We Recommend
Oslo - Honningsvåg - Oslo (Roundtrip)
The North Cape Line
All-inclusive winter cruise to Norway’s North Cape, chasing the Northern Lights
- September 2026 - December 2027
- 15 days
- 13 Ports
- All meals & unlimited selected drinks
What Hurtigruten is not
No casinos, no cabarets, just front-row seats to Norway’s coast. A Hurtigruten voyage is not your average cruise: here’s why.
Loud evening entertainment, captain’s dinners with formal dress codes and thousands of guests. Commercial cruise ships aren’t to everyone’s taste. But a Hurtigruten voyage is a different kind of cruise.
From the small-ship atmosphere to the knowledgeable Expedition Team, our voyages are relaxed, comfortable and distinctly Norwegian. Attend fascinating talks about Norway’s nature and history, chat with likeminded travellers and local passengers, and sample delicious Scandinavian cuisine as you sail past never-ending coastal views.
A large cruise ship can be full of distractions, but we leave out the unnecessary extras and make Norway the star of the show. That’s the reason you’re here, after all.
Not a floating resort
No casinos or cabarets No kids’ clubs No loud music
There’s no need for magic shows when the view outside is as captivating as ours, and our small ships give you front row seats. Relax in the lounge as you sail past snow-capped mountains. Or enjoy a drink in the panoramic bar until the sun sets – if it does at all, thanks to the Midnight Sun.
Communal spaces, such as the onboard restaurants, bar or café, are quietly comfortable. There’s no loud music, just the chatter of friends playing cards or strangers making new connections.
And of course, families are welcome. But you won’t find a kids’ club onboard, so parents with younger children may prefer to bring games or colouring books to keep little ones busy for longer sailing times between ports.
No two days the same
No consecutive sea days No repeat experiences
Whichever route you sail, the views are always changing. On a Signature voyage, you’ll wake up in a new handpicked destination each day, while on our historic Coastal Express route, you’ll visit 34 ports along the Norwegian coast – with different views not just every day but every hour.
From verdant fjords to rugged cliffs to scattered islands, our ships’ full-height windows present an ever-changing show of natural beauty, in every season. And unlike ocean-going cruises, there are no consecutive sea days: Norway’s incredible coastline is never far away.
Attend the daily briefing led by the Expedition Team, our experts of the coast, and learn more about Norway’s fascinating nature, history and geology. Choose from over 100 optional excursions to enrich your experience – including guided hikes, kayaking, RIB tours and more. And there’s plenty to enjoy out on deck too. From food and drink tastings, where you can sample fenalår (cured lamb leg) and aquavit, to the infamous Arctic Circle crossing ceremony – our voyages allow you to dive in and embrace Norwegian culture.
Make it yours
No one-size-fits-all itinerary
From curated Signature voyages with longer port stops to the historic Coastal Express route, there are plenty of Hurtigruten cruises to choose from. Once you’ve chosen your ship and route, it’s easy to add flights, hotels and transfers with our travel packages.
Enhance your adventure with optional excursions. Whether you fancy learning more about Norway’s Viking heritage, going ice fishing for king crab, or snowmobiling in the High Arctic, you can make your trip as relaxing or adventurous as you like!
Back onboard, there are add-on dining and drinks packages for extra value, and it’s easy to upgrade your cabin, subject to availability. Each day, you choose whether to step ashore or to relax onboard. You decide which lectures or events to attend. With Hurtigruten, cruising Norway your way has never been easier.
Dining the Scandinavian way
No gimmicky restaurants No repetitive menus No formal dress codes
On our ships you won’t find themed restaurants or all-you-can-eat junk food. We Norwegians simply enjoy good food and drink, with a focus on high-quality ingredients. We share that joy through our selection of dishes in our onboard restaurants: fresh salads and hot dishes at the buffet, baked goods at the café and modern European cuisine at the fine dining restaurant.
Expect new menus daily with a roster of dishes and seasonal ingredients sourced from the very coast you’re sailing along.
And wherever you’re dining, guests love Hurtigruten voyages for their famously relaxed, informal atmosphere. There’s no formal dress code, no pomp. Just great service and delicious food served by our friendly crew.
Learn more about the restaurants on our Signature and Original voyages.
