When Captain Richard With established the Norwegian Coastal Express in 1893, he made an enormous impact on life along the Norwegian coastline. The MS Richard With lives up to that legacy.
In 2022, MS Richard With was upgraded to a green hybrid ship. Emissions are cut by large battery packs combined with the ships brand new low emission engines, reducing fuel consumption and CO2-emissions by approximately 25 percent. The ship is also updated with state of the art navigation and control equipment, new waste water treatment equipment, and SRC technology that reduce NOx emissions by at least 80 percent.
Relax in the ship's panorama lounges and take in the unforgettable views of remarkable coastal scenery, much of it the same as when the first Hurtigruten boats sailed by more than a century ago. Beautiful art throughout the ship's interior adds contemporary elegance to the vessel's maritime ambience.
- Size small
- Style Expedition
- Type ocean
- Year of launch 1993
- Year of last refit 2018
- Gross tonnage 11205t
- Length 121.8m
- Width 19.2m
- Speed 18kts
- Decks 6
- Language Norwegian & English
- Currency Norwegian Krone (kr)
- No. of passengers 590
- No. of crew 70
- No. of cabins 200
- -wheelchair access 3
By 2025, in one of the largest environmental ship upgrades in Europe and in our 130-year history, we will have transformed our fleet with major upgrades.
Three ships will be upgraded to hybrid electric power and our entire fleet in total will be more energy efficient, cutting CO2 emissions by 25% and NOx by 80%.
New hybrid electric technology on three of our ships means our guests can sail The Coastal Express on quieter and more environmentally friendly ships.
It is a greater way to enjoy ‘the world’s most beautiful voyage’ – our famous route along the Norwegian coast that we founded in 1893.
Environmental Upgrades
- Certified biofuels - From approved sustainable sources
- CO2 emissions cut by -25% - Thanks to the full suite of environmental upgrades and the use of biofuels.
- Free from unnecessary single-use plastic - With biodegradable or long-lasting, high-quality alternatives
- Minimised energy use - Through new propeller blades, new bulbous bow, new gears, and new control systems on some of our ships
- NOx emissions cut by -80% - To achieve Tier III status – the highest international standard for NOx emissions
- Four hybrid-powered ships - With large battery packs
- State-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems - To minimise emissions to sea
- Streamlined hulls - That optimise inertia and reduce drag when sailing
- Shore-power connectivity on all ships - That allow them to ‘plug in’ to electricity when docked in port, reducing emissions when shore power is available.
It is not common practice to tip on Hurtigruten ships on the coastal voyage, but if you feel that crew members should be rewarded for providing exceptional service, tip boxes are placed in the restaurant together with envelopes.
Expedition Suite
Our Expedition suites are the most luxurious cabins on the ship. Situated on the upper deck of the ship, the cabins feature double beds, seating areas with TV, and bathrooms with shower/WC. Some suites have more facilities than others.
An exciting welcome gift awaits all suite guests in their cabin.
Arctic Superior Cabin
Relaxation and comfort are the hallmarks of our Arctic superior cabins. Situated on both the upper and middle decks, they all have bathrooms with shower and WC. They also come equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities. All cabins have double beds.
Polar Outside Cabin
Our Polar outside cabins are situated on the lower decks with private bathroom facilities. All of the cabins have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa, or upper and lower berths.
Polar Inside Cabin
Our cosy Polar inside cabins are found on all decks. The cabins all include bathrooms with shower/WC. They also have separate beds, one of which doubles as a sofa. Others are equipped with a double bed or upper and lower berths. None of the cabins have windows.
Expedition Suite | Suite on upper deck for 4 people
Refurbished expedition suite with bay windows on upper deck. The suites have double beds and extra sofa beds, TV and minibar.
Expedition Suite | Suite for up to 4 people
Refurbished expedition suite for up to 4 people on the upper decks. These cabins have a double bed (and sofa beds), with extra chair, TV, minibar, and full view.
Expedition Suite | Mini suite for up to 4 travellers
These comfortable, refurbished suites for up to four people have double beds. Some have a sofa bed, chairs, and minibar. Suites also include Wi-Fi, TV, hairdryer, bathrobes, blanket, and coffee and tea facilities. Please note that cabins 601 and 602 have two smaller windows.
Expedition Suite | Mini suite on upper deck
These comfortable suites on the upper deck have double beds, and most have sofa groups as well. The suites also have TV, minibar, and a great view. The suites are double the size of other cabins. Please note that cabin 643 is wheelchair accessible; please contact us to book. Please note that cabins 605 and 606 have two smaller windows.
