Travelers who want to see the whole Norwegian coast on a working ship that also carries locals and cargo.
Think twice if: This is a working coastal ship: short stops, some calls in the middle of the night, and drinks are not included with meals.
See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express)'s page for this ship →
What she's like
Easy to find your way around. Fewer crowds getting off in port. About 19 tons of ship per guest. As a rule of thumb, 40 or more feels roomy and under 30 feels busy.
Unknown from line's site.
Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).
Signature Voyages (Svalbard Line, North Cape Line) are all-inclusive: cabin bookings include unlimited select drinks in Flora, Brasserie Arran and 1893 Bar during opening hours; suites include more. Original (Coastal Express) inclusions not published. Bergen luggage handling included.
No minimum age; under-12s must travel with an adult.
Informal; pack layers, waterproofs and boots for outdoor activities (no dress code statement found).
Where she sails in Europe
Norwegian coast
Hybrid.
We don't have her sailing-by-sailing schedule yet. See the line's site for dates.
What it costs beyond the fare
| Tips for the crew | No gratuity policy found on the help pages downloaded. |
|---|---|
| Drinks package | Included on Signature Voyages (select drinks); Original voyages not published. |
| Money on board | NOK onboard (e.g. laundry 'NOK 30 (~$3) per load'); booking charged in the currency of your market (USD for US bookings). |
How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →
Her restaurants · 1 included, 1 extra
| Where to eat | Cost |
|---|---|
| Torget (main restaurant; full board, drinks not included) | Included |
| Kysten (à la carte) | Not stated |
| Brygga (bistro) | Extra charge |
| Multe (bakery & ice cream) | Not stated |
Which cabin to book, and which to avoid
The line doesn't publish cabin sizes for this ship that we could find.
Good to know before you pick
- Deck 6 midship cabins (609-632) sit below the deck 7 Multe bakery / fitness area; forward deck 6 cabins below the Explorer lounge & bar
- Deck 3 cabins sit directly below the deck 4 restaurants (Torget aft, Kysten and Brygga midship)
- Lifeboats drawn along both sides of deck 6 midship and deck 5 midship (outdoor walking deck)
If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty
Accessible cabins with automatic doors and wheelchair storage: 331, 333 and 335, plus suite 643. Accessible toilets on decks 4 and 7. Most public areas step-free from the central lift; at least two wheelchair-accessible public toilets per ship; some outdoor decks have raised thresholds. Wheelchair users asked to travel with a companion and bring their own wheelchair. Guests must carry their own luggage in most ports (except Bergen). Elevators: Lifts just aft of midship and forward; decks 2-7 Our accessibility guide →
Find your way around
Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.
- Deck 7 , Observation deck and seating area; Fitness room; Multe bakery & ice cream; Explorer lounge & bar
- Deck 6 , Hot tubs
- Deck 5 , Observation deck; Outdoor walking deck (both sides)
- Deck 4 , Torget restaurant; Kysten restaurant; Brygga bistro; Kompass Service Center / Information / Shop / Post office; Lecture halls
- Deck 3 , Check-in point and gangway
- Deck 2 , Car deck; Tender area; Sauna
Open Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express)'s official deck plan →
What to book, and when
Booking, check-in and reservations
Final balance due 90 days before departure. Check-in times vary by voyage (Bergen terminal opens 11am; luggage drop 1-2:30pm).
Paying and cancelling
25% fee at 90+ days; 50% at 60-89; 75% at 30-59; 100% under 30 days.
Tips for her Europe sailings
Coastal Express is a working ferry route: most ports have no luggage handlers, so pack light. Weather can cancel ports in winter.
The ship in numbers
- Cruise line
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express)
- Kind of ship
- Small ship & sail
- Built
- 1994
- Last refit
- 2024
- Guests
- 590
- Crew
- 55
- Cabins
- 200
- Guest decks
- 6
- Gross tons
- 11,204
- Length
- 122 m (400 ft)
- Width
- 19 m (63 ft)
- Flag
- Norway
- Class
- Kong Harald class (Volkswerft Stralsund, 1993-94)
- Ship number
- IMO 9048914
- Sister ships
- Kong Harald, Richard With
- In Europe 2026–27
- Norwegian coast
Highlights
- Interior art and colors inspired by the Northern Lights
- Hybrid ship (Hurtigruten facility list)
- Sails the classic Bergen-Kirkenes Coastal Express
- Last refurbished 2024
More pictures
Sources & what we could not confirm · 11 sources · checked 2026-11
- Hurtigruten official ship page: Nordlys
- Hurtigruten official deck plan PDF: Nordlys
- VesselFinder registry entry
- MS Nordlys (1994) (Wikipedia, secondary)
- Hurtigruten help: refunds and cancellations
- Hurtigruten help: payments
- Hurtigruten help: accessibility
- Hurtigruten help: travel with children
- Hurtigruten help: check-in and boarding
- Hurtigruten help: food and drink
- Hurtigruten official deck plan PDF: MS Kong Harald
- Deck numbers inferred from the official deck plan drawing (top deck numbered from the WC/deck references in Hurtigruten's FAQ and cabin numbers); check before publishing.
- Deck layout read from a sister ship's plan; this ship's own plan lists the same venue names.
- Crew count from Wikipedia (secondary).
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express): Gratuities
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express): Wi-Fi
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express): Smoking
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express): Original-voyage inclusions
- Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Express): Language and nationality mix
- Deck plan: Deck numbers are not printed on the plan; inferred from cabin-number prefixes (6xx = deck 6 etc.) and deck order
- Deck plan: Cabin category codes (e.g. U2D, P2D, J3, I2) shown on plan but their meaning and sizes are not stated on the plan
- Deck plan: Sister ships not checked separately