polarlys cruise ship

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MS Polarlys

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About MS Polarlys

With a modern, Arctic-inspired interior, MS Polarlys was refurbished in 2016. Additional upgrades to cabins on decks 2 and 3 were completed in 2023. The ship features three unique dining venues, including the Multe bakery and ice cream bar, along with a sauna and fitness room for guests' relaxation. Outdoors, guests can unwind in one of two hot tubs while taking in the stunning views. Additionally, a cozy bar at the ship's front offers traditional drinks. The vessel also features a spacious compass area housing reception, the Coastal Experience Team, a conference room, and a shop. With a passenger capacity of 619 and a gross tonnage of 11,341, the top deck provides ample space to enjoy panoramic views of the awe-inspiring coastal scenery.

Throughout your voyage, the Coastal Experience Team enriches your journey with captivating insights into the nature, wildlife, and culture along the Norwegian coast. From expert lectures to wildlife discussions and 'friluftsliv' hikes ashore, each team member is dedicated to enhancing your experience with unparalleled knowledge and hands-on experience. With their personal touch, they offer a depth of understanding that guidebooks and apps cannot match, ensuring your journey is both enlightening and memorable. Delve into Norwegian cuisine with specialty tastings during select lectures, featuring seasonal delights like fresh shrimps in the Lyngenfjord and cloudberries in autumn. Embrace Norway's outdoor culture with handpicked hikes and activities led by the team, exploring the region's history, geology, and culture. Choose from a variety of seasonal excursions graded by activity level, offering opportunities to explore iconic destinations such as the North Cape and Lofoten Islands through kayaking, snowmobiling, or dog-sledding adventures.

Attention, parents! Here's some great news: If your child falls between the ages of 6 and 13, they can participate in the complimentary Young Explorers activity program on board the ships during July and August. Embark on a family adventure along the Norwegian coast, where engaging activities ignite curiosity and a sense of adventure in young minds. From hands-on workshops to lively games, each program is crafted to educate and entertain while fostering teamwork and camaraderie among young participants. As children delve into topics such as Viking history, nature exploration, and cultural immersion, they not only acquire valuable knowledge but also forge lasting friendships and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

Embark on a culinary journey aboard the ship and explore a variety of dining options that will delight your taste buds. Torget, is the main restaurant, presents a diverse menu curated by head chef Øistein Nilsen, featuring hot dishes, fresh bread, cereals, and other breakfast delights. Indulge in Kysten's à la carte offerings, showcasing exquisite dishes crafted from the finest ingredients sourced from the Norwegian coast, including seaweed-based delicacies, succulent reindeer, and juicy scallops. For a quick and tasty meal, Brygga offers flavorful salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, including the signature shrimp sandwich—a beloved Norwegian classic. Treat yourself to freshly baked pastries, open sandwiches, smoothies, and ice cream at Multe, the onboard bakery. Conclude your dining experience at the Explorer Bar, where you can unwind with panoramic fjord views and a selection of hot and cold beverages in a comfortable setting.

MS Polarlys offers an extraordinary journey where each moment brims with exploration and joy.

Expedition Suite- Suite

These elegant suites on the upper deck have one or two rooms and a seating area. The suites also have a TV and internet access, and a great view.

Expedition Suite- Mini suite

These comfortable suites for up to two people on the upper deck have double beds, and most have sofa groups as well. The suites also have a TV, internet access, and great view.

These comfortable suites for up to four people on the upper deck have double beds, and most have sofa groups as well. The suites also have a TV, internet access, and great view.

Arctic Superior- Outside cabin

These comfortable, newly refurbished cabins for up to two people on the upper deck have double beds.

Polar Outside- Outside cabin

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the middle/lower decks have bathroom with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa

These comfortable, outside cabins for three people on the middle/upper decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa.

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.

Outside cabin

These standard outside cabins for up to three people on the middle decks have bunk beds and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa, and bathrooms with shower/WC.

Separate beds, one bed can be turned into a sofa. Adapted for guests with disabilities.

Polar Outside- Outside cabin (porthole)

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The cabins have portholes, some with limited or no view.

With portholes, separate beds, one bed can be turned into a sofa. Some with limited / no view.

Outside cabin (obstructed)

These comfortable outside cabins for up to two people on the upper or middle decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and double beds. The cabins have limited or no view.

