The History of Hurtigruten - Sailing in the Wake of Giants
In the late 19th century, the 780-mile coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was a busy route for transportation of goods and people, operated by all types of vessels from steamers to the single-sailed ‘jakts’. But services were unreliable, infrequent and ships rarely sailed at night, making a journey between north a south a long and arduous one.
The authorities wanted to improve the situation and invited shipping companies to submit tenders for operating an express route between Trondheim and Tromsø, or Hammerfest, depending on the season. At that time there were only 28 lighthouses north of Trondheim, making nighttime sailing very risky. But the owner of a newly formed company showed an interest in the route despite the hazards.
This man was Richard With, from Stokmarknes, in northern Norway. In 1893, Captain Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesteraalen, was brought into service along the coast of Norway, and a regular sea link was established. The service offered weekly departures, at first from Trondheim to Hammerfest and later from Bergen to Kirkenes, the latter in only seven days. With named this important connection “hurtigruten,” - "the fast route".
Richard With's eagerness to explore did not stop at the Norwegian coast. His ambitions were significantly higher. As early as 1896, he transported a prefabricated hotel from the mainland to Svalbard. He placed it outside Longyearbyen on what is still called “Hotellneset” ("Hotel Point"). The same year, Richard With established the "Sportsman's route" from Hammerfest on mainland Norway to Svalbard, serviced by the steamer DS Lofoten. Its captain was Otto Sverdrup, who later became Fridtjof Nansen's legendary commander of the polar vessel Fram.
This marks the beginning of Hurtigruten's adventurous and unique explorer operations. Our destinations are no longer limited to Spitsbergen, but include Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica. Hurtigruten’s eleven coastal ships still carry freight and guests along the coast of Norway to 34 daily ports of call. Our captains have extensive maritime expertise and experience and bring guests and goods safely from port to port. Every day one of our ships departs Bergen heading north to Kirkenes.
The full round trip lasts 12 days and is of many called “the world’s most beautiful voyage”. Today, as they have been more than 120 years, our ships are the best way to explore the Norwegian coast, its nature and culture.
Timeline of Hurtigruten's History
1893
Captain Richard With establishes a steamship service to link northern and southern Norway – Hurtigruten.
1896
Hurtigruten’s founder, Richard With opened a hotel on Spitsbergen, and the Hurtigruten “Sportsman’s Route” was put into operation between Hammerfest and Svalbard with DS Lofoten.
1898
The route along the Norwegian coast was extended to the south and included Bergen with one weekly departure.
1908
Kirkenes, near the Russian border, became the northern turning point of the coastal voyage.
1922
The Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos became/got regular stops.
1925
DS Dronning Maud was the first ship with cabins that had running water and a separate ventilation system.
1936
A ship left Bergen every day. Each year, more than 230,000 passengers travelled onboard the fleet, which comprised 14 ships.
1937
All Hurtigruten ships were equipped with a radio transmitter.
1952
Since 1949, seven new ships had been added to the fleet. The entire fleet transported 500,000 passengers a year. The distinction between classes was done away with.
1964
MS Lofoten was put into service. After 55 years of sailing the Norwegian coast every day and every season, MS Lofoten stopped her daily service between Bergen and Kirkenes in December 2020.
1968
Hurtigruten started an express route to Spitsbergen in the summer months.
1982/1983
The new vessels MS Vesterålen, MS Midnatsol and MS Narvik replaced older ships. The Midnatsol was the first of our ships to have a side hatch for easier loading and unloading.
1993
Hurtigruten celebrated its 100th birthday. Eleven ships were in regular service permanently.
2001
MS Lofoten was given protected status by the Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage.
2002
MS Nordnorge sailed to the Antarctic Peninsula for the first time. Two new ships, MS Trollfjord and MS Finnmarken, made their maiden voyages along the Norwegian coast.
2003
The new MS Midnatsol was christened in Hamburg.
2007
The new Hurtigruten expedition ship, MS Fram, was ceremoniously christened by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit in Oslo before her maiden Hurtigruten voyage to Greenland.
2010
As well as exploring Greenland and the waters of the Antarctic, MS Fram started operating along the coast of Spitsbergen.
The customer loyalty programme “1893 Ambassador“ was introduced worldwide.
2011
The northbound journey of MS Nordnorge from Bergen to Kirkenes from 15 to 22 June was broadcasted live on Norwegian television. At 134 hours, 42 minutes and 45 seconds in length, it made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest live broadcast.
2013
Hurtigruten’s 120th anniversary was celebrated.
2015
Hurtigruten expands the fleet with an explorer vessel. The fleet now counts 13 vessels.
2016
Hurtigruten doubles its capacity in Antarctica. Now both MS Fram and MS Midnatsol spend the winter in Antarctic waters.
2018
Hurtigruten celebrates its 125-years anniversary by announcing the ban of unnecessary single-use plastic on all ships, restaurants and hotels. What started as a local transportation company in 1893, now operates a fleet of custom built expedition cruise ships, exploring over 200 destinations in 30 countries worldwide.
2019
Hurtigruten launches the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship: MS Roald Amundsen, poised to embark on an epic Northwest Passage transit.
