Hurtigruten Ships Compared

While Hurtigruten isn’t one of the most famous ocean cruise lines, its cruises are still very popular thanks to the incredible range of discovery voyages that take you deeper into Norwegian culture. Hurtigruten also offers exploration cruises to exciting destinations around the world.

Whether it’s the beauty of the Norwegian Fjords, or the incredible sights of Antarctica, a Hurtigruten cruise can get you closer than ever – but how good are the ships? Do they offer plenty to see and do during the times at sea, or are these cruises purely about the destination?

Let’s find out by taking a closer look at all of Hurtigruten’s cruise ships…

How Many Hurtigruten Ships Are There?

There are currently 16 ships in the Hurtigruten fleet. Half of these ships sail under the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express brand, while the other half sail under the Hurtigruten Expeditions brand (rebranded as HX in December 2023)

The company actually has three distinct brands, although only two of these are related to cruising.

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express, as you might expect, offers sailings along the Norwegian coastline. A cruise on one of these ships could take you to beautiful port towns overlooked by majestic mountains, or right into the heart of Northern Lights territory.

Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX) cruises are also aptly named, as they offer itineraries to some of the more exotic locations on the planet, including the Panama Canal and the Antarctic as well as Norway and Northern Europe.

The third brand, Svalbard, is Hurtigruten’s land holidays brand that offers exciting expedition breaks around the Svalbard region.

Hurtigruten Ships By Size

How Big Are Hurtigruten Ships?

Compared to many other ocean cruise lines, Hurtigruten ships are not big at all. The biggest ships sailing for the cruise line have a gross tonnage of less than 10% of that of the world’s largest cruise ships, while the ship with the highest guest capacity can hold just 822 passengers.

Hurtigruten is not a cruise line that is going to be breaking records for the biggest ships in the world. That is not their focus at all. Instead, they look to sail to destinations those larger ships can’t reach – hence the smaller size.

Here’s a look at every Hurtigruten ship sailing for the cruise line, listed from biggest to smallest by gross tonnage (a measure of internal volume).

Ship Name	Type	Gross Tonnage	Length	Decks	Guest Capacity	Crew Capacity
MS Fridtjof Nansen	Expeditions	20,889 GT	140 m	9	528	150
MS Roald Amundsen	Expeditions	20,889 GT	140 m	9	528	150
MS Maud	Expeditions	16,161 GT	136 m	7	528	75
MS Trollfjord	Coastal Express	16,140 GT	136 m	7	822	75
MS Otto Sverdrup	Expeditions	15,690 GT	139 m	7	526	150
MS Fram	Expeditions	11,647 GT	114 m	7	250	75
MS Nordkapp	Coastal Express	11,386 GT	123 m	6	590	76
MS Nordnorge	Coastal Express	11,384 GT	123 m	6	590	70
MS Polarlys	Coastal Express	11,341 GT	123 m	6	619	64
MS Richard With	Coastal Express	11,205 GT	122 m	6	590	70
MS Kong Harald	Coastal Express	11,204 GT	122 m	6	590	70
MS Nordlys	Coastal Express	11,204 GT	122 m	6	590	70
MS Spitsbergen	Expeditions	7,334 GT	100 m	6	180	65
MS Vesteralen	Coastal Express	6,261 GT	109 m	7	490	50
MS Santa Cruz II	Expeditions	2,664 GT	72 m	5	90	50
MS Nordstjernen	Both	2,191 GT	81 m	4	108	40

The smallest ships in the Hurtigruten fleet are absolutely tiny when you compare them with many of the largest ships sailing for cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC and Carnival. They offer a completely different experience. With as few as 90 guests during your voyage you could get to know everyone on board.

The three largest ships in the fleet are HX edpeditions ships, but then so are the two smallest. The larger ones can sail more guests in comfort, while the smallest ships offer the chance to get so much closer to unique destinations.

Hurtigruten Ships By Age

What is the newest Hurtigruten ship?

