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Hurtigruten, Some Changes


hallasm
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Now that the world opens after COVID-19 and the desire to travel returns, there are a number of changes for Hurtigruten and on the Norwegian Coastal Route you must be aware of.

Hurtigruten is reorganizing, changed names on some ships when moved from Coastal Voyages to Expedition cruises and then a new company serving four out of eleven departures on the Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen Coastal route.

 

Hurtigruten AS has reorganized their operations into two different entities: Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express serving the Norwegian Coastal Route and Hurtigruten Expeditions with global expedition offerings with a focus on Arctic and Antarctic -  ships and offerings can be very different.

 

In 2017 The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Norway announced that the Hurtigruten contract was split into three contracts. Two contracts were granted to Hurtigruten AS and one to Havila Kystruten AS, with each Company operating seven and four ships respectively. 

The two companies will alternate departure days for the entire route from Bergen to Kirkenes from 2021. 

 

Norwegian Coastal Voyage is the coastal route/ferry line between Bergen and Kirkenes - a Norwegian public coastal route providing daily, year-round and consistent traffic. In addition to cruise passengers also transporting local passengers as well as cars and cargo between ports north of Tromsø - a total of 34 ports of call - mostly 15 minutes stops (also during nights) and one longer stop each day. 

 

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express Ships: 

MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp, MS Nordlys, MS Nordnorge, MS Polarlys, MS Richard With, and MS Vesterålen

 

Havila Voyages

From October 2021 Havila Kystruten is operating two out of their four ships at the Norwegian coastal voyage - ‘Havila Capella’ og ‘Havila Castor’ - the two other ships ‘Havila Polaris’ and ‘Havila Pollux’ will join the fleet during 2022.

 

Hurtigruten Expedition - global expedition cruise offerings with the following ships:

MS Fram, MS Fridtjof Nansen, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Spitsbergen

MS Nordstjernen - primarily Svalbard/Spitsbergen.

MS Maud (formerly MS Midnatsol), Norwegian Fjords and British Isles from Dover

MS Otto Sverdrup (formerly MS Finnmarken), Norwegian Fjords from Hamburg

MS Santa Cruz II, Galapagos

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On 8/31/2021 at 8:46 AM, hallasm said:

Now that the world opens after COVID-19 and the desire to travel returns, there are a number of changes for Hurtigruten and on the Norwegian Coastal Route you must be aware of.

Hurtigruten is reorganizing, changed names on some ships when moved from Coastal Voyages to Expedition cruises and then a new company serving four out of eleven departures on the Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen Coastal route.

 

Hurtigruten AS has reorganized their operations into two different entities: Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express serving the Norwegian Coastal Route and Hurtigruten Expeditions with global expedition offerings with a focus on Arctic and Antarctic -  ships and offerings can be very different.

 

In 2017 The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Norway announced that the Hurtigruten contract was split into three contracts. Two contracts were granted to Hurtigruten AS and one to Havila Kystruten AS, with each Company operating seven and four ships respectively. 

The two companies will alternate departure days for the entire route from Bergen to Kirkenes from 2021. 

 

Norwegian Coastal Voyage is the coastal route/ferry line between Bergen and Kirkenes - a Norwegian public coastal route providing daily, year-round and consistent traffic. In addition to cruise passengers also transporting local passengers as well as cars and cargo between ports north of Tromsø - a total of 34 ports of call - mostly 15 minutes stops (also during nights) and one longer stop each day. 

 

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express Ships: 

MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp, MS Nordlys, MS Nordnorge, MS Polarlys, MS Richard With, and MS Vesterålen

 

Havila Voyages

From October 2021 Havila Kystruten is operating two out of their four ships at the Norwegian coastal voyage - ‘Havila Capella’ og ‘Havila Castor’ - the two other ships ‘Havila Polaris’ and ‘Havila Pollux’ will join the fleet during 2022.

 

Hurtigruten Expedition - global expedition cruise offerings with the following ships:

MS Fram, MS Fridtjof Nansen, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Spitsbergen

MS Nordstjernen - primarily Svalbard/Spitsbergen.

MS Maud (formerly MS Midnatsol), Norwegian Fjords and British Isles from Dover

MS Otto Sverdrup (formerly MS Finnmarken), Norwegian Fjords from Hamburg

MS Santa Cruz II, Galapagos

What happened to the Trollfjord?

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2 hours ago, janetcbl said:

What happened to the Trollfjord?

