You may have heard of both the route and the cruise line, but here’s a nice, clear overview and explanation of Norway’s famous ‘express’ ferry service.

Ok, sorry, but our starting point is a little complicated. But bear with us.

It’s likely that the “Hurtigruten” you’ve seen or are used to will refer to the cruise line and ferry service, known as Hurtigruten AG. However, that company in fact takes its name from the routes set up by the Norwegian government in 1893 to link Norway’s coastal cities and settlements.

So the first thing we need to establish is that ‘Hurtigruten’ can refer to the actual route between Bergen and Kirkenes and back, and the cruise company also named Hurtigruten. To keep things clear, we’ll call the route ‘Hurtigruten’, and the cruise company ‘Hurtigruten AS’.

The establishment of the Hurtigruten route came at a time before Norway had its now well-developed road and rail networks. Despite this, the ferry route survived, and in fact thrived by pivoting to leisure and tourism cruises, while still retaining the ability to transport local passengers and goods.

The name Hurtigruten literally translates to ‘Express Route’, relating to the fact that original journeys, despite still taking up to several days, were quicker than trying to cross the rugged interior.

Hurtigruten Destinations

The original Hurtigruten route covers Norway’s Western coastline, with terminus stops at Bergen in the South West, and Kirkenes at the far North of Norway.

This includes some of the most incredible terrain on earth, from sweeping mountain ranges to deep blue fjords. It also includes key Norwegian coastal cities, including Bergen, Bodø, Hammerfest, Tromsø, Ålesund, Svolvær, Kirkenes and many more in between.

Although you may end up booking a leisure cruise via Hurtigruten AS, there are two ferry providers operating the government contract for the Hurtigruten route. The other provider is Havila Kystruten AS, known as Havila Voyages, another cruise liner company with four large passenger ferries with cabins.

Although there are similarities and differences between the companies, the routes offered by Havila Voyages focus solely on the original Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen route, whereas Hurtigruten AS has expanded to include voyages all over the world, including to Antarctica and even the Mediterranean.

What Makes the Hurtigruten Route So Special?

A cruise ship traverses a snowy fjord — Ondrej_Novotny_92 / Shutterstock

The first thing to mention about trip along the Hurtigruten route is the opportunity to enjoy slow travel along some of the world’s best coastline. The cruise ships operating the route, from both providers, are designed to not just get passengers to their destinations safely, but also to provide an opportunity to soak up Norway’s unique and vast coastline.

On any given day you’ll have the opportunity to peer into fjords, the canyons and inlets that are famous in this part of the world, watch mountains rise from the mist or marvel at the vastness of the North and Norwegian seas.

Then there’s the wildlife. From whales to porpoises to sea birds depending on the time of year, a pair of binoculars is highly recommended along with a decent camera for those once-in-a-lifetime wild moments.

The stops on the Hurtigruten route include some truly beautiful towns, villages and cities. On selected cruises, you’ll be able to spend time in the terminus ports of Bergen and Kirkenes, with the latter

On typical cruises, night time is best spend in the cabin or enjoying entertainment, with not much to see outside in the dark. But on a Hurtigruten cruise, night time is often the best time to be on deck. This is thanks to the proliferation of the Aurora Borealis, known to me and you as the Northern Lights, which can be seen very clearly at the latitudes that the Hurtigruten services cross.

In fact, Havila and Hurtigruten AS make a point of promising that you’ll see the Northern Lights on their cruises operating between the end of October and beginning of March, and that if you don’t, you’re welcome to rebook another cruise completely free of charge!

What to Expect on Board

Thanks to the Hurtigruten route now focusing more on tourism than transport, onboard facilities have improved to match the higher expectations of passengers used to cruise liners. This includes cabins that are a little more spacious, large windows to take in the scenery, first class dining and of course plenty of entertainment.

All ships on the route include the usual cruise ship amenities you can expect, like Wi-Fi, laundry services and some even include gym and spa facilities.

How to Book

Booking a cruise on the Hurtigruten route comes down to choosing between the two providers that operate the route. Hurtigruten AS boasts a fleet of 10 ships that operate not just along the Hurtigruten route, but also from Oslo and other European ports, including Hamburg. This means you can enjoy the Hurtigruten route without necessarily having to make your way to Norway or connect from Oslo to any of the ports served.

Havila Voyages operates four ships along the route and their offering if firmly aimed at luxurious interiors and top-class service. Like Hurtigruten AS, Havila also offer shorter voyage options, for example three day excursions that connect mid-route ports, rather than the full six day one way cruise or 12 day round trip.

Ultimately, it comes to down to personal preference, and of course the best price or offering between the two providers at the time of booking.

Now you’re up to speed on Norway’s Hurtigruten expedition, it’s time to book! We recommend checking out not only both the Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages websites for deals and discounts, but also searching via cruise booking providers and travel agents – they can often access the very best deals and prices if they’ve arranged block bookings or discounts directly with the cruise lines themselves.