MS Vesterålen
Freshly refurbished in 2025, MS Vesterålen is our classic coastal ship offering you a more intimate way to sail Norway’s historic route, with space for just 274 guests.
About the ship
An intimate voyage along the Norwegian coast
Named after our first coastal steamship of 1893, MS Vesterålen keeps alive the spirit, craftsmanship and working rhythm that defined the earliest Coastal Express sailings.
Her 2025 refurbishment refreshed 100 cabins and introduced new Arctic Superiors and Mini Suites, while preserving her classic character that features plenty of polished brass and wood. Traditional décor and curated classical Norwegian art create the feeling of sailing aboard a floating gallery of coastal culture.
With around half the passenger capacity of our larger ships, life on board feels personal and unhurried. Guests enjoy closer access to the crew, with open bridge visits and informal talks that offer insight into navigation and daily life on a working coastal ship.
See the current location of MS Vesterålen with our ship locator.
Facilities
Free Wi-Fi
2 restaurants
Fitness room
Expedition Team
Meeting rooms
Life on board
A voyage on MS Vesterålen is relaxed, personal and rooted in maritime tradition. You'll find comfortable lounges, many adorned with traditional Norwegian art, and generous outdoor decks ideal for watching the coastline and wildlife. The onboard experience is intentionally more traditional and 'boutique' than on our larger ships. Facilities are appropriate – for example, there's a fitness room but no sauna, and lectures take place in shared common areas – allowing the focus to remain on the journey and the rhythm of this working coastal vessel. Throughout the voyage, the Expedition Team shares insights into the nature, wildlife and culture encountered along the coast.
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.
Your sailing experience
Enjoy a curated selection of excursions, insightful lectures in English and German, and a closer look at life aboard a working coastal vessel. Guided walks and informal onboard gatherings reflect the ship’s intimate scale.
Norway's Coastal Kitchen
Dining on board highlights ingredients sourced from over 70 local farms, fisheries, bakeries and producers along the coast. With two restaurants and the Explorer Lounge & Bar, the atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, in keeping with the ship’s traditional character.
Torget
Our main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed setting. Evening meals are offered as buffet or set menus, depending on the day’s sailing.
Brygga
An informal bistro serving lighter Nordic-inspired dishes, fresh salads and comforting classics – ideal for easy, casual dining throughout the day.
Explorer Lounge & Bar
Large windows and a glass ceiling make this a natural gathering place, perfect for enjoying a drink while taking in ever-changing coastal views.
Upcoming voyages
Compare MS Vesterålen's cabins
Mini suite on upper deck
Q2 Expedition Suite
Our refurbished mini suites sleep up to 2 guests and have separate bedroom with double bed, ample storage, seating area, TV, and coffee and tea facilities.
Double on middle or upper deck with window
U2D Arctic Superior
These comfortable, refurbished outside cabins for up to 2 people have a double bed, TV, hair dryer and coffee and tea facilities. Please note that some cabins may experience noise.
Twin on lower or upper deck with window (restricted view)
J2 Polar Outside
These comfortable outside cabins for up to 2 people have twin beds, one of which converts into a sofa, and a chair and desk. All come with a window for natural light, but the view is limited.
Cabin
Size (sqm)
9 - 10 m²
Bed
Double bed
Window
Window with full view
Seating area with sofa
Size (sqm)
9 - 10 m²
Bed
Double bed
Window
Window with full view
Seating area with sofa
Size (sqm)
9 - 10 m²
Bed
Twin beds
Window
No Window
Seating area with sofa
In-room Facilities
TV
Hairdryer
Toiletries
TV
Hairdryer
Toiletries
TV
Hairdryer
Toiletries
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 refurbishment2025
- 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 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.
Phone: +47 48 01 80 00
Email: [email protected]