Expedition Ships - Life On Board

No dressing up for dinner - no fuss, no frenzy - these ship's aim is to sail calmly through the crisp clean air, close to the ever-changing environments.

Cruise Card

A cruise card will be issued on arrival on board as part of the check in procedure in accordance with ISPS regulations. All guests are requested to wear this card when disembarking in all ports of call and landings. The card serves as a control system on the gangway enabling the ship to know which guests are on board and ashore at any time.

This card, in addition to being the key card for your cabin, is also to be activated as your payment card on board. The card is the only means of payment for the on board facilities. To activate the cruise card account you must have a Visa or Mastercard. Please note that when using your credit card on board the ship, your account will be debited in NOK. The rate of exchange will be the one validated by your credit card company. Indicative rates are given on board, but these are not fixed. The evening before your voyage ends the account will be added up to be settled on board and a receipt brought to your cabin. We regret that there is no facility for cash withdrawals or currency exchange on board.

Cuisine & Restaurants

Your voyage includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. The open seating for the breakfast and lunch buffet creates a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner varies between buffets, set meals and barbeques. The type of dinner is announced in the daily programme. Your head waiter will assign tables prior to arrival. Information about table number and meal times will be in your cabin upon arrival. Please provide information regarding special requests for seating arrangements. On some voyages we may serve the dinner divided into boat groups. Where possible, we plan our menus around seasonal ingredients, taking advantage of local produce to satisfy healthy appetites stimulated by the fresh sea air. Regular coffee/tea is complimentary throughout the whole voyage. Other beverages and refreshments during the day are not included but may be purchased on board in the restaurant, cafeteria and bar.

On Board Prices

Your voyage includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Regular coffee/tea is complimentary throughout the whole voyage. Other beverages and refreshments during the day are not included but can be purchased on board in the cafeteria and bar.

Gratuity Policy

Hurtigruten have learned that many of their guests wish to give a special thanks to their service crew on board. This is at your discretion to honour service rendered by the crew in bars, restaurants and cabins. In order to provide some guidelines, we recommend 70 NOK (approx 9 Euro, 12 USD) per guest per day as an average gratuity. Whatever amount you decide to give, please fill in the form you will find in your cabin and give it to the receptionist two nights before the end of the cruise. The amount will then be debited from your cruise card account.

Entertainment

The emphasis on board is on relaxation and discovery, and not on the commercial entertainment which is so often part of conventional cruises. The aim is to get you closer to unique environments and allow you to share the experience with your fellow travellers. Occasionally, there may be some musical entertainment on board in the evenings.

Expedition Team

The Expedition Teams are carefully selected for their knowledge, specific expertise and most importantly, their love of the destinations you will be sailing to.

Lectures

The ships' experienced lecturers command an in-depth knowledge of the areas in which we sail. They will conduct, on a regular basis, lectures on topics such as biology, history and geology throughout the voyage. The lecturing schedule will be announced everyday in the onboard daily programme.

Polarcirkel Boat Landings

These sturdy boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings in otherwise inaccessible areas. You will need to be fairly agile to board these but there is otherwise no need to worry about travelling in them. The crew will show you what to do and so long as you follow their instructions, after a few days it will become second nature.

Shore Excursions

A selection of excursions is available to pre-book. Where available you will be supplied with excursion information in advance, otherwise you will receive full details and prices on board. Excursions and their contents are subject to maximum / minimum numbers and local weather conditions.

Resident Photographer

The resident photographer will invite you to photography workshops and practical sessions out on deck to enable you to take the best possible pictures and video from your voyage. Your may also choose to buy the voyage DVD that is tailor-made at the end of each voyage.

Cabins

There is a wide range of comfortable cabins on board. You may choose a standard inside or outside cabin with twin berths or a more spacious cabin with a double bed. Or why not treat yourself to one of the magnificent suites (some with balconies) and the special "Suite Service."

Suite Service

Special amenities come with the magnificent suites including a Welcome Aboard gift, complimentary beverages for lunch and dinner inclusive of chilled filtered water by the carafe, sodas, soft drinks, beer and a selection of wines by the glass. In the suite you will find a kettle for your convenience with coffee, teas, sweeteners and cream and the mini bar has a limited, complimentary selection upon your arrival.