Hurtigruten

The classic Norwegian Coastal Voyage on one of Hurtigruten's purpose-built vessels is a journey like no other. When you join this trip, you take a ringside seat to see the spectacular changing scenery of Norway and amazing wildlife as you travel to the Arctic Circle and beyond, as well as getting an interesting perspective on what life must be like for coastal communities perched at the edge of civilisation, dependent on the arrival of the ship for their very survival.

Summer journeys are extraordinary as you visit the land of the Midnight Sun, and you can enjoy 24-hour daylight if you travel in the weeks on either side of midsummer. In the winter, dark falls early - all the more opportunity to witness a stunning display of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. There are also voyages which travel the length of the Norwegian Coast and onwards still to Svalbard for an exciting Arctic adventure.

Visiting Norway on a Hurtigruten ship is a unique experience, quite different from taking a conventional cruise in the area, but this is all about the destination. Plus, you can take a shorter leg to combine your trip with time ashore - we particularly recommend the rail journeys from Tromso to Oslo and over the roof of Norway from Bergen to Oslo.

Sustainability

Using the UN's Sustainable Development goals as a framework, Hurtigruten are committed to exploring the world as responsibly as possible.

The MS Richard With and MS Kong Harald were upgraded to hybrid ships in 2022 and 2023 respectively, a process which involved installing battery packs and new engines in order to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as updating both ships with improved technology including new wastewater treatment equipment. Hurtigruten are also embarking on a journey to build the first ship with zero-emission propulsion for The Coastal Express by 2030.

Initiatives are in place to reduce waste, including no single use plastics. Electric Zodiacs are being trialled, battery-powered snowmobiles have been introduced and a touring catamaran is in operation. Food is sourced from local suppliers on Norwegian voyages. Beach cleans are arranged and Hurtigruten supports and cooperates with organisations and initiatives like Clean Arctic Alliance, European Climate Foundation, Norwegian Polar Institute (the main research organisation focusing on polar bears living on Svalbard), Bellona Foundation and the Clean Up Svalbard programme. In addition, the Hurtigruten Foundation has been established to support initiatives that protect the areas they visit.

Hurtigruten aid research as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research. On board MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol, Ocean Visuals is installed to monitor for oil spillages, identifying more than 40 incidents of oil spillages and two leaks from installations on shore.

Hurtigruten are also founding members of AECO (the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators), who support responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic. Additionally, they are members of IAATO (the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) who advocate and promote safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to Antarctica.