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.
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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
Premium · smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
- Couples
- History and culture
- Adventure seekers
- Solo travelers
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.
Cruising solo on Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten is a natural fit for solo travelers: small ships of a few hundred guests, full board, a route with 34 ports, and reduced single supplements on many Coastal Express departures. A handful of single cabins exist on Polarlys and Richard With. Book early for the lowest solo rates, and choose the 12-day round trip for the most sea time and company.
- Cabins for one
- Single-bed cabins on Polarlys and Richard With (limited)
- Single supplement
- Prices are based on two sharing; a solo guest pays a percentage of the cabin rate on top. Hurtigruten offers lowered single supplements on select 12-day, 7-day and 6-day Coastal Express and Signature voyages (not suites), with the eligible list changing monthly.
- Meeting other solo guests
- On many longer voyages all solo travelers are invited to an informal get-together in the ship's bar. Daily talks from the Expedition Team and small-group excursions are the other meeting points. No dedicated solo group trips.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 2/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 1/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 10 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Hurtigruten sails
Ships
Best rated
#12.7 ★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…
#22.7 ★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…#32.7 ★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…Every ship, by class
Polarlys class
3 ships · 1996–1997 · 11,341–11,386 GT · avg 2.7 ★
Other ships
7 ships · 1983–2003 · 6,261–16,151 GT · avg 2.7 ★
- Midnatsol2003 · 16,151 GT · 570 guests2.7/5
- Finnmarken2002 · 15,690 GT · 526 guests2.7/5
- Trollfjord2002 · 16,140 GT · 500 guests2.7/5
- Nordlys1994 · 11,204 GT · 505 guests2.7/5
- Kong Harald1993 · 11,204 GT · 577 guests2.7/5
- Richard With1993 · 11,205 GT · 492 guests2.7/5
- Vesterålen1983 · 6,261 GT · 274 guests2.7/5
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.
Is Hurtigruten good for solo travellers?
Hurtigruten is a natural fit for solo travelers: small ships of a few hundred guests, full board, a route with 34 ports, and reduced single supplements on many Coastal Express departures. A handful of single cabins exist on Polarlys and Richard With. Book early for the lowest solo rates, and choose the 12-day round trip for the most sea time and company.
Where does Hurtigruten sail?
Hurtigruten's ships in service sail Norwegian Fjords (10 ships) and Northern Europe (3 ships).
How is Hurtigruten rated?
Hurtigruten's fleet averages 2.7 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 10 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Finnmarken at 2.7.
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.
What ship classes does Hurtigruten sail?
Hurtigruten sails 1 class of ship in service: Polarlys class (3 ships), plus 7 ships not in a named class.
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 →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Hurtigruten? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $16.25; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Hurtigruten quotes.
A glass of house wine costs about kr 155 on board, roughly $16.25. Hurtigruten wine menu 2026 (PDF) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Hurtigruten.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
5drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 4.6 drinks at $16.25. Over 7 days that's $525, or 33 drinks for the cruise.
Too close to call
At 5 drinks a day you're within half a drink of break-even: the package would save you about $43.75. Buy it if you'd rather not watch the bill.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $568.75
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Hurtigruten and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- Cruise drinks packages: a $75-a-day package needs 6 drinks a day to pay for itself
Divide the package's daily price by what a drink costs on board. Port days, cabin rules and caps decide the rest.
News
- Solo expedition cruising with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions: low supplements on every departure
HX publishes a low solo supplement on every departure, from 25 percent, and drops it entirely on some. Nearly one in five of its guests travels alone.
Cruise lines
- Hurtigruten for solo travelers: reduced supplements, single cabins and the coastal route
Hurtigruten runs reduced single supplements on many Coastal Express sailings, keeps a few single cabins, and hosts solo get-togethers in the bar.
Cruise lines
- 5 things HX Hurtigruten Expeditions does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines
- 5 things Hurtigruten does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Hurtigruten, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines