Essential Information
Correspondence
All correspondence will be sent to the person on the booking shown as the Lead Passenger.
When you contact us we will usually be able to confirm your Hurtigruten Voyage immediately and advise current flight times, prices, including any applicable supplements for extras, etc. For high season dates, when demand is greater, or if you book within eight weeks of departure, we may have to request your cabin, flight or hotel space, and it may take slightly longer to confirm your holiday, although generally no more than 48 hours.
We will endeavour to email a confirmation invoice within 2 working days of receiving your booking and deposit. At busy times up to 14 working days should be allowed. Only one invoice and one set of documents are issued per booking. If you are travelling with friends, but would each like to receive separate documents please make two bookings and advise us at the time of booking. Travel documents are generally emailed approximately 7 - 14 days prior to departure.
We are unable to accept provisional or conditional bookings.
Booking
Please take extra care to ensure that all names are given to us correctly at the time of booking. We need the first name, family name and date of birth exactly as it is shown on your passport. We will also needs dates of birth for all passengers together with a correspondence address and contact telephone number.
Website Descriptions
The descriptions of Hurtigruten ships and hotels on this website have been compiled as a result of inspection by Hurtigruten staff and checked to ensure they are correct. However, changes may occur after the date of publication. In addition there may be occasions - especially in the low season - when the ship owners and hoteliers may decide to withdraw some of the facilities. These are regrettably beyond the control of Hurtigruten and Coastal Cruises and they therefore reserve the right to change the particulars at any time before they confirm your booking.
We will inform you of any such change at the time of booking, or, if you have already booked, you will be contacted before your departure if there is time. Public holidays and religious festivals may also affect the availability of resort and hotel facilities. The National Tourist Office can provide details of such events.
Passports & Visas
The information and advice given in this section is valid for British Citizens only. Anyone who is not a British Citizen (and this includes citizens of British Dependent Territories, citizens who hold their citizenship by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar, British Subjects who have right of abode in the United Kingdom and EU and other nationals) should consult the Embassy of the Country of destination, and the Home Office Immigration Department to check whether they require any special documentation for the countries they are visiting or for return to the UK.
All passengers must have a passport valid for at least three months after the date of return to the UK. Please note that travel to the EU, Norway and Iceland changed from 1 January 2021. On the day you travel, you'll need your passport to be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the 'date of issue'), and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the 'expiry date').
If you need to obtain or renew your 10 year passport we recommend that you make your application in good time before your departure, since passport offices can become very busy in the summer. It normally takes about 3 - 4 weeks to obtain a passport by post but delays may be experienced during peak times.
VISA: British passport holders do not require a visa for destinations on this website (except for Russia, where a visa is necessary, details will be advised at the time of booking).
Where applicable passengers will be issued with an entry permit/tourist visa upon arrival.
It is essential that the family and first names on the passport match those on your travel documents exactly.
The above information is correct at time of publication, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with the requirements applicable at time of travel. Regulations can change and it is the responsibility of the traveller to check that they have all the appropriate documentation prior to travel.
Further information can be found at http://www.worldtravelguide.net and further UK passport information can be found at www.ukpa.gov.uk. Any non UK nationals should check with the relevant Embassy for passport/visa regulations.
Political and other conditions can also vary over time in different countries and travellers are advised to check with the Foreign Office regarding any travel advice prior to travelling.
Health Matters
At the time of publication of this website, no compulsory vaccinations or other health precautions were required for British Citizens. The Department of Health publishes a leaflet, "Health advice for Travellers", which is available free from your doctor and the post office or by telephoning FREEPHONE 0800 555 777.
Passengers suffering from any known or suspected medical condition, or women more than 28 weeks pregnant, are required to notify us at least 14 days before departure and to produce a medical certificate confirming fitness to travel. Hurtigruten Ltd reserve the right to refuse or cancel the booking if the relevant certificate is not produced and will not be liable for the refusal by any operator to carry any person who has failed to notify us as above. If in doubt about health precautions, please consult your doctor.
On the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Voyage the ships are never far from land and there is no doctor or pharmacy on board. If you need medical assistance please speak to the reception staff who will contact a doctor at the nearest port. Officers are trained in first aid and can provide emergency assistance.
