MS Nordlys

The 1994-built MS Nordlys cruise ship is one of the six “contemporary” Hurtigruten ships, together with Kong Harald, Nordkapp, Nordnorge, Polarlys, and Richard With. Together with her fleet mates, Nordlys serves Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Voyages (NCV) program, offering cruiseferry travel on cargo-passenger ships.

The vessel (IMO number 9048914) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 259139000) and registered in Tromso.

History – construction and ownership

Hurtigruten is a Norwegian passenger shipping company specializing in cruise and ferry operations. The “Norwegian Coastal Express Route” (Bergen–Kirkenes) is a cargo-passenger service along Norway’s western and northern coastline. Hurtigruten’s cruise ferries sail nearly the full length of Norway on an 11-day roundtrip itinerary that also includes the Lofoten Islands and Vesteralen Islands.

The 700-passenger MS Nordlys (“Northern Lights” in Norwegian) was named after the spectacular phenomenon visible in northern waters between October and March. Launched in 1994, her colors, artwork, and interior décor are inspired by this natural display. Norwegian artists created the ship’s unique onboard environment. Guests are encouraged to relax in the elegant maritime atmosphere, with comfortable reclining chairs and panorama lounges.

Decks and Cabins

MS Nordlys staterooms (223 total in 8 categories) include 6 Suites, 184 Outside cabins, and 30 Inside cabins. Sizes range from 55 to 325 ft² (5–30 m²). Three wheelchair-accessible cabins are available. Most staterooms are outside and measure 85–140 ft² (8–14 m²). There are no balcony cabins.

Standard cabin amenities include lower and upper berths, bedside reading lamps, a foldable table with chair, LCD TV, radio, phone, mini-fridge, electronic safe, wardrobe with dressers and cabinets, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, bath products, hairdryer), individual air-conditioning, and blankets for sitting outside.

The ship has 7 decks, of which 6 are accessible to passengers and 4 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

MS Nordlys offers a blend of everyday convenience and a large-ship atmosphere. The main restaurant features a relaxed, informal setting in the evenings, with menus highlighting fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Hurtigruten dining includes authentic Norwegian specialties and international cuisine.

Follows the complete list of MS Nordlys restaurants and food bars:

• Torget Restaurant (Deck 4) is the ship’s 240-seat dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a central buffet station. Breakfast (7–10 am) and lunch (11:30 am–2:30 pm) are buffet-style. Dinner is waiter-served, with four seatings and a 3-course menu (plus an à-la-carte selection of light dishes). Hurtigruten wine packages are also available.
• Multe Bakery (Deck 7 midship) is a patisserie and ice-cream bar featuring a knitting corner and jigsaw puzzles. It offers freshly baked cakes and pastries, along with local ice creams including stockfish, brown cheese, and cloudberry varieties.
• Brygga Bistro (Deck 4) serves café-style food and is ideal for a light lunch, offering beverages, sandwiches, and burgers throughout the day.
• Kysten Arctic Fine Dining (Deck 4) provides an intimate setting and serves premium seafood, exotic meats, and other delicacies sourced directly from the Arctic.
• Unlike most Hurtigruten ships, Nordlys has no 24-hour Café Restaurant. The only 24-hour venue is the Reception, offering guest assistance along with a limited selection of beverages, pre-packed snacks, and sandwiches.

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Onboard entertainment is low-key, with much of the social activity centered around conversations with fellow passengers. Live music may occasionally be offered in the evenings at the Bar Lounge. The ship has a small fitness room, two outdoor spa pools (jacuzzies), and an infirmary. The medical room is not staffed by a resident doctor or nurse; in emergencies, crew members check whether medical personnel are among the passengers. The vessel always sails close to shore, allowing quick transfer to a hospital if required.

Follows the complete list of MS Nordlys lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• The Car Deck (capacity 45 cars)
• The Car Deck (capacity 26 cars / reduced from 45)
• Two Lecture Halls / Conference Rooms (Deck 4) hosting multimedia presentations, lectures by scientists and wildlife experts, and Norway-themed films. No traditional show program is offered.
• Explorer Lounge and Bar (Deck 7 forward) – a panorama lounge with bow-facing floor-to-ceiling windows; also functions as a library with books, board games, and playing cards.
• The Shop – selling Norwegian souvenirs, Hurtigruten merchandise, jewelry, toiletries, and clothing.
• Promenade Deck – a full-circle open-air deck.
• Observation Lounge and Bar
• TRIM Fitness – equipped with exercise bikes, treadmills, free weights; plus 2 saunas (men/women).

