Tromsø Boat Tour in Norway: A Favorite Excursion in the Arctic Circle
Tromsø can be incredibly cold in winter, and the last thing you might want to do is go out on the water, where it's even colder. But you'd be missing out! Because a boat tour is a great way to experience part of Norway's historic maritime culture; Norwegians have relied on the water as a source of food and commerce for centuries.
Our Tromsø boat tour ended up being one of the most picturesque and memorable activities we did during our time there. And even though we've been back to Tromsø at least twice since then, it remains one of our top recommendations whenever we talk about visiting one of Norway's largest — and one of the most northern — cities.
While we didn't take a dedicated fishing tour, we still got to fish, meet great people, and enjoy gorgeous scenery. We highly recommend taking this wonderful polar fjords cruise during your trip to Norway, too.
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Time of Year for a Tromso Boat Tour along the Norwegian Fjords
These excursions are generally available year-round, whether you visit Tromso in winter or summer. Some things are seasonal, however, such as whale watching and seeing the Northern Lights.
This is because during Norwegian summers, the midnight sun (almost 24 hours of daylight) makes the skies too bright to see the Northern Lights.
Polar Fjords Tromsø Boat Tour Options
Being together in Norway was a dream come true and the perfect reason to take a special excursion. We signed up for a Tromsø boat tour.
We were SO glad we decided to sail the fjords. We felt brave sailing in the bitter, bitter cold of a Norwegian winter, but wow, it was incredible.
We took a tour with the company Polar Adventures. Here are two great options for boat excursions from Tromsø:
- Bird and Arctic Wildlife Sightseeing Cruise (what we did)
- Whale and Seabird All-inclusive Safari From Tromsø by Boat to Skervøy
The Bird and Arctic Wildlife Sightseeing Fjord Cruise runs year-round. It lasts about 5 hours.
The Whale and Seabird Safari depends on whale migration. It's a Tromsø boat tour option for visitors from early November through January. This tour lasts six to seven hours, depending on water conditions.
Animals You May (or May Not) See
We'll throw caution to the wind here with a disclaimer for any boat tour through the fjords: you may see a lot of wildlife.
This could include seals, dolphins, moose, whales (mostly November through January), and birds.
But you also might not see anything.
There's just no guarantee because it's nature.
We think the expectation for a boat tour should be this: expect to see incredible, inspirational scenery as you cruise through the fjords and learn wonderful information about life in Norway. And hope to see a lot of wildlife!
Here's what we were lucky to see on our Polar Fjord Cruise excursion:
- An eagle soaring high above the water
- Dolphins from a distance
- Two moose swimming in the ocean (also at a distance)
- Fish (jumping out of the water, like flying fish)
Marlena and Christine told us they saw whales the two days prior to our sailing. But unfortunately, they had migrated away by the third day, so we didn't see them.
They were completely flexible with their Tromsø boat tour path, however. They said they'd accommodate a different route if someone saw a whale they wanted to follow or heard from another boat that they spotted one we wanted to find.
If you specifically take a whale-watching tour, then hopefully you'll see whales, of course. Your odds will already be greater than ours were since we visited in February, just after whale-watching season ended in northern Norway.
Enjoying the Boat, Fjords, and Scenery in Tromso
Other perks included absolutely gorgeous scenery and a stunning sunset, which were a photographer's dream.
We also had one of the best meals of our 10 days in Norway on the ship: a homemade fish stew Marlena and Christine served for lunch.
They made it from scratch in the ship's galley (a cruise ship term you should know), and it was incredibly tasty. We asked for the recipe so we could make it at home. It was truly delicious, and the soup was the perfect food to warm us up.
They allowed some people to fish in hopes of catching fresh seafood for the lunch stew, even though it wasn't a fishing excursion. (They had backup fish in the kitchen just in case no one caught anything. Lunch didn't rely on anyone catching fresh seafood!)
If someone caught a big fish, they saved it to make stew. They threw a little fish to the eagles, which reminded us of our Havila Voyages cruise that started in Kirkenes and ended in Bergen, with a memorable sea excursion in Trollfjord where the crew of a small boat threw fish to the sea eagles. Someone on our tour caught this huge Arctic Cod. Marlena expertly filleted it nearly immediately.
We learned Norway is a land of “large fish,” as Marlena and Christine joked. They explained how big the fishing industry is for northern Norway.
As we cruised from Tromsø toward Greenland Island, we also learned how the small pockets between fjords create microclimates.
These microclimates explain the cool mist hanging above the water's surface in some areas. (You can see the mist above the water in the photo below.)
I loved hanging out on deck because I wanted the best views of the scenery surrounding us. It did get unbearably cold at times, though. When that happened, I simply went inside the boat to warm up.
A few people on our excursion hung out inside the whole time, barely enjoying the deck.
A Sunset Finish to our Polar Fjord Cruise
If you're on the boat in a month like February or March (and even late January after polar night, 24 hours of darkness), you'll likely see a Tromsø sunset at some point, as we did on our tour.
If you're there closer to the midnight sun season, you'll have daylight for the entire excursion. (Midnight sun in the Arctic Circle provides 24 hours of daylight.)
If you're there during times when it's near darkness most of the time, it's prime time to see the Northern Lights.
Where does the Tromsø Boat Tour Sail?
Our vessel, the FjordQueen, sails the Norwegian fjords. We were on the Polar Fjord Cruise, so we'll talk about our sailing route.
We began our excursion in the Tromsø harbor. It's easy to walk there from Tromsø's city center. We boarded the boat, received safety information (mostly that life vests were under the seats inside), and were told where we'd be sailing.
We were heading north toward Greenland Island, where Greenland sharks come from. We'd be sailing the fjords.
Norway's fjords are an attraction in themselves. These bodies of water creep into the landmasses like sinuous fingers, stretching along the country's long coastline.
While Tromsø can be downright freezing during winter, we were surprised to learn the water is warmer than you may think. Many times warmer than the air, even. This is because of the Gulf Stream. It's also why the water in Tromsø doesn't freeze. However, there was ice on the boat deck because the air temperature still freezes.
(Side note: the proper spelling of Tromsø in the Norwegian language uses what they call a slashed o: Tromsø. Many island names in Norway include a slashed o, or ø, in their spelling.)
Book Your Polar Fjord Boat Excursion
We had a wonderful time, and it remains one of our favorite memories from our trip to Tromsø.
Book your own adventure during your trip to Tromsø. You won't regret it!
- 5 Hour Bird and Arctic Wildlife Sightseeing Cruise
- 4.5-5-hour fjord boat (wifi onboard)
- 5-hour fjord tour with warm safety suits, binoculars, the opportunity to fish, and base camp lounge access
Heading to Norway for vacation? Also check out:
- 5 Tromso Excursions You'll Love
- The Best Cruise Apps for Trip Prep and to Use While On Vacation
- Why You Must Take an Organized Tour in Tromso to See the Northern Lights
