MS Midnatsol

The 2004-built MS Midnatsol cruise ship (“MS Maud” in 2021–2024) is the third and last of Hurtigruten’s Millennium-class ships, together with Finnmarken and Trollfjord.

In 2021, Hurtigruten added four earlier-built ships to the company’s expedition fleet, HX-Hurtigruten Expeditions—Spitsbergen (2009), Midnatsol (2003), Trollfjord (2002), and Finnmarken (2002)—in addition to Fram (2007) and the newbuilds Roald Amundsen (2019) and Fridtjof Nansen (2020).

Following an extensive drydock refurbishment and refit, in January 2021 Hurtigruten renamed Midnatsol to “MS Maud.” Her original name (MS Midnatsol) was reinstated in 2024 when she was deployed on the Norwegian Coastal Express route Bergen–Kirkenes.

Note: In May 2024, HX announced that MS Maud would be transferred to the company’s cruiseferry fleet, renamed (Midnatsol), and reflagged from NIS (Norwegian International Ship Register) to NOR (Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register). Midnatsol replaced MS Vesteralen on Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express Route (Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen) from November 2024 through December 2025.

The vessel (IMO number 9247728) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 258595000) 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 the Lofoten Islands and Vesteralen Islands.

The 1,000-passenger ship Midnatsol was inaugurated in April 2003 with a maiden voyage along the Norwegian coast. Her original name (Midnatsol) means “Midnight Sun.” Accordingly, her interior design was celestial-themed and colorful, with numerous modern Norwegian artworks on display throughout the vessel. Together with MS Trollfjord (sistership), Midnatsol is among the newest vessels in the Hurtigruten fleet. She is also the fourth Hurtigruten ship to bear the name “MS Midnatsol” since the company’s establishment in 1893.

MS Maud was named after Roald Amundsen’s ship Maud (built in 1917, acquired by HBC—Hudson’s Bay Company—in 1925, sank in 1930 at Cambridge Bay / Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada). The original Maud was named after Queen Maud of Wales (1869–1938), Norway’s first queen as the spouse of King Haakon VII (1872–1957, reigned from 1905). The earlier namesake in Hurtigruten’s fleet was the 1925-built ship DS Dronning Maud (“Queen Maud”). Queen Maud was the youngest daughter of Edward VII (1841–1910, King of the UK and the British Dominions and Emperor of India / reigned 1901–1910) and Alexandra of Denmark (1844–1925).

Decks and Cabins

MS Midnatsol staterooms (262 total / reduced from 301 on MS Midnatsol) are offered in 13 grades. The Midnatsol ship previously had 23 Suites, 213 Outside, and 61 Inside cabins, across 11 grades. Cabin sizes range from 9 m2 (100 ft2 Inside and Outside) to 45 m2 (485 ft2 Owner’s Suite with Balcony).

The ship has a total of four Outside wheelchair-accessible cabins (category YA–Accessible, sized 16–17 m2), all located midship on Deck 6 (near the elevators). All accessible cabins are double-occupancy (sleep up to two guests), with a double bed (alternatively two lower beds or lower–upper bunk beds) and are specifically designed for passengers with disabilities.

The boat has 9 decks, of which 7 are passenger-accessible and 3 have cabins.

Most Midnatsol staterooms are Outside and measure 10–11–12–14 m2. The largest accommodations are the Owner’s Suites (Deck 8). Standard cabin amenities include an en-suite bathroom (WC/shower, single-sink mirrored vanity, heated floors, towels, bath products), smart HDTV (Internet capabilities), direct-dial phone, lounge area (writing desk, chair, wardrobe, coffee/tea-making facility / kettle, glasses), under-bed storage, wall-mounted reading lamps, smart HDTV, electronic safe (in the closet), and 220V outlets. All rooms are air-conditioned. Suites additionally feature a coffee maker and a lounge area (low table, modern armchairs, two-seater sofa).

The ship’s maximum passenger capacity (970) is limited to 500 on Antarctic voyages. Following the 2021 drydock reconstruction, her maximum berth count will be reduced from 631 to 532.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Midnatsol features various dining venues. Dining in the main restaurant is relaxed and informal. Menus are planned around seasonal fresh ingredients and emphasize local produce to satisfy appetites stirred by the sea air. The 24-hour café offers drinks and snacks. Guests can also choose from several lounges and bars serving a wide selection of beverages.

