Hurtigruten Cruises

Top Reasons To Choose Hurtigruten Cruises

• Hurtigruten is truly not your regular cruise. You won't spend time at formal events or themed gatherings. But you can enjoy some amazing scenery. For example, if you want to see the Northern Lights (the Aurora Borealis) in Norway, Hurtigruten will do its best to help you realize this goal.
• The food is excellent on Hurtigruten cruises. Ship travelers can enjoy a buffet breakfast and lunch while the menu for dinner is posted early in the morning. Although the menu for dinner is set, you can ask about a reasonable alternative without difficulty.
• Hurtigruten staff members are both friendly and helpful, whether they are part of the cleaning crew or serving staff. They also speak more than one language – English, Norwegian, and German are the usual languages spoken.
• If you want a cruise without the frills and want to see some dramatic scenery, you won't be disappointed by the ferry-type cruises offered by Hurtigruten. Because a Hurtigruten vessel is a working ship in Norway, and therefore makes deliveries, you will indeed experience a unique sailing adventure. 
• Hurtigruten cruises give you more opportunities to see the scenery and chat with other passengers. The focus is on the destination and communication. If you want a more hands-on cruise experience, this travel adventure will give you a new perspective about seeing the sights and how you spend your time.
• Tours are well-organized. You can go on walking excursions as well as coach trips. If you take a cruise along Norway's coast, the guides can provide you with a lot of interesting details. You will learn a great deal about each locale's history and culture.
• You can see destinations that you cannot see on larger cruise ships. Because Hurtigruten ships make deliveries to villages, you can see sights that you would not be able to visit on a larger cruise vessel.
• Passengers receive a safety briefing before they board their ship.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hurtigruten Cruises

• What is Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise?

  The cruise company is so certain that you will see the Aurora Borealis on Norway cruises in the winter that they promise a free cruise if you don't see the lights.

• When is the Northern Lights season?

  The Northern Lights season runs from October through March when there is less sunlight. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis appear above the Arctic Circle. Therefore, any cruises planned in the far north from October to March will provide you with the best opportunity for experiencing the phenomenon. 

• What does an expedition cruise to South Georgia, the Falklands, and Antarctica feature?

  This cruise usually takes place for 23 days and begins in Buenos Aries. Cruise-goers will see an abundance of wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales, and birds. Adventurers can also hike, ice-cruise, and kayak in Antarctica, the Falklands, and South Georgia. In addition, guests can go ashore on one of the remote beaches and spend a night in a tent. Cruise guests can view vast numbers of king penguins in South Georgia as well.

• What do you see when you visit Greenland on a Hurtigruten cruise?

  This expedition cruise is a summer cruise with itineraries in June and July. Cruise guests explore Greenland's west coast around Disko Bay. This Arctic cruise adventure allows you to see glaciers and icebergs up-close. You can also learn more about the people who live in Greenland as well as the Inuit culture. Travelers visit the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• How many passengers do Hurtigruten ships hold?

  Hurtigruten's purpose-built ships are designed to accommodate 200 to 500 guests.

• Who leads the expedition cruise journeys for groups?

  Expedition cruises are led by travel experts, which are passionate about adventure travel who wish to share their knowledge about a specific locale.

• What do your expedition or group tours include?

  For this type of trip, all meals are included as well as snacks and coffee. The service is friendly and relaxed – no butler services. Organized offshore activities may include nature exploration, cultural events, or hiking, depending on the voyage's destination. Boots and walking poles are provided when required. Participants also receive an expedition jacket on voyages. Packages include the services of a professional expedition photographer, logbook, and all onboard activities.

• How are cruise types for Hurtigruten classified?

  You can select from one of two cruise types when taking a Hurtigruten cruise. You can either select an expedition cruise to one of the various locations, including the Arctic and Antarctica, or a cruise that runs along the coast of Norway.

• Besides Norway, do Hurtigruten cruise ships travel to other Scandinavian cruise destinations, such as Iceland?

  Yes. Cruises are featured for the "land of fire and ice," with Reykjavik, Iceland being one of the stops. You will experience the entire coast of Iceland and do some whale watching as well.

• What makes Hurtigruten different?

  Hurtigruten offers Norway coastal cruises and expedition cruises on purpose-built working ships. Therefore, these ships ferry people from one port to the next, and cruise-goers get involved in active excursions. If you want to see the Arctic and Antarctic scenery or explore the coasts in destinations, such Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Scotland, your no-frills journey will give you the chance to truly realize the best in a remote cruise journey or adventure travel cruise.

Minimum Age Policy on Hurtigruten Cruises

Our special child rate is valid for new bookings on all Expedition Cruises and is subject to change at any time. When the child occupies a cabin with at least two adults, a 50% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. When the child occupies a cabin with one adult, a 20% savings applies to the cruise portion of the child’s package only. A 20% savings applies to the non-cruise portions of a package, where applicable, regardless of cabin occupancy. A child is defined as 2 through 15 years of age at the time of sailing. This offer is bookable online or by phone and is combinable with all current offers.

