MS Nordnorge

The 1997-built MS Nordnorge cruise ship is one of the six “contemporary” Hurtigruten ships, together with Kong Harald, Nordlys, Nordkapp, Polarlys, Richard With. Together with its fleet mates, Nordnorge serves Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyages (NCV) program for cruiseferry travel by cargo-passenger ships.

The vessel (IMO number 9107784) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 259371000) 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 700-passenger ship Nordnorge is the second in Hurtigruten's fleet to have this name. "Nord-Norge" translates as "Northern Norway" (the country's northern part, with territories located mostly inside the Arctic Circle). Between 2002 and 2007 this Hurtigruten vessel sailed in Antarctica. The ship became a national celebrity after she was the main venue for NRK "Hurtigruten - Minute by Minute". Around 3,2 million viewers were reported to have watched the show.

Decks and Cabins

MS Nordnorge staterooms (214 total, in 9 grades) include 12x Suites, 178x Outside, 21 Inside. Cabin sizes vary from 55 to 325 ft2 (5-30 m2). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 3. Most staterooms are outside and sized 85-140-ft2 (8-14 m2). There are no balcony cabins.

Standard cabin amenities include lower and upper bunk beds, bedside reading lamps, foldable table with chair, LCDTV, radio, phone, mini-fridge, electronic safe box, wardrobe with dressers and cabinets, en-suite bathroom (WC-shower, bath products, hairdryer), individual air-conditioning, blankets (for sitting outside).

The boat has 7 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Nordnorge features some qualities which separate her from the traditional cruise ships. The everyday conveniences are offered in a large ship setting. The main restaurant offers a relaxed informal atmosphere in the evenings, and all menus use locally-sourced fresh ingredients. Hurtigruten dining boasts authentic Norwegian specialties and international cuisine.

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

• Torget Restaurant (Deck 4) is the Nordnorge ship’s 240-seat Dining Room with floor-ceiling windows and a large buffet station in the middle. Here are offered buffet-style Breakfast (7-10 am) and Lunch (11:30 am - 2:30 pm). Dinner is waiter-served, with 4 seatings, a 3-course menu (plus a la carte menu with light snacks). In the Torget Restaurant are also sold Hurtigruten wine packages.
• Multe Bakery (Deck 7 midship) is a patisserie/ice cream bar with a knitting corner and jigsaw puzzles. It offers freshly baked cakes and pastries along with a range of local ice creams. Guests can try the stockfish, brown cheese, and cloudberry ice cream.
• Brygga Bistro (Deck 4) offers cafe-style food and is perfect for a light lunch. It serves beverages, sandwiches, and burgers throughout the day.
• Kysten Arctic Fine Dining (Deck 4) offers a more private, intimate setting. This exquisite restaurant serves some of the world's best seafood, exotic meat and other produce directly sourced from the Arctic.

Unlike most Hurtigruten ships, Nordnorge has no 24-hour open Cafe Restaurant (Cafeteria with a la carte menu for hot/cold meals, snacks, beverages). The only 24-hour open venue is the Reception, offering guest assistance and information, along with a reduced variety of beverages, packed snacks, and sandwiches.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Nordnorge is not a cruise ship as the usual ones. Classed as one of the six “contemporary ships” of Hurtigruten, this vessel is a combination between a cruise ship, a ferry and UPS delivery service. The vessel features brass and panoramic windows everywhere, polished wood stairways and fascinating Norwegian artwork. The stops are frequent and brief – what would you say about 33 call ports in six days? You can simply disembark in one town, then hop on the bus tour and meet your ship at the next port.

The onboard entertainment is low-key as most of the time is spent in discussions with fellow passengers. Occasionally, there may be live music performances in the evenings at the Bar Lounge. The ship has a small Fitness (gym room), two spa pools (outdoor jacuzzies), Infirmary. However, the small hospital is not served by a resident doctor/nurse. In cases of emergencies, the crew asks among passengers if there is medical personnel, and the ferry is always navigating close to land to deliver sick passengers to a hospital if needed.

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

• The Car Deck (capacity of 45 cars)
• Two Lecture Halls / Conference Rooms (Deck 4) host multimedia presentations, lectures by scientists/wildlife experts, Norway-themed films. A show program is not offered.
• Explorer Lounge and Bar (Deck 7 forward) is a Panorama Lounge (with scenic bow views from floor-ceiling-windows) that also serves as Library (shelved books, board games and cards playing).
• The Shop (sells Norwegian souvenirs, Hurtigruten logo merchandise, jewelry, toiletries, clothing)
• Promenade Deck (full-circle open-air deck space)
• Observation Lounge and Bar
• TRIM Fitness (equipped with exercise bikes, treadmills, free weights); 2 Saunas (separate for men/women)

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.

