Cruise Frog guide
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten runs the Norwegian coastal voyages, a combined passenger, cargo and cruise service along Norway's west and north coast between Bergen and Kirkenes that it has sailed since Richard With started the Coastal Express in 1893. Its ten ships are small by cruise standards and call at towns and villages along the way, carrying local travelers and freight as well as cruise guests.
Style
Premium
smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
Best for
- Couples
- History and culture
- Adventure seekers
- Solo travelers
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Hurtigruten
The present company grew out of the regional steamship lines that ran the route, including With's Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab and Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap; their successors merged in 2006 and took the Hurtigruten name. In 2021 the expedition ships were split into a separate business, which was sold in 2024–2025 and now trades as HX Hurtigruten Expeditions. Hurtigruten shares the coastal route with Havila Voyages.
Seven Original ships sail the classic Bergen–Kirkenes round trip and its one-way legs year-round. Three larger, all-inclusive Signature ships, Trollfjord, Finnmarken and Midnatsol, sail the Svalbard Line from Bergen and the North Cape Line from Oslo or Hamburg. Every ship carries an Expedition Team that gives talks and leads excursions, and menus lean on produce from the coast.
What Hurtigruten is known for
Hurtigruten is known above all for the scenery of the coastal route, the chance to see the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer, and the experience of traveling on ships that still carry local passengers and cargo. Reviewers often praise the Expedition Team's talks and excursions, the regional food and the steady rhythm of port calls, including stops in the middle of the night. Several of the older ships have been rebuilt with battery-hybrid power, which the line promotes as part of a lower-emission strategy.
The common criticisms follow from the ferry schedule. Many port stops are short, timed for cargo and local passengers rather than sightseeing, and the Original ships are plainer than modern cruise ships, with small cabins and little evening entertainment; the line itself describes Vesterålen as a traditional ship with no sauna, hot tub or lecture hall. Weather on the open stretches of coast can be rough, especially in winter, and storms occasionally disrupt sailings.
Who it's for
Hurtigruten suits travelers who care more about the coast, nature and Norwegian daily life than about onboard entertainment: couples, solo travelers and older travelers who enjoy lectures, local food and a ship that stops often. One-way legs and the full round trip are an easy way to see much of Norway in a week or two, and the Signature ships add an all-inclusive option with Svalbard and North Cape routes.
Families with young children and anyone who wants pools, shows, casinos or late-night bars should look at a mainstream line. Travelers who want Zodiac landings in polar wilderness should look at HX or another expedition line, and those who prefer the newest ships on the same coastal route can compare Havila Voyages.
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- History and culture
- port-intensive itineraries, lectures, included excursions
- Adventure seekers
- active excursions, remote places
- Solo travelers
- studio cabins, low or no single supplement, easy to meet people
How it rates
None of Hurtigruten's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Hurtigruten sails
Ships
Finnmarken2002 · 15,690 GT · 526 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeFinnmarken is a 15,690-ton hybrid-powered ship built by Kleven in Ulsteinvik that began her maiden voyage on 6 April 2002, the third Hurtigruten ship to carry the name. She…
Kong Harald1993 · 11,204 GT · 577 guests · Norwegian FjordsKong Harald is an 11,204-ton coastal ship completed in 1993 and named for King Harald V of Norway; she is a sister of Richard With and Nordlys. She has 218 cabins, including two…
Midnatsol2003 · 16,151 GT · 570 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeMidnatsol is a 16,151-ton ship from 2003, built by Bruces Verkstad in Sweden and Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder in Norway and a sister of Trollfjord; she is the fourth Hurtigruten…
Nordkapp1996 · 11,386 GT · 473 guests · Norwegian FjordsNordkapp is an 11,386-ton Polarlys-class coastal ship built by Kleven Verft for Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab and placed in service on 2 April 1996. She is named after…
Nordlys1994 · 11,204 GT · 505 guests · Norwegian FjordsNordlys, whose name means northern lights, is an 11,204-ton coastal ship built by Volkswerft in Stralsund, Germany, and placed in service in April 1994 for Troms Fylkes…
Nordnorge1997 · 11,384 GT · 452 guests · Norwegian FjordsNordnorge, whose name means Northern Norway, is an 11,384-ton Polarlys-class ship completed by Kværner Kleven in Ulsteinvik and in service from 19 March 1997. For several years…
Polarlys1996 · 11,341 GT · 580 guests · Norwegian FjordsPolarlys is an 11,341-ton coastal ship built by Ulstein Verft in Norway and delivered in 1996, the namesake of a trio that also includes Nordkapp and Nordnorge. She first sailed…
Richard With1993 · 11,205 GT · 492 guests · Norwegian FjordsRichard With carries the name of the shipowner who started the Norwegian Coastal Express in 1893. Completed in 1993, she is an 11,205-ton sister of Kong Harald and Nordlys, with…
Trollfjord2002 · 16,140 GT · 500 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeTrollfjord is a 16,140-ton ship built in 2002 by Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder in Rissa, a sister of Midnatsol and the first of Hurtigruten's all-inclusive Signature ships. She is…
Vesterålen1983 · 6,261 GT · 274 guests · Norwegian FjordsVesterålen is the oldest and smallest ship in Hurtigruten's coastal fleet, a 6,261-ton vessel built at Harstad in 1983 and named after the company's first coastal steamship of…Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lofoten | 1964–2020 | 2,621 | December 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO)7 Hurtigruten ships sail from Bergen, Norway1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM)2 Hurtigruten ships sail from Hamburg, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)1 Hurtigruten ship sails from Oslo, Norway4 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Hurtigruten known for?
Hurtigruten is known above all for the scenery of the coastal route, the chance to see the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer, and the experience of traveling on ships that still carry local passengers and cargo. Reviewers often praise the Expedition Team's talks and excursions, the regional food and the steady rhythm of port calls, including stops in the middle of the night. Several of the older ships have been rebuilt with battery-hybrid power, which the line promotes as part of a lower-emission strategy.
Who is Hurtigruten best for?
Hurtigruten suits travelers who care more about the coast, nature and Norwegian daily life than about onboard entertainment: couples, solo travelers and older travelers who enjoy lectures, local food and a ship that stops often. One-way legs and the full round trip are an easy way to see much of Norway in a week or two, and the Signature ships add an all-inclusive option with Svalbard and North Cape routes.
Where does Hurtigruten sail?
Hurtigruten's ships in service sail Norwegian Fjords (10 ships) and Northern Europe (3 ships).
How many ships does Hurtigruten have?
Hurtigruten has 10 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Finnmarken, Kong Harald, Midnatsol, Nordkapp, Nordlys, Nordnorge, Polarlys and Richard With, and 2 more.
Who owns Hurtigruten?
Hurtigruten is part of Hurtigruten Group.
Where is Hurtigruten based?
Hurtigruten is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. It has operated since 1893.
What is Hurtigruten's loyalty program called?
Hurtigruten's past-guest loyalty program is 1893 Ambassador.
What is the largest Hurtigruten ship?
Midnatsol is Hurtigruten's largest ship at 16,151 gross tons, carrying 570 guests.
Cruising with children
Hurtigruten’s Norwegian coastal journeys invite families to travel together through changing scenery. Keep this product separate from HX expedition cruises when checking children’s policies.
Read the Hurtigruten family guide →