MS Vesterålen

MS Vesterålen has 133 cabins, including 3 suites, with space for 274 guests. If you count the local port-to-port travellers, there can be up to 516 passengers on board.

This allows for a comfortable onboard atmosphere, with plenty of space in restaurants, lounges and public areas – even when the ship is fully occupied.

MS Vesterålen offers a more intimate onboard experience with a simpler range of facilities than some of our larger ships. There are no hot tubs, sauna or dedicated lecture hall, and public spaces are more traditional in style, allowing the focus to remain on the coastal journey itself and the ship’s working heritage.

MS Vesterålen sails the same historic Coastal Express route as the rest of our Original fleet, calling at the same ports and offering the same core excursions.

What differs is the atmosphere on board. With fewer guests and closer access to the crew, the experience feels more personal and rooted in working coastal life.

Originally built in 1983, MS Vesterålen was most recently refurbished in 2025, building on earlier upgrades in 2022. The refurbishment refreshed cabins and public spaces while preserving the ship’s classic maritime character.

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship, including in your cabin and shared areas. Most cabins include a hairdryer (or can be borrowed from reception) and basic toiletries, such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Tea and coffee facilities are included in Arctic Superior cabins and Expedition Suites.

There are two restaurants on board, open for breakfast (07:00-10:00), lunch (12:00-14:00) and dinner (18:00 & 19:45).

  • Torget: Meaning “marketplace” in Norwegian, our main restaurant offers a variety in its menus for all three daily meals

  • Brygga: Our bistro serves easy-to-eat yet satisfying dishes such as fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas and burgers

English and Norwegian are the official languages, and are used for all announcements and lectures. Written information, such as menus and the daily programme, are also available in German and French.

Yes, we have basic medical facilities on our ships, and crew members are trained to handle medical emergencies. However, there is no doctor on board, so passengers with serious health conditions should prepare accordingly. Our ships stay close to land for urgent medical situations, but we are able to attend to minor medical issues on board.

The onboard currency is Norwegian kroner (NOK). You can pay for all onboard expenses using your cruise card, which will be given to you on check-in. At the end of your cruise, you can settle your bill using the card registered to your account – we accept Visa, Mastercard and Diners Card. Maestro and American Express are not accepted.

Yes. MS Vesterålen is suitable for wheelchair users, with step-free access to key public areas and four wheelchair-accessible toilets (on Deck 4, Deck 5 and Deck 7).

Accessible cabins with automatic doors are available but limited (cabins 313 and 317), so we recommend booking early. You can book accessible cabins online or through our Customer Service Centre.

Yes, you can bring your car on board MS Vesterålen, provided it fits within the ship’s vehicle deck limits and space is available. We recommend reserving vehicle space in advance, as availability is limited and varies by season.

Car capacity:

  • September-April: 8 spaces

  • May-August: 15 spaces

Maximum vehicle dimensions and weight:

  • Length: 540 cm/ 17.7 ft

  • Width: 230 cm/ 7.5 ft

  • Height: 190 cm/ 6 ft

  • Weight: 2800 kg/ 6,173 lbs

Please note that campervans, minivans and trailers cannot be accepted.

Bridge visits are typically organised up to twice during a voyage. Places can be limited if there is high demand. You can register with the Expedition Team on board.