The information and descriptions have been checked by our staff and/or local agents to ensure they are correct. However, changes may occur after the date of publication, and there may be occasions when Hurtigruten or local suppliers may withdraw some facilities.

Should we become aware of any significant change, that may be considered to have an effect on the enjoyment of your holiday, we will do our best to advise you. Many areas we visit are very remote and affected by prolonged cold or with various degrees of difficulty on their terrain. The facilities on offer will be subject to local conditions.

Every expedition cruise is unique. All routes and excursions are provisional and subject to change due to weather, sea, and/or ice conditions, amongst other factors that can cause our itineraries to change without prior notice. These decisions are taken with guest safety in mind.

In the event this happens whilst we are at sea, we will inform guests as soon as possible with the updates regarding the alternative route and change of plan. If we need to cancel a port of call, we will aim to substitute this with an equal or better alternative.

Please Note: Hurtigruten Expeditions reserves the right to change the itinerary and the content of excursions without prior notice (see terms and conditions).

For safety reasons, children under 12 years of age will be considered for participation in excursions at each landing. It is entirely at the captain’s discretion whether or not to allow children on shore landings. 

The ships are suitable for wheelchair users. Persons in need of special assistance must travel with a companion. Please note that the gangway must be used for wheelchair users to embark and disembark. In ports where tidal conditions or other circumstances require the use of a portable gangway, or during landings with expedition boats, it is not possible to use/take wheelchairs. Guests who use a wheelchair must bring their own standard size, foldable chair. Wheel chairs must be stored in the guest cabin.

Scheduled Flights 

The airfares offered are special package tour fares, which cannot be altered or cancelled without charge. All flight package prices are based on specific booking classes. If the relevant booking class is not available a supplement may apply. In economy class, you will be served snacks or sandwiches as per the airline’s in-flight service. If these are not included in the airline's service, you can purchase drinks and snacks. 

Luggage allowance varies between airlines, and charges may apply if you exceed this, or carriage may be refused. As a rule, each guest can carry a piece of hand luggage weighing approx. 6-8 kg (dimensions and weight depend on the respective airline) on board. Your baggage allowance is set to 1PC (23 kg) but may vary depending on the flight connection; please check with your airline. Further transport guidelines can be found in the respective terms and conditions of our flight partners. If you are planning to take a wheelchair or need assistance at the airport, please advise us at the time of booking.

Flights may be scheduled early in the morning or in the evening, but they are always adapted to our travel arrangements. Please note that some flights may be transfers or stopovers. Time and/or route changes as well as a change of aircraft type are reserved. Our common flight partners are Lufthansa, KLM/Air France, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines, and Widerøe. Please note that rebooking or reimbursement of an already issued ticket will be charged before departure. A transfer or refund of a ticket after travel is not possible. Any flight times advised at the time of booking are provisional and subject to change; please check before you travel. 

The standard of the hotels we use is equivalent to 4-5 stars, centrally located or if more convenient for your booked arrangement, close to the airport. There is no official hotel rating in Norway and local hotel categories apply. All rooms have private facilities. Single rooms may be smaller and less conveniently situated, and may be double rooms for sole occupancy or purpose-built single rooms. Hotels may charge for some facilities, e.g. saunas. The price for the overnight stay includes breakfast, unless otherwise stated on your confirmation. 

There is an English-speaking physician and nurse on board always. The ship has a small medical facility with the necessary equipment and medication to handle small emergencies. In the event of a serious emergency, the nearest hospital will be contacted. Medical consultations as well as medicines will be charged to the passenger affected.

All guests must have personal travel/health insurance. If you depend on medication, remember to bring sufficient supplies to last through any unforeseen delays. We also recommend that you keep your medication in your hand luggage, properly labelled, and with clear instructions for its use. If you depend on vital medication, please inform the ship’s doctor upon arrival. Illness on board can lead to quarantine, and orders from the ship’s physician and captain must be followed.

A Health Declaration Form is required for some of our expedition cruises and expedition destinations. Please see our Entry Requirements page for full details.

Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents, and have them available when necessary. A passport is the only valid identification. For some destinations, your passport must be valid for more than six months after you return to your home country. At check-in on board, passports will be collected in order to clear immigrations and customs. It is the responsibility of each guest to ensure they comply with any visa travel document requirements at the time of travel. Please pay special attention to the ESTA/ETA regulations for our North America and Canada cruises. See details here.