MS Midnatsol restaurants and food bars were:

• Midnatsol Restaurant (335-seat dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large central buffet station). The Dining Room offered buffet-style breakfast (7:00–10:00 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.). Dinner was served in two fixed seatings—6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.—with a three-course menu and an à la carte selection (including light snacks).
• The à la carte Restaurant Grill & Food Court was a 24-hour cafeteria with a priced menu (snacks, hot meals, beverages). It primarily served local (ferry) passengers using Midnatsol for port-to-port travel. The restaurant’s portside section had a separate seating area (“Cafe”) often used as a reading corner.

MS Midnatsol’s restaurants are all located on Deck 5 and named Aune (aft Dining Room), Fredheim (midship–starboard casual restaurant), and Lindstrom (midship–portside specialty restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Onboard MS Midnatsol, guests enjoy a distinctive coastal experience. She uniquely combines cargo capacity, car and passenger ferry services, expedition capabilities, and cruise amenities. Many travelers use Hurtigruten’s ships as transportation along Norway’s coast, and up to 50 guests may travel with their automobiles.

Beyond time onboard, passengers can join curated shore excursions and attend lectures by historians and naturalists covering Norwegian culture, holiday traditions, and the Arctic Northern Lights.

Below is the complete list of MS Midnatsol’s lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Car Deck (capacity 45 cars)
• Conference Rooms (host multimedia presentations; lectures by scientists/wildlife experts; documentaries about Norway; no large-scale show productions)
• Kids’ Playroom (no organized activities/babysitting offered); Video Games Arcade
• The Shop (Norwegian souvenirs, Hurtigruten logo merchandise, jewelry, toiletries, clothing)
• Promenade Deck (full-circle open-air deck space)
• Panorama Lounge (two decks high, floor-to-ceiling windows)
• Paradis Bar (seating area served by the Mysterier Bar)
• Mysterier Bar (floor-to-ceiling windows; features a selection of Norway’s aquavit liqueurs)
• Internet Corner/Internet Café (four computers and a printer, free of charge); Library
• The Hamsun Room (wood-paneled, with paintings by Norwegian artist Kenneth Blom; ideal for using the free Wi-Fi)
• Horisont Hall and Horisont Gallery (indoor observation lounge with panoramic windows, served by the Polar Bar)
• Polar Bar (12 seats, overlooking the Atrium below)
• TRIM Fitness (exercise bikes, treadmills, free weights); Saunas (men/women); two jacuzzis
• Sun Deck—site of Hurtigruten’s “Arctic Circle baptism” ceremony with a Neptune-costumed crewmember, icy seawater, and a warming shot.

New venues and facilities on MS Midnatsol include:

• Forward on Deck 5: Science Center (edutainment venue) with state-of-the-art technology and interactive tools. Complimentary science sessions are themed to the regions and destinations visited by Midnatsol. The complex includes a Photo Studio, Lecture Halls, and Science Center areas with port and starboard views.
• On Deck 9: an outdoor Observation Deck (aft), outdoor Gym (aft–midship, with professional fitness equipment), two outdoor jacuzzis (midship), outdoor seating with an Outdoor BBQ, and the Explorer Bar Lounge (upper level 2 of 2, forward at the bow).

On MS Midnatsol, Hurtigruten’s “Norway’s Coastal Kitchen” program sources fresh ingredients from local suppliers delivering at ports along the route. The vessel has three restaurants—Aune (main dining room), Fredheim (casual fast food and vegan options), and Lindstrom (fine dining specialty venue named after Roald Amundsen’s chef, Adolf Lindstrøm).

Midnatsol Science Centre (Deck 5 forward; see photo below) is a large “scientific lounge” (research lab) equipped with high-tech gadgets (including microscopes and touch screens) and the latest digital equipment. The venue comprises a Library, Lecture Halls, Photo Center (photo and video processing studio), Conference Room, Expedition Team Room, dedicated areas for themed educational activities (workshops in biology, marine life, geography, photography, etc.), and a Bar. Hurtigruten’s Expedition Team provides scientific insights and technical assistance here.

A professionally trained onboard Expedition Team provides expert guidance on each expedition cruise. Through Hurtigruten’s enrichment program, these specialists present lectures and lead shipboard and shoreside activities focused on Norway’s natural treasures and cultural traditions—including friluftsliv (outdoor life).

Itineraries

MS Midnatsol’s itinerary program was based on Norwegian Coastal Voyages, with routes featuring scenic cruising along the Norwegian fjords. She was frequently used as a ferry for both passengers and cars, while some guests booked the full 12-day roundtrip itineraries out of Bergen and Kirkenes.

