We arrived 2 days before the departure at Bergen to visit ourself the city from Paris (2 days are too long for visiting Bergen). The cruise was very confortable : Polar interior cabin was small but very cosy. Every meal was so good. We ate many local product : fishes, berrys, brown cheese, ... And sometimes we ate french pasteries on breakfast. All cruise's team was at our service for evething. They did everything to make sure a good cruise. During the cruise, many activities were organized on board : meetings on vikings's history or presentation of Sami people that I didn't know. We made only two excursion because they were expensive for us, but It was very interessting and well organisased. Guides speak english and german and we understood them well. At every long stops we visited cities by ourself and it was easy because ports was in the center of each cities. Read Less

We had always wanted to do the Norwegian coast and my parents took the journey probably 40 years ago and loved it. Our Swedish friends, who we travel with, suggested we take this trip and we jumped at the chance. We understood this is not a cruise but a trip on a supply ship. We had taken the same type of trip before on the St. Lawrence so we fully understood the difference between cruise and working ships. We loved Bergen, leaving from Bergen, easy check in. The ship has been refurbished with great viewing space from all public rooms and areas inside and out. Supremely comfortable. We knew our cabin would be small and very similar to the one we had on the St. Lawrence but designed well with good storage, nice, but small bathroom, great water pressure and hot water, and exceedingly clean. The activities were informative lectures, small talks on various places we passed, fascinating, excellent tours ( expensive but they are the only game in town). The crew on the ship were polite, helpful and very friendly. The passengers were a true mix: Brits, Germans, French, Swedes, Americans, Asians etc. Languages were always in Norwegian, German and English and most of the time French as well. The ages were predominately 50-80. We loved being with other cultures and using our other languages. The visuals were supreme, incredibly beautiful, the towns were typical coastal towns, lovely and interesting. The ship was amazingly timely. Why then only 3 stars? One word “food”. Let me preface this, I dislike buffets but these were especially challenging. They pride themselves on coffee and tea all day. The coffee was undrinkable and the quality coffee, which you pay for, was not available until 10 am. The lunch buffets were recycled food from previous days and dinners. Salt was the preferred spice, every thing was over salted. Dinners were another story. They tried to feature local foods, traditional foods with an edge, but the heavy usage of salt, the preparation made dining challenging. For example we had an appetizer served in a large soup bowl that consisted of a tablespoon of sweetkelp, 1 sliced piece of asparagus, a pea shoot and a drizzle of sauce. It could have been good, was not salted but it literally was two small fork fulls. Skimpy is what I would call it. We had an oat cake that tasted of salted cardboard and found it two days later recycled in some sort if salad. Need I say more. This is where Hurtigruten failed. The crew were very nice but the waiters, the bartender and the lady at the bakery were over worked, lines of 10 in the am waiting for a kaffee latte, lines waiting for a drink at the bar, long wait times to get served for dinner. In addition to making drinks and espresso drinks the bartender was responsible to clean the tables in the bar as well. This was not an inexpensive trip nor should it have been but the food should have been of a much higher quality for the price of this trip. There was no choice at dinner. We never ate at the a la carte restaurant ( pay extra ) because we did not have faith that it would be good coming from the same kitchen. The bakery had nice food the sandwich which I had was delicious it was evident that the bakery foods, which you paid for, were not the same foods that were served in the dining room. We even heard comments about the cheeses which I agreed were not up to par. However, the salmon was prepared well. . Hurtigruten is not generous after the ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle a drink was served without cost and, I am not kidding, served in a catsup cup, no more than a tablespoon. They would announce after an excursion “ Hot Chocolate and Apple Cake now being served..... for a fee if 50 kronas.” Strange. i would recommend Hurtigruten for the journey which was exquisitely beautiful but I would certainly tell people to beware of the food. For the price of this trip the food quality and preparation should have been at a much higher standard. There was no excuse for this quality of food. Read Less

We chose this cruise to celebrate our 10th anniversary and as a way to see a large part of remote Norway in a somewhat short amount of time wherein both my husband and I could sit back, relax, do what we wished to each day and not have to worry about the planning, logistics or stress of getting from place to place, figuring out meals or finding places to stay along the way. We chose Hurtigruten because neither of us are a fan of very "touristy" types of planned activities and destinations (including all-inclusive vacations and huge cruise ships), and with the smaller boats and the fact that they go to many of the smaller ports and towns that one would never see on their own without a boat and lots of time, and the whole operation seems to have a lighter touch on the communities they visit versus the huge negative impact that larger cruise ships seem to have on cities and cultural sites. Despite the cost, we were honestly not expecting much since we had read that Hurtigruten also serves as a commercial transport ship, car transport and ferry in addition to the destination touring function they provide. And they do provide these services, but they are integrated so nicely into the seamless operation of the voyage that they only added to the experience for us, rather than detracting in any way. But from the moment we stepped on board, to the time we departed, we were absolutely delighted with the whole experience. The whole ship was immaculate! Our room was larger and more comfortable and nicer than we thought from the photos we saw on Hurtigruten's website. We were also conveniently located to the two very nice and clean and cozy outdoor hot tubs and the 7th floor deck, sun porch, cafe and bar. The staff were kind, helpful and informative; the excursions were well-planned and every one that we participated in went smoothly and without a single hiccup. The guides on both the excursions and the boat were knowledgeable about many things and made each evening fun with planned lectures and activities for all the guests. And the food! It was all spectacular! Everything was fresh, deliciously prepared, plentiful, thoughtful, relevant to the regions and their food heritage, and beautifully spread. Of our nearly 3-weeks in the country, we only had a couple of other meals that topped the food we ate while on-board the ship, and this is saying a lot as we orient every vacation we take around trying to find the best cuisine that any place we visit has to offer. Other than the cost of some of the excursions (they were all so expensive we were not able to participate in as many as we would have liked), and many of the other guests that were extremely pushy and rude - especially during mealtimes and queuing up to leave the boat whenever we docked - there really are no bad things to say about the voyage, the staff, the length of the trip (we wished we could have stayed longer), the route, or anything else and hope to be able to return again someday with others from our family to take part in a longer voyage or wintertime voyage when the country has other experiences to offer! Read Less