It is the responsibility of all passengers to ensure they comply with any inoculation requirements applicable at time of travel. Hurtigruten Ltd reserve the right to refuse boarding to any passenger displaying symptoms of any contagious or infectious illness.
NOTE: If you are taking medication, it is essential that you have sufficient supplies for the duration of your holiday. Any medication should always be carried in your hand luggage.
Hotel Accommodation
The standard of hotels we use is equivalent to 3 or 4-star. As there is no official hotel rating system in Norway or Finland, Hurtigruten Ltd have graded the hotels themselves to give you a comparative guide to the overall standard. These gradings may not equate to other official ratings but is based on the overall standard of the hotels and the facilities available.
Prices are based on accommodation in standard rooms which all have private shower/wc (except the Svalbard Adventure Spitsbergen Guest house and the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes) and facilities as described. Please note that tea/coffee making facilities are not usually provided in hotels throughout Scandinavia and that twin bedded rooms are more common than double bedded rooms. It should be noted that single rooms are sometimes inferior in both size and location and may be double rooms for sole occupancy or purpose-built single rooms. Hotels may make a charge for certain facilities e.g. saunas.
Changes to the Itinerary and Excursions
All routes and excursions are provisional and subject to change and weather, sea and ice conditions may affect the itinerary. The safety of passengers, crew and vessels is always the prime consideration and any adjustments to the itinerary will be decided locally, if necessary in consultation with the appropriate authorities, by the Tour Manager and/or Captain, whose decision is final. All operators reserve the right to alter the contents of the excursions without prior notice. They may also be subject to minimum/maximum numbers as well as weather and ice conditions.
Minimum Numbers
A minimum number of persons is required to enable a number of the holidays to take place. Should the minimum number not be reached, we will advise you at least 8 weeks prior to your departure, when we reserve the right to cancel the holiday and refund all monies paid to us.
Alternatively, you may choose another holiday with us, but if the alternative arrangement is at an additional cost, the difference will be payable by you.
Tour Arrangements
The voyages and tours featured on this website are based on independent travel, however all ships and many of our featured hotels have information staff who will advise you on excursions and offer general assistance.
Some of the holidays are part-escorted. On the Norwegian Coastal Voyage Theme voyages you will be met by a tour manager who will accompany you for the land-based parts of these trips. Local guides will be available on many of the add-on packages.
Transfers
If you have booked flights together with your Hurtigruten voyage, then transfers are included in your holiday as shown and are usually accompanied. They may be operated by private coach, scheduled airport coach or train, minibus or taxi. Full details of transfers will be sent with your travel documents.
Wildlife
Our website includes pictures and descriptions of wildlife, which can be seen from the ships, however please be aware that there is no guarantee of sightings.
Special Requests
If you have any special request, which is not mentioned in connection with the arrangements described on this website (e.g. dietary requirements or a need for special assistance), please inform us at the time of booking. Hurtigruten will always do it's best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and in no circumstances will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of our contractual agreement.
Special Needs / Disabled Passengers
Hurtigruten Ltd are happy to welcome passengers who are not fully mobile on board most of their voyages. However, we regret that M/S Lofoten and M/S Nordstjernen are not suitable for disabled passengers. All other ships have at least one cabin that is fully equipped for disabled travellers. Please ask our sales consultant for details. Passengers who use a wheelchair must bring their own, standard size, collapsible wheelchair and must travel with a companion who is able to assist them. In mainland Norwegian ports there is a ramp for embarkation and disembarkation.
We regret that Hurtigruten Explorer holidays are not considered suitable for less able passengers as landings and sometimes embarkation are by Zodiacs or tenders. A certain level of agility will be required to board but crew will be in attendance to ensure passenger safety.
Not all excursions have not been adapted specifically for disabled passengers. Please check at the time of booking.
Our sales consultants will endeavour to book special rooms in any overnight accommodation before or after your voyage.
It is essential that you advise us of all special requirements at the time of booking so that we can make the necessary arrangements and ensure that you have a trouble free holiday.
Travel Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office may have issued information about your holiday destination. We advise you check this information at http://www.fco.gov.uk or telephone 0845 850 2829.
