Tag 4 & 5 – Das Hurtigruten-Erlebnis

Day 4 & 5 – The Hurtigruten Experience

Day 4 and 5 – Back in November 2022 I had a meeting with Norway’s famous Coastal-liner ‘Hurtigruten’. The Norwegian Public Road administration had been pushing Hurtigruten to promote the boats as a great way to hop on and hop off with a bike. Hurtigruten’s main target audience is usually wealthy retired Westerners from counties such as Germany, France, the UK, Canada, and the USA. Promoting cyclists has never been a priority for the company and this seemed clear during the meeting. Nevertheless, after some months of radio silence, I got the message the project was on and that I would get two free cabin journeys up the coast with my bike.

The first boat I took on day 1 (Bergen – Måløy) was short and sweet and I didn’t get a chance to film much. Therefore, on this second journey, it was full battle stations…work work work. I was wandering around the boat trying to interview managers and staff and speaking to guests from around the world. I filmed all the decks, which included, jacuzzies, a sauna, a fitness room, several restaurants, an explorer lounger/bar, lecture halls, and an outdoor bar/gathering area. The hospitality managers gave me a tour of the cabins including the exclusive suites and I was even scheduled to meet the captain on the bridge that evening. Unfortunately, due to ‘security rules’, I was denied this opportunity at the last minute which was extremely disappointing considering the work I had done on the boat. I believe Hurtigruten will regret that decision when they see the excellent video that will be produced.

The Suite Cabins

Overall I really enjoyed the 1.5 days on board. The food is great (buffet and dining), there is enough to do and it’s an easy way to travel with your bike up or down the coast. The staff were fantastic as well and you get a real sense of dedication and pride towards their job and the company. The Hospitality manager (below) had been working for the company for over 42 years and began peeling potatoes as a 16-year-old school leaver. He told me he’s never had a job on the mainland of Norway!

The views from the boat are exceptional but even still they don’t compare with cycling! If you hop on without a cabin it’s around 60-90 euros for a short trip of under 24 hours. If you are staying for more than a day you must book a cabin and then it becomes a lot more expensive. But you must remember you are getting a hotel room, transport, and full board with food included in your ticket.

The bottom line, the boat gives you the opportunity to see more of the coast in a shorter time frame. If you only have 1 week in Norway you will be limited to how far you can cycle in that time frame. In 8 days I went from Bergen to the Arctic Circle with two days on the boat. It was the perfect balance between cycling and resting. I think more people should consider this option when planning a Norwegian cycling holiday. The video of this experience with air on YouTube in the next few weeks.