I wanted to explore the coast and fjords of Norway. This cruise accomplishes this to the highest degree. This is both a working ship and smaller ship cruise with 500 passengers on average. The ship's course both north and south avoids open ocean travel and follows the fjords and sounds through an intricate complicated shoreline; a coast that was not accurately mapped until the 20th Century. The ship's tone is casual with no formal dining or events. Food, staff, excursions and service were top-notch. Dining was relaxed and the cuisine inspired by the local fisheries and farms of coastal Norway. Service staff were super attentive, but not intrusive. Deserts were among the best ever experienced. Excursions by foot, bike, bus or boat were well-organized. On-board lectures about the history, people, landscapes and future of the Norwegian coast were well-presented by knowledgeable and enthusiastic expedition staff. For the most part, getting on-board and off-board was a fairly quick endeavor albeit the dock-level Deck 3 disembarkation area was too small for the number of people trying to exit the boat at popular ports. The main embarkation port was Bergen. Passenger boarding was by a skyway to deck five. There was plenty of room and the boat's passengers easily boarded and left the ship efficiently. Read Less

We had always wanted to travel on the Hurtigruten, and so we booked with the Richard With because it had recently undergone a re-fit. Getting to the ship was so simple. We left from Cardiff airport to Bergen where the coaches we waiting to take us to the ship. Unfortunately there were only two people on reception when we arrived at check-in and so we had a long time standing in queue before we could board. The cabins on the Richard With are compact to say the least and can be very noisy during the night as the ship calls at lots of ports during the nights. When it comes to dining, both breakfast and lunch are buffet style with plenty of choice, and dinner is served to you on most nights. Be prepared, if you don't like fish you may find you have little choice. If you usually travel on a larger cruise ship you may be disappointed because there is no entertainment, with just the expedition team giving a daily talk on the weather and what to expect tomorrow. There are many varied excursions on offer which, although quite expensive, take you to many places that you wouldn't visit on a 'normal' cruise. We had pre-booked our excursions which meant everything was paid for before the trip. However, one of our excursions was cancelled due to bad weather and so the ship gave us a letter to take to our travel agent to receive a refund for this trip. There were three of us on the trip, each paying £149 for this particular excursion. It is now over three weeks since we returned from holiday and, despite chasing our agent for the refund, they keep telling us that they are waiting for the ship to refund them before they can refund us. Has anyone else had this problem? What do we do to get our money back? Overall we enjoyed our holiday on the Hurtigruten, but trying to get our money back has left a bad taste in the mouth. Read Less

We have recently returned from the Hurtigruten Norwegian Classic round trip, on board MS Richard With, 21st February – 4th March, including flights from UK (Manchester). To summarise – this was a fantastic trip, the experience of a lifetime. However it was not perfect – but the few negatives were massively outweighed by the positives. The charter flights (from Manchester) and the transfer to the port, all worked well and seamlessly. I’ve seen some comments about transfer issues – we had none. Checking in took some time (but we arrived together with a plane load of people!) but after that getting to the cabin, and getting luggage delivered, was all great. The cabin, number 568 (P2D, Arctic Superior: Outside cabin. Double bed. Situated on deck 5) was small but very comfortable. Reasonable storage and good shower. We had a window, and people were able to walk past (and look in?), but that was never a major issue. Cabin included tea / coffee and WiFi. Meals were overall very good. Breakfast and lunch were buffet format, with plenty of choice. On a couple of occasions we had to queue waiting for a table, but never too long. For evening meals, which were table service at a set time, we were placed on a table for six. We probably would have preferred a table on our own, but as it turned out, we were sat with two other couples, who were really decent, friendly people. So no worries there. If you wanted to change your evening dining time, the restaurant team would try to accommodate you. We saw a long queue of people wanting to change, and I guess some people did not get the changes they wanted, but it worked fine for us. The evening meal was a set 3 course menu. I really would have liked some choice, but I understand the reasons they keep it relatively simple. The evening meal daily reflected the region we were in, and was – generally – very good. Portions were not over generous, but ample for most. And if you had an intolerance or specific requirement – they do try to accommodate this. The ship – Richard With – was refurbished last year. It is certainly smaller than the mega ships operated by Royal Caribbean etc. but overall – the ship was great. There were a few rough periods at sea, and the ship movement reflected this. So it got a bit uncomfortable (for me) at times. We were impacted by the weather – we were in the port of Bodø for 15 hours, which disrupted the sailing schedule and excursions. On another occasion – it was too rough to dock in Mehamn, and again we missed one of our “highlight” excursions (Snowmobile Trip Into The Polar Night) which was massively disappointing. And we were only told after we had all dressed and were ready to disembark at 0045 in the morning. I guess you have to accept there may be (will be?) weather disruption in the Norwegian Sea during February, so be prepared. But possibly they could have told us sooner about our cancelled Polar Night excursion. We did experience a lot of weather. From the gale force winds mentioned above, to blizzards, to bright sunshine, to calm smooth seas – we had everything. Kept the voyage and scenery interesting. One item to note – the two hot tubs on deck 6 – we made use of these. There is something exhilarating about being in a hut tub when it is snowing! Bit chilly when you get out though!. As most reviewers note – drinks are expensive. Beer starts at about £11 for 600 ml (just over a pint) and wine starts about £48 per bottle. Drinks packages were available – and quite a number of people bought these – but they were expensive and did not seem justified to us. So we drank sparingly (and slowly) which I guess may not be a totally bad thing! As I noted, our excursion plans were disrupted significantly by the weather, in that the two we pre booked were both cancelled. But the excursion team tried hard to re book alternatives. Excursions were very expensive. We eventually did the Husky Sledge Adventure and A Taste of Vesterålen. The Husky sledge adventure included a quick trip to the Kirkenes Snow Hotel, which was a bonus. And the dog sledding was a fantastic trip – a great memory. We booked the Taste of Vesterålen at the last minute, and really enjoyed it. Despite the heavy snow (hence limited visibility) it was an interesting and informative trip. The church at Trondenes is beautiful and interesting, as is the museum close to the church. And driving over the bridge in Sortland as the Richard With is sailing along the sound below was a really memorable moment. We did see the northern lights on two nights (but we were told they were actually visible on three). I guess the displays we saw were not the most spectacular on record – but we did see them. Some people managed to get some good photos (and to be honest – some the photos looked better than the lights in the sky). But it is magical to see the Aurora Borealis. Regarding taking pictures, I only go to grips with setting up my (basic) DSLR on the last night of the lights, when I did get some reasonable pictures. So trying to work out camera settings on a windy, freezing cold, moving deck in the dark is definitely not the best approach. I tried it – not effective. Sort it out ahead of time, and use the settings and tips sheet the excursion team provides. The excursion team were great. Always enthusiastic, knowledgeable and helpful, they were around to help and advise, often with good humour. And in three languages if required! We did not attend all the meetings and presentations, and frankly some did drag on a bit. But certainly the three man team added a lot to the experience of the voyage. The scenery is a massive highlight. They do sell this as the most beautiful cruise on the world – quite a claim. But the scenery is stunning. Because it is a coastal cruise, you are sailing along the coast, and in and out of islands, sometimes through narrow channels, for a lot of the voyage. So the scenery changes constantly. As does the weather. Which gives an incredibly beautiful, ever changing view from the ship. Really incredible. And we did manage to see sea eagles, porpoises, reindeer, cormorants, many sea birds. So – in conclusion – this Hurtigruten round trip is a great experience – so long as you accept that it is not a gin palace luxury cruise on a mega ship. Read Less

