MS Nordnorge

MS Nordnorge is a Hurtigruten ship completed in 1997 by Kvaerner Kleven in Ulsteinvik, Norway, built as a sister ship to MS Polarlys and MS Nordkapp. Carrying up to 691 passengers, she's a small ship, and her name simply means "Northern Norway," a nod to the country's northeasterly region made up of Finnmark, Troms, and Nordland.

Nordnorge isn't a traditional cruise ship. As one of Hurtigruten's contemporary vessels, she works as a hybrid of cruise ship, ferry, and coastal logistics vessel. Her interiors feature brass accents, polished wood stairways, panoramic windows, and notable Norwegian artwork. Port stops come frequently and briefly, up to 33 ports across six days, letting guests disembark, join a bus tour, and reunite with the ship at the next stop.

Cabins here favour views over sheer comfort. Staterooms total 214 across nine grades, including 12 suites, 178 outside cabins, and 21 inside cabins, with no balcony cabins on board. Most staterooms are outside, sized between 85 and 140 square feet, and the smaller cabins pair twin bunks with large picture windows, keeping guests genuinely connected to the sea.

Dining leans toward fresh, locally sourced fare. Torget Restaurant on Deck 4 is the ship's 240-seat dining room, serving breakfast and lunch buffet-style and dinner with waiter service across four seatings. The Multe Bakery on Deck 7 offers freshly baked cakes, pastries, and local ice creams in flavours like stockfish, brown cheese, and cloudberry, while Kysten Arctic Fine Dining serves premium seafood, exotic meats, and other Arctic-sourced specialties.

Entertainment stays understated, with socialising and scenic viewing taking clear precedence over organised activities, though the Bar Lounge occasionally hosts live music. Facilities include a small fitness room, two outdoor jacuzzis, and an infirmary, and the sun deck hosts Hurtigruten's Arctic Circle baptism ceremony, complete with a Neptune costumed crew member and icy seawater.

Since 2002, Nordnorge has spent Northern Hemisphere winters in Antarctic cruise service, and she became a national icon after serving as the main venue for NRK's Hurtigruten, Minute by Minute, watched by around 3.2 million viewers.

Nordnorge suits travellers after the rhythm of genuine coastal life, frequent ports, and a focus on scenery over spectacle, whether sailing Norway in summer or heading south to polar waters come winter.

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