When is a Cruise not a Cruise?

This is a voyage not a cruise.

It is about as far away from mass market cruising that you can get.  Is it luxurious? No. Is it all singing all dancing? No. Does it have some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway? Yes. Does it let you see the true Norwegian way of life? Yes.  I am here to dispel some of the myths about Hurtigruten and to help people to understand what they are about so that people are under no illusions of what to expect.

The company was first set up in 1893, at a time when the roads were not brilliant in Norway and many places were only accessible by boat. So, it stood to reason that the coast was the best way to move goods around the coastal communities.  They were not Tourist ships they were working ships.

It was only much later that they first started to think about the ships as a Tourist attraction as more and more people started to use them as part of their holidays.

Today they are still working ships but also carry a fair number of passengers as well.

I would describe these voyages as immersive, in that you get to immerse yourself in the true Norwegian way of life.  These voyages stop at 34 ports of call from Bergen to Kirkenes in the North.  They are still used for freight and people use them as a ferry service.

Scenery 2

They have 14 ships across the fleet and the  34 Ports, each have their own unique appeal for you to explore. You will not get to see every port as some dock in the dead of night, but if you do the round trip you may well get to see it on the way back.

The Ships consist of their Traditional Class such as the Ms Lofeten  and the MS Vesteralen which have between just 150 and 300 beds.

1964 was when MS Lofoten was put into service. She is today the oldest ship still operating the coastal route. In 2015 she was refurbished back to her classic style from the sixties, and is acknowledged as the pearl of the fleet. The public space on these is very limited and don’t expect things like stabilisers if the weather is rough. On the other hand, if you love sailing and want an adventure this could be right up your alley.

small ship

Then there are the mid generation class with an average of 450 beds. These have more outside public space. An example of this would be the Nordlys.

Then there are the Millennium class ships such as the Trollfjord with around 650 beds and much more in the way of panoramic public viewing areas with a large two-storey panorama lounge to let you make the most of the scenery whatever the weather.

Scenery 1

Not forgetting the new Explorer Class. The purpose-built Expedition ships ie the MS Fram with its 127 cabins. This ship has an observation lounge, with large panoramic windows, giving you incredible views. A pair of binoculars is installed for spotting wildlife and details of the ever-changing landscape. Four more of this class of ship are on order for 2018 onwards.

Most cabins are en-suite although there are a few which don’t have facilities on the Lofeten for example. They are very comfortable beds even if some are fairly basic.

It is all very causal on-board. Although some passengers choose to change for dinner, it is still smart / casual rather than formal. You are fine to go into dinner in your jeans if you wish. The emphasis on these voyages is the scenery and the wildlife.  So, if you are expecting cocktail parties and an opportunity to wear that ballgown then this is not the voyage for you.

Due to the locations they sail to, the weather can be unpredictable and changes quickly during the voyage or even on the same day. I would recommend being prepared with a layered dressing approach so you can layer up or down easily as required, especially if you are ashore.

It goes without saying as recommend by Hurtigruten that you should  always have rain and windproof clothing, a warm hat, gloves, scarf and thermal clothing may be useful in winter months in particular, together with thermal underwear.  On land where it may be icy, sturdy shoes are important for shore excursions and a walking/trekking pole may be useful. You should pack a pair of UV protective sunglasses, even during winter as the reflections of snow and ice can be harmful to the unprotected eye. An additional list of recommended clothing and equipment is sent out on selected departures. Many ships offer a jacuzzi on board, so take a swim suit.

Now to food.

Breakfast is served from 07:30 to 10:00 hours (open sitting).

Lunch from 12:00 to 13:00 hours (open sitting).

Dinner from 18:30 hours (set sitting).

During the high season, there may be several sittings for dinner. Your sitting will normally be allocated on your first evening with the times of the sittings shown on board. Full board starts with a buffet dinner on the evening of departure from Bergen and ends with a brunch on the arrival day back in Bergen.

The food on board is Norwegian and breakfast is buffet style with a plentiful selection of cold meats, cheese, eggs, bacon as well as cereals, fruit and freshly baked bread.  If you want to be an authentic Norwegian, then why not try the pickled herring!