We went on recommendation from a friend. The cruise is designed for the older person and not really suited for families, certainly not for teenagers. The ship is smaller than a traditional cruise ship but this leads to a more personal and friendly atmosphere aboard the ship. There is no traditional entertainment, however the lectures and gatherings are brilliant, entertaining and informative. The ship is also a working ship calling at 34 ports, sometimes at night which can lead to some noise as cargo, cars and passengers may be embarked/ disembarked. Our cabin was on deck 5 on the starboard (right hand) side, which was ideal as all loading/ unloading was on the port (left) side so any noise did not disturb us. The ship had a well fitted exercise room, which we used, male and female saunas, and outdoor hot tubs. The restaurant was superb, with excellent choice of breakfast and lunch buffet and set, mainly traditional meals for dinner. Breakfast and lunch are sit anywhere whilst dinner is set times and tables. There were 6 sittings for dinner ranging from 6pm to 8.30pm, I would advise that you request early or late dinning when making a booking. However we were allocated an 8pm sitting which was far too late for my digestion but when asked for a change we were reallocated a 6.30pm slot sharing a table of 6 with charming company. We did get to see the northern lights on 3 nights although this is obviously dependant on climatic conditions. The excursions off ship that we did were great and well worth what on the face of it looks to be a lot of money. The pick was getting off the ship in the dark early evening and snowmobiling over the mountains, stopping to possibly seeing the northern lights and then continuing to pick up the ship in the next port. Alcoholic drinks on board are very expensive, however at most ports where you could get off the ship for a few hours there were bars or supermarkets where alcoholic drinks could be obtained. Although supposedly not permitted we had no problems taking some on board. In Norway you are allowed 1 litre of spirits and 3 litres of wine duty free, and as you pass through the duty free shops at the airport on the way in you can pick up some supplies to get you started. Overall a brilliant trip which was more an adventure than a holiday, with lots of downtime to relax and chill out and admire the passing scenery from the observation lounge. We are going back in the summer to see how it all looks in the midnight sun Read Less

We aren't cruise holidaymakers and this wasn't a traditional cruise as the ship is more like a ferry than a cruise ship, which was fine for us. We wanted to have a voyage along the Norwegian coast and get the best chance to see the Northern Lights. The ship travels via 34 different small ports and acts as a means of transport for locals and freight as well as holidaymakers which added to our interest. The stopovers are quite short compared to large cruise holidays. The ship was refurbished last year and was clean, comfortable and well equipped. For a smaller type of ship it was amazingly quiet although some may have found the bow thrusters noisy when pulling up alongside during the night. Our cabin was small but had plenty of storage space and was clean, quiet, and comfortable. Larger passengers would struggle in the shower compartment, though! 'Cheaper' cabins don't have drinks making facilities which is a bit of a disappointment for Brits who expect this everywhere. TV in the cabin was a bonus especially the webcam showing the ship's progress. Larger cabins on Deck 5 had the disadvantage of deck 5 being the promenade deck, so people could walk past the cabin windows day and night. Food was excellent. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style with a selection to suit all tastes, but each day the hot dishes were different so it was never boring. Dinner was a fixed three course menu and based on local Norwegian recipes and produce with an emphasis on fish. Reindeer and local beef and lamb also featured. When I say that my only complaint was the orange juice at breakfast it says a lot! Service from everyone was friendly, very competent and professional. Drinks are extortionate (£15 for a glass of house wine, £11 for a 33cl bottle of beer), but as another passenger said 'that's done my liver some good as I've only had one drink every night'. As it's not a cruise ship there was no entertainment - thank goodness - but the Expedition Team hold talks and information sessions throughout the day which are well worth going to. The onboard shop is very expensive but has some interesting items for sale. Shore excursions are once again very expensive to UK passengers and are variable in standard. They are also quite short because of the short time in port. Dog sledding was fun, but took place in the dark so we couldn't see the scenery, and was quite short. My skimobile trip was cancelled because of the weather but others who took part at other times enjoyed their trips. The 'hikes' were quite short and so expensive for what was offered but worth doing as we wouldn't have had time to research our own walks. Service in all respects was excellent. We had some difficulties contacting Hurtigruten by phone during the booking process, but everything ended up OK. Our big disappointment was not actually seeing the Northern Lights - the main reason for our trip - but this was weather related and can't be put down to Hurtigruten. Read Less

