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.
Hurtigruten has been awarded the official Made in Norway certification from the Norwegian government, recognising that our voyages are authentically Norwegian in origin, sustainable in practice and responsible in how we look after our employees and the communities we serve.
We've also been recognised by some of the most respected names in travel:
Which? Best Ocean Cruise Line – March 2025
The Telegraph Best Small Ship Cruise Line – 2025
The Travel Awards – Best Ocean Cruise Operator – 2025
Feefo Trusted Service Award – 2025
We've been caring for this coast for over 130 years – and we want to protect it for 130 more. Since 1893, Hurtigruten has led with responsibility, steadily reducing our environmental footprint as knowledge and technology have evolved. Today, that continues through two commitments we're proud of:
Sea Zero – working towards zero-emission operations and developing ‘the ship of the future’
Hurtigruten Foundation – our charitable arm set up in 2015 to support projects protecting nature, preserving culture and strengthening local life 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.