Nordlys
Sails from Bergen, Norway · Fly into BGO
Page updated
Nordlys in Molde harbor · Photo: Aldebaran, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Nordlys
Nordlys is a Hurtigruten cruise ship, in service since 1994. She measures 11,204 gross tons and carries 505 guests with a crew of 55. She sails Norwegian Fjords itineraries. We rate her 2.7 out of 5.
Nordlys, 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 Dampskibsselskap, one of the companies later merged into Hurtigruten. She is a sister of Kong Harald and Richard With, with 200 cabins and beds for 505 guests. Now a battery-hybrid ship, she was refurbished in 2019 and again in 2024, and her interior design takes its cue from the aurora. She sails the Original Bergen–Kirkenes coastal route year-round.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 505
- Crew 55 · 1:9.2
- Entered service
- 1994
- Refitted 2024
- Length
- 122 m
- Shorter than 79% of 575 ships
Nordlys is smaller than 72% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 57%. At 22.2 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 80% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 1/5, fleet average 1.0
- Value
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Hurtigruten fleet average across 10 rated ships in service.
More from Hurtigruten
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
2.7 ★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…
2.7 ★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…
2.7 ★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…Official deck plans
Photos
Nordlys in Molde harborPhoto: Aldebaran, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
Home port: Bergen, Norway.
Flying in for your cruise?
Nordlys sails from Bergen, Norway. The airport is Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO), with 1 lounge to wait in before you board.
The lounge at Bergen Airport, Flesland on Lounge FrogEvery ship sailing from Bergen, NorwayQuick answers
Which cruise line operates Nordlys?
Nordlys is operated by Hurtigruten.
How big is Nordlys?
Nordlys measures 11,204 gross tons and 122 metres in length.
How does Nordlys compare in size with other cruise ships?
Nordlys is smaller than 72% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 57%. At 22.2 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 80% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Nordlys feel?
Nordlys has a passenger space ratio of 22.2: 11,204 gross tons for 505 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Nordlys feels busy for her size.
How many passengers does Nordlys carry?
Nordlys carries 505 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 55 (about 9.2 guests per crew member).
When did Nordlys enter service?
Nordlys entered service in 1994 and was last refurbished in 2024.
Where does Nordlys sail?
Nordlys sails Norwegian Fjords itineraries. Her home port is Bergen, Norway.
Which airport should I fly into for Nordlys?
Nordlys sails from Bergen, Norway. Fly into Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO), which has 1 airport lounge listed on Lounge Frog.
Where can I find the deck plans for Nordlys?
Hurtigruten publishes the deck plans for Nordlys; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).
How is Nordlys rated?
Cruises Frog rates Nordlys 2.7 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on service (4/5) and lowest on pools & decks (1/5).
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Nordlys
- 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