Please note:

- Participation of children under the age of 12 years in small-boat landings during expedition cruises is at the discretion of the captain.

- In accordance with International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators guidelines, the minimum age for travel to Antarctica is 5 years.

- Minimum age for Galapagos is 6 years.

Travel Protection Options on Hurtigruten Cruises

We recommend that all passengers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your trip investment from unexpected events such as cancellations, delays, and medical emergencies. For some destinations, travel insurance is required.

Dining on Hurtigruten Cruises

Meal prices:
• Breakfast NOK 165
• Lunch buffet NOK 345
• Dinner NOK 445
• Child discount: 50 % for all children under 16 years
The usual meal times are:
• Breakfast from 07.30 to 10.00 (open seating)
• Lunch from 12.00/13.00 (open seating)
• Dinner times vary according to the itinerary. Typically, dinner starts at 18:00, and there will be a variety of
seating options available (times advised on board).

Full board begins with a buffet dinner on departure from Bergen and ends with brunch on the arrival day
back in Bergen. The food is mainly Norwegian and breakfast is buffet style with a selection of cold meats,
cheese, eggs, cereals, and fruit. Lunch is the famous Cold Table with a choice of fish dishes, cold meats,
salads, a selection of hot dishes, desserts, and fruit. Dinner is a three-course set meal from our coastal menu;
there is not usually a choice of menu. Occasionally the Cold Table may be served in the evening and the set
meal for lunch.

Non-suite cabins include: Full board all day dining in Flora and Arran, unlimited select beer, wine, and spirits in Flora, Arran, and the 1893 Bar, served during restaurant and bar opening hours except breakfast, unlimited mineral water, tea, and coffee 

Suite Cabins: Full board with all day dining at Flora, Arran and fine dining a la carte restaurant Rost, unlimited select beer, wine, soft drinks, and spirits at Flora, Arran, and the 1893 Bar, served during restaurant and bar opening hours (excluding breakfast), complimentary after dinner cocktail, unlimited all day mineral water, tea, and coffee, choice of restaurant dining times, exclussive Rost Afternoon Tea with sparkling wine, exclusive dinner with the ship's senior officers.

Tipping Policy on Hurtigruten Cruises

While tipping is not required on our ships, we greatly appreciate any recognition of exceptional service. For guests who wish to express their gratitude, tip boxes and envelopes are available in the restaurant for your convenience.

Payments / Refunds on on Hurtigruten Cruises

Payment is due as follows:

i. If you book 90 days or more before your scheduled departure, a non-refundable deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 90 days before your scheduled departure. No second invoice will be issued. Travel documents will be provided 7 to 14 days prior to departure.

ii. If you book less than 90 days before your scheduled departure, the full payment is due at the time of booking.

If any payment is not made by the due date under this contract, Hurtigruten reserves the right to cancel the booking, retain the deposit, and charge a cancellation fee as outlined in Section 11 below. For special promotions, the total amount may be due immediately at the time of booking. Your travel documents will be sent once Hurtigruten has received full payment.

You or anyone listed in the booking has the right to cancel at any time. All cancellations must be submitted in writing by the person who made the booking. The cancellation will be effective on the date that Hurtigruten receives the cancellation request at the address specified in this contract. Please note: Bookings costing less than USD $1,340.00 (including taxes and additional charges) are non-refundable. Cancellation fees for other bookings are as follows:

Number of days before departure when Hurtigruten receives the cancellation request:

• 100% for cancellations on the departure day
• 90 or more days: 25% of the total package cost
• 60-89 days: 50% of the total package cost
• 30-59 days: 75% of the total package cost
• Less than 30 days: 100% of the total package cost

For trips that include pre-paid flights or airfare booked by us on your behalf, the airline’s booking and cancellation policies will apply to the air portion. Additional trip protection costs will be separate from the agreed booking price. The same applies to any connection travel not included in this booking. You will be responsible for these additional costs.

There will be no refund for customers who fail to show up at the pier for embarkation or who disembark before the completion of their ticketed cruise. If your cabin is shared with others, partial cancellations will result in applying the above penalties to those who cancel, with remaining guests charged the revised fare based on the number of passengers in the cabin.

If you need to cancel for reasons covered by your travel protection plan, you must apply for a refund of the cancellation fee directly from your insurance company. Insurance premiums are non-refundable. Cancellation charges are calculated based on the total fares paid to Hurtigruten for all components of the trip, and will apply even if Hurtigruten successfully rebooks the cabin.

Smoking Policy on Hurtigruten Cruises

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the outside decks. Smoking is not permitted when the ships are in port and not allowed on deck during fueling of the ship in BGO. This will be advised by the staff. To show respect for the environment, please use the provided ashtrays. Throwing cigarette butts overboard is strictly prohibited. Smoking in the cabin is prohibited and subject to a cleaning charge to return the cabin to a non-smoking standard.