Daniel Skjeldam

Great question, and yes, reducing food waste is one of many commitments we’ve made on board our ships. On our cruises that travel along Norway's coast, we have what we call Norway's Coastal Kitchen, where around 80% of the food served comes from Norwegian suppliers. It’s important to us to use sustainable food products and we've even begun introducing a vegan menu on all of our sailings, which has become quite popular with our guests! Overall, we’ve committed to reducing food waste by 30% by 2021. We’ve implemented a real-time measurement of our food production to minimize food waste and we're pleased to announce that our early results show more than a 20% expected reduction. 

@hallasm, thank you for your interest in protecting our Norwegian Fjords! While it’s hard to predict the impact on any legislation, here at Hurtigruten, we intend to be a leader in setting a new standard for the global cruise industry. This means we’ll promote sustainability and champion the protection of oceans and fjords. Yes, powering cruise ships with dead fish grabbed some headlines recently; liquefied biogas, or LBG, is a fossil-free, renewable gas produced from dead fish but also from other organic waste. In Norway, we have a steady volume of organic waste, and biogas is the greenest fuel in shipping. By introducing biogas, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise operator to power ships with fossil-free fuel. Certainly, our hope is for other cruise companies to follow our lead!

Hi Stan! We have a wide variety of ships that journey along the Norwegian coast, all purpose-built to bring guests close to nature and wildlife. And yes, a dedicated expedition team is on board each ship. Our teams include an expedition leader and an assistant expedition leader, as well as a variety of staff members who may have expertise in areas such as ornithology, biology, geology, history, photography, and more, and they’re always eager to share their insights with our guests. And, while our brand-new ships MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen will not be traveling along the classic 6-, 7-, or 12-day routes, they will be in Norway on other itineraries.

To be honest, one of my favorite trips was traveling along the coast in April. We had clear blue skies, gorgeous blue water, snowcapped mountains, the whole trip was stunning! That being said, if you’re looking for summer proper, you can’t go wrong from June through August. The temperature doesn’t get too hot, you’ll have plenty of daylight, and the weather is generally quite lovely; I genuinely think you’ll have an incredible time regardless of which month you choose.

Hi @hallasm! Weather dependent, we can cruise into Trollfjord from May through October, on both our northbound and southbound cruises. Only on northbound trips do we enter just the mouth of Trollfjord, and that’s typically from November through April and again, is weather dependent. 

Great question! Hurtigruten passengers are well-traveled and typically seeking authentic and meaningful experiences; they’re more concerned with getting out there and exploring the stunning surroundings, than they are with excessive luxury. They like to be active participants in the journey—hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and the like—and enjoy having immersive interactions with nature and wildlife. And yes, they are, generally speaking, interested in eco-friendly cruising. We had a great response from our guests just last year, when we became the first cruise line to ban all unnecessary single-use plastic aboard our entire fleet. At Hurtigruten, we try to abide by the old adage, “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints,” and our passengers wholeheartedly support this.

We’re equally excited to have you! Tell me, where are you headed in February? All of our expedition cruises gift a complimentary parka to all guests; this does not apply to our Coastal Norway cruises, however, so that depends on where you’re going. If you’re headed to Norway in February, I think a polar expedition parka is just the ticket. We recommend a thick winter jacket, hat, gloves, wool sweater, and scarf. Layers are essential. Wool thermal underwear is also recommended, both top and bottom, as are winter hiking boots with a good grip and warm socks. Please just be sure the boots are broken-in! 