We wanted to see the northern lights, and visit unknown parts of \Norway, I could not fault the ship or the staff and intinery. My only criticism is the cost of the drinks compared to the UK and the size of the cabin and shower as I am not a big chap but could just about fit in the shower without the curtain cascading water into the bathroom floor. How some of the larger passenger's on board got on I don't know. The food was excellent with a good choice of menu, but at dinner it was a set menu and you got what you were given. The expedition staff were very good and knowledgeable about all the ports we visited. The excursions were very expensive for what you got. And finally the northern fights did not appear, but this was a minor issue as we enjoyed the cruise so much. Read Less

An enjoyable experience overall. Staff polite and friendly. Food good but after a few days became much of the same. But healthy and lots of choice Excursions expensive. Take care with Bodo and Saltistrumen one unless you know the tides will allow you to see the advertised and talked about Maelstrom. We got there and water calm as provervial millpond A rush to get excursions in as stops are mainly very short . Shore time can be shortened as if ship docks later than advertised you still.leave on time. Beds are cabin size and width and not especially comfortable Lots of rough seas . Alcohol prices are extortionate as are souvenirs. So didn't buy much and came back sober. Didn't see lights. So disappointed but will explore the supposed guarantee of a free cruise . The guarantee only offers inside cabin. On dates they offer. Half board and no flights so will check.out price of flights before going ahead. Read Less

To see auroras. We saw auroras in 5 nights with changing colours n it was intense. Dog sledding was fun. Polar excursion was not fun for me. But rest was excellent. Restaurant staff was awesome. They were funny , witty, friendly, approachable. We made some good friends n met new people, they were good. We went to see the northern lights and yes we did see them. It was uthe hirusin, dazzling, dancing. It is something to watch n watch again. You gotta be lucky to see it more than once and we were lucky. Announcement is there so you cant miss it. One thing for those who want to book cabins that sometimes it's not a bad idea not go for rich cabins because you will be out a lot but it's personal preference. If i was not working and I had lot of money I would go with their ship various destinations. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it was an excellent way to see much of the Norwegian coast in winter. It does not have the usual entertainment of other cruise ships as the Hurtigruten ships are working ships and we found it fascinating to stop at 34 ports in each direction at all times of day and night. The ship was refitted in late 2018 and has a modern airy feel. It could be seen as a little plain compared to some of other ships in the fleet with more opulent décor. WIFI was excellent on board. See below for my cabin review. Breakfast and lunch were both very ample buffets with plenty for all tastes. Dinner was served at a set time with 6 different sittings and your own allocated table. This was an excellent opportunity to try all types of Norwegian cuisine and it was possible to change to a vegetarian option if you preferred. It was not possible to ask for a simpler meal. Few people seemed to be drinking wine at dinner, with the cheapest bottle at almost £50! The waiting-on staff were fantastic, many being trilingual Scandinavians in their 20s. There was no need to dress up for dinner and in fact on the occasions when the Northern Lights were likely to appear, we even wore our warm clothing to the restaurant! The Expedition team were great! They organised talks and demonstrations on-board with plenty of variety to suit most people. The excursions, however, were extremely expensive for the time and content included. We did not join any and preferred to explore the ports we visited with the help of a map and our own research. Had they been cheaper, we would have joined in with some of them. In short...GO if you want scenery and informative talks, peace and a relaxed pace. DON'T GO if you want exciting shows and entertainment, lots to drink and nightlife! Read Less

Something different from the Meditteranean. Did some Google research and felt this could be an interesting alternative to meditteranean cruises. Overall very good but there are critiscisms. Ship, staff, cabins, service all excellent. Dining more than excellent with buffets for Breakfast and Lunch, but the single item fixed menu at Dinner would benefit from maybe one additional choice. There is an emphasis on fish particularly cod and salmon with many preperations which would not appear even on a 5 star menu in the UK. Wait staff are very attentive but maybe a little too quick in serving each course if you want a leisurely dinner. There is an "A La Carte" menu in a small seperate dining room but my impression was that you need to be a group to enjoy as any atmosphere was lacking. These critiscims are meant to be positive, I can honestly say I have not had better dining in many a UK restaurant. Entertainment on board is minimal, remember this is a "working ship" and not intended to be a cruise liner with all the bells and jingles of modern cruising. The shore excursions are well organised but a large number are orientated to the "young professionals" and can be quite strenuos not really for the 70+ retirees who might require more comfort. In conversations with other guests the biggest reason for going on this cruise was to see the "Northern Lights" Aurora Borealis. This was also the biggest dissapointment as weather etc. seems to make January a bad month for this activity. In fact weather on this cruise played havoc with several of the shore excursions. I would take this trip again but again the consensus amongst several new found friends was that a tour with shorter periods on Hurtigruten and some Hotel stays at key towns would provide a more interesting itinery. Read Less

