MS Lofoten

The 1964-built MS Lofoten cruise ship was the oldest and smallest of all Hurtigruten vessels. The ship was last drydock refurbished in 2015. Like its fleetmates, Lofoten served Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Voyages (NCV) program for cruiseferry travel by cargo-passenger ships..

The vessel (IMO number 5424562) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 258477000) and registered in Tromso.

History - construction and ownership

The shipowner Hurtigruten is a Norwegian passenger shipping company specializing in cruise and ferry services. The "Norwegian Coastal Express Route" (Bergen-Kirkenes) is a cargo-passenger ferry service along Norway's western and northern coast. Hurtigruten's cruise ferries sail nearly the entire length of Norway and complete this roundtrip itinerary in 11 days. The route also includes Lofoten Islands and Vesteralen Islands.

The 400-passenger ship Lofoten was launched in 1964 and was exclusively operated by Hurtigruten. This special ship operated cruises around Norway's coast, sometimes also in the Svalbard Archipelago. In 2000 she was protected by the Norwegian Director General of Historic Monuments in order to preserve the cultural heritage of Norway.

MS Lofoten has docked 75,000 times and traveled around 3 million NM/nautical miles (~5,56 M km / ~3,45 M mi) for Hurtigruten, serving ~1,3 million passengers. The ship's (original) main engine accumulated nearly 330,000 running hours - more than any other marine diesel engine in the world. Another curious fact is that MS Lofoten has been operated under its original name since entering service - on March 5, 1964.

On November 26, 2020, the shipowner Hurtigruten signed an LoI (Letter of Intent) with Sorlandet Maritime Videregaende Skole (Southern Maritime High School, 1927-founded, located in Kristiansand Norway) for the vessel's sale. The 56-year-old Lofoten leaves the fleet in 2021 to start a new life as a training ship (since August 2021) including as a hotel ship for the students. The exclusive deal included the option Hurtigruten to occasionally charter the vessel during non-school periods.

Decks and Cabins

MS Lofoten staterooms (91 total, in 5 grades) include 68x Outside and 23x Inside. Most cabins are sized 75-140 ft2 (7-13 m2). Cabins are plain, but cozy, with lower and upper bunk berths. Less than 50% of all accommodations provide private bathrooms, and slightly more than 50% are outside with portholes.

The boat has 5 decks, all of which are passenger-accessible and with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

All meals in the restaurant (spanning the vessel's width) are included in the fare if booking the full one-way crossing between Bergen and Kirkenes or a complete roundtrip voyage. The food is good mid-level cooking, with choices including standard international cuisine and Norwegian specialties. The restaurant is a cosy room with original Norwegian paintings. Reservations apply to dinner only. There is only one sitting unless the ship is full.

Follows the complete list of ms Lofoten restaurants and food bars.

The Restaurant (offers buffet-style Breakfast 7:30-9 am, Lunch 12:30-2 pm, Dinner at 7:30 pm (reservations-only, waiter-served, with one fixed sitting)

The Cafe (aft of the dining room, 24-hour open cafeteria with a la carte menu for hot/cold meals, snacks, beverages).

MS Lofoten provides its guests with an intimate informal atmosphere, panoramic decks, unique lounges. This extraordinary vessel is a perfect choice if you want to sail on a small ship with well-trained crew and pleasant accommodations. The vessel was given her name after Lofoten Islands, just north of the Arctic Circle, which are known for their dramatic scenery.

Follows the complete list of ms Lofoten lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Bar (after-dinner spot for cocktails)
• The Shop (sells Norwegian souvenirs and Hurtigruten logo merchandise)
• Saloon Deck's Lounge (with 270-degree views)
• The Panorama Lounge (with 270-degree panoramic views and comfortable seating)
• Infirmary (Hospital and Pharmacy)
• Self-service Laundry Room (complimentary)
• Hall/Lobby area with Reception Desk (guest services, assistance). At the Reception, guests can also book Hurtigruten tours/shore excursions, among which dog sledding, bus tours to small towns (embarkation in the next port along the Lofoten itinerary), "Northern Lights" and "North Cape" themed excursions
• Luggage Room (storage lockers)
• Gangway (ship entrance) is a narrow passage used for crew/passenger boarding and disembarkation
• Navigation Bridge (bow location) and officers' quarters are inaccessible for passengers
• The Sun Deck is the place for Hurtigruten's special ceremony "Arctic Circle baptism", including a Neptune-costumed crewmember, icy seawater, and a shot for warming up.

Itineraries

MS Lofoten itinerary program is based on Norwegian Coastal Voyages. Ship's routes include the scenic Norwegian fjords.

Lofoten is mostly used as a ferry for both passengers and cars. However, some guests stay on board for roundtrip 12-day itineraries out of Bergen and Kirkenes (with some departures from Tromso).