Hurtigruten Norway With New Svalbard Cruise

Hurtigruten Norway is now launching the Svalbard Express, a new route from Bergen to Longyearbyen. This is stated in a press release from the company.

The company has hired 200 new seafarers for the Svalbard route.

On Saturday, MS Trollfjord sets off from Bergen. This is a fully booked ship that resumes sailings between the mainland and Svalbard for the first time since 1982 – with tourists and cargo on board.

Hurtigruten is marking its 130th anniversary with the new routes Svalbard Express and the Nordkapp Express.

MS Trollfjord, like all Hurtigruten Norway ships, is registered in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR). All employees on board are employed with Norwegian pay and working conditions.

"There is a shortage of seafarers in Norway today. By both showing that we are willing to invest in Norway and by helping to train the next generation of Norwegian seafarers, we hope to contribute to more people choosing the maritime route and see what potential lies in the tourism industry," says Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten Norway.

The Svalbard Express is inspired by the original Svalbard Express, which the Hurtigruten companies operated from 1968 to 1982. In winter, MS Trollfjord will sail from Bergen and Oslo to Honningsvåg as Nordkapp Express.