Arctic Superior | Upper deck for 2 people
Refurbished arctic superior cabin for 2 people on upper decks. The cabin comes with a double bed, full view, chair, desk and TV.
Arctic Superior | Upper deck for 2 people
Arctic Superior | Upper deck for 2 people
These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the upper deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and separate beds.
Polar Outside | Upper deck for 2 people
Refurbished outside cabin on the upper decks for two people, with a double bed, extra chair and TV. These cabins have limited views.
Polar Outside | Upper deck for 2 people
These comfortable outside cabins for up to two people on deck 5 and 6 have separate beds, one of which doubles as a sofa. All cabins have a TV, sofa, chair and windows with limited views.
Polar Outside | Lower deck for 2 travellers
These comfortable outside cabins for up to two people on the lower deck have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The cabins have a TV, chair, and portholes, some with limited or no view.
Polar Outside | Lower deck for up to 3 travellers
These comfortable outside cabins for up to three people on the lower deck have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The cabins have a TV, chair, and portholes, some with limited or no view.
Polar Outside | Middle deck for up to 3 travellers
These standard outside cabins for up to three people on the lower decks have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa. They have a TV, extra chair, and window with full view.
Polar Outside | Middle deck for 2 travellers
These standard outside cabins for up to two people on the middle decks have separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa, and bathrooms with shower/WC.
Polar Outside | Upper deck for 2 travellers
These comfortable cabins for up to two people are on the upper decks and have separate beds, one which doubles as a sofa. They have a TV, extra chair, and window with full view.
Polar Outside | Middle deck for up to 3 travellers
Refurbished outside cabin for up to three people, with a single bed/sofa and two pullman beds. The cabin comes with a TV, and has a full view.
Polar Outside | Wheelchair accessible cabin for 2 travellers
Wheelchair accessible rooms for up to two people with wider door, accessible WC and adjusted bed. The cabins are situated on lower decks and have separate beds with one sofa. All have TV, extra chair, and window with full view.
Polar Inside | Upper/Lower deck for 2 travellers
These standard inside cabins for up to two people on the upper and lower decks have separate beds, one of which doubles as a sofa, and a TV. None of the cabins have windows.
Polar Inside | Upper deck for 2 travellers
Polar Inside | Upper deck for 1 traveller
These comfortable standard inside cabins for one person are on the upper deck.
Deck 7
- Observation Deck
- Seating Area
- Fitness Room
- Multe Bakery & Ice Cream
- Explorer Lounge & Bar
Deck 6
- Hot Tubs
- Cabins
Deck 5
- Observation Deck
- Outdoor Walking Deck
- Cabins
Deck 4
- Torget Restaurant
- Bistro
- Kysten
- Activity Center
- Kompass Service Center
- Shop
- Post Office
- Lecture Halls
Deck 3
- Laundry
- Gangway
- Check-in point
- Luggage
- Cabins
Deck 2
- Car Deck
- Tender Area
- Sauna
- Cabins
Restaurants on The Coastal Express
Reflecting our love of food and our home, each of our onboard restaurants is named after an aspect of the Norwegian coast. Together, they offer our guests an exciting exploration of our homeland’s cuisine.
Torget
Meaning ‘marketplace’ in Norwegian, the main restaurant offers a variety for all three daily meals. For dinner, it provides either a buffet or set menus.
Kysten
Dine in style at ‘The Coast’, our à la carte option. You’ll savour exquisite dishes crafted by our most skilled chefs, using the finest ingredients the Norwegian coast has to offer.
Multe
Let the aroma of freshly baked cakes and pastries guide you to Multe. The name Multe means ‘cloudberry’ in Norwegian. Jam made from this rare Arctic berry can be sampled in the bakery, often served with waffles and generous dollops of whipped cream or ice cream.
Brygga
The name of this bistro is the Norwegian word for ‘wharf’. It serves salads, pizzas, and other crowd-pleasers with a Nordic twist.
Torget
Where do many of those who live along the coast get their ingredients from? The local food marked. In the same way as the markets in the local communities, Torget is the local center for food on board Hurtigruten, with much to see, hear and smell, our main restaurant offers a varied selection of dishes for the three meals of the day.
Breakfast - served from 7am Start the day with a selection of hot dishes and a buffet of fresh bread, cereal, fruit, yoghurt, smoothies, juices, energy shots, porridge, salmon, eggs, and pancakes.
Lunch - served from 12pm From short-traveled products and based on the season's best ingredients, our chefs create bountiful buffets. Taste your way through a culinary journey based on our local, short-traveled products. There is a great selection of vegan dishes every day. Look for the vegan brand and try a sustainable plant-based meal.
