Photographs and details of the experience aboard MS Nordnorge, a popular Hurtigruten vessel that operates along the Norwegian Coastal Route.

Norway’s fleet of Hurtigruten coastal vessels is an iconic sight and a draw for curious travelers around the world. The modern fleet is more than ferries but less than cruise ships, somewhere in between.

On a recent trip to the Lofoten Islands, I took a trip from Bodø to Svolær on the MS Nordnorge. The six-hour trip also stopped in Stamsund and provided fantastic views of the mountainous islands.

As I have already written in detail about the former MS Vesterålen, here is a look at another type of ship within the Hurtigruten fleet. We didn’t have a cabin so there are no photos of the cabin, but I took a good look at the rest of the ship.

If you are considering a trip on the MS Nordnorge, I hope you find this article useful.

Presentation of MS Nordnorge

Built in 1997 at the Kværner Kleven shipyard, MS Nordnorge underwent a complete refurbishment in 2016.

There is a total capacity of 590, which includes beds for 476 people. The 123.3 meter long vessel can also accommodate 32 cars. It has a top speed of 18 knots.

Restaurants and bars on board

Anyone who has taken a Hurtigruten ship before will know the facilities on board. Since food is a major selling point on Hurtigruten trips, let’s start there.

MS Nordnorge offers three different restaurants, all located on deck four. The main restaurant toget This is where return trip passengers will eat the majority of their meals. This is the largest restaurant and is where buffets and most dinners are served.

Further on deck four you will find Cyst, billed as “Fine Artic Cuisine”. This is an option for passengers on coastal voyages looking for a different dining experience and should be booked in advance.

Alongside Kysten, the last restaurant on board is the bistro brygga, which serves a range of pizzas, burgers and small dishes. This is a great option for port-to-port travelers looking for a meal.

We ate at the bistro and the food arrived quickly. Exactly what we were looking for considering we were sailing to Lofoten! Both pizzas and the shrimp sandwich were all excellent.

On deck seven, mult is a bakery and ice cream bar, perfect for a sweet treat to enjoy on the outside part of deck seven. Ice cream flavors include Tørrfisk and Brunost! The only downside to Multe is the relatively early closing time.

Finally, at the other end of deck seven is the Explorer Bar, with full bar service and comfortable seating. It’s a good point to mention that food and especially alcohol on board is very expensive, even by Norwegian standards. You were warned!

We sat in the Explorer lounge for a while because even from the inside seats you can see a lot from the panoramic windows. If you can pack one of the window seats, great.

Other facilities on the MS Nordnorge

Elsewhere on the ship, the biggest attraction is of course the Norwegian coast! We spent a lot of time on the outside deck of deck seven, although it was quite windy once we got around.

Just below the main outside deck, at the far end of Deck 6, you’ll find two small hot tubs and a smaller seating area with a great view of the water from the stern of the ship. The hot tubs were well used on our short trip.

Another great option for watching the coastline is the wraparound walkway on Deck 5. Although lower than the main outside deck, it gives you more flexible perspectives. This was particularly useful when approaching the ports of Lofoten.

I also had the opportunity to take a quick look around the shop. There was a good range of outdoor clothing (premium brands, premium prices) and the usual souvenirs such as postcards and mugs.

The shop also sells non-alcoholic drinks and serves as an information point for round-trip customers, a booking point for excursions, etc.

Behind the shop is a conference room. This is used to give daily briefings to return guests and lectures such as an introduction to Sami culture. Other onboard facilities include two hot tubs, a sauna and a small fitness room.

Passenger cabins

As I said earlier, we didn’t have a cabin because our trip was only six hours in the afternoon and evening.

Having watched the cabin pictures on the Hurtigruten site I can say that the cabins are a step up from what I had on the MS Vesterålen. However, they are far from what you would expect from a cruise ship.

Norway Coastal Voyage is not a cruise ship, so it’s important to take a look at the cabins before you book to make sure you’ve set your expectations correctly! This is especially true if you are an experienced cruiser.

We really enjoyed our stay on the MS Nordnorge and found it to be a great option for traveling between Bodø and Svolvær. Soon I will write more about using the Hurtigruten as a port-to-port ferry, just like the locals do.