After a two year break, we are so excited and happy that we will soon start our knitting cruises on “Hurtigruten”; the Norwegian Coastal Express, again!
Hurtigruten means “the fast route” in Norwegian and was credited with reducing travel time from Bergen to the north of Norway from several weeks to seven days when established 129 years ago. Today, there is a departure with Hurtigruten from Bergen every day, and the ships stop at 34 ports each way, linking isolated communities in the north of Norway. These are working vessels that carry important cargo, supplies and passengers. In addition, they are car ferries used by the locals who need to get from one place to another. They also sail under the Norwegian postal flag, as the ships carry and distribute mail. Hurtigruten is the lifeline of the north (10% of Norway’s population resides north of the arctic circle), and without these ships, many communities beyond the arctic circle would be isolated and desolate.
The MS Finmarken at “the top of Europe” (the North Cape) in May 2019. Click to enlarge.
The ships are modern and comfortable but modest in size. It is impossible to compare Hurtigruten ships to the massive cruise ships that carry several thousands of passengers and have casinos, nightclubs and lavish entertainment onboard. You won’t find anything like that onboard our ships, so think of a voyage onboard Hurtigruten as an expedition ship focusing on ecosystems, wildlife and Norwegian culture, a trip where you will also have the possibility to meet and interact with locals who use the ship for transportation. When undertaking the most beautiful sea voyage in the world, the stunning views are all the entertainment you could ever need!
We are now letting people get on our waitlist. So, if you are interested in joining us on this stunning voyage, send us an email to let us know that you want to get on our list. Click here to message us.
Check out this video which was made for Hurtiogrutens’ 125 birthday! The video is in Norwegian, but there are English subtitles. If the subtitles don’t appear automatically, click on the settings wheel with teeth, select subtitles and select English – or German – or French.
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The Story:
In the late 19th century, the 1250-km / 780-mile coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was a busy route for transportation of goods and people, operated by all types of vessels from steamers to single-sailed boats. But services were unreliable, infrequent, and ships rarely sailed at night, making a long and arduous journey between north and south.
The authorities wanted to improve the situation and invited shipping companies to submit tenders for operating an express route between Trondheim and Tromsø, or Hammerfest, depending on the season. At that time, there were only 28 lighthouses north of Trondheim, making nighttime sailing very risky.
In 1893, Captain Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesteraalen, was brought into service along the coast of Norway, and a regular sea link was established. The service offered weekly departures, at first from Trondheim to Hammerfest and later from Bergen to Kirkenes, the latter in only seven days. Richard With named this important connection “Hurtigruten,” “the fast route”.
Hurtigruten’s eleven coastal ships still carry freight and guests along the coast of Norway to 34 daily ports of call. Every day one of Hurtigruten’s ships departs Bergen heading north to Kirkenes.
The complete round trip lasts 12 days and is of many called “the world’s most beautiful voyage”. Today, as they have been more than 120 years, these ships are the best way to explore the Norwegian coast, its nature and culture.