Lunch is the famous ‘Cold Table’ with a tempting selection of marinated herring dishes, smoked fish, poached fish, cold meats, salads, some hot dishes, as well as desserts and fruit.

Dinner is a three-course set meal, where the main course is either meat or fish, generally served with potatoes and vegetables. There is not usually a choice of meal. On occasion, the ‘Cold Table’ may be served in the evening and the set meal at lunch time.

It is renowned for its excellent quality as the majority of the ingredients are locally sourced and fresh.

All Hurtigruten Ships are fully licensed. As the ships sail in Norwegian territorial waters, the prices on board are the same as in Norway so be warned. The Drinks can be expensive so if you see a book early offer which includes drinks it is well worth taking It up.

To give you an idea of the drinks prices on-board.

CAFÉ £
Tea £2.80
Coffee £2.80
Bottled Water £3.60
Fruit Juice £2.50
BAR/DINING ROOM PRICES
Bottled Beer (0.33 litres) £5.40
Draught Beer (0.4 litres) £6.60
Glass of Wine £7.70
Bottle of Wine from £37
1/2 Bottle from £23

There is no organised entertainment as such on these trips. People just meet in the bar/lounge and make conversation, not forgetting you will be sharing the space with people who are travelling for work etc so the diversity of passengers on board should make for interesting chats. As Hurtigruten put it ‘ The aim is to get closer to unique environments and share the experience with fellow passengers.’ They do have demonstrations from locals and some local acts that may come on board throughout the journey but this is not an organised arrangement so don’t expect too much. The exception being The Theme voyages which will be accompanied by lecturers as described.  Again, if you want Broadway shows, Pianists and comedians then this is not the trip for you.

I love the introduction to their website which states. ‘In 1911, Roald Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag at the South Pole. Now it’s time for you to plant yours.’

It truly is an opportunity to become an explorer and make use of the wealth of knowledge built up by Hurtigruten over the last 123 years.

I am often asked when is the best time to go to Norway? The answer to this is that it depends on what you want to do and see.

If you want to see the Northern lights the peak time is January to March. You can see them earlier and slightly later but peak time is January to March.  Don’t forget if you did not already know, Hurtigruten offer a Northern Lights Promise whereby if you do not see the lights they will give you a free 6/7 night trip to get another chance.

If you want to see the Midnight sun you need to travel in the summer months. June being the peak of this due to the longest day.

If you want adventure and wildlife, Hurtigruten offer a unique option with their explorer tours and wildlife safaris and these are set throughout the year in accordance with the theme of the cruise. In their words, ‘Whether you’re a first-time explorer or a seasoned adventurer, the dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable team members are a welcome addition to the voyages. The crew on Antarctica voyages are highly-trained and experienced. While many are geologists, biologists, glaciologists, photographers or historians and they all love to share their stories of adventure.’

It is your chance to get up close and personal with nature at its best.

Explorer pic

So whether you choose to do the most popular option of the Classic Round trip voyage or one of the artic highlights or short breaks, or whether you go for the full adventure mode explorer tour, Hurtigruten has an adventure for you.

When booking please bear in mind as I mentioned before that Hurtigruten ships function as working ships calling at ports around the clock. So, you will experience some noise and vibration in a few of the cabins during the loading of goods. This of course varies depending on the location of your cabin and the type of ship. Please ask for advice on location if this bothers you. You will meet people from all walks of life, so it is not your regular cruise crowd on-board.

Also, remember you will see some of the most stunning scenery, wildlife and natural phenomena in the world and you will have the adventure of a lifetime.

I have fond memories of Norway and can’t wait to go back.

Skjolden River The water really is this colour.

The water really is this colour.

For more information see the trips on our web page and read some of the customer reviews.

HURTIGRUTEN CRUISES

You can contact me on 0330 303 8266

Or email [email protected]

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About Me

I have worked in the Travel Industry for 33 years, ever since leaving school. My Dad was in the Navy so I guess I get my wanderlust from him. I was a Manager in a successful Travel Agency for 16 years before joining Cruise.co.uk. I am married and have a son who…

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