Hurtigruten

Over 130 years of sailing the Norwegian coast and the world’s most remote waters. Hurtigruten is expedition cruising built on real heritage – small ships, science-led exploration, and destinations most cruise lines simply cannot reach. From Antarctica to the Arctic, the Galapagos to the fjords, our advisors will help you find the right voyage for your bucket list.

Hurtigruten logo

Expedition Cruising Rooted in Norwegian Heritage

Hurtigruten has been sailing the Norwegian coast since 1893. What started as a postal and passenger service connecting remote coastal communities grew into something much bigger – a global expedition cruise line that takes travelers to places most people only see in documentaries. Antarctica, Svalbard, the Northwest Passage, the Galapagos Islands.

Their approach is different from mainstream cruising. Smaller ships. Onboard science teams. Zodiac landings. This is expedition travel for people who want to actually engage with the places they visit, not just sail past them. Hurtigruten also continues to operate the original Norwegian Coastal Express route, which remains one of the most iconic voyages anywhere in the world.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Hurtigruten: Expedition Cruises and the Norwegian Coastal Express

Fleet: Multiple expedition ships and coastal vessels, ranging from approximately 250 to 530 guests depending on the ship

Destinations: Norway, Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland), Antarctica, Alaska, Galapagos, Northwest Passage, British Isles, South America, and more

Home Ports: Bergen (Norwegian Coastal Express), plus various embarkation points worldwide depending on itinerary

Philosophy: Science-led expedition cruising with a deep commitment to the places and communities visited, built on over 130 years of Norwegian seafaring tradition

  • Expedition landings via small boats and Zodiacs (expedition voyages)
  • Onboard Expedition Team with lectures, workshops, and guided excursions
  • Full-board meals in multiple restaurants
  • Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket (expedition voyages)
  • Complimentary use of boots, trekking poles, and other equipment for landings
  • Science Center access and educational programming
  • Wi-Fi onboard
  • Self-service hot drinks throughout the day

  • 130+ years of experience navigating Arctic and Antarctic waters
  • Purpose-built expedition ships designed for polar and remote regions
  • Onboard Expedition Teams of scientists, historians, and naturalists
  • Small ship sizes mean access to ports and landing sites larger ships cannot reach
  • The original Norwegian Coastal Express – one of the world’s most iconic voyages
  • Hybrid-powered expedition ships in the fleet
  • A genuine focus on responsible travel and local community engagement

Main Dining Room: Full-service restaurant featuring multi-course meals with a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients from the regions visited

Fredheim / Casual Dining: Relaxed restaurant option with buffet and made-to-order dishes

Lindstrøm (select ships): Fine dining restaurant available for a supplement, serving tasting menus inspired by Norwegian culinary traditions

On-Deck Barbecue: Weather-permitting outdoor dining events, a highlight on many sailings

Hurtigruten takes food seriously. Norway’s culinary identity runs through the menus, and you will often find ingredients sourced from the very ports the ship visits that day.

Hurtigruten’s expedition ships offer a range of cabin categories. Inside cabins provide a comfortable base at an accessible price point. Outside cabins feature windows for natural light and scenery viewing. Balcony and suite categories offer private outdoor space – particularly worthwhile on polar voyages where the wildlife and landscape viewing is constant.

Arctic Superior cabins and expedition suites on the newer hybrid ships feature Scandinavian-inspired design, floor-to-ceiling windows, and premium amenities. All categories include daily housekeeping, TV, and private bathrooms. The Norwegian Coastal Express ships have their own cabin configuration, which varies by vessel.

Why Choose Hurtigruten

Since 1893

Expedition Heritage

Science-led voyages to Earth’s most remote places

  • 130+ years of polar navigation expertise
  • Onboard Expedition Team included
  • Small ships reaching remote landing sites
  • Full-board dining with local ingredients
  • Complimentary expedition jacket
  • Hybrid-powered ships in the fleet
  • Science Center and educational programming

What Makes an Expedition Cruise Different

Hurtigruten expedition ship near glacier with passengers on Zodiac boats

Zodiac Landings, Science Teams, and Wildlife Up Close

Expedition cruising with Hurtigruten is not a spectator sport. You board small Zodiac boats to reach shorelines where there are no docks. You hike across tundra alongside naturalists who can tell you what that bird is and why it matters. The onboard Expedition Team – biologists, geologists, historians – shapes the experience daily based on conditions, wildlife sightings, and opportunities that nature presents.