The newest ship sailing for Hurtigruten is the MS Fridtjof Nansen, an Expedition ship that was built for the cruise line in 2020. She is the sister ship to the MS Roald Amundsen, a ship that launched a year earlier in 2019.

The age of the Hurtigruten fleet varies, but the cruise line has worked to make sure that all ships are refurbished to modern standards. While some of the ships may be old, they do offer a range of modern comforts.

Here’s a look at all the Hurtigruten cruise ships from newest to oldest:

Ship Name	Type	Year Built	Year Joined Hurtigruten	Last Refurbished
MS Fridtjof Nansen	Expeditions	2020	2020	N/A
MS Roald Amundsen	Expeditions	2019	2019	N/A
MS Spitsbergen	Expeditions	2009	2009	2016
MS Fram	Expeditions	2007	2007	2022
MS Maud	Expeditions	2003	2003	2021
MS Otto Sverdrup	Expeditions	2002	2002	2020
MS Santa Cruz II	Expeditions	2002	N/A*	2019
MS Trollfjord	Coastal Express	2002	2006	2023
MS Nordnorge	Coastal Express	1997	2006	2016
MS Nordkapp	Coastal Express	1996	2006	2016
MS Polarlys	Coastal Express	1996	2006	2016
MS Nordlys	Coastal Express	1994	2006	2019
MS Kong Harald	Coastal Express	1993	1993	2016
MS Richard With	Coastal Express	1993	1993	2018
MS Vesteralen	Coastal Express	1983	1983	2019
MS Nordstjernen	Expeditions	1956	2006**	2013

*MS Santa Cruz II technically has never joined the Hurtigruten fleet. She is a ship owned by the Metropolitan Touring Company, offering sailings around the Galapagos Islands. Hurtigruten charter the ship so regularly that they list her as one of their own on their website.

**MS Nordstjernen is not currently owned by Hurtigruten. She did join the fleet in 2006 for six years, before departing and being sold to Vestland Rederi, when she also gained protected status as a national heritage ship. Since 2015, Hurtigruten has chartered her every summer.

Hurtigruten Cruise Itineraries

Where Do Hurtigruten Ships Sail From?

Hurtigruten ships depart from a number of different ports, depending on their destination. Most Coastal Express cruise ships depart from Bergen or Kirkenes, but there are other Norwegian itineraries that also begin in Oslo.

HX cruises vary more, as they sail to different parts of the world. There are cruises that depart from the picturesque town of Longyearbyen to Iceland, while Panama Canal cruises often depart from Colon.

Cruises to Antarctica sail from Chile or Argentina, while itineraries around the north-east coast of North America often depart from Halifax. There are plenty of choices when it comes to Expedition cruises.

Do Hurtigruten Ships Sail From the UK?

Some Hurtigruten cruise itineraries depart from ports in the UK, including Liverpool, Glasgow, Portsmouth and Dover. Cruises from Liverpool, Glasgow and Portsmouth tend to be UK exploration cruises, while those from Dover sail to Norway.

If you don’t like flying but want to try a taste of the Hurtigruten cruise experience, then a cruise around the UK might be ideal – you’ll have the chance to visit cities that you may never have experienced and learn a huge amount about their history and cultural relevance.

Life On Board Hurtigruten Cruise Ships

Now we know how big and how old the Hurtigruten ships are, what’s life like when you’re sailing on board? Here’s a guide to some of the most important info you’ll need.

Do Any Hurtigruten Ships Have Balconies?

Many of the Hurtigruten ships don’t have balconies, especially the older ones – they often have only inside and outside cabins. A few ships have Suites with balconies, while the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen have Balcony Cabins as well as Suites with balconies.

The ships that have Expedition Suites with balconies are MS Fram, MS Maud, MS Otto Sverdrup and MS Spitsbergen. The MS Trollfjord has Suites, Grand Suites and Owner’s Suites although not all have balconies.