It is important to point out that this is not a cruise, but a working ferry that runs Daily from Bergen to Kirkenes, visiting some port in the early hours. If you are a light sleeper, you may find you awake several times in the night, especially when the side thrusters vibrate going into each dock. This ship had just been refurbished, so the decor was great with a lot of new technology, but had not been finished on time, so we had workman on board through to Christmas Eve, The outside cabins are small, so although expensive, we were so pleased we upgraded to a suite, which are fantastic, with large windows, TV, settee, chairs, fridge & blinds. No safe in the rooms, but you can borrow a hair drier from the reception. The first suite we were given had problems with the lights and after the 4th blackout, we insisted we were moved. I must emphasis that the staff on board this ship could not have been more obliging & helpful, despite suffering huge problems on a daily basis. Although a wine drinker, I must admit I went 12 days without a drop, because I refused to pay £50 for a bottle of wine. Excursions are also expensive, but well organised and easy to book on board. Some of the excursions have to be planned around sailing times, so you may start at one port but taken back on the ship a another port further down. The food on board was excellent and plenty of choice when served as a buffet. Some of the evening meals were served as a fixed menu, where you sat at a specific table with no choice of alternatives. I was a vegetarian, but knew that with such an abundance of fish . meat, my choices would be limited. I made sure I filled up during the breakfast & lunch periods. One evening, my meal was a bit of salad with a tomato. followed by a bowl of soup as my main course and a small bowl of ice cream for desert. If I had to highlight what was best, I would say the "Expedition Team of 3". They worked so hard, in such a friendly way to make sure we were informed, knew what was available & shared with us so much knowledge about Norway, Food, Culture & much much more. They spoke fluently in English, German & Norwegion. They were fun and it was like a big happy family event. I could moan about some issues, but all the staff did their best to make you happy. The country is beautiful, even with the limited light hours. I was amazed that if you came up to a road, the local drivers would always stop & let you cross. Shops were not crowded, you never saw any drunks (even at Christmas), no traffic jams, no homeless and Oh - no Northern Lights. Despite information about this ship, they did have two hot tubs at the back of the ship (deck 4). There is no evening entertainment, but they did bring on a pianist on board and although she could play the piano, her singing switched octaves on a regular basis and although she asked us to sing along with her, the words shoe sand was different to everyone else. They have a fitness room on board, but walking is limited ashore, especially on the southern journey back. You can walk around the ship (deck 5), but when you are on the open sea, it is very difficult to walk around the bow end, for fear of being blown along the deck. Read Less

Done this voyage before, couldn't wait to do it again, not disappointed. If you want beautiful scenery, calm and relaxing voyage, no glitzy entertainment, TV or radio, mostly mature and intelligent fellow passengers, ie they're there for the same reason as you, then this is the trip for you. No need to 'dress' for dinner, just dress for comfort and the weather. Take a good camera, binoculars, plenty of layers for the different weather from north to south, plenty of Krone for adhoc purchases. Choose your excursions wisely and don't try to cram in too much, but the North Cape and Taste of Vesteralen are a 'must'. Don't forget the seasick tablets in case of choppy weather. Hop on and off at all the little stops, even it just for 5 minutes, you'll be amazed at what you see. Amazing gallery and museum where the ship stops for the North Cape excursion, visit if you have the time. Read Less

Smooth embarkation in Bergen and an offer to upgrade to a suite set the standard for this travel! Luggage was properly retransferred to the new cabin while we left Bergen comfortably seated in deck-chairs bathed in the afternoon sun (uncommon for Bergen as this is a really rainy city!). The first of many very good dinners was then enjoyed in the restaurant. The dinner menues were prepared to use mainly local food from the actual region we sailed along each day. One dinner was even completely vegetarian; a bold but successful grip. The breakfast and lunch buffets were abundant. There are several activities that one may attend: the Explorer team may accompany you on foot, by bus or even small expedition boats. We did not use any of these as we preferred walking on our own when we had the time during city stops; We mananged to walk to the cathedral Nidarosdomen (Trondheim), the National Air Craft museum (Bodø) and nearly up the hill to Aksla (Ålesund), the latter actually involved quite brisk walking as the ship was mostly 15 minutes delayed to every port so the port-time was consequently shortened. We really enjoyed sitting on the deck, the view of the fjord- and mountain- landscape meditatively passing by was relly relaxing, (Fortunately the internet Connection was good enough to do some computer work in between when we had some cloudy hours..) This ship was suitable for perons using wheel-chairs, althoug a young man balancing the coffee cup in his lap while manoevring his slim wheeler looked very risky on a somehow rolling ship. He even managed rolling by himself down the steep gangway to Svolvær (backwards, gripping the rail). Disembarking in Harstad following a last early breakfast ended our journy. We will be back; preferably pursuing the Norwegian coast line up to Kirkenes the next time! Read Less

We always wanted to see the norwegian fjords. Very important for our decition for hurtig ruten, MS Richard With: - small ship, not a "classical" cruise ship with animation and many people - you can choose, if you want to join the excurtions - the cabins are quite big - offer to upgrade cabin - excellent Restaurants with local specialaties - no agrassive Entertainment - you can stay on your one, if you want to - Casual, even at dinner-time - environmentally friendly ship - very nice, kind an professional staff We took the "southbound" from Kirkenes to Bergen. The travel to the embarcation port was organised by ourselves (we diceided quite shortly to do this journey). Embarcation went smoothly, we even got an offer to upgrade the cabin, that was geat! Disembarcation in Bergen was perfectly organised. Busses bring passengers to the City or to the Airport. Anyway: we decided for a taxi. This ist a trip recommended to individualists, if you don't like to join crowds. Relax on deck an watch landscape in the midnight sun. You can also have a more active trip, if you joinall the offered excursions. Read Less