Itineraries are flexible by design. If a pod of whales appears off the port side, the captain may alter course. If weather opens a landing site that was questionable that morning, you go. That responsiveness is what separates expedition travel from a standard cruise itinerary.

Norwegian-Inspired Cuisine at Sea

Food on Hurtigruten is not an afterthought. Norwegian culinary traditions run through every menu, and the kitchen sources ingredients locally wherever the ship calls. On the Norwegian Coastal Express, this means fresh seafood quite literally from the ports you just visited.

The main restaurant serves full-board meals included in your fare. On the expedition ships, Fredheim offers a more casual setting. For a special evening, Lindstrøm (available on select ships) features tasting menus that draw on Scandinavian food culture. And then there is the on-deck barbecue, weather permitting – standing on the open deck eating freshly grilled food while surrounded by fjords or icebergs is the kind of moment you do not forget.

Hurtigruten expedition ship dining room with Scandinavian design and ocean views
Hurtigruten ship sailing along the Norwegian coast with snow-capped mountains

From the Norwegian Fjords to the Ends of the Earth

The range of where Hurtigruten sails is staggering. The Norwegian Coastal Express runs year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes, calling at 34 ports over 11 days – a voyage that has been running continuously since 1893. In winter, it is one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights. In summer, the Midnight Sun.

Their expedition fleet covers even more ground. Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Svalbard and the high Arctic. Greenland, Iceland, the Northwest Passage. Alaska, the British Isles, the Galapagos, and the coast of South America. These are not fly-by itineraries. Voyages are built around exploration, with time for multiple landings and immersive experiences at each destination.

Experience

What Sets Hurtigruten Apart

Unmatched Polar Expertise

No cruise line has more experience in Arctic and Antarctic waters. Hurtigruten’s captains and Expedition Teams have been navigating these regions for generations. That depth of knowledge means safer passages, better landing sites, and wildlife encounters that less experienced operators simply miss.

Science Center Onboard

Every expedition ship features a dedicated Science Center where guests can attend lectures, participate in citizen science projects, and learn from experts in marine biology, glaciology, and polar history. This is not a passive cruise. You leave knowing more than when you boarded.

Hybrid-Powered Innovation

Hurtigruten introduced the world’s first hybrid-powered expedition ships – MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen. These vessels can sail silently on battery power alone through sensitive ecosystems, reducing emissions and noise in the very environments guests have traveled thousands of miles to experience.

Hurtigruten expedition suite with Scandinavian design and ocean views

Scandinavian Design, Expedition Comfort

Hurtigruten’s newer expedition ships feature Scandinavian-inspired interiors – clean lines, warm wood tones, and natural materials that feel connected to the landscapes outside your window. It is functional and elegant without trying too hard.

Polar Outside cabins are the core offering on expedition ships. Arctic Superior cabins step things up with more space and upgraded amenities. Expedition suites provide a genuine premium experience with separate living areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, and some of the best views on the ship.

On the Norwegian Coastal Express ships, cabin configurations vary by vessel. Some are heritage ships with classic layouts, while others have been recently renovated. Our advisors know these ships firsthand and can match you to the right cabin on the right vessel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hurtigruten expedition fares include full-board meals in the ship’s restaurants, an onboard Expedition Team with lectures and guided excursions, Zodiac and small boat landings, a complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket, use of boots and trekking poles for landings, Science Center access, Wi-Fi, and self-service hot drinks. Inclusions vary slightly between expedition voyages and Norwegian Coastal Express sailings, so it is worth confirming the details for your specific voyage. Drinks packages, optional excursions, and spa services are available at additional cost.

The Norwegian Coastal Express is the original Hurtigruten route – a year-round voyage along the Norwegian coast between Bergen and Kirkenes, calling at 34 ports. It functions as both a passenger service and a sightseeing voyage, and it sails on a fleet of ships that range from heritage vessels to more recently refurbished ones. Expedition cruises, on the other hand, use purpose-built expedition ships to visit remote destinations like Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, the Galapagos, and Alaska. Expedition voyages include Zodiac landings, an Expedition Team, and science programming. Both are Hurtigruten, but the experiences are quite distinct.