The cruise ship doesn't have Kids Playroom (indoor playground), Nursery (babysitting facility), Video Games Arcade, Internet Cafe.

Itineraries

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

MS Nordnorge cruises Norway's coast in summer, and in winter, she heads to Antarctica for expedition-style adventures with lectures and naturalists. During her Antarctica trips, passengers' number is limited to 350. In the program are included shore excursions and exploration of places led by local guides.

The ship was christened by godmother Sissel Ronback on March 20, 1997. The vessel is named after the northern part of Norway (Arctic Circle territories). This is the second Hurtigruten ship to bear this name. Classed as one of the line's contemporary ships, Nordnorge is a combination of a ferry (RO-RO), UPS delivery (on water) service, and a cruise ship.

The vessel's godmother Sissel Ronback is a Norwegian politician (Labour Party), at that time serving as Norway's Minister of Transport and Communications. After the extensive drydock refurbishment in 2005, the ship now has two outdoor hottubs (on its top deck) and a unique onboard art collection by Norwegian authors (Johanne Marie Hansen-Krone, Dagfinn Bakke, Ellen Lenvik). Vessel's last drydock was in December 2019 (Bredo Drydocks, Bremerhaven Germany).

Nordnorge's interior decor reflects Art Deco and Art Nouveau influence. The ship is just like a floating art gallery, including artworks by the famous Norwegian artists J.M. Hansen-Krone, D. Bakke, E. Lenvik). Passenger cabins as sizes vary from 65 to 323 sq.feet. Three of the staterooms are designed for disabled guests.

For winter 2002-2003, the Nordnorge ship was deployed in Antarctica. In 2009, the ship didn't operate on Norwegian coastal voyages but was chartered as a hotel ship in the Mediterranean (homeported in Venice Italy).

Fun fact is, that on June 16, 2011, NRK2 (Norwegian Public Service broadcaster) started non-stop live footage transmitting from ms Nordnorge during her 134-hour voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes. The "live show" reached 3.2 million Norwegians.

Currently, MS Nordnorge cruises on the same route, visiting 35 ports. Many use the vessel as transportation (ferry). Cruise passengers stay on board for full round trips booking it as a cruise ship. Norwegian coastal cruise passengers can opt for 5-11 nights stays, with the full 12-day sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes, then going back southbound. In most ports of call are offered Hurtigruten-sponsored excursions and tours. A ceremony "Crossing the Arctic Circle” welcomes newcomers. On Hurtigruten Norwegian coastal voyages, the line offers flight-cruise package deals. Bookings are protected with ATOL Certificate. ATOL stands for "Air Travel Organisers' Licensing" (Civil Aviation Authority, UK).

Drydock refurbishments review

By 2023-Q4, Hurtigtuten's all 7x "Norwegian Coastal Express" ferryboats (Nordnorge, Richard With, Nordlys, Kong Harald, Polarlys, Trollfjord, Nordkapp) were scheduled to complete drydocks for powerplant conversions (from diesel-only to diesel-electric / battery-hybrid), during which new low-emission diesel engines and large battery packs were installed.

• For this project (budgeted ~EUR 100 million), on May 11, 2021, Hurtigruten Group signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime to deliver the hybrid equipment packages for the boats.
• Each ship was fitted with 2x SAVe Energy storage systems (1120 kWh lithium-ion batteries) controlled via SAVe CUBE (drive switchboards that control the thrusters) and 2x Bergen B33:45V diesel engines (diesel generator sets with SCR-Selective Catalytic Reduction to optimize CO emissions control).
• Kongsberg's equipment also included re-blading of the propellers, installing new thruster motors (retractable stern 360-degree azimuthing thruster), AC (switchboards/current switches), new safety and communication systems, new gears, bulbous bow (the hull was optimized to reduce drag), new boilers (improving heat recovery from the engines), new wastewater treatment plant.
• The drydocks were conducted by Myklebust Verft AS (shipyard in Gursken, Norway's Gurskoya Island).

All Hurtigruten ships now have shoreside-power capabilities (plugs for electricity supply at port berths).