MS Vesteralen

MS Vesteralen is a passenger vessel operated by Norwegian-based Hurtigruten. Built in Harstad, Norway, in 1983, she carries around 510 guests and ranks among the smallest ships in Hurtigruten's fleet. She was refitted in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1989 to increase passenger capacity, and again in 1995.

Vesteralen takes her name from DS Vesteralen, the very first Hurtigruten ship, launched in 1893, and that heritage runs deep through the vessel today. Restaurant menus draw inspiration from those served during the 1930s, while crew uniforms and specially commissioned tableware reflect classic designs from the company's history. Guest facilities have been brought up to contemporary standards, but the ship's original style, intimate atmosphere, and traditional design elements remain firmly intact.

MS Vesteralen has 146 staterooms across 5 grades, including 109 outside cabins, 36 inside cabins, and 1 wheelchair accessible cabin. All cabins feature twin beds that fold up, creating extra space and allowing them to convert into lounges, while mini suites add a television, a separate sitting area, and a stocked minibar.

Onboard, guests will find 4 bars and 5 lounges, alongside a restaurant where all meals are included for full voyage passengers. Her interior design stays modest compared with the line's newer vessels, part of the appeal for cruisers drawn to a more classic experience. An open cargo deck, complete with a portside cargo hatch and stern crane, offers a genuine reminder of her dual role as both cruise ship and working coastal ferry.

Vesteralen serves Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Voyages programme, offering cruise and ferry travel aboard cargo passenger ships along the Norwegian Coastal Express Route from Bergen to Kirkenes, with the round trip completed in 11 days.

MS Vesteralen suits cruisers after an authentic coastal voyage where the journey itself matters as much as the destinations, and those who value maritime heritage over modern gloss.

Have you set sail on MS Vesteralen? Add your coastal voyage to your account on The Cruise Globe and see your exact route!