Spectacular views, OK staff, but terrible, stingy organization. Truly irritating experience booking excursions. The agents constantly referred us to the online info. However, the online information was wrong, and had been wrong since before it was published online. We recommend you verify any of your important assumptions with a human, even if you have to push them to great confirmation from management in Norway. The incorrect information led us to choose to travel in the more expensive summer season. When we complained we got the standard "tough luck" answers. However, we continue to push and eventually got a substantial on board credit. Hurtigruten never actually told us about it, so we didn't discover this until the last night when we got our bill. If we hadn't chosen to book excursions on the ship, the credit would have expired unused. On checking in, the agent told us our cabin was ready. Wrong! We were assigned a ridiculously early dinner seating. However, we were told this could be altered the next morning. It turns out that this was only true if you wanted to eat very early or very late. The ship consistently arrives late (presumably to save on fuel costs) but leaves on time, so actual time in ports of call, excursions and sightseeing diversions are significantly shorter than advertised or even cancelled. The ship may pick up large tour groups for some of the more spectacular parts of the cruise. When this happens, the ship becomes intolerably overcrowded. The next day's schedule is only available on TVs, requiring you to watch 5-10 minutes of stuff to find the 5 seconds worth of information you actually want. Food had much emphasis on local food. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do with dried cod and salted lamb. Cabin was small but well organized There was a series of lectures given by members of the expedition team. While well meant and often entertaining, the lectures on wildlife and geology were often factually incorrect. Stinginess all over from elevators much too small to handle the number of passengers to coffee and tea not being free between meals We suggest Regent Seven Seas or Meine Schiffe as an alternative. If you are willing to drive, the Norwegian road system is excellent and goes everywhere the cruise goes. Read Less

Our experience on the Richard With exceeded our expectations. The food was amazing and fabulous. The cabin was comfortable and the public rooms very nice and attractive. The scenery must be the best in the world.! The crew could not have been more pleasant. Of course alcohol bought onboard was expensive but it is everywhere in Norway. The breakfast & lunch buffets were out of this world, and the served meal in the evening very tasty. If you saw something on the menu in the morning you did not like, you could ask for something else for that evening. The ports were interesting, the embarkation easy, the talks interesting. Disembarkation in Kirkenes was a bit slow and crowded but not a problem. I think this was unusual. We did not take any excursions but liked to wander around ports on our own. We were lucky with perfect weather. Mu husband says that everything was "splendid, an extraordinary time, and we enjoyed it thoroughly." The 6 nights were expensive in our view at first but by the end we felt it was good value for the money. Read Less

A wonderful way to see the Norwegian coast in comfort. It would be a completely different experience in summer - many people were on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th trip. It is essential to do the full Bergen to Kirkenes and return voyage to make the best of it. Remember this is not a cruise, it is a working boat stopping frequently. Make sure you are on one of the newer boats and that it has an expedition team. They organise trips, lectures, daily programmes and are generally very helpful. All announcements were in Norwegian, English, German and French. If you leave the intercom on in your cabin you will be told when the Northern Lights are to be seen. Cabins are small and basic, but comfortable. Outside cabin essential. Food is old-fashioned and wholesome, a little heavy on salt, perhaps that comes from centuries of eating salt fish. Plenty of choice at the breakfast and lunch buffets, lots of fish, good soups. Set menu and time for waiter service dinner, 3 courses with no choice but show casing good local products. Alcohol so expensive (wine £10-30 a glass) it is better to stick to the free table water. There are a few activities, films, lectures, story-telling and some notable sights are pointed out. Talks about the next days sights are helpful. Excursions are ridiculously expensive (£100-300), you really must be sure it's something you want to do. We went on a bus trip across the islands which was spectacular with a good guide. At any of the stops of an hour or more you can get off and walk around, the boat is usually moored in the centre of town. Taxis are also available to save time to go to sights in larger towns, e.g. the cathedrals in Tromso and Trondheim. In winter streets are not cleared of snow and ice so boots and care are needed. Crew all helpful and efficient. If booking a package from the UK with flights from local airports beware. The Germania charter flight and transfers from Leeds/Bradford were one of the worst travel experiences. An uncomfortable plane full, of mostly elderly, people who had to stand for far too long at every check-in. At Bergen the luggage took over an hour to arrive (no seats), then at the terminal there were only 2 people to check in 3 buses arriving at the same time. On return we were dropped at Bergen airport 4 hours before the flight and told that check-in would not start for 2 hours, there were 30 seats for 150 people. Fortunately the Hurtigruten rep managed to get check-in open, although it took over an hour to check-in with many people standing all the time. Then at Leeds/Bradford (surely one of the worst airports) escalator to baggage collection not working, and luggage took almost an hour to arrive. When asked why the people on the flight which arrived after ours had collected their luggage and left, the staff said that they had less than 4 hours notice that our flight was arriving and no staff were available to unload. On trying to leave through customs the exit doors/gates repeatedly stuck with people trapped inside. A waiting onlooker said it had been going on all evening. Then a stressful car park experience with no signs to the exit and a gate system which did not recognise our number plate ("because it is not in the centre of the car") or the code on our booking. Read Less