My understanding is that MS Trollfjord was scheduled for Bergen – North Cape – Bergen expedition cruises in 2021/2022.

Due to fleet deployment changes following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming MS Trollfjord Expedition Cruises has been cancelled.

Currently MS Trollfjord is not included in the list og expedition ships.

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From a Hurtigruten press release, August 20, 2019 .... 

 

As they are transformed into fully-fledged premium expedition cruise ships, the current MS Trollfjord, MS Finnmarken, and MS Midnatsol, will be renamed MS Maud, MS Otto Sverdrup, and MS Eirik Raude, respectively.

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8 hours ago, PeterGavin said:

As they are transformed into fully-fledged premium expedition cruise ships, the current MS Trollfjord, MS Finnmarken, and MS Midnatsol, will be renamed MS Maud, MS Otto Sverdrup, and MS Eirik Raude, respectively.

Then the pandemic and things has changed - MS Midnatsol is now renamed MS Maud and 

MS Finnmarken renamed  MS Otto Sverdrup - MS Trollfjord is not renamed (yet).

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What a shame about the names.

 

Our first (we sure hope it was our "first", but time will tell...) Hurtigruten cruise was on the Trollfjord.  In addition to being one of our best cruises ever (this was in part due to such a surprise for a "ferry"! 🙂 ), we loved the name "Trollfjord".

 

Any idea about why they felt the need for renaming?


We were hoping to return so we could get a few more of those cute tiny mugs.  Funny what becomes a special souvenir, eh?

 

We really hope we can get back... these crazy times don't seem to be going away any time soon.

At least we have some phenomenal photos, and many very special memories!

 

GC

 

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On 8/31/2021 at 9:46 AM, hallasm said:

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express Ships: 

MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp, MS Nordlys, MS Nordnorge, MS Polarlys, MS Richard With, and MS Vesterålen

 

Thanks for the detailed update.  We are looking at a 12-day Coastal between January and March 2022 to fill in until our Fram sailing at the end of May 2022.  Which ship would you recommend?  We were looking at the Nordkapp,  Nordnorge and Polarlys as they seem to offer some larger cabins.  Appreciate your thoughts.  Or is it worth waiting for Havila's new fleet?  Any updates on when they begin coastal sailings?  Many thanks.

 

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Havila initial voyage now 1st December with 2nd ship starting 20th January 2022. 

 

https://www.havilavoyages.com/about-havila/news/changed-time-for-first-roundtrip 

 

Trollfjord has been announced as an "Expedition" ship. Initial announced plans were for Expedition" Cruise on Norwegian coast from Bergen. These were subsequently cancelled until March 2022, presumably due to COVID.

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Thank you Richws and Hallasm for the info.  The Havila website is a bit frustrating to use.  There is apparently no email address or a US phone number to contact.   Just to confirm, it is correct that Havila's prices are for the cabin and not the passengers?  Also, since prices are given in NOK, would it be beneficial to pay in that currency rather than US $ which was the case for Hurtigruten coastals, right?

Edited by jonikal
computer problem
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1 hour ago, jonikal said:

There is apparently no email address or a US phone number to contact. 

Havila currently only has a Sales Office in Norway - no international sales offices.

use contact form - I did get a reply within hours.

 

1 hour ago, jonikal said:

it is correct that Havila's prices are for the cabin and not the passengers?

Yes, for two passengers. Prices in NOK, € or £ - not possible to pay in US $.  For Hurtigruten you pay in the currency of the actual sales office.

Just pay attention to the terms and conditions for payment and cancellation - Norwegian terms does apply - in case of problems you will be covered by the EU  ‘Packet Travel Directive’.

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I am contemplating a Norway Coastal Cruise in September 2023, so have been researching and found a variety of leads. I will not be booking immediately, but have been guided well to know what I need and expectations for the trip. I did get a fast reply directly from Havila, indicating only payment through their office to be in NOK, € or £.

 

There is an agency called 50 Degrees North, with offices in

  • Norway [Oyer],
  • Melbourne, Australia [and pricing in Aust or NZ $ available];
  • and a North America operation in Vancouver: 

Phone: 1.888.880.0286
Org no.: 766749915BC0001

200 - 120 Lonsdale Avenue, Office 2038,
North Vancouver, Canada

 

So far, very helpful in knowing the Hurtigruten product and well versed in the potential Havila operation. 

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