Dinner – served from 6pm Enjoy a three-course dinner and choose from different dishes each day during the journey. There will be a selection of meat and fish dishes. There is a great selection of vegan dishes every day, look for the vegan label on the menu, and try a sustainable plant-based meal.. Each dinner ends with traditional desserts such as homemade cakes, sorbets or pudding - preferably with berry sauces.
Kysten
Dine in style at ‘The Coast’, our à la carte option. You’ll savour exquisite dishes crafted by our most skilled chefs, using the finest ingredients the Norwegian coast has to offer.
Look forward to a menu based on seaweed and kelp, extra tender reindeer and juicy scallops with local butter and wild herbs. You can be sure that the seafood is fresh, that the meat comes from free-range animals, and that the cheeses have won several awards.
Choose a wine to go with the food from the expert selection on our wine list or try a wine package in which Hurtigruten's best wine tasters have paired wine with the food. If you choose our Platinum package, you can eat all three meals every day here as part of the journey.
Multe
Let the aroma of freshly baked cakes and pastries guide you to Multe. The name Multe means ‘cloudberry’ in Norwegian. Jam made from this rare Arctic berry can be sampled in the bakery, often served with waffles and generous dollops of whipped cream or ice cream.
The name Multe means ‘cloudberry’ in Norwegian. Jam made from this rare Arctic berry can be sampled in the bakery, often served with waffles and generous dollops of whipped cream or ice cream.
All the favourite ice cream flavours are present, plus a few Norwegian inspired ones which you might like to try, like the brunost – brown cheese – ice cream. Two scoops or three?
Brygga
The name of this bistro is the Norwegian word for ‘wharf’. It serves salads, pizzas, and other crowd-pleasers with a Nordic twist.
Enjoy the art of relaxation as you cruise the Norwegian coast with great views and good company. Our Coastal Experience Team is on hand to enhance your trip with a series of lectures and activities on board.
Explorer Lounge & Bar
What really makes the Explorer Bar stand out is the atmosphere of the surrounding lounge and the panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Order from a range of hot and cold beverages, relax in a comfortable armchair, chat with a drink in hand, and watch the world go by.
The Explorer Bar serves premium coffee, organic teas, hot chocolate, fruit juices, various Norwegian beers, red, white, and rosé wine, and a collection of Norwegian aquavit that would make any spirit lover jump for joy.
Enjoy along with a selection of snacks, such as grilled sandwiches using local ham and cheese, or even a Norwegian speciality: dried fish!
Outdoor Walking Deck
Shopping
Selling souvenirs, knitwear, books, postcards, postage stamps and a limited supply of toiletries.
Library
The books are in a variety of languages including Norwegian, German and English, also there are game tables available to play cards and chess.
Keep yourself feeling fresh and active in the Fitness Room or sweating away the day in the sauna.
Sauna and Fitness Room
Keep active in the fitness room before enjoying a soothing steam in the sauna.
Outdoor Hot Tubs
Soak in the bubbles of the ship’s two outdoor hot tubs, while admiring views of the coast.
Young Explorers
Good news, parents! If your child is aged 6-13, they can join our complimentary Young Explorers activity programme on board our ships (except MS Vesterålen) during July and August.
We warmly invite families with young children to come and experience the Norwegian coast together with us. Through a range of activities on and off the ship, our team will feed your children’s curiosity and nurture their sense of adventure. It’ll be a family holiday full of fun memories that they and you will cherish for years to come.
Please note: the Young Explorers programme is available only on our 12-day Classic Roundtrip Voyage.
Forming friendships
The programme has been designed to be interactive and engaging for young minds. Art workshops, creative challenges, competitive games, and quick-fire quizzes add to a stimulating pace that grabs their attention.
The tasks and activities also naturally lend themselves to team building and bonding. The children therefore often make new friends, playing together outside the programme, beginning friendships that could last a lifetime.
Minds of the future
Below are some examples of topics your children might learn about as part of the Young Explorers programme.
Each is taught in a way that will activate your child’s imagination and increase their awareness of the world they’ll eventually inherit from us.
History
- Learn how the ancient Vikings lived and explored
- Get to know famous Norwegian polar explorers and their journeys
- Learn about polar exploration during a mountain hike
- Hear about key moments in Norway’s history
Nature
- Discover the science and myths behind the Northern Lights
- Learn how to identify bird species along the Norwegian coast
- See how we recycle on board the ship
- Join a clean-up on a local beach, removing plastic and litter
Culture
- Explore Northern Norway’s indigenous Sámi culture
- Learn about the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv - outdoors life
- Practise speaking a few Sámi words and counting to ten
- Craft works of art using everyday items
Experts on the Norwegian coast, many of whom live locally, will be by your side as part of your voyage with us, showing you their home and sharing their stories with you.
