hurtigruten cruise owner

The History of Hurtigruten Group

Close to 130 years of experience taking explorers to pristine and remote places. From sailings along the west coast of Norway to expeditions world wide.

Our DNA and Heritage

In the late 19th century, the 780-mile coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was a busy route for transportation of goods and people, operated by all types of vessels. But services were unreliable, infrequent and ships rarely sailed at night, making a journey between north and south a long and hard one.

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. But the owner of a newly formed company showed an interest in the route despite the hazards.

This man was Richard With from Stokmarknes in northern Norway. 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. With named this important connection “hurtigruten,” - "the fast route".

However, Richard With's eagerness to explore did not stop at the Norwegian coast. His ambitions were significantly higher. As early as 1896, he transported a prefabricated hotel from the mainland to Svalbard. He placed it outside Longyearbyen on what is still called “Hotellneset” ("Hotel Point"). The same year, Richard With established the "Sportsman's route" from Hammerfest on mainland Norway to Svalbard, serviced by the steamer DS Lofoten. Its captain was Otto Sverdrup, who later became Fridtjof Nansen's legendary commander of the polar vessel Fram. This marks the beginning of Hurtigruten's adventurous and unique explorer operations.

Expansion and Global Growth

Over the years our company has grown steadily, adding more both more ships and more destinations to the portfolio. In March 2006 Hurtigruten Group ASA was formed from the merger between Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap (TFDS) and Richard With’s Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab (OVDS), the two previous operators of the Hurtigruten service. Twelve months later the merged entity assumed the name Hurtigruten ASA and in 2012, the company headquarters moved from Narvik to Tromsø.

In October 2014, the British private equity firm TDR Capital purchased a majority ownership of Hurtigruten ASA.  The legal form of the company was then changed from ASA to AS in 2015, as the company was delisted from Oslo Stock Exchange.

The Road Ahead

Today our destinations are no longer limited to Spitsbergen but take modern- day adventure travelers to the world’s most spectacular destinations on our Planet, from the High North to the Antarctica in the south.

As of 2021, Hurtigruten AS decided to split up the various parts of the business and is known as Hurtigruten Group with headquarters in Oslo and London. While the international expedition cruise initiative is separated into Hurtigruten Expeditions, Hurtigruten Norway continues to operate the scheduled traffic between Bergen and Kirkenes. Hurtigruten Svalbard, offering land-based adventures on the spectacular Artic archipelago, and Hurtigruten Foundation, which was established in 2015, are also entities within the Hurtigruten Group.

Hurtigruten Norway’ s seven coastal ships still carry freight and guests along the coast of Norway- which Hurtigruten has operated since the start in 1893. The full round trip lasts 12 days and is of many called “the world’s most beautiful voyage”. But what started as a local transportation company in 1893, now also operates a fleet of custom-built expedition cruise ships, exploring over 250 destinations in 30 countries worldwide.

In 2019 we launched the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen, and since then two more have come along. Sustainability has been at the heart of our operations ever since we started and being responsible is more than what we do- it’s who we are. It’s the backbone of our business, it is a part of our DNA and our road ahead.

Meet Hedda Felin: Hurtigruten Norway’s CEO Championing A New Era Of Sustainable Cruising

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Hedda Felin joined Hurtigruten Norway as the Chief Executive Officer in March 2021. A year and a half later, the cruise line launched its first hybrid battery-powered ship, MS Richard With, with two more on the way. This is just the beginning of the company’s sustainability journey, which has been transporting travelers, goods, and locals along the Norwegian Coast for 130 years.

Part of Hurtigruten Group, the world’s leading adventure travel company, Hurtigruten Norway is working towards creating zero-emissions ships by 2030, a crucial step in the right direction for a climate-friendly cruise.

A Norwegian cruise promises some of the most stunning scenery on the planet, with world-famous fjords , charming coastal farms, idyllic fishing villages, and incredible wildlife. Now, travelers can experience the rugged beauty and get to know the communities of this famed coastline on a sustainable cruise.

Hurtigruten Norway’s new premium offerings bring travelers to the northernmost populated city in the world -- Svalbard in the High Arctic . The promise of the Northern Lights on a comfortable, energy-efficient ship, are accompanied by a plethora of onboard amenities, enriching excursions, and classes that connect to the people and places of this European gem.

The Travel met with Hedda Felin in February via Zoom to discuss the company’s pioneering sustainability initiatives and new offerings celebrating its 130th anniversary.

Integrating Sustainability Throughout

Sustainability is very integrated into everything that is going on at Hurtigruten,

said Felin, who leads the entire operations of Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Express fleet, which is currently undergoing upgrades to become more energy efficient.

"It’s about how we take care of the environment, how we work with communities, and now with the emissions part. Our industry has been polluting far too much, and we have to acknowledge that and do something with it." Felin hopes that by continuing to harness new renewable energy technologies as they become available, the company can become more sustainable.

