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Passengers taking the full 11-night cruise will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the country's fjords, mountains, and remote settlements as it calls at 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes and back again. This is a relaxed, informal ship, with little or no dressing up, even for dinner. The key is to be comfortable for hiking and exploring, instead of worrying about appearances. Sturdy hiking footwear, sunglasses and waterproofs are essential whatever the season, but in winter bring thermals, lots of woollen layers, a warm jacket and possibly some hiking spikes for icy conditions. Summer is usually t-shirt weather, but again, think layers -- the onboard shop sells high quality knitwear, if you find you haven't packed enough. The weather can be changeable in Norway, and in Bergen it rains one out of every four days.
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As of Dec 31, 2020, the company had EUR 72M (~USD 87M) liquidity (cash and cash equivalents) and average monthly cash burn EUR 13M (~USD 16M). Hurtigruten's current fleet consists of 16 boats, including 11x expedition ships (5x for Arctic-Antarctic voyages) and 7x ferries (under a 10-year contract with Norway's Ministry of Transportation). Currently, Hurtigruten provides 24/7 cargo and passenger ferry service Bergen-Kirkenes. However, in 2017 the subsidy arrangement was changed as preventing ferry competition. Some Norwegian interests also argued that Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Service monopoly is not beneficial to the country and that local passengers will only benefit from more competitive offers.
Hurtigruten Expeditions fleet
Review: Norway's Coastal Express With Hurtigruten - TravelAge West
Review: Norway's Coastal Express With Hurtigruten.
Posted: Sun, 24 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
In Bronnoysund, Tromso, and Trondheim, passengers can take "naturban" mini-expeditions on explorer boats while the cruise ship is docked in port. Encouraged by Vesteraalens' early success, several other companies obtained concessions to operate the coastal route, extended to run from Bergen (southwest) to Kirkenes (far northeast). 11 ships visit each of the 34 ports daily, northbound and southbound. The 12-day roundtrip itinerary Bergen-Kirkenes includes 65 port stops, with ports' stays ranging from 15 min to 4+ hours. What makes this voyage unique is that Hurtigruten’s Norwegian coastal ships also serve as ferries for locals (some of whom only stay on for a few hours) and as cargo delivery vessels. This means they make frequent—and sometimes very brief—stops, but you’ll still have time to explore the larger ports along the route.
Explore more of Norway
You can even take up plum position in one of the two outdoor hot tubs for uninterrupted views from the back of the ship. With sailings in some of the world’s most endangered places, Hurtigruten takes its environmental obligations seriously. MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, new expedition ships that will debut within the next two years, will use hybrid technology that reduces CO2 emissions by more than 3,000 metric tons per year. If the thought of cruising with thousands of other passengers makes you want to run and hide, the modest size of Hurtigruten cruise ships might offer a better fit.
Heart of Lofoten
Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed). Because this is a government contract route, both Hurtigruten and Havila must use Norwegian registered ships and a primarily Norwegian crew. They are also subject to Norwegian taxes, and Norwegian laws on things such as alcohol.
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Everyone watches the constantly changing scenery from decks or in the cozy observation lounges and midship bars, while some also play games and read. Norwegian art (sculptures and paintings) decorates the entire fleet. Dining, with all meals included for one-way and roundtrip travelers, takes place in a single onboard restaurant. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, open-seating, with a good selection of international and Norwegian selections.
of the food & drink served is local
We arrive at Honningsvåg mid-morning, portal to the North Cape where a globe monument marks the top of continental Europe. An optional excursion will take you to North Cape from Honningsvåg by bus, passing herds of reindeer on the way, depending on the season. The ship reaches the town of Hammerfest on the island of Kvaløya early in the morning.
Day Norwegian Voyage: Northbound Bergen to Kirkenes
The city is also a popular place to experience the unique phenomenon of the Midnight Sun. Hurtigruten offers daily departures year-round with a fleet of 11 ships, and the majority of passengers on Lofoten specifically choose the ship for its onboard ambience and heritage. The other ships in the fleet are much larger and more modern, have more efficient "roll-on, roll-off" cargo handling and boast far better, bigger and more uniform twin-bedded cabins with full private facilities.
We then sail to Bodø, the second-largest city in Northern Norway, overlooked by the Børvass peaks. Admire fabulous street art or join an optional boat excursion to Saltstraumen, the world’s most powerful maelstrom. You’ll also meet your ship’s Coastal Experience Team who will be your guides as we cruise Norway’s coastline, organising lectures, onboard activities, and optional hikes.
That afternoon, the 1,000 metre-high Lofoten Wall looms on the horizon, ushering us towards majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. Following this, we journey towards Stamsund and the home of the Vikings. Join an excursion to visit the Lofotr Viking Museum, where you are welcomed into the chieftain’s house for a real Viking feast. Channeling the same pioneering spirit as our first voyage in 1893, we are embarking on a journey to build our first fully zero-emission ship for The Coastal Express by 2030. It is the most ambitious sustainability initiative in our 130-year history.
The town is spread over three islands and known for being Norway’s “Bacalao Capital” for the salted cod that’s dried on the surrounding cliffs, called klippfisk in Norwegian. We also sail past the Seven Sisters mountain range – with peaks up to 1,100 m high. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters got caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus the seven beautiful peaks.
You must travel to Norway to board the ship, although flights are often included in fares when booked by international travellers or through travel agents. Now that's the introduction out of the way, let's dive into more detail. First, we'll look at the coastal cruise flavour of Hurtigruten, before moving on to the expedition ship experience. The Hurtigruten Norway coastal ferry (known as BKB for Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen) can be done as a full roundtrip, one-way trip or shorter voyage such as Bergen to Tromsø or Trondheim to Tromsø.
An onboard expedition team is well-versed in the region's history, culture, and nature. I say cruise-like experience because Hurtigruten doesn't offer the bells and whistles you might expect on bigger cruise ships. There's no casino, no show lounge or theatre, and no live musicians for example. The Hurtigruten coastal fleet is designed to offer comfort while navigating the rugged Norwegian coastline. Passengers can enjoy a range of comfortable accommodations and dining options that showcase fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The cruise operates year-round, providing different seasonal highlights such as the enchanting midnight sun in the summer months and the opportunity to see the aurora borealis in the autumn and winter.
Your voyage starts in Bergen, the second-largest city in Norway and gateway to the fjords. Founded in 1070 AD, Bergen boasts architecture influenced by prosperous 14th-century German trading organisation, the Hanseatic League. This means both companies must pay much higher wages than on other cruise ships, and charge significantly higher amounts for alcohol to comply with local laws. Whichever cruise itinerary you pick, you'll need to be well prepared.
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