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to three people on the upper or middle decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The third bed is an upper berth. The cabins have limited or no view.

Polar Inside- Inside cabin

These superior inside cabins for up to three people on the upper deck are newly refurbished and have bathrooms with shower/WC. The cabins have TV and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The third bed is an upper berth.

These comfortable, standard inside cabins for one person on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa.

These comfortable, standard inside cabins for up to two people on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa.

View Deck Plan

Torget Main Dining

Torget Main Dining.

Brygga Bistro

Brygga Bistro.

Kysten Arctic Fine Dining

Kysten Arctic Fine Dining.

Multe Bakery & Ice Cream

Multe Bakery & Ice Cream.

Fitness room

Fitness room.

Lecture halls

Lecture halls.

Outdoor Explorer deck

Outdoor Explorer deck.

Explorer Lounge & Panorama bar

Explorer Lounge & Panorama bar.

Outdoor Walking deck

Outdoor Walking deck.

Kompass Adventure reception

Tender Lobby

Outdoor Deck

Outdoor Deck.

Information Shop Post office

Information Shop Post office.

Seating Area

Seating Area.

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Polarlys Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Enrichment Activitites
• Fitness Room
• Hot Tub (2)
• Onboard Lectures
• Explorer Lounge
• Nightly Music
• Kysten - Arctic Fine Dining *
• Brygga - Bistro *
• Multe - Ice Cream & Snacks *
• Torget - Norwegian
• Panorama Bar - Panoramic Bar *
• Excellent 6
• Very Good 3
• All languages ( 17 )
• English ( 13 )
• German ( 3 )
• French ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

MS Polarlys

Polarlys is Norwegian for `polar light´, and refers to the natural Arctic phenomenon we pursue in winter.

About the ship

• Year built 1996
• Year of refurbishment 2016
• Shipyard Ulstein Mek. Verk. (N)
• Passenger capacity 619
• Gross tonnage 11,341
• Length 123 m
• Beam 19.5 m
• Speed 18 knots

MS Polarlys was refurbished in 2016 and now features a modern, Arctic-inspired interior. On board are three different restaurants, the Multe bakery and ice cream bar, a sauna and fitness room. Out on deck you can enjoy the view from one of our two hot tubs. We have a comfortable bar at the front of the ship where you can enjoy a nice traditional drink. The vessel also has a large compass area where you find the reception, the expedition team, conference room and shop.

Welcome aboard

Enjoy delicious local flavours in the ship’s three restaurants and learn about Norway’s culture, history, and nature from a dedicated team of onboard guides. You’ll also have many excursions to pick from as part of your voyage.

Norway's Coastal Kitchen

Your coastal experience, meet the team on our coastal express ships, young explorers, ship facilities, for relaxing, for being active & enjoying food, contact & information, ship contact information.

By phone: +47 99 48 72 75

By email: [email protected]

Through facebook: Facebook

Car spaces on board

Vehicles onboard coastal voyages must fit the following dimensions:

• Max Length: 650 cm/ 21.3 ft
• Max Width: 245 cm/ 8 ft
• Max Height: 220 cm/ 7.5 ft
• Max Weight: 5000 kg/ 11,023 lbs

Campervans, minivans and trailers cannot be accepted. For safety reasons, we cannot take cars that use LPG or CNG gas on board. This applies even if the tank is empty.

Related cruises

Classic roundtrip voyage from bergen.

• Discover our full scenic route with 34 ports visited twice, northbound and southbound, allowing you to really get to know the heart and soul of Norway’s coastline
• Bask in spectacular scenery any season of the year as we sail past more than 100 fjords and 1,000 mountains
• Spend half your voyage on an Arctic tour of Norway, maximising your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in winter, or enjoying 24 hours of daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer
• Take your pick from seven to nine optional hikes and the complete list of optional seasonal excursions – more than 70 in total – to enhance your coastal experience

Classic Voyage Southbound | Kirkenes to Bergen

• Be treated to some of the best scenery of the Norwegian coast, including Senja, the Vesterålen archipelago, the stunning Lofoten Islands, and the Helgeland Coast
• Keep on the lookout for whales and a range of Arctic birds, including the white-tailed sea eagle as well as many migratory species
• The ship may also visit Trollfjord between May and October on this voyage, entering the narrow fjord and performing a 180-degree manoeuvre
• Join two optional hikes and up to 20 optional seasonal excursions, including a tour of the Lofoten Islands by boat or a horseback ride to a picturesque beach

