all coordinated with residents and limited to small-ship calls. Hurtigruten positions the program as a slower, more meaningful alternative to high-volume calls, with a portion of revenue directed to community partners and experiences included for Signature-voyage guests at no extra cost.

Analysis

These additions are designed to extend the value of a coastal-plus-Arctic holiday while tightening logistics around a single supplier. The two-day rail segment connects Oslo's urban culture with fjord country in a familiar, photogenic way, then hands off to the Svalbard Line for a northbound coastal narrative that already resonates with U.S. travelers. Layering the Bard day on both packages ensures everyone experiences a quiet, glacier-front cruise, while the 17-day itinerary adds expedition depth aboard a true small ship. That extension increases chances for wildlife encounters and landings, and it creates operational flexibility to chase weather windows, a key advantage in the High Arctic. The Open Village rollout is notable, not only as a differentiator, but as a response to overtourism concerns, channeling spend into small communities and curating access that big-ship models cannot replicate. Pricing and volume signals, including 29 total departures, suggest confidence in North American demand for rail-to-sail, expedition-lite formats.

Final Thoughts

For travelers comparing expedition cruise options, these 2026 programs reduce complexity by bundling rail, coastal, and Arctic elements under one umbrella, with Open Village access as a cultural bonus. Choose 13 days for a compact rail-and-Arctic sampler, or 17 days to add the Serenissima mini-cruise and more time in remote fjords. Either way, you get a structured path from Oslo to Svalbard, small-ship calls, and a wildlife day that is built in, all orbiting the Hurtigruten Svalbard Line.