Can You Hop On and Hop Off Hurtigruten Ships?

You can hop on and off Hurtigruten Coastal Express ships if you want to spend more time exploring ports with some hotel stays. The itineraries are constant, and you can choose to pay for part of an itinerary if you only want to see some of the ports.

Hurtigriuten’s HX cruises work more like a traditional cruise – you book for the full itinerary. So you can’t hop on and off these itineraries.

What Currency Is Used on Hurtigruten Ships?

The official currency of a Hurtigruten cruise is the Norwegian Kroner, although most major currencies including British Pound Sterling and US Dollars can be exchanged on board. Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards are accepted, too.

If you’re sailing on a HX cruise, remember that you might need to carry local currency for your destination ports too – especially as some of the smaller, more unique destinations may not accept credit cards.

How Much Are Drinks on Hurtigruten Ships?

Drinks on a Hurtigruten ship are very expensive compared to other cruise lines – mainly because prices for drinks in Norway are also high compared to other countries. Expect to pay around £48 ($56) for a bottle of wine, or £10.50 ($12.50) for a bottled beer.

Hurtigruten does offer a drinks package, but it is only for drinks with dinner – you’ll need to book a Platinum fare, although you do get a number of extra benefits, including all speciality dining also being included.

Are Gratuities Included on Hurtigruten Cruises?

Gratuities are not included on a Hurtigruten cruise. On Coastal Express sailings, there is a no-tipping policy – you don’t need to tip. On Expeditions voyages, a tip of 80 NOK per passenger per day is suggested.

That works out at around £6 per person per day, or $7.20, at the time of writing. That’s quite low compared to the recommended gratuities on other cruise lines – tipping is not seen as a huge part of the culture in Norway. It’s worth noting that the NOK fell drastically in value between 2022 and 2023, so could recover in the future and increase the GBP/USD rates.

Is There Free WiFi on Hurtigruten Ships?

WiFi is available on Hurtigruten ships, but it is only free if you book on a Select or Platinum fare. If you book a Basic fare, you’ll have to pay to use the WiFi onboard. Some cruises travelling to remote locations may not offer WiFi throughout the cruise.

Because the ships often sail to destinations away from major cities and ports, a regular WiFi signal can’t be guaranteed. It’s a good idea to approach a Hurtigruten cruise as a chance to switch off for a while, since you may find that you don’t have a good internet signal for much of the voyage.

Do Hurtigruten Ships Have Gyms?

Despite being smaller vessels designed for destination cruises, the majority of Hurtigruten ships have a gym of some kind. Some of the gyms are quite small, and guests may need to wait their turn to use their preferred machines.

The best gyms are those features on the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen, the newest ships in the fleet. These are panoramic rooms with amazing views, the perfect place to keep fit and healthy with breathtaking scenery to entertain you.

The Hurtigruten ships in the fleet that do not have a gym are the MS Kong Harald and the MS Nordstjernen.

Which Hurtigruten Ship Is the Best?

Currently, the best Hurtigruten ships are the two newest – the MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen. They’re the newest in the fleet and offer some beautifully-appointed facilities, including great accommodation choices and plenty to see and do during your voyage.

However, the refurbishment of the MS Trollfjord may give them a run for their money – this is one of the largest refurbishments in Hurtigruten’s history, with a complete makeover for some of the accommodations and public areas to bring them right up to modern standards.

To Conclude

Cruising with Hurtigruten feels quite unique when compared to many of the other ocean cruise lines. She has the same size ships as some of the ultra-luxury lines, but don’t expect to be spoiled with six-star service here.

Instead, you’ll enjoy a holiday of mental enrichment – the chance to visit unique destinations and be educated on them by Hurtigruten’s exceptionally knowledgeable crew. Service may not be six star, but you will be well looked after.

Just don’t expect ships to be packed with things to entertain you – there are some facilities, but you have to approach a Hurtigruten cruise as one where you can escape the excitement of modern life and embrace the sense of adventure.

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