Classic Voyage North: Bergen - Kirkenes

• Enjoy visiting a range of coastal communities, including a number of charming cities, towns, and villages
• Sail to world-famous Geirangerfjord in summer from June to August or to Hjørundfjord from September to October
• Cross the Arctic Circle for an Arctic tour of Norway to hunt for the Northern Lights in winter, and enjoy round-the-clock daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer
• Choose between four to six optional hikes and from up to 50 optional seasonal excursions to add more adventure to your voyage

Expedition Suite

Our Expedition suites are the most luxurious cabins on the ship. Situated on the upper decks of the ship, the cabins feature seating areas with TV, bathrooms with shower/WC, and double beds. The suites also provide complimentary cabin kits, with bathrobe, slippers and more. Some suites have more facilities than others. 

Suite on upper deck

These elegant suites on the upper deck have one or two rooms and a seating area. The suites also have a TV and internet access, and a great view.

Cabin code: M4

Mini suite on upper deck

These comfortable suites for up to two people on the upper deck have double beds, and most have sofa groups as well. The suites also have a TV, internet access, and great view.

Cabin code: Q2

Mini Suite on upper decks

These comfortable suites for up to four people on the upper deck have double beds, and most have sofa groups as well. The suites also have a TV, internet access, and great view.

Cabin code: Q4

Arctic Superior

Relaxation and comfort are the hallmarks of our Arctic superior cabins. Situated on both the upper and middle decks, the cabins all have bathrooms with shower and WC. They are also equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities and TV. All have double beds. All the cabins have individual specifications.

(Note: All Arctic superior cabins on deck 5 have the promenade deck outside.)

Upper deck for 2 travellers

These comfortable, newly refurbished cabins for up to two people on the upper deck have double beds.

Cabin code: U2D

Cabin code: P2D

Polar Outside

Our Polar outside cabins are situated mostly on the middle or lower decks and all have bathrooms with shower/WC. The cabins also have bunk beds and individual specifications.

Middle deck for 2 travellers

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the middle/lower decks have bathroom with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa

Cabin code: O2

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the middle/lower decks have bathroom with shower/WC, and a double bed.

Cabin code: O2D

Middle deck for up to 3 travellers

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to three people on the middle/upper decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa

Cabin code: O3

These standard outside cabins for up to three people on the middle decks have bunk beds and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa, and bathrooms with shower/WC.

Cabin code: N3

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.

Cabin code: N2

These comfortable, refurbished, outside cabins for up to two people have a double bed, a chair, and hair dryer, and some have a TV.

Cabin code: N2D

Lower deck for 2 travellers

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to two people on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The cabins have portholes, some with limited or no view.

Cabin code: L2

Cabin code: L2D

Upper deck for up to 3 travellers

These comfortable, outside cabins for up to three people on the upper or middle decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and bunk beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The third bed is an upper berth. The cabins have limited or no view.

Cabin code: J3

• Limited view

These comfortable outside cabins for up to two people on the upper or middle decks have bathrooms with shower/WC, and double beds. The cabins have limited or no view.

Cabin code: J2D

Polar Inside

Our cosy Polar Inside cabins can be found on all decks. All cabins include bathrooms with shower/WC. All of the cabins have separate beds where one doubles as a sofa, while some are equipped with a double bed or upper and lower berths. All the cabins have individual specifications.

Lower deck for 1 traveller

These comfortable, standard inside cabins for one person on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa.

Cabin code: I1

• 1 bed/1 couch

These comfortable, standard inside cabins for up to two people on the lower deck have bathrooms with shower/WC, and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa.

Cabin code: I2

These superior inside cabins for up to three people on the upper deck are newly refurbished and have bathrooms with shower/WC. The cabins have TV and separate beds, one of which converts into a sofa. The third bed is an upper berth.

Cabin code: K3

Norwegian Coastal Express

• Norway Fjords Cruise
• Northern Lights Cruise
• Expedition Cruises

MS Polarlys

Polarlys is the Norwegian word for polar light, a name given to the special Arctic phenomenon they chase in their winter programme "Hunting the Light." MS Polarlys is a stylish ship, furnished with mahogany panelling, polished brass, and a choice selection of Norwegian contemporary art. Together with the extensive use of wood in the public areas, this has created a unique maritime atmosphere. Suited to the mature, destination focused cruiser.

