Norwegian coast
Hurtigruten
The original Norwegian Coastal Express, sailing this coastline since 1893.
Who this line suits
Hurtigruten has sailed the Norwegian coast since 1893, and the route is still the product: a working coastal service that calls at real ports, in winter as well as summer, rather than a loop built for a holiday season.
The ships are small, and that is the point. Hurtigruten states fewer than 500 guests on board — small enough for the narrow inlets and small quays a large hull cannot reach. Three of the fleet are hybrid-powered, and the line states no heavy fuel oil and no single-use plastics.
Meals are included, and so are selected drinks. Hurtigruten states the inclusion per voyage — all meals and unlimited selected drinks — so the fare covers more of the trip than a fare usually does.
We hold full specifications for all nine ships. If you want the northern lights, ask about the winter sailings and the land-and-sea combinations that pair the voyage with an igloo stay or a husky safari.
Ask what’s running
Hurtigruten offers move — onboard credit, included fares, launch pricing — and they change faster than any page. Rahul holds the current ones and will tell you which apply to the dates you’re looking at, and which do not.
ENQUIRE NOWCruise fares are the line’s own — we add nothing to them.
The ships
The Hurtigruten ships we sell in Australia
Fares change with date, cabin and availability — enquire and we’ll quote you.
ENQUIRE NOWThe northern lights
Sailing under the aurora
The coastal route runs north of the Arctic Circle for five of its twelve days, in the dark months with the ship’s decks open all night. These are Havila’s own photographs, taken from their ships on this route — not stock, and not somewhere else that looks similar.
The aurora is weather and solar activity, not a scheduled event — nobody can promise it. What the route can promise is the latitude and the dark, for several nights running.
The Northern Lights Promise
What the promise actually is
Hurtigruten publishes a Northern Lights Promise, and it does not promise that you will see the aurora — nobody can promise that. It says what happens if you do not.
“If the aurora doesn’t occur on your 11-day or longer voyage during auroral season, we’ll give you another chance to see it on a future sailing at no extra cost.”
- Qualifying voyage
- 11 days or more
- Auroral season
- 20 September – 31 March
- Offer valid until
- 31 March 2028
And “occurred” has a definition, which is what makes it a term rather than a sentiment:
“A Northern Lights occurrence is defined as a sighting from the ship which is recorded by the ship’s deck officers and which is announced to passengers on board.”
Hurtigruten’s own published terms, quoted in full — T&Cs apply and the exact sailing period depends on the voyage. Ask Rahul which departures qualify before you book on the strength of it.