MS Kong Harald

The 1993-built MS Kong Harald cruise ship is the first in a series of six “contemporary” Hurtigruten boats, together with Nordlys, Nordnorge, Nordkapp, Polarlys, Richard With. Together with these fleetmates, Kong Harald serves Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyages (NCV) program for cruiseferry travel by cargo-passenger ships.

The vessel (IMO number 9039119) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257200000) 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 600-passenger ship Kong Harald was named after Harald, the King of Norway, but other famous Norwegians can also be found onboard. The bar is named after the Norwegian polar pioneer and Nobel Peace Laureate Fridtjof Nansen, the cafe – after the explorer Roald Amundsen. MS Kong Harald was introduced in 1993 and marked Hurtigruten’s centenary. Decorative details of King’s Crown emblem are to be seen in the ship’s interior.

Decks and Cabins

MS Kong Harald staterooms (227 total, in 8 grades) include 2x Suites, 204x Outside, 21x 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 Kong Harald features some qualities which separate her from the traditional cruise ships. The everyday conveniences are offered in a large ship setting. Enjoy plentiful food portions in the main restaurant or try a quick bite in the ship’s bistro. Hurtigruten dining boasts authentic Norwegian specialties and international cuisine.

Follows the complete list of ms Kong Harald restaurants and food bars.

• Brygga Bistro offers cafe-style food and is perfect for a light lunch. It serves beverages, sandwiches, and burgers throughout the day.
• Kysten Arctic Fine Dining 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.
• Torget Restaurant is the ship’s dining room (capacity 240 seats, nonsmoking) with floor-ceiling windows, buffet station and Galley / Kitchen. The dining room offers buffet-style Breakfast (incl bacon, eggs, sausages, cold meats, selection of cheeses, seafood, bread, also cereals, fruits, porridge, a self-service station for coffee-tea-juice) and Lunch (incl salads and soups, hot/cold meats, pate, seafood, vegetables, desserts). The 4-seating Dinner is waiter-served (with 3-course menu /Scandinavian-Norwegian specialties). Wine by the bottle costs extra (a wine package is available for purchase at the restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The total passenger capacity of MS Kong Harald is only 622. Guests onboard the cruise ship are able to enjoy a voyage revealing the full beauty of the fjords of Norway. Many small elements part of the cruise like the Explorer Lounge, onboard saunas, the Sun Deck with panoramic views, fitness centre, a bar for after-dinner drinks, make the stay more pleasant. Cruising onboard MS Kong Harald is exciting, but more exciting are the shore excursions available in each port of call.

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

• The Car Deck (capacity of 45 cars)
• Lecture Halls / Meeting rooms generally host multimedia presentations and expert lectures by scientists and wildlife experts. They are also used for business-, a large group- and private meetings, conferences at sea, special events, etc.
• Information Desk is for booking Hurtigruten tours/shore excursions, featuring dog sledding, bus tours to small towns (embarkation in the next port along the Kong Harald itinerary), “Northern Lights” and “North Cape” themed excursions. The Info Center also provides printed daily onboard program schedule.
• The Shop is selling mostly traditional Norwegian souvenirs and gifts, also toys and Hurtigruten logo merchandise.
• Kompass Adventure / Reception Desk (24h guest services, assistance, offers a reduced variety of drinks, snacks, sandwiches)
• The fore-located Explorer Lounge & Panorama Bar has a comfortable seating indoor area and offers 270-degree panoramic views from floor-ceiling windows, as well as bookcrossing and board games.
• Multe Bakery & Ice Cream (patisserie with knitting corner and puzzles) offers freshly-baked cakes and pastries along with a range of local ice creams and coffee beverages. Guests can try the stockfish, brown cheese, and cloudberry ice cream.
• The Fitness room is a small gym, equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights.
• Infirmary (Hospital and Pharmacy) is a small medical facility not served by a resident doctor or nurse. 
• Outdoor Explorer Deck (Sun Deck) is an open-air space with the best vantage points. There is an outdoor seating area by the ship’s funnel with plenty of tables and chairs. This is also the place for the Hurtigruten Polarlys' special ceremony called "Arctic Circle baptism", which includes a Neptune-costumed crewmember, ice-cold seawater, and a free shot – for warming up.
• The fore-located Navigation Bridge and the adjacent Captain’s Suite and officers quarters are inaccessible for passengers. The Kong Harald ship has two outdoor whirlpools (aft-located hot tubs).
• The full-circle Promenade Deck is an open-air deck space perfect for daily observation and strolling.
• 6 service boats, of which 4 are used for passenger tendering and 2 lifeboats.

Itineraries

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

Kong Harald 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.

The vessel (Volkswerft Stralsund yard/hull number 301) has volume 11204 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 902 tons, max draught 6 m. The powerplant is based on MAK Maschinenbau marine diesel engines (model 6M552MC) with combined output 9 MW. The registered shipowner is HURTIGRUTEN COASTAL FLEET AS, the manager is HURTIGRUTEN COASTAL AS.

Named after the King of Norway, the Kong Harald ship pays tribute to famous Norwegians - the Amundsen Cafe and Nansen Club Bar. Distinctive works of many local artists are displayed throughout. The crew varies in size on each sailing to maintain a ratio of 1 crew member for every 3 passengers. Most of the cruise passengers are 50+ Europeans, with some Americans who travel as individuals or in organized groups.

Fun fact is, that the ship doesn't have stabilizers to prevent movement in case the weather gets rough.

The Kong Harald ship offers voyages along the coast of Norway. Many passengers use the vessel as transportation (ferry for both cars and passengers). Departing from port Bergen, Finnmarken sails to port Kirkenes roundtrip. This is an Arctic outpost near Russia’s border with Norway. 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 (Kong Harald, Richard With, Nordlys, Nordnorge, 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).