Hurtigruten

Overview

Originally intended as a communications and travel link between the villages on Norway's western coast, Hurtigruten (formerly known in the U.S. as Norwegian Coastal Voyage) provides an up-close look at the fascinatingly intricate fjords, mountains, and villages that not too long ago were isolated and difficult to navigate. Sailing with comfortable cruise ships that still do double-duty transferring cargo and the occasional village-to-village passenger, the Hurtigruten itineraries are often described as "the world's most beautiful voyage," as they provide access to some of the most stunning scenery and the unique cultures of Norway, many of them above the Arctic Circle.

Eleven Hurtigruten ships are committed year-round to Norwegian coastal itineraries, known in Norway as "Hurtigruten," the word from which the cruise line's name is derived. Options include six-night northbound, five-night southbound, or 11-night round-trip sailings, calling at 34 ports in each one-way segment. During the summer, the Millennium, Contemporary, and Mid-Generation ships follow this route; in the winter, Nordnorge and Nordkapp reposition, joining the company's newest ship, MS Fram, in the southern hemisphere to sail Antarctic and Chilean Fjord itineraries, replaced in Norway by Lofoten and Nordstjernen. The Polar Star and Nordstjernen make summer voyages to Spitsbergen, an island midway between Norway and the North Pole. The MS Fram makes summer expeditions to Greenland as well as a 67-day longitudinal world cruise in the fall.

405 Park Avenue, Suite 904, New York, NY, 10022. 800/323-7436. www.hurtigruten.us. Cruise Style: Small-ship.