Hurtigruten Cruises

838 Reviews
Nordkapp

About Hurtigruten Cruises

This historic line has been sailing Norwegian waters since 1893. It initially began operating as a daily passenger and freight service for locals along the 780-mile coastline between Bergen to Kirkenses. Operating 365 days a year, it remains a life-line for many smaller inaccessible towns and villages.

It has since evolved to combine a vital transport link with cruise experience for overseas visitors that want to enjoy the beauty of the Norwegian fjords, islands and coastal scenery. As ships hug the coastline there is always something to see, plus the opportunities to time voyages to coincide with the summer spectacle of the midnight sun and winter northern lights.

Following the introduction of expedition vessels, which sail to Norway and other parts of the globe, in 2020 the Hurtigruten Group decided to create a pair of distinct brands to differentiate between the two very different coastal and expedition experiences on offer. This culminated in 2023 -- the year Hurtigruten Norway's Coastal Express celebrated 130 years of operating the original Norwegian coastal route -- with the name shortened to Hurtigruten, which translates as "the fast route" in Norwegian.

This section currently has nine ships; MS Nordstjernen, MS Trollfjord, MS Kong Harold, MS Nordkapp, MS Nordlys, MS Nordnorge, MS Polarlys, MS Richard With and MS Vesteralen. In January 2024 they will be joined by the hybrid-powered vessel MS Otto Sverdrup which will transfer from the line's separate adventure travel arm, Hurtigruten Expeditions which has six ships and is now known as HX following the 2023 rebrand.

The Hurtigruten ships carry between 104 and 619 passengers. The 500-passenger MS Trollfjord recently underwent and extensive refurbishment, which purposefully combines nostalgic retro features with updated amenities to reflect the line's 130th anniversary year,

Both Hurtigruten and HX are wholly owned by the Hurtigruten Group which also includes Hurtigruten Svalbard, which operates hotels, restaurants and land-based activities. The parent company also has a 25 percent stake in Ecuador-based Metropolitan Touring, which offers sustainable travel in the Galapagos.

  • More about Hurtigruten

  • Who goes on Hurtigruten cruise ships?

  • Do I have to dress up on a Hurtigruten cruise?

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Trollfjord
Trollfjord

14 Night
Norway Cruise

64 Reviews
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Trollfjord
Trollfjord

14 Night
Norway Cruise

64 Reviews
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Polarlys
Polarlys

5 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

62 Reviews
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Polarlys
Polarlys

6 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

62 Reviews
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5 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

56 Reviews
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6 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

62 Reviews
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5 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

26 Reviews
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5 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

65 Reviews
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11 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

50 Reviews
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6 Night
Norway Cruise

64 Reviews
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5 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

64 Reviews
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11 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

56 Reviews
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6 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

50 Reviews
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6 Night
Norwegian Coast Cruise

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10 Night
Norway Cruise

64 Reviews
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Hurtigruten Cruises Tips, Activities, and Overview

Who goes on Hurtigruten cruise ships?

Hurtigruten appeals to well-traveled folk that want to marvel at the Norwegian scenery, mix with locals, eat traditional cuisine and have the option to participate in outdoor adventures and activities along the way. To make the most of the sailings, it helps to be mobile.

Do I have to dress up on a Hurtigruten cruise?

No. These sailings are very casual, with no need to dress for dinner, and the most important thing is to pack comfortable outdoor clothing. Norway has four seasons the Hurtigruten website provides useful packing tips on what to bring, depending on the time of year. Whatever the season, make sure you bring a swimsuit to make the most of the outdoor hot tubs. If you do forget anything, the ships have boutiques selling Norwegian knitwear and clothing.

Is everything free on Hurtigruten cruises?

Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing policy so you can decide how little or how much you want included. This starts with the basic fare which includes all meals with and the cabin category with the cabin number and dining time allocated at check-in. The select package (the most popular) allows passengers to book specific cabins and preferred dining time, complimentary tea, coffee and Wi-Fi The platinum option includes all the select perks plus a drinks package with dinner, two shore excursions on 11- and 12-day voyages and one shore tour on 6- and 7-day itineraries, airport transfers, daily turn-down service and a welcome basket on embarkation day.

What are Hurtigruten’s most popular activities?

The scenery is undoubtedly the star of the show. On the classic longer sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes and back ships stop at 34 coastal communities throughout the day and night, with city stays of several hours and some stops of just 10 to 45 minutes to allow foot passengers and freight on and off. The extensive shore excursion program also focuses on nature, with popular options including husky dog sledding, guided hikes and hunting the northern lights. (Hurtigruten is so confident passengers will see the aurora borealis between late September through March on voyages of 11 days or more that it offers a free week-long voyage if the northern lights are not sighted).

Why go with Hurtigruten?

  • The classic Norwegian coastal voyage is arguably one of the most scenic in the world
  • Selected winter voyages in Norway offer a Northern Lights Promise -- or a free cruise
  • State-of-the-art, sustainable expedition program explores the poles and the tropics

Best for: Active passengers that love the great outdoors and want an authentic experience exploring Norway's stunning coastline and fjords on small, comfortable vessels.

Not for: Cruisers looking for big luxurious ships filled with onboard entertainment, activities and dining options, sun-seekers and fans of leisurely sea days.

Hurtigruten Cruises Cruiser Reviews

Poor service, poor ship

A shuttle bus was arranged to take people into town, it was to run every 30 minutes.We would recommend a cruise to the Arctic the scenery is stunning, some of the towns lovely and dog sledding an amazing experience however we would suggest going on a bigger/higher grade ship with less stops at non places.Read More
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Charley12

couple2-5 Cruises

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Age 76s

Trip of a Lifetime

The expedition crew ensured we had as many outings as possible, and our several days we had landings and zodiac cruises.The entire crew was fantastic!Read More
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twototravel

few6-10 Cruises

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Age 65s

Perfect Antarctica Cruise

Expedition Team on board providing different workshops and lectures was just a cream on the top...Vessel completely fulfilled our expectations, from the accommodation, food and safety on board to the pre and post cruise arrangements.Read More
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Danko

couple2-5 Cruises

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Age 62s

Antarctica is a must, but Hurtigruten was a bust

They ran, or I should say attempted to run, only one session in their much talked up science lab on the whole cruise, on phytoplankton.Overall a very disappointing cruise experience, which was a real shame because Antarctica was so amazing!!Read More
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Leo Hobbit

couple2-5 Cruises

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Age 34s

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