Small ships and fewer crowds
No ships over 140m No tender boats (except in Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord)
Our small, purpose-built ships sail close to the coastline – sometimes just metres from towering cliffs – and dock in quiet villages and working ports. Not only does their compact size allow for greater connection to Norway, but it also means fewer crowds. An average-sized cruise ship can carry up to 3,000 people, and larger ocean liners can even hold 5,000. Our ships’ guest capacity sits at around 500 people, with plenty of space for dining, relaxing and watching the view.
Unlike larger cruise ships, we don’t require tender boats to take you to land. You’ll step right off your Hurtigruten ship into a working port, often within walking distance to town, or straight into the heart of a fishing community. The only exceptions are Geirangerfjord and Hjørundfjord, where a tender boat is needed to take you to the narrow end of the fjords.
Beyond the fjords
No box-ticking itineraries No tourist traps
A voyage with us isn’t a fjord cruise – we go further and deeper. On The Coastal Express we show you the full length and variety of Norway’s coastline. You’ll visit more places and see different types of scenery: skerries, islands, forests – and the fjords, of course.
On The Arctic Circle Explorer, you spend the whole voyage above the Arctic Circle, visiting Arctic towns and cities, and chasing the Northern Lights under the Auroral Zone. Or for an in-depth exploration of Norway’s iconic Western Fjords region, opt for The Inner Fjords Explorer route.
On all our voyages, you can step straight off the ship into a historic city or working port, rather than disembarking an ocean liner in a remote dock with thousands of other people. Our ships deliver cargo, post and loved ones to remote communities, so we are welcomed, rather than simply tolerated. It’s not a tourist trap; it’s an insider view of Norwegian coastal life.
Considered, not excessive
No extra charge for WiFi No unnecessary single-use plastic
Cruise ships are commonly associated with excess and extra charges, but we do things differently. On an Original voyage, full-board dining is included as standard, with soft drinks and alcoholic drinks available to purchase. On Signature voyages, food and drink are all-inclusive (except at Røst, our fine-dining restaurant). On both Original and Signature, free WiFi is available throughout the ship, including in your cabin.
To combat excess, our kitchens are committed to minimising wastage through the Towards Zero Food Waste initiative – a circular approach that rethinks how food is prepared, enjoyed and returned to the earth. And in 2018, we entirely removed unnecessary single-use plastics across our fleet.
Small ship cruising in Norway with Hurtigruten
FAQs: What Hurtigruten is not
Is Hurtigruten suitable for families?
Yes! Children are welcome on all Hurtigruten ships and routes. But families with younger children should know that there are no dedicated kids’ clubs or activities. There are plenty of relaxed communal spaces where families can play board games, enjoy jigsaws and other tabletop-based activities.
Our Original itineraries have plenty of port stops per day (from just 10 minutes up to 4 hours) for families to step ashore and explore.
Our Signature itineraries all feature longer port stops (usually over 6 hours each), giving families plenty of time to enjoy new activities and keep children busy.
Do I need to dress up for dinner?
No, not at all. Of course, you can dress up if you want to, but we don't believe in formal dress codes on board. Simply wear what you feel most comfortable in.
Is WiFi included in the price?
Yes. Free WiFi is available onboard in all areas, including your cabin.
Do you sail into every fjord along the route?
No. Norway’s coastline has over 1,000 fjords, so this would be nearly impossible! The Coastal Express route regularly visits several fjords, such as Hjørundfjord in spring and Geirangerfjord in summer.
Our Signature Inner Fjords Explorer route sails into the most fjords of any of our itineraries. Choose this voyage if you want to see some of Norway’s most iconic fjords, including Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord.
Is the Coastal Express a ferry?
Yes and no! The Coastal Express acts as a ferry for local Norwegians travelling from port to port, but it is so much more than that. For guests embarking on our Original voyages, it’s an incredible journey along Norway’s historic coastal route. It’s everything you want from a cruise, with comfortable cabins and fantastic meals included, but with a deeper connection to Norway.
Unlike a passenger ferry, there are restaurants with world-class food and drink, fascinating lectures and talks from the Expedition Team, and a variety of excursions designed to showcase the best of Norway.
Our Signature ships are certainly not akin to a ferry. Each Signature voyage is an elevated, front-row experience to Norway’s highlights, with all-inclusive food and drinks, and enhanced onboard guiding.