MS Vesterålen
Freshly refurbished in 2025, MS Vesterålen holds a special place in the hearts of those who sail on her – despite being the smallest ship in our fleet.
About the ship
Named after our very first coastal steamship from 1893, MS Vesterålen has a classic style, bright decor and sense of intimacy.
With space for only 274 guests in cabins, this is small ship cruising at its finest. The 2025 refurbishment sees 100 cabins refreshed, including the addition of several new Arctic Superiors and Mini Suites. The onboard restaurants and panoramic bar have been renamed in line with our other Original Coastal Express vessels.
Click here to see the current location of MS Vesterålen.
Facilities
Free Wi-Fi
2 restaurants
Fitness room
Expedition Team
Meeting rooms
Life on board
During your voyage, our onboard Tour Leader will enhance your experience by offering engaging insights on the nature, wildlife, and culture you encounter along the way. You'll also enjoy the flavours of our home thanks to our Norway's Coastal Kitchen.
Your coastal experience
Look forward to a range of activities – from insightful lectures in English and German to carefully chosen hikes along the way.
Norway's Coastal Kitchen
The food and drink served onboard MS Vesterålen is freshly sourced from over 70 local farms, bakeries and producers around the country.
Restaurants on board
Torget
Meaning ‘marketplace’ in Norwegian, the main restaurant offers a variety for all three daily meals. For dinner, it provides either a buffet or set menus.
Brygga
The name of this bistro is the Norwegian word for ‘wharf’. It serves salads, pizzas and other crowd-pleasers with a Nordic twist.
Explorer Lounge & Bar
Settle into a comfy chair, sip a handcrafted cocktail and chat to fellow guests. With large windows and a glass ceiling, there’s no better place on the ship for watching the world go by.
Upcoming voyages
Compare MS Vesterålen's cabins
Mini suite for up to 2 travelers
Q2 Expedition Suite
These refurbished suites situated on the upper deck have separate bedroom, double bed, chair, TV, and coffee and tea facilities.
Upper deck for up to 2 travellers
U2D Arctic Superior
These cosy outside cabins on the upper decks accommodate up to two guests and feature a double bed, a TV, and coffee and tea facilities for your convenience.
Middle deck for 2 travelers
J2 Polar Outside
These comfortable outside cabins for up to 2 people on the upper or middle decks have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa, and a chair. Some cabins have limited or no view.
Cabin
In-room Facilities
Specification and deck plans: MS Vesterålen
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- Year built1983
- Ship yardKaarbø Mek. Verk.
- Beds274
- Length108.55 m
- Speed17.5 knots
- Year of refurbishment2022
- Capacity490
- Gross tonnage6,261
- Beam16.5 m
Frequently asked questions
These are the most common questions about the facilities and services on board our ships. There’s more info in our Help Center.
MS Vesterålen has space for 274 guests in cabins. If you count the local port-to-port travellers, there can be up to 490 passengers on board.
MS Vesterålen is a smaller ship, so you won’t find as many facilities like hot tubs or lecture halls. With fewer amenities, the cost of voyages is generally a bit lower.
No, it’s the same journey as our other Coastal Express ships. You’ll travel the same route, enjoy the same excursions, and experience the same great service from our crew and Expedition Team.
Our ships offer an intimate and immersive way to explore Norway’s dramatic coastline, which we have been sailing for more than 130 years. Given their smaller size, our ships can explore remote fjords and call at lesser-visited ports that are often not accessible by larger cruise ships. We are not your typical cruise line – our ships offer a more personalised journey, allowing for more scenic and cultural experiences.
MS Vesterålen was last refurbished in 2025, building on the updates made in 2022.
The official languages spoken on board are Norwegian and English. Some crew members also speak German and French, and other languages may be present based on the nationalities of the guests.
Yes, each of our ships has a limited number of accessible cabins. We ask that our guests are able to take care of themselves or travel with a companion who can assist them.
Yes, we have basic medical facilities on our ships, and crew members are trained to handle medical emergencies. However, the medical staff may be limited, so passengers with serious health conditions should prepare accordingly.
Dangerous goods such as weapons, explosives, and illegal drugs are prohibited. Additionally, certain liquids and food items are restricted to comply with international regulations. You can see the full list of prohibited items here.
We keep to a strict sailing timetable and cannot wait for late passengers, so please ensure that you are back on board in time. If you miss your ship, you will need to arrange transport by yourself and at your own expense to the next port on the schedule.
Although we offer several roundtrip voyages, you can also choose to customise your journey by travelling from port to port on our ships. You can choose which of the 34 ports we visit you get on and off – with either a one-way ticket or a return trip.
You can find our timetable and sailing times on our sailing plan. Alternatively, you can see our ships in real time on our ship locator map.