MS Vesteralen Returns to Bergen-Kirkenes Service After Refit
The full coastal roundtrip covers about 2,500 nautical miles over twelve days and calls at 34 ports, including longer visits in Trondheim and Tromsø.
Hurtigruten has returned MS Vesteralen to year-round service on the Original Coastal Express after a major refurbishment that renews 100 cabins and public areas while adding a heritage-led onboard concept tied to the company’s 133 years on Norway’s coast. The ship is again operating between Bergen and Kirkenes with upgraded accommodations, new Arctic Superior cabins and Mini Suites, and retained classic design elements.
The work brings one of Hurtigruten’s smallest and oldest coastal vessels back into scheduled operation. Built in 1983 by Kaarbø Mek. Verksted in Harstad, the 6,261-gt MS Vesteralen now accommodates 274 passengers in 133 cabins.
“With the Vesteralen back in service, it is not just a ship being put back into operation; it is living history with strong traditions being given a new life,” said Hedda Felin, chief executive officer of Hurtigruten. Felin said the ship offers a distinctive experience for both Norwegian coastal residents and international travelers.
Heritage design added across cabins, dining and service
The refurbishment preserved the ship’s original style and intimate onboard atmosphere while bringing guest spaces to current standards. Hurtigruten incorporated historic details, coastal artwork, traditional furnishings and references to earlier ships and crew throughout the vessel.
The heritage concept also extends into hotel operations. Restaurant menus draw on dishes served in the 1930s, while crew uniforms and newly commissioned tableware use design cues from Hurtigruten’s past.
Andre Pettersen, chief product and hotel operations officer at Hurtigruten, said early guest response has been positive since the vessel’s first post-refurbishment sailings. “Many highlight the special atmosphere onboard and the combination of historical details and modern comfort,” Pettersen said.
At 108.55 meters long with a beam of 16.5 meters, MS Vesteralen is substantially smaller than contemporary cruise ships and remains suited to the frequent port-call pattern of the Norwegian coastal service.
Back on the Bergen-Kirkenes coastal route
MS Vesteralen has returned to the Original Coastal Express, the working coastal route linking Bergen in southwestern Norway with Kirkenes in the far north. The full roundtrip covers about 2,500 nautical miles over 12 days and calls at 34 ports.
The route dates to 1893, when Richard With’s DS Vesteraalen completed the first express coastal voyage from Trondheim to Hammerfest. Hurtigruten later extended the service south to Bergen and north to Kirkenes, building the corridor that now carries local passengers, cargo and cruise guests year-round.
Port calls on the service range from short operational stops to longer visits in larger coastal cities including Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø and Kirkenes.
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