Hurtigruten’s expedition fleet includes hybrid-powered ships like MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, plus MS Maud and MS Otto Sverdrup. These carry between roughly 250 and 530 guests depending on the vessel. The Norwegian Coastal Express fleet includes multiple ships operating the Bergen-Kirkenes route on a daily rotation. Ship sizes, ages, and configurations vary across the coastal fleet – some have been recently renovated while others retain a more traditional character. Our advisors can guide you to the right ship for your preferences.

The expedition fleet covers an extraordinary range. Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula. Svalbard. Greenland and Iceland. The Northwest Passage. Alaska. The Galapagos Islands. The British Isles. Norway (beyond the Coastal Express route). South America. The Norwegian Coastal Express sails year-round along the Norwegian coast. Each season brings a completely different experience – the Northern Lights in winter, the Midnight Sun in summer. This is one of the few cruise lines where the destination list genuinely spans pole to pole.

Dining on Hurtigruten leans into Norwegian culinary traditions and locally sourced ingredients. The main restaurant is included in your fare and serves multi-course meals. Fredheim offers a more casual setting with buffet and made-to-order options. On select expedition ships, Lindstrøm is a fine dining restaurant available for a supplement, featuring tasting menus rooted in Scandinavian cuisine. On-deck barbecues happen when conditions allow and are a genuine highlight. The Norwegian Coastal Express ships have their own dining setups, which vary by vessel but typically include a main restaurant and more casual options.

On the expedition ships, categories range from Polar Inside and Polar Outside cabins to Arctic Superior cabins and expedition suites. The newer hybrid ships feature Scandinavian-inspired design with natural materials and thoughtful layouts. Suites include separate living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Norwegian Coastal Express ships have their own cabin hierarchy, which varies by vessel age and recent renovations. Picking the right cabin on the right ship can make a meaningful difference to your experience, and that is something our advisors specialize in.

Absolutely. Hurtigruten is actually one of the best entry points into expedition cruising. The onboard Expedition Team handles all the logistics of landings and excursions – they brief you, kit you out, and guide you every step of the way. The ships are comfortable and well-equipped, so it does not feel rugged or extreme. And the Norwegian Coastal Express is an excellent stepping stone if you want a taste of Hurtigruten without committing to a full expedition voyage. That said, expedition voyages do book well in advance – typically 12 to 24 months out for popular routes like Antarctica. Planning ahead matters.

Yes. A valid passport is required for all Hurtigruten voyages, including the Norwegian Coastal Express and all expedition sailings. Many destinations – Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, the Galapagos – have specific entry requirements, and some countries visited along the way may require visas. Our advisors will walk you through the documentation requirements for your specific itinerary so there are no surprises at embarkation.

For expedition voyages to high-demand destinations like Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, and Svalbard, booking 12 to 24 months in advance is strongly recommended. Popular cabin categories on marquee sailings sell out quickly. The Norwegian Coastal Express has more frequent departures and slightly more availability, but peak season sailings (especially Northern Lights season and summer Midnight Sun voyages) also fill well ahead. Reaching out early gives you the widest choice of ships, cabin categories, and sailing dates.

Expedition cruising involves more planning than a typical cruise vacation – remote destinations, gear considerations, flight logistics, visa requirements, and cabin choices that genuinely affect your experience. Our advisors have firsthand knowledge of Hurtigruten’s ships and routes, and we will help you navigate all of it. Beyond the personalized guidance, booking through Harr Travel gives you access to group pricing 20-40% below published rates, weekly price monitoring on your booking, and a team that advocates for you from your first inquiry through your welcome home call. No booking fees, no consultation fees. Just experienced people who care about getting it right.

Your Expedition Starts Here

Hurtigruten takes you to places that rewrite your sense of what travel can be. Antarctica. The Arctic. The Norwegian coast in winter light. When you are ready to explore what is possible, our advisors at Harr Travel are here to match you with the right voyage, the right ship, and the right cabin – with insider pricing and firsthand expertise you will not find booking direct. Call us at 1-888-871-4233 or reach out online. Expedition voyages book early, so the sooner you start the conversation, the more options you will have.