We feel that a lot of companies are waiting for perfect technological solutions to get to zero, but we have to start with what we have today.

This approach resulted in the hybrid ships and other energy-efficient measures currently underway. Hurtigruten Norway’s sister company, Hurtigruten Expeditions, launched the world’s first hybrid battery-powered cruise ship in 2019.

Hurtigruten Sustainability Upgrades

By the end of this year, Hurtigruten Norway is set to have made a 100-million-euro green upgrade , one of the largest of its kind in the history of European shipping. It aims to reduce its CO2 by 25%. Beyond reducing CO2 emissions, the company is trying to reduce its NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) emissions by 80% with the use of rinsing technology on the entire fleet by the end of 2023.

We have reduced water consumption and food waste by 80% on our ships. On excursions, guests are provided with electric buses.

In 2018, the company stopped using plastic water bottles and all other non-essential single-use plastic throughout its entire operation.

Hurtigruten Norway partnered with a leading research organization, SINTEF, to construct zero-emission ships for the Norwegian coast , with the first ready to sail in 2030. Felin explained that they will start by reducing emissions up to 50% by designing a more energy-efficient ship, “because that has not been taken into account before when ships were being built. It’s all about the shape, form, propellors, skull, and the maneuvering system.”

“What’s optimal for us is a fast, rapid developmental battery,” she added. Installing an energy source – such as a smart battery that is bigger but lighter, which can be charged while running and along the route like an electric car – is the focus of the company’s research and development.

We have access to the Norwegian shore very frequently to go in and out, and we can charge the battery onshore.

Because Norway has green hydropower, this type of charging relies on renewable energy.

Related: 10 Unique & Interesting Things That Can Only Be Found In Norway

New Premium Offerings To Celebrate 130th Jubilee

This summer, Hurtigruten Norway will be celebrating the milestone of its 130th anniversary by adding two new itineraries with premium offerings. Once the MS Trolljford undergoes a refurb this spring, it will be used for the new routes: the Svalbard Express and the North Cape Express , with the first sailings in June and September.

These two are dramatically different from the classic routes the Norwegian Coastal Express has offered throughout its legendary history. While the classic route has 34 ports of call and multiple harbors each day, the new itineraries will allow guests to spend more time at each port, taking in beautiful coastal villages and experiencing authentic Norway.

Our new products have one port every day, with at least seven hours in each port. That allows you to really get to know Lofoten when you are in Lofoten one day and to get to know Tromso the day you are in Tromso with excursions, etcetera.

The ship is being refurbished with the new itineraries in mind and can accommodate around 450 people, with a higher crew-to-passenger ratio. According to Felin, it will be in modern Scandinavian style, featuring stylish interiors, ample space, and many opportunities on and off the ship to experience Norway. Onboard experiences include:

• Culinary demonstrations
• Food tastings
• Afternoon tea
• Photography
• History lessons
• Wine, beer, champagne, and whiskey tastings

The new itineraries offer 63 new excursions , including hiking, birdwatching, whale watching, ice fishing, and snowmobiling.

The Svalbard Express, sailing in summer, includes popular destinations, such as Lofoten Islands , Vesterålen, and the North Cape, before heading north to Longyearbyen in Svalbard, taking 16 days total, with options for half-way journeys, starting or ending in Svalbard.

The North Cape Express is a 15-day voyage available in the autumn, winter, and early spring, timed for the Northern Lights season. It takes guests to the capital city of Oslo and along the entire length of the coast. It gives guests the unique Northern Lights Promise , which means if a traveler sailing during the auroral seasons does not experience the Northern Lights, the company will offer a free, second sailing.

February and March months are the best times to see the Northern Lights.

Related: Your Most Pressing FAQS About Visiting Norway

Hurtigruten Sustainable Culinary Program

Staying true to its sustainability values, Hurtigruten Norway introduced a Culinary Ambassador program, as part of the fleet-wide Coastal Kitchen concept in 2022. The program brought onboard two award-winning chefs from the Norwegian coast, Astrid Nässlander and Halvar Ellingsen, to work alongside Head Chef Øistein Nilsen, to inspire future Norway’s Coastal Kitchen chefs.

The Coastal Kitchen sources more than 80% of its ingredients from local farms, fisheries, bakeries, and other food businesses along the coastal route to provide farm-and-fjord-to-table dishes to cruisers.

The guests eat local specialties – the freshest fish, cheese, and reindeer that exists -- and really get to experience Norway in the most authentic way. When they travel, they learn that that’s sustainability in practice and that they are with a company that takes sustainability really seriously.

Hurtigruten Norway also offers other green options, such as vegan food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as new ocean food options, such as algae and kelp, key sources of protein.

You can choose the green option just to be more environmentally friendly or because you’re a vegetarian, it’s up to you. Norway is well-known for its fish and seafood, but we have amazing plant-based food.

Both the Svalbard Express and North Cape Express are now available for booking at Hurtigruten.com or through your travel advisor.