When it comes to travelling, no guidebook, website, or mobile app can replace the human connection of having someone point out places that are special to them. And that’s where our onboard Coastal Experience Team come in. Using their hands-on experience of Norway and the Norwegian coast, they have one mission: to enhance your voyage by offering engaging insights on the nature, wildlife, and culture you encounter along the way.
Coastal Experience Team
Many of our Coastal Experience Team members are Norwegians, born and raised on the coast and elsewhere in Norway. They’ll be able to tell you their childhood memories of our ships, what our service means to their coastal community, and perhaps how generations of their family have been connected to Hurtigruten, either as crew or as passengers.
Other team members have lived in Norway for several years. You can learn about what drew them to Norway and to working on our ships. See the coast through their eyes as they pick out details about life here and share interesting anecdotes about their experiences of Norwegian culture.
Shore Excursions
Enhance your voyage with our wide range of optional excursions that allow you to delve deeper into the dramatic landscapes, rich history, and charming culture of Norway and Svalbard. We offer more than 130 excursions up and down the coast, each run by local suppliers who are ready to showcase the wonders of their home.
Take your pick from a palette of active adventures such as kayaking along Ålesund’s waterways, quad biking to the North Cape or snowshoeing in Tromsø. If you’re interested in history, you can join a World War II tour in Kristiansund or explore the hidden rooms of Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
There are plenty of opportunities to sample the delicacies of the Norwegian coast, too, with visits to the world’s northernmost brewery and boat trips to go king crab fishing with locals. We also recommend cultural visits that introduce you to Sámi culture or to the workings of a family-run dairy farm in Lofoten.
An excursion for every season
While many excursions are offered year-round, some are season specific. Summer is a glorious time to be in Norway and Svalbard, with a variety of activities that make the most of the long, leisurely days of the Midnight Sun. Why not enjoy a RIB safari in search of Sea Eagles or a guided e-bike tour around the island of Senja?
The cooler weather in autumn, winter, and spring turns Norway into a wonderland of snow, best enjoyed by dog sled or on cross-country skis. You could also try your hand at snowmobiling, hopefully with the Northern Lights dancing above.
Activities that are right for you
Our diverse excursions cater not just for varied interests but also for different mobility levels, so you can choose the activity that’s right for you.
We offer four distinct physical levels that cater to all - from accessible museum visits to challenging hikes that require a good level of fitness. Certain activities are even wheelchair-friendly, ensuring inclusivity for all.
Caring for the community
We work with on-the-ground suppliers to offer you a truly authentic experience with every excursion. These local outfits have a wealth of knowledge about the area, and they’re passionate about sharing their expertise and unique offerings with visitors like you.
Not only that, but your bookings help to preserve the local culture and heritage of the Norwegian coast. It feels great to know that your support directly benefits the people and communities who call this beautiful place home.
Hikers’ heaven
Feel a sense of friluftsliv, the Norwegian word that encapsulates a love of the outdoors, on optional hikes guided by your Coastal Experience Team.
You can purchase hikes individually, as a seasonal bundle of four, or as a pass that gives you access to all hikes.
How to book an excursion with Hurtigruten
It’s easy to book an excursion. To book online, go to our excursions hub and either input your booking reference or select your voyage from the drop-down menu. Choose the excursion you want and then click the ‘Add to Reservation’ button. A member of our team will then contact you to arrange payment and confirm your booking.
Lectures
Our Coastal Experience Team enhances your voyage with in-depth knowledge of the local culture, nature, science, and history; an understanding they’ve nurtured over years.
Each team member has a range of specialist, well-researched topics in their repertoire, ready to share with you in lectures and presentations on board, on deck, and ashore.
Photo Programme
With the Hurtigruten Photo Programme you’ll learn how to improve your photography skills as well as share photos with fellow guests, take part in contests and geotag your images using Cameralla.
Take your photography to the next level as you travel in one of the most beautiful regions of the world. Along with fellow enthusiasts of all levels, join our Photo Club where you can upload your images and receive valuable feedback. Here, the joy of photography takes centre stage, whether you’re bringing top-end camera equipment or simply using your phone to capture the beauty and magic of the voyage.
Preserve the unforgettable moments from your voyage by joining our Photo Club. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a beginner with a smartphone, the club offers tips, inspiration, and a platform to share your best shots. Discover how to enhance your onboard experience and turn your travel memories into lasting treasures.