About Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten is a different kind of cruise company. For generations, we have been a lifeline along Norway’s coast.
For more than 130 years, our small ships have sailed closer to the coast than any other cruise line. Close enough to slip into hidden fjords. Close enough to dock at tiny villages, sometimes just 20–30 metres from towering cliffs. Bigger ships sail miles offshore and miss all of this. We never do.
We're not guests here – we belong, woven into the fabric of the coast. And when you sail with us, you belong too.
In 1893, Captain Richard With launched hurtigruten – the fast route – along Norway's vast and rugged coastline. At the time, travel was slow and fragmented. With his sailor Anders Holte, he charted a reliable route that could be sailed day and night, transforming life along the coast. People, post and goods could now move the length of Norway in days rather than weeks.
More than 130 years later, that same spirit of connection still defines everything we do. Our ships are a reassuring sight for coastal communities who have grown up watching them pass, steady as the tides.
For more than 130 years, we've connected communities along Norway's coast. Today, we're focused on reducing emissions, supporting coastal communities and helping protect the places we visit through long-term initiatives and partnerships.
Two examples are:
Sea Zero – a programme that helped to prove the viability of emissions-free ships operating along Norway’s coast. The research and development phase of this project was completed in the spring of 2026.
Hurtigruten Foundation – established in 2015 to support projects that protect nature, preserve cultural heritage and strengthen local communities along the Norwegian coast and in Svalbard.
Our ships are more than a tourist experience – they're critical infrastructure. For many coastal communities, especially in winter, we're the sole daily cargo provider and often the only reliable transport link when roads are vulnerable or closed.
Since our beginnings in the 19th century, we've been part of Norwegian coastal life – carrying mail, cargo, passengers and provisions to communities large and small. People have grown up watching our ships pass by, steady as the tides. That hasn't changed.
Yes, we can send you a printed brochure by post. Click here to browse our most recent brochures, which you can order in print or read online.