Ft and foremost this is not a 'traditional' cruise but more of a coastal journey. Anyone who has done the smallest amount of research will know that, anyone thinking they are boarding a cruise ship will be disappointed. Hurtigruten is fundamentally a coastal service providing passenger and freight services to the coastal communities of Norway. It has carved out a niche by providing customers with a comfortable journey, but does not orovide the frills of a cruise ship - no flash shopping mall, no flasy entertainment. The philosophy is the the scenery and journey are the entertainment. This was the full 11 night round trip Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen. For 12 days you are constantly in view of the ever changing coastline, with snow clad mountains, fjords, cliffs... It works to a fixed scedule with 34 stops - some as short as 15 minutes, some as long as 6 hours. Every day there is an opportunity to get ashore and explore, some of the stops are in small towns so you get to see the real Norway. There are plenty of excursions on offer but, like most other operators, they are not cheap. Anything from village/town guides walk, sightseeing and adventure. We only did two - Husky Sledding in Kirkenes and Midnight Concert in Tromso. Both were good value for money. Elsewhere we were happy with a map and a guidebook! Boarding in Bergen was smooth and efficient. The safety briefing was done before we boarded. The public rooms are spacioue with good views. The ship is due for a refit/upgrade in November 2018 and is due. Some of the furnishing look dated and worn. The public rooms are on deck 4 (main restaurant, cafe, seating, lounge, conference area) and deck 7 (main bar and observation lounge plus a small gym). Despite the fact the ship was full there was never a problem getting a seat with a view! Food was good. Breakfast and lunch were open seating buffets. Plenty of variety in both and the staff were busy making sure it was constantly replenished. Dinner was fixed sitting and table with a set menu - sittings every 30 minutes from 17:30 to 20:30. Local produce is taken on board along the route and fish featured a lot (as expected). Alcohol is expensive, as it is anywhere in Norway (this is a domestic Norwegian service). Wine and beer packages are on offer but there was no hard sell. The Expedition Team on board provided daily mini talks outside at least once a day on things of local interest, and a longer lecture most days on various subjects like the geology, history of Norway, the Sami people etc. Apart from that the enertainment was the scenery, Northern Light shows etc... Our cabin, 318, was on deck 3 - a Polar Outside. This is the deck with reception and used for access during stops. We chose this deck for ease of access and the port side because acess and reception are on the starboard side. We never heard any noise either during sailing or during port stops overnight. Deck 2 is the car deck. Deck 5 is the promonade deck so every cabin (and the most expensive suites!) have a walkway outside the window with people walking, standing outside. On deck six are cabins, but also the lifeboats, so some have no/restricted view. We looked carefully on the deck plans before choosing. The Arctic cabins are slightly larger, have a TV and tea/coffee making facilities. Was glad we did not pay the extra! All cabin layouts are the same, twin beds, one of which folds up to make a settee during the day. There was ample space (we tend not to live in our cabin! And plenty of storage for clothes and cases - mine went under my bed and my wife's in the bottom of the wardrobe. The ship will, if wished, store cases for you. Our fare (Select, the standard fare) enabled us to choose our cabin and gave free WiFi and unlimited tea/coffee. The WiFi was good and fast the whole trip and, because it is a coastsl voyage, we had 4G for 95% of the trip. It was difficult to find any negatives as long as you set your expectations that it going to be a journey/voyage, not a cruise! Read Less

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Firstly, I would be careful to describe this as a Coastal Voyage rather than a traditional cruise. We absolutely loved it but it is not like the P&O ships we have been on previously and we knew this before we went. Hurtigruten offer excursions but we didn't participate in these as we prefer to do our own thing. However, do not expect a full programme of entertainment as you get on a "standard cruise ship". We booked a package with flights from the UK and this part of the journey went very smoothly. You are met at the airport and taken to the ship by coach with a guide. There was a short queue to embark as a coachful of passengers all arrived at once of course, but it didn't take very long to get on board. Luggage was taken from the coach directly to your cabin. You arrive on board in time for a buffet dinner and your cases will be waiting for you after dinner (if not before). I believe that all ships will have an Expedition Team on board from April and this is to be recommended. Our team were fantastic, giving information about excursions together with several lectures during the voyage and a meeting most days to tell people what was on the agenda the next day together with weather forecasts, Northern Lights forecasts etc. There was some live music a few nights on our ship but I think that was mainly because our Expedition Team leader enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. He was very good but I doubt that this occurs on all ships! There were also a few things out on deck some days to tell us about points of interest along the way and sometimes to give us a sample of Norwegian food. If the Northern Lights are seen, this is also announced to give everyone the chance to get outside and see them. Our package included wi-fi and free tea and coffee which you get from the cafe by showing your cruise card. They had plenty of fruity tea bags as well as standard English Breakfast tea, but if you like decaff tea, then take your own supply. Decaff coffee was available in a jar. The wi fi seemed to work well except for when we passed through a narrow fjord with no signal! We loved the food - there is a lot of fish on board as this is a staple part of the Norwegian diet. There is always something else though if you don't want fish. We found the fish delicious - so fresh. The selection of food at breakfast is similar each day but there is a wide choice including bacon and fried eggs, hard boiled eggs, beans, potatoes, a full range of cold meats and salad type items which is more of a German-style breakfast. Fresh fruit, cereals, bread, toast. Tea, coffee, juice, smoothies. Occasionally there are pancakes or waffles cooked fresh too. Lunch has lots of smoked fish, a different soup each day, plus hot dishes with vegetables and a salad selection too, also cheese and biscuits. There is a variety of desserts including mousses, pavlova, cakes, fruit, icecream, jelly. These are similar each day. Tea and coffee is again available to help yourself after lunch. Tap water: This is available with lunch and dinner at no cost. I mention this because before we went, I got the feeling that tap water was not served and you had to buy bottled water. Be assured that the tap water is lovely and you can have as much as you want. The waiting staff always offer drinks but as the alcohol is so expensive in Norway, we stuck to tap water as did many others! Dinner is a set menu with no choice but if you have allergies then these will be taken into account and you will be served an alternative. Food is taken on board fresh at various ports of call and you are served local produce from nearby places. The portions at dinner are not huge but you can eat all you want at breakfast and lunch so you won't go hungry! Tea and coffee after dinner is served in the bar. You are allocated a table for dinner and a time. I don't remember specifying a table size but we were allocated a table for two which suited us. You are also allocated a time and some people weren't happy with their time but I believe they were able to swap. The ship calls at several ports each day and during the night but sometimes only for 15 or 30 minutes so you can't always get off. There is a longer stay each day though but not a whole day as happens with a normal cruise ship. We found this trip incredible but before you go, please do your research and make sure it's what you are expecting. There will not be films and shows in the evening and during the day the "entertainment" is largely looking at the glorious scenery. We were very lucky with the weather but do go prepared with lots of activities to keep you occupied during the day just in case the weather is poor and the views are not as stunning. There was a small fitness room on board with a treadmill, cross trainer and a couple of bikes, plus weights. This had a lovely view out of the window! We found the staff very friendly and of course they all speak good English. I would love to do this trip again - perhaps during the summer to see how different everything looks and to experience the long hours of daylight, The Hurtigruten ships began travelling up and down the Norwegian coast 125 years ago and provided a service to the isolated communities - including postal delivery for many years. They are still providing a service today and locals get on and off the boats to travel just a few "stops" up the coast. These days they are catering more for tourists but they still carry freight and a few cars. I'm not sure if cabins above the freight deck experience any noise but I think it is likely. We were on deck 6 so this wasn't a problem for us - but I chose a high deck for that very reason. As the ship stops during the night, I didn't want too much disturbance overnight. Read Less

