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Enquiries & Reservations
Know Before You Go
The answers to the questions we are asked most often about the Hurtigruten coastal voyage, from meal times to WiFi to what to pack. If anything is not covered here, our sales consultants will be happy to help.
Settling In
Be ready to board no later than 15 minutes before departure at all ports. If you embark in Bergen, you should be at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure.
A mandatory safety drill takes place before departure, followed by a welcome meeting covering practical information about the voyage and a chance to meet the officers, crew and Expedition Team. A daily programme keeps you informed throughout the journey.
On a Select fare you can usually choose your cabin grade and cabin number free of charge on the Round Voyage when you book, subject to availability. On the Basic fare and shorter voyages your cabin number is allocated, or may be chosen for a fee on some sailings. Ask us when booking and we will explain the options for your voyage.
Hurtigruten ships are working ships, calling at ports around the clock. You can expect some noise and vibration in a few of the cabins during the loading of goods. This varies with the location of the cabin and the type of ship, and noise affects people differently, so what bothers one person may not trouble another. Ask our sales consultants for advice on the best cabin location for you.
Eating & Drinking
Each ship has a slightly different practice with meal times, but as a guide, breakfast runs from around 07:30 to 10:00 and lunch from around 12:00 to 13:00, both open sittings. Dinner is a set sitting from around 18:30, and in high season there may be several sittings, allocated on your first evening. Full board on the round voyage starts with dinner on the evening of departure from Bergen and ends with brunch on the day you arrive back.
The cooking is proudly Norwegian, built on ingredients picked up along the route. Breakfast is a buffet with cold meats, cheese, eggs, bacon, cereals, fruit and freshly baked bread. Lunch is a generous buffet in the coastal tradition, with marinated herring, smoked and poached fish, cold meats, salads, hot dishes and desserts. Dinner is a three course set meal, usually meat or fish with potatoes and vegetables, and there is not normally a choice of main course. All ships are fully licensed, and as they sail in Norwegian waters, bar prices match those ashore in Norway.
Plant based options are offered at lunch and dinner, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and the chefs can cater for special diets and many food allergies given notice. It is important to tell us clearly about any allergies at the time of booking.
Most standard cabins do not have tea and coffee making facilities, but tea and coffee can be bought on board around the clock, and are complimentary on Select fares.
To help you budget, these are approximate prices for popular items on board, based on the latest information available to us.
| Café | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea | £4.00 |
| Coffee | £4.00 |
| Bottled water | £4.00 |
| Fruit juice (0.33 litres) | £4.50 |
| Bar and dining room | Price |
| Bottled beer (0.33 litres) | £7.50 |
| Draught beer (0.6 litres) | £10.50 |
| Glass of wine | £10.50 |
| Bottle of wine | from £48 |
Staying Connected
Complimentary WiFi is available on board. If you travel on a Basic fare you will first need to register with Hurtigruten's free 1893 Ambassador loyalty programme to access it. The signal varies around the ship, and because the route passes through remote parts of Norway, speeds can be slow and are not suitable for streaming. Treat it as a way to keep in touch rather than an office at sea.
Mobile coverage along the Norwegian coast is generally good, though it varies in the most remote stretches. Check roaming charges with your provider before you travel, as Norway is not covered by every UK plan's inclusive roaming.
Practicalities
The on board currency is Norwegian Kroner and the ships operate a cashless system. Your cabin card is used to charge drinks, meals, shop purchases and excursions to your account, settled at the end of the voyage. Visa, MasterCard and Diners are accepted.
Every ship has a shop on board selling souvenirs, knitwear, books, postcards and a limited supply of toiletries.
Laundry rooms with washing machines, tumble dryers and irons are available on most ships, with tokens from reception.
Luggage handling is not included in the cost of your holiday.
Cabins are not equipped with a safety deposit box, but jewellery, money and other valuables can be handed in at reception for safekeeping in the ship's safe. Hurtigruten cannot accept responsibility for the loss of valuables kept elsewhere.
Ship sockets are 230 volts AC, the European standard, so you will need a continental two pin adaptor. Hair dryers are provided in most cabins.
There is no doctor or pharmacy on board, but officers are trained in first aid and can provide emergency assistance, and the ships are close to land throughout the voyage should urgent help be needed. Seasickness tablets can be bought at reception, though if you know you are prone to it, bring a remedy you are familiar with.
Norwegian and English are the official on board languages, and announcements and most excursions are given in both. Some crew also speak German, and French on selected ships.
The Experience
The emphasis on board is on relaxation and getting away from the commercial entertainment of conventional cruising. There is no organised show programme. Instead, the Expedition Team runs lectures and on deck guiding about the coast, its nature and its culture, and the scenery provides the rest. On theme voyages specialist lecturers accompany the sailing.
Pre booking excursions before you travel is strongly recommended, as only remaining places are sold on board. Excursions bought on board are payable in Norwegian Kroner, and prices may differ from those shown on this site due to exchange rates or local changes. All excursions are subject to minimum and maximum numbers and local weather conditions.
All the ships are fully stabilised. It is also worth knowing that the ships enter the open sea on only a few occasions during the whole voyage, and those stretches last just a few hours. The majority of the time the ship sails between mainland Norway and the coastal islands, where the sea is generally quite calm.
Smoking is not permitted in cabins or indoor public areas. It is allowed only in designated areas on the open deck, and prohibited at all times while the ship is in port.
Tipping is not common practice on Hurtigruten's ships. If you feel a crew member should be rewarded for exceptional service, tip boxes and envelopes are placed in the restaurant, entirely at your discretion.
Dress on board is informal. Some passengers change for dinner, but smart casual is as far as it goes. The weather can change during a single day, let alone a voyage, so layers are the answer, letting you adapt to shifts in temperature, wind and rain. For all voyages take breathable rain and windproof clothing. In winter add a warm hat, gloves, scarf and thermal layers. Sturdy shoes matter for shore excursions where it may be icy, and a walking pole can be useful. Pack UV protective sunglasses even in winter, as reflections from snow and ice are hard on unprotected eyes, and bring a swimsuit, as many ships have a jacuzzi on deck. Where an excursion requires special clothing, it is provided.
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