Al, thanks for your comments! I agree—I can’t get enough of penguins, myself! The “ferry” term is dated to when we first began, all the way back to 1893. Back then, we were Norway’s transportation service, heading up and down the coast with mail and large freight items. Today, we are much more than that! In fact, in just a few months our brand-new, hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen, will begin her first voyage in Europe; in 2020, we’ll welcome MS Fridtjof Nansen; and in 2021, we’ll welcome yet a third sister ship. Each of these vessels differs somewhat drastically from our current fleet: the combination of their hull design, the energy savings on board, and the use of electric propulsion will reduce fuel emissions by 20%! Plus, they’ll each feature large observation decks, all outside staterooms and suites, an infinity pool, three restaurants, a wellness and a Science Center—phew! And I think you're right, we are definitely an expedition cruise line! We travel to exciting destinations like Antarctica, Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland, and much more. Regarding your question about ice breakers, none of our ships are classified as such, though we do have several with ice-strengthened hulls, perfect for advancing through Antarctica and the Arctic.

Hmm, I’m not sure that “ferries” is the right word. Certainly we started as a transportation service, traveling up and down the coast of Norway, but our ships have vastly evolved since then! (See: our soon-to-be-launched, first-of-their-kind, hybrid electric-powered expedition ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen.) Regarding the length of time in ports, it truly varies. There are some ports where we spend as little as 15 minutes, and others that we visit for several hours at a time, often up to 4-6 hours. In the latter ports, we do offer a variety of excursions, so guests can see as much as possible—and to bring this to life, we have in excess of 50 different excursions available, should you wish to fully immerse yourself in the history, culture, and wildlife that Norway has to offer.

Great question! Yes, our crew and expedition teams are proficient in English, but many speak multiple languages. Norwegian and German are also commonly spoken on board; on each expedition we are joined by guests from all over the world, and we do our best to communicate with them.

Hi Valerie, I’m glad you’re so excited to join us! Let’s see how I do on answering all of your questions.. On the southbound cruise in March, you’ll have plenty of time to explore ports like Hammerfest, Svolvaer, Brønnøysund, and Trondheim, with a few hours at each. You’re welcome to join any of our planned excursions, or discover those towns on your own. Regarding the coffee, I’m afraid there’s no hot pot in the Polar Outside cabins; you can get coffee at the restaurant, which is included in your fare, or you can visit our café on board. All of our cruises include an expedition team, and that includes a photographer, so yes, there will be someone on board to help with any questions you may have! We do not have any tripods on board for rent, however, so if you’re determined to get a specific shot on your own, I would recommend bringing a tripod with you. I’m so pleased you’ll be joining us in March, and look forward to hearing from you once you’ve returned!

Ah, I have been made aware of this, and we are in the process of fixing it! As with all good website-related changes, it takes time to create and change processes, but this is something we have our eyes on, and are actively working towards a better user experience. Stay tuned!

@Mrs Clooney, thank you for the question and @Splinter, thank you for the feedback! Per your original question regarding the Northern Lights, you are correct, your chances of seeing them in August are slim to none – but in its place comes a Midnight Sun phenomenon in northern Norway over early Summer (May, June, July). That being said, August is a wonderful time to go to Norway! The temperature is lovely, the sun is shining, there are long hours of daylight, bright blue skies, and calm waters in the fjords and between the skerries, you’ll certainly have a good time. If you have chosen the itinerary you’re interested in and selected the dates online, you’ll see which ships are available on which days and can go about choosing accordingly. And yes, all of our ships have plenty of public spaces to lounge in. Regarding TV/tea, most of the cabins on our Coastal Norway ships do have a television set, and yes, coffee and tea are both complimentary during mealtimes. If you'd like coffee or tea outside of mealtimes, you may visit a cafe on board. 

I can’t fault the question! Our official policy is that guests are not allowed to consume alcohol that has not been purchased on board. This is true for guest cabins, as well as any public areas.

Hi @poz222! In the US, we’re focused more on our expedition cruises to destinations like Antarctica, Iceland, and the Northwest Passage. While cruising along the coast of Norway will certainly always be available, that part of our business is done out of Norway.

Hello Carolyn, and thank you to @O2Bcrusin and @hallasm for your feedback! As they both mention, it is possible for guests to “hop on and hop off” via our port-to-port program. We don’t officially offer this in the US, but you can find out more information by emailing booking@hurtigruten.com, or by calling our Norwegian booking office at +47 810 30 000—be sure to press 9 for English!