We chose this cruise specifically in hope of seeing the Aurora Borealis, so by necessity had to go in winter. Embarkation at Bergen was easy but surprised by a huge, very well dressed group of people in the dining room the first night. Hurtigruten takes ‘private groups’ for Christmas parties on board for dinner or breakfast at their discretion and this group were one of those. The Richard With had a three person expedition team - Linus, Denise and Niri whose many presentations from Aurora Borealis, culture, Vikings to wildlife and using of Norway were excellent. Denise gave a lecture on photographing the Aurora and then spent time with anyone who needed help adjusting the settings on their camera. Even told the smart phone users about an App which would enable their phone to get good photos. Sailing in winter means you see very little scenery. It was dark from about 3 in the afternoon to 11 in the morning. Every port we stopped at had almost completely iced up footpaths and roads. I’d set out a schedule of museums, churches and places of interest to visit not understanding how slow it would be to walk in those conditions. There were 2 passengers who broke arms in port and I fractured my pelvis near the end of the voyage. Living in Australia and not accustomed to Polar conditions I was naive about the dangers. Apparently an inexpensive pair of spikes attached to my boots (which were chosen for icy conditions) may have prevented that. Our cabin, Arctic superior (644) was well located, small but convenient. We were glad of the tea and coffee making facilities and watched some tv when at night there was nothing to see outside. Others without a tv were complaining of not having things to do in the evening. Bed linen was lovely and tiny bathroom had a shower with very hot water and good water pressure. Soap, shampoo in dispensers on walls. A small gym was busy and didn’t I didn’t use the sauna. The meat and fish eaters were very happy with the food which was listed on a menu each night. If you’re vegetarian it was less pleasant. They endeavour to present food from the region in which they are sailing and to be fair, there wouldn’t be any vegetarian option out there in the cold. There was a table of gluten free options each meal. Every meal potatoes and salad. Carrot, swede and turnips were available and most nights a vegetarian savoury but not all nights. Sometimes the soup was vegetarian and was grateful for that. Desserts seemed widely liked. Lots of fresh cream, pavlova, cakes, biscuits and jellies, crackers and cheese with nuts and dried fruit when there was a buffet. Snacks, coffee and small cakes were available in a cafe at a charge. On nights 3 & 4 the Aurora appeared. The announcement was made over the PA system which you can leave turned on in your cabin. Here’s a catch though. The night 3 lights lasted a short while and most people went to bed confident that if they came again they’d be woken. They did reappear at the back of the boat and because the crew don’t see out the back no announcement was made. There were a few people had stayed up and walked around the deck until the early hours and they saw them Denise did say at the beginning that you need to be patient and vigilant but didn’t explain that this may happen. So. A very happy voyage. Pleased to leave the boat a Kirkenes to get medical help and fly home. Have spoken to passengers who made the return voyage to Bergen and the lights didn’t reappear. Most passengers were around 60 or older. The excursions were well attended and met a few people (Austrians) who were going on a hike. There is a small children’s playroom near the cafe. Interesting watching the boat load cargo, passengers and cars in some ports. The crew were introduced but not ‘celebrities’ as on cruise ships. When you see the difficult waters they navigate I was happy that they stayed with their designated jobs. Would love to take the journey in summer to see the beauty of the land and landscape. Read Less

We were attracted to the cruise because we wanted to see the northern lights. We had not been to Norway so an added attraction was to see the fjords. We had not been on a cruise before (apart from an 8 berth cruise around the Galapagos) so the idea of being on a working ship with a relatively small group of people on the cruise itself suited us too (we were wary of the idea of a dedicated cruise ship). The journey exceeded our expectations. We saw the lights several times and the scenery was superb. We spent time ashore, mostly under our own steam and so got a good impression of Norwegian coastal towns and villages. The ship is a ferry. It is not a cruise ship. It calls at many ports, some for only 30 minutes and many at night. Trips, talks and entertainment were organised by a crew of 3. The lounges are comfortable. The food is Norwegian and very good. It is a Norwegian ship crewed by Norwegians. It is not a Liberian registered floating international hotel. For us, these are all advantages. Alcohol is dear, but no dearer than ashore. The excursions are expensive, so choose carefully and do as much on your own as you can. We did the return trip (3,220 miles). As I say it is a journey not a cruise, accept that and you will love it. Read Less