Meet your onboard team
Our crew and Expedition Team members are mostly locals from the Norwegian coast, whose stories, knowledge and warmth will make your voyage an unforgettable experience.
Many of the crew, restaurant staff and Expedition Team members that you’ll meet on board a Hurtigruten voyage are from the very places we visit along the Norwegian coast. And one thing we all have in common is a passion for working for Hurtigruten. In many cases, it’s been an ambition since childhood.
We believe that when you choose to visit our home, you deserve to be treated like an honoured guest. That’s why we take you to places that we love, like hidden fjords and tucked-away villages. We tell you our stories, show you the natural wonders that inspire us, and share with you the best local foods fresh from our seas, farms and mountains.
Welcome to our home
It’s this sense of connection to the coast that sets us apart. Since our beginnings as a steamship company in the 19th century, we’ve been part of Norwegian coastal life bringing mail, cargo, passengers, and dreams to communities small and large.
Many people have grown up watching our ships pass them by, steady as the tides, a reassuring sight for generations. Naturally, this gives us a level of expertise that you won’t find elsewhere, and we want to share it with you.
Stop to chat with almost anyone working on board and you’ll likely hear a fascinating detail about life along Norway’s coast. This familiarity means we know exactly when to pause to watch a whale (and still arrive at our next port on time); when conditions are right to slip into impossibly narrow fjords; and when to dim the deck lights so you can see the aurora.
Take Ann Kristin, who serves guests in the Flora restaurant aboard MS Trollfjord. She is typical of our crew when she says: "I grew up near Lofoten and would see the ships pass. For me, working on board is like a paid holiday, and I love seeing our guests reconnect with nature in our tranquil corner of the world."
She is not alone in voicing this sentiment. From cleaners to captains, you’ll experience this friendliness throughout your voyage – and by journey’s end, you’ll likely feel you’ve made new friends. You’ll see crew members like Ann getting on and off at ports of call – home to them – and they’ll help you to feel like a part of it all.
I grew up near Lofoten and would see the ships pass. For me, working on board is like a paid holiday, and I love seeing our guests reconnect with nature in our tranquil corner of the world.
Your hosts along the coast: the Expedition Team
Every voyage is accompanied by our Expedition Team – local experts who help you see and understand Norway more deeply. Through stories, talks and guided moments, they bring the coast vividly to life.
Each member brings their unique insight, and they share this with you through engaging lectures and time spent together on deck and ashore.
Martin Emhjellen, the Expedition Team Leader aboard MS Finnmarken, explains what motivates him on every voyage: "My passion for Norway shapes every story I tell and every experience I share. It’s not just about showing guests the beauty of this country; it’s about helping them feel it, understand it and carry a piece of it with them."
And it’s this kind of conviction, blended with local expertise, that makes your Expedition Team unique.
On board, you’ll recognise the Expedition Team by their distinctive clothing, and they’re always there to answer questions, offer tips, and explain Norway whenever you need. They also have their own area, usually on an upper deck, where they can advise you on excursions and take your bookings.
Your Expedition Teams
Meet the Expedition Teams on board our ships and discover the people who bring Norway’s stories to life:
Your captains: safely sailing the seas they know so well
Every Hurtigruten voyage is guided by captains who know Norway’s coastline as intimately as their own back gardens. Most grew up in coastal communities, learning to read the sea from an early age; its moods, its light, its shifting weather.
Their expertise is matched by a deep respect for nature and an unwavering commitment to safety. Many began their careers on our ships as apprentices, rising through the ranks with skill and pride. Today, they sail with quiet confidence, navigating fjords and open waters alike, keeping our tradition of seamanship alive, season after season.
Captain Kai Albrigtsen, of MS Finnmarken, is one such local for whom working for Hurtigruten was a natural progression.
I was born and raised in Stokmarknes. As Hurtigruten is a major part of the area's identity, it was never a question for me what to become. I decided to be a part of this history and started as a galley boy in July 1980. My first ship was the Finnmarken which is now a part of the museum – it’s great to have my first ship nearly in my backyard!
Visit the Bridge on any Hurtigruten ship and you’ll soon see it’s not just the Captain doing the sailing. In fact, there’s a whole team of officers and navigators on duty every minute of the day and night, guiding your ship through the sometimes-complex waterways between islands, coasts and fjords.
If you’re aboard MS Trollfjord, you might bump into 2nd Navigation Officer Anders Torheim. Growing up in Stavanger in the south of Norway, Anders has had a fascination with ships and navigation since he was a boy.
When he was just seven years old, his parents and grandparents took him on his first Hurtigruten voyage. Young Anders was taken on a tour of the bridge on MS Trollfjord by the Captain and posed for a photo in the navigator’s seat. Little did he know at the time, but 20 years later he’d be sitting in that same chair – this time wearing an officer’s uniform.
I’ve always been fascinated by the sense of exploring. I think that’s why I was drawn to charts and navigation and sailing. I love the way the scenery changes on this route, and the different seasons. And, for me, these are the perfect ships to sail along Norway’s coast.
We all welcome you aboard
You’ll get a warm welcome from everyone on board when you join your Hurtigruten voyage. There’s an informal atmosphere on our ships and you’ll soon discover that our crew, service staff and Expedition Team members are all there to help you have the best experience possible.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us, or take a look at our most frequently asked questions below.
Frequently asked questions
Most of the crew and Expedition Team members are from Norway. A few are from elsewhere in the world but will have a deep bond with Norway. As we sail under the Norwegian flag, all our crew enjoy the high standards afforded by Norwegian maritime laws, which include a healthy work-life balance and good pay conditions.
It depends on the ship. Our Original Coastal Express fleet sails with a three-person team: an Expedition Leader, an Assistant Expedition Leader and a Nature or Culture Guide. On MS Vesterålen, the smallest ship in our fleet, the team is made up of two members.
Our Signature ship MS Trollfjord has a six-person Expedition Team, ready to share their knowledge, stories and love of the coast with you.
Norwegian and English are the main working languages on board. Some team members also speak German, and on MS Richard With and MS Trollfjord, a few speak French too.
On the Original Coastal Express, expect around 10-15 lectures per full voyage on topics as diverse as history, wildlife, geology and the Northern Lights (in winter) or the Midnight Sun (in summer).
On our Signature voyages, you’ll enjoy daily lectures covering several fascinating themes. Topics vary by day, from fjords and Viking history to polar bears and life in the Arctic. Most lectures are recorded, so you can watch them later in your cabin if you can’t make it.
Every day brings something new. You might join a talk about the coast’s culture, history, or wildlife – or perhaps take part in a photo workshop and learn how to capture the light just right. There may also be art workshops, with activities such as painting and rune-carving on offer. Out on deck, the team leads guided sessions and wildlife spotting, giving short talks on passing points of interest such as mountain ranges or tidal currents.
Most talks and on-deck sessions are included in your voyage, so there’s no need to book. Optional excursions can either be reserved at the time of booking or on board through the Expedition Team when you’re on ship. But these are subject to availability, so it’s recommended to pre-book any popular excursions (such as dog sledding and sea kayaking) to avoid disappointment.
No. Tipping is not expected on a Hurtigruten voyage. If you really would like to leave a tip for a crew member for exceptional service, then you may do so. But please know that any tips are shared out equally among the crew members – including those you may not see but who keep the ship functioning and everyone safe!