The Sun Deck hosts Hurtigruten’s signature “Arctic Circle Baptism” ceremony, featuring a Neptune-costumed crew member, icy seawater, and a warming shot.

The ship does not have a Kids’ Playroom, Nursery (babysitting service), Video Arcade, or Internet Café.

Itineraries

MS Nordlys operates on Norwegian Coastal Voyages, sailing through Norway’s fjords and coastal landscapes.

Nordlys functions mainly as a ferry for passengers and cars, though some guests remain onboard for the full 12-day roundtrip itineraries between Bergen and Kirkenes.

The vessel (Volkswerft Stralsund yard/hull number 114840) has a volume of 11,204 GT, a deadweight capacity of 850 tons, and a maximum draught of 4.7 m. Her powerplant consists of MAK Maschinenbau marine diesel engines (model 6M552MC) with a combined output of 9 MW. The registered shipowner is HURTIGRUTEN COASTAL FLEET AS, and the vessel is managed by HURTIGRUTEN COASTAL AS.

MS Nordlys was christened on March 22, 1994, in Oslo, Norway, then sailed to Stavanger and across the North Sea to the UK, calling at Newcastle upon Tyne and London. On April 4, she began Hurtigruten service on the Bergen–Kirkenes route. The ship is named after the natural phenomenon frequently seen in these waters between October and March. “Nordlys” is Norwegian for “Northern Lights” (Aurora Borealis), which appear in the Northern Hemisphere as green and occasionally red waves across the sky.

Nordlys’ onboard experience is defined by elegant interior design featuring natural artwork, inspired by the Northern Lights, along with refined brass fittings and woodwork. Passenger cabin sizes range from 86 to 323 ft². Three staterooms are designed for disabled guests. Most cruise passengers are Europeans aged 50+, though some Americans may also be onboard. Announcements are made in English, Norwegian, German, and any other language spoken by large passenger groups.

MS Nordlys cruises Norway’s coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes (and in reverse), visiting 30 scenic ports. Many travelers use her as transportation (ferry service), while cruise passengers typically stay onboard for full round trips. Coastal cruise guests may choose journeys of 5–11 nights, with the full 12-day sailing covering Bergen to Kirkenes and back. In most ports, Hurtigruten arranges excursions and tours. A traditional “Crossing the Arctic Circle” ceremony is held for first-time participants. For Norwegian coastal voyages, the company offers flight–cruise packages protected by an ATOL Certificate (“Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing,” issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority).

Drydock Refurbishments Review
By Q4 2023, all seven Hurtigruten “Norwegian Coastal Express” vessels (Nordlys, Richard With, Kong Harald, Nordnorge, Polarlys, Trollfjord, Nordkapp) had completed drydock upgrades for powerplant conversions (from diesel-only to diesel-electric / battery-hybrid). These refits involved installing new low-emission diesel engines and large battery packs.

For this project (budgeted at ~EUR 100 million), on May 11, 2021, Hurtigruten Group signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime to supply hybrid equipment packages for the ships. Each vessel was fitted with two SAVe Energy storage systems (1120 kWh lithium-ion batteries), controlled via SAVe CUBE (drive switchboards managing the thrusters), and two Bergen B33:45V diesel engines (diesel generator sets with SCR—Selective Catalytic Reduction—for optimized CO emissions control).

Kongsberg’s scope of supply also included re-blading the propellers, installing new thruster motors (including a retractable stern 360-degree azimuthing thruster), AC switchboards, new safety and communication systems, new gears, a redesigned bulbous bow (optimized to reduce drag), new boilers (improving engine heat recovery), and a new wastewater treatment plant. The drydocks were carried out by Myklebust Verft AS (shipyard in Gursken, on Norway’s Gurskoya Island).

All Hurtigruten ships now feature shoreside power capability, allowing them to connect to electricity at port berths.