In fall 2016, the Hurtigruten expedition ship Spitsbergen replaced Midnatsol, which then commenced her inaugural Antarctica cruise program in South America.

MS Maud’s itinerary program began with the Inaugural Cruise on September 12, 2021. Her new schedules were based on UK homeporting (roundtrips from Dover, England) to the Norwegian fjords and North Cape (Arctic Norway). Prices started from ~GBP 3,500 / ~EUR 3,800 / ~USD 4,500 per person (double occupancy).

Special itineraries in 2021 included:

• 13-day “British Isles” roundtrip from Dover to Wales (Fishguard), Ireland (Rathlin Island), Scotland (Isle of Iona, Staffa, St Kilda / Hirta Island, Stornoway, Islay), Isle of Man (Douglas), Ireland (Waterford), and England (Isles of Scilly, Dartmouth, Dover). Departures in 2021: May 25, August 15, and September 10. Prices from GBP 3,600 per person.
• 15-day “Southern Scandinavia” visiting four countries, exploring Sweden’s Koster Islands, and transiting the 61-mi / 100-km Kiel Canal. The 15-day Dover roundtrip called at Germany (List auf Sylt / Sylt Island, Kiel Canal, Kiel), Denmark (Skagen), Sweden (Koster Islands, Weather Islands, Käringön Island, Smögen Island), and Norway (Oslo, Kragerø, Farsund, Rosendal, Lysefjord). Departures in 2021: June 20, July 18, and August 27. Prices from GBP 3,900 per person.

The classic “Northern Lights and Fjords Expedition” is a 15-day ex-UK itinerary (Dover roundtrip) priced from ~GBP 3,500 per person. The voyage visits only Norwegian ports—Stavanger, Ålesund, Brønnøysund, Reine and Svolvær (both on day 6), Tromsø (overnight / days 7–8), Honningsvåg (North Cape), Finnsnes, Kristiansund and Molde (both on day 12), and Bergen.

Hurtigruten Expeditions’ MS Maud Arctic 2023 summer program featured longer voyages themed “Iceland Circumnavigation” (11-day roundtrip from Reykjavik, Iceland), “Island Hopping in the North Atlantic” (12-day roundtrip from Dover), “True Arctic Expeditions” (17-day roundtrip from Reykjavik), and “Greenland Summer Explorer” (20-day roundtrip from Reykjavik).

The vessel, built by Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder, has a volume of 16,151 GT and a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 1,184 tons, with a maximum draught of 5.1 m. The powerplant consists of Wartsila marine diesel engines (models W9L32 and 9L32/6L32) providing a combined output of 13.8 MW. The registered shipowner is Hurtigruten Coastal Fleet AS, and the vessel is managed by Hurtigruten Coastal AS.

MS Midnatsol (meaning “Midnight Sun”) joined Hurtigruten’s fleet in 2003 as the sister ship to Trollfjord. She is the fourth Hurtigruten ship to bear this name. One of her predecessors was the Lindblad Expeditions vessel National Geographic Explorer. MS Midnatsol features vibrant décor, an extensive collection of modern Norwegian art, and a two-story panoramic lounge located above the bow, offering exceptional natural light and stunning coastal views through her large glass windows.

In August 2004, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation filmed the “Hurtigruten 365” series aboard MS Midnatsol. The 20-episode documentary aired nationwide, showcasing life along Norway’s coast throughout the year.

MS Midnatsol operates along Norway’s scenic coastline. Many passengers use the vessel as a ferry, while others enjoy the full 12-day roundtrip cruise itinerary. Departing from Port Bergen, the ship sails to Port Kirkenes—an Arctic outpost near the Russian border—calling at 34 picturesque ports en route. Guests can choose 5- to 11-night voyages or the complete 12-day Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen roundtrip. Hurtigruten also organizes optional shore excursions and tours at most ports. A highlight of the journey is the traditional “Crossing the Arctic Circle” ceremony for first-time travelers.

Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyage packages can be booked as flight-cruise combinations, all protected under an ATOL Certificate (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing, issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority).

The table below shows MS Maud’s 2021 Maiden Voyage itinerary, themed “Remote Islands, Natural Wonders and a Diverse Coastline.” Prices started from approximately GBP 3,500 / EUR 3,800 / USD 4,500 per person (based on double occupancy).

Goodspeed!