Accommodation

The facilities in Huritgruten cabins vary between ships and the various cabin grades. Towels and shower gel/liquid soap are provided in all cabins, in addition to this all cabins (except for MS Lofoten and some cabins on board MS Vesteralen) also have a hair dryer. Tea/Coffee making facilities are available in suites only.

Food & Drink

Visiting 34 ports, Hurtigruten have an exceptional opportunity to get fresh produce from local suppliers everyday. This means delicious new and fresh ingredients, both from coastal and inland areas. Based on the season's best ingredients, the chefs create either three-course dinners or lavish buffets. Being a coastal voyage, seafood dominates the menu, accompanied with fresh vegetables and delicately flavoured sauces. Each dinner ends with traditional desserts, like home-made cakes, puddings, berries or sorbet. Breakfast and lunch is served buffet style, while dinner is a set dinner.

Life on Board

The emphasis onboard is on relaxation and discovery, and not the commercial entertainment that is so often a part of conventional cruises. Hertigruten’s aim is to get you closer to unique environments and to allow you to share the experience with your fellow travellers. Occasionally there may be some musical entertainment onboard in the evenings.

Get a feel for life onboard the MS Polarlys by browsing through the image gallery. Click on any of the images above to get started.

MS Polarlys Cruises

May we present you with a small selection of the wide range of cruises available on Hurtigruten' MS Polarlys. For more details click on one of the links below.

Deck Plans MS Polarlys

Browse MS Polarlys's deck plans to get a feel of her layout. Explore cabins, restaurants, entertainment and shared spaces at your leisure.

The Hurtigruten Fleet

Since 1893, the Hurtigruten ships have been a hallmark of the Norwegian coast. Our 11 ships in Norway and 4 exploration ships feature modern facilities carefully blended with true character.

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MS Polarlys

The name  MS Polarlys  means "polar light" in Norwegian, another name for the aurora borealis or Northern Lights — the atmospheric phenomenon that you're bound to catch when sailing from Bergen to the North Cape on the cruise’s lines legendary coastal route. The 619-passenger  Hurtigruten  ship underwent a complete makeover in early 2016, which gave the ship's interiors a modern Scandinavian look and added the extra-cost a la carte restaurant Kysten. The cuisine focuses even more on locally sourced ingredients (some even harvested the same day). There are also two included restaurants, a bakery, a sauna, two aft hot tubs, and an Explorer Lounge with a bar where guests can enjoy cocktails with a view.

Relaxing Pace: Put down your phone and forget about the stresses of daily life. This is where you can completely unplug (the Internet connection is spotty anyway). Some may complain that there's not much to do onboard; others have chosen this cruise because they prefer it that way.

Coastal Ferry Service:  Instead of just offering a typical cruise to pretty places, MS Polarys  carries passengers who live locally and are using the ship as a method of transportation to get to another town. (Be sure to converse with them; they'll have insight into what makes the region tick.) The ships appear daily at the same time at each port, and cargo handling is a major attraction. You may be traveling with building materials, tree saplings that are to be planted up the coast, or fresh fish and shellfish for towns without a fishing fleet.

Nature Lovers: You'll find lots of ways to interact with the elements, dependent on the season. You can hike, kayak, bird-watch, or do something more unique to the region, such as dog sledding. If you're an armchair traveler, you'll find many plush seats on the ship that are positioned to maximize the ever-changing views.

Variable Weather:  The maritime climate in the Northern Hemisphere brings some sparkling days and clear-sky nights — but also damp, rainy, and windy weather as well.

Theodore Scull Deal Expert / Travel Blogger Theodore W. Scull is a New York City-based travel writer who has written several books on transatlantic crossings, including “Ocean Liner Odyssey” and “Ocean Liner Twilight.” He has been cruising since he was a teenager.

MS Polarlys

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A sister ship to the MS Nordnorge, the MS Polarlys combines the authenticity of a working ferry with the immersion of a well-structured expedition cruise ship, and its small size means an intimate experience of some of Norway's toughest-to-reach and most beautiful locations.

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MS Polarlys

Hurtigruten.

• Year of built 1996
• Length (LOA) 123 m / 403 ft
• Passengers 619
• Destination Bergen
• ETA June 8, 12:12
• Speed 14 kn / 26 km/h
• Temperature