Hurtigruten line

[RMS Olympic]

Has anyone sailed this line? Comments and or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Clay Clayton]

While I haven’t sailed with them, good friends Sam and Yost have.  One did a Norway cruise with his Mom while the both did an Antarctic cruise.  They were very complimentary of the line. 

[amusea]

Our experience on Hurtigruten was on the Trollfjord several years ago.  It is a very unique experience in many ways.  First, don't expect luxurious cabins.  They are adequate and comfortable but small with narrow beds.

Secondly, you had better like seafood, especially salmon.  The luncheon buffets are plentiful but fish is usually the main feature.  Dinner menus are fine and the food is very fresh but the selection is not expansive.

Third, alcoholic drinks are very expensive as they are in Norway. 

We chose the Trollfjord because the ship was new and the front viewing area was very large with a huge glass area.  Some of the older ships are less optimal for viewing the scenery.

It could be that the security concerns have changed the incredibly casual attitude that was prevalent when we sailed.  At that time the ship stopped several times both day and night to deliver goods since that is the main purpose of the ferries.

If you wanted to get off at any stop there was no taking roll call.  You just wandered off and it was your responsibility to be back before the ship departed.  Quite amazing but there may be a more strict protocol now

Since Norway is one of our very favorite countries, both for scenery and the Norwegian people, we loved this 12 day cruise.  One highlight was entering the Trollfjord which is so narrow that from the railings on both port and starboard you can actually touch the walls which were dripping with water.  Whether or not your ferry will be able to enter the fjord depends on weather, tides and other concerns so it is not guaranteed.

Social events are few and far between.  We did not notice any other gay passengers. The focus of the sailing is the scenery and these ferries make the best case for viewing Norway from the sea.  We have also been on four cruises by larger cruise ship in the major Norwegian fjords and we never tire of their beauty so perhaps we are prejudiced.

 

Jay and Al

 

[malawijay]

I did a Hurtigruen over Christmas and NYE this past year. You can search for my review on Cruise Critic. I would definitely second what Jay and Al said. If there were other LGBT passengers they kept it low key. Hurtigruten is a ferry line with a robust tourism business, so let that frame your expectations. I did enjoy the experience, very much. However, we did the full 12 day north to south voyage, and that was a little much for me. If I ever did it again, I would probably just to the northbound voyage, but break it up with 2-3 day stopovers in Trondheim and Tromsø, and a post sat in Kirkenes. 

Edited June 23, 2019 by malawijay

[malawijay]

I should also add that my parents did an Antarctica voyage 10 years ago and still rave about it. The expedition ships are a different experience than the Norway coastal voyages. 

[hejiranyc]

I sailed on Hurtigruten last year in the high Arctic.  Indeed, Hurtigruten is all about the business - getting you from Point A to Point B safely and hopefully with some educational experiences thrown in the mix.  No discos.  No theatrical shows.  No casinos.  No swimming pools.  And if you're on an expedition cruise in the polar regions, you will basically be buttoned up the entire time in winter/hiking gear, so it's definitely less nerve wracking for those of us who are carrying a few extra pounds/kilos.  I would definitely recommend Hurtigruten, but be aware that it is a different experience from traditional cruise lines.