In all seasons the boat stops at Ålesund, but in summer it cruises from there up to Geiranger and back. The scenery gets more and more impressive by the mile as you travel from the open sea into one of Norway's most spectacular fjords, the Geirangerfjord. Waterfalls cascade down sheer rock faces on both sides, and passengers crowd the upper decks for photographs.
The boat doesn't dock at Geiranger, but it's possible to get on or off with a smaller tender boat and return to Ålesund by land — though at considerable extra cost. This leg can also be done as a day trip from Ålesund if you're not on the full Hurtigruten voyage.