Hurtigruten offers a choice of optional Pre- and Post-Programmes that can be added to your Hurtigruten journey. This can be a half or full-day excursion, or an overnight tour. Please note programmes are subject to change, and a minimum number of participants applies. For guests who are not fully mobile, Pre- and Post-Programmes are on request. 

Explore Pre- and Post-Programmes here

Transfers are included as shown in your booked arrangement (please see your booking confirmation). Hurtigruten offers bus transfers from the airport to the pier and some hotels.  The transfer times are set according to the ship’s arrival and departure times, and your arrival and departure times. Delays at the airport are possible. The duration of the airport transfer can vary depending on the destination, but it takes usually between 20-45 minutes (depending on traffic). With your travel documents you will receive further information on your transfer. 

For guests who are not fully mobile, wheelchair accessible transfers are available on request.  

On some expedition cruises, vaccinations can be recommended or may be required (e.g. vaccine against yellow fever). All passengers are responsible for ensuring they comply with any requirements at the time of travel. See details here.

On board dress is informal. For all expedition cruises, we advise you to bring breathable rain and windproof clothing. A warm hat, gloves, scarf, and thermal clothing including thermal underwear can be useful, when sailing to cold destinations.. Sturdy shoes are important for shore excursions and landings, and a walking stick/trekking pole may be useful.  For additional information about footwear, see separate point “Equipment loans”. 

Our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint and supporting local communities is at the heart of everything we do, and we are determined to set a new standard for eco-conscious adventure travel experiences. 

Part of this commitment involves reviewing every aspect of our operations. Due to our sustainability goals and current rebranding process, we have reduced our expedition jacket order so to avoid any unnecessary waste when we switch to our new jackets in 2024.  

Regrettably, this means that during February and March, MS Maud / MS Spitsbergen are currently unable to provide any expedition jackets in sizes large and extra large and have a very limited supply of medium-size jackets. All other sizes are still available. If you require a size medium, large or extra large, please ensure you bring a waterproof jacket. For excursions in our small expedition boats, we will loan you a jacket that meets the technical requirements. However, this may not be in your preferred size. Any guest who doesn’t receive an expedition jacket will be given a complimentary dry-bag backpack. 

Guests are reminded that only beverages sold and/or provided in restaurants, bars, cabins, and suites can be consumed on board. Any alcoholic beverages purchased in ports-of-call will be confiscated at the gangway and need to be stored separately on board the ship by our crew. Your purchases will be returned to you and delivered to your cabin on the last day of your sailing.

Guests who wish to bring bottles of wine and/or spirits aboard Santa Cruz II only will be charged a corkage fee of US $ 27+ taxes.

There are a wide range of comfortable cabins on board for you. All expedition ships have cabins with private facilities. Accessible cabins are available. Please click here for our complete policy on Accessibility for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility.

You may experience some noise and vibration in some of the cabins. This varies depending on the location of your cabin. Also, noise affects people differently and what may be a problem for one guest may not be a problem for others.

Please be aware that some cabins on decks with passenger access or lifesaving appliances may have an obstructed view.

On all our Expedition Ships (except MS Santa Cruz II) the tap water within your cabin is drinkable.

On Santa Cruz II, all cabins have the same size window (Suites have 2 windows) and private facilities. All cabins have hair dryers in the bathrooms.

Unlike the rest of the fleet, the tap water in the cabins onboard MS Santa Cruz II only is desalinized, but not drinkable. For your convenience, drinking water dispensers are available in the Expedition, and Sky deck.

You may experience some noise and vibration in some of the cabins. This varies depending on the location of your cabin. Also, noise affects people differently and what may be a problem for one guest may not be a problem for others.

You will be issued a cruise card upon arrival on board as part of the check-in procedure in accordance with ISPS regulations. The card serves as a control system on the gangway. This card, in addition to being the key card for your cabin, is also your payment card on board. To activate the cruise card account, you must have a Visa, American Express, Diners, or MasterCard.

Debit cards can be used to pay for the final invoice, but not for activating the cruise card account. Please note that there are no money exchange services or facilities for cash withdrawals on board.

MS Santa Cruz II will not provide keys to your cabins, nor a cruise card. Cabins may be locked from the interior. Each cabin has a safety box, and corridors are monitored by closed-circuit cameras.

Upon check-in, a shipboard account (SA) will be opened for you. We do not register credit cards at the beginning of the cruise. We request the final payment during the last night for check-out. Credit Cards accepted in Ecuador include Diners Club, Visa, American Express, and Master Card. Our staff will request you to sign a receipt to acknowledge your consumptions and purchases before charging it to your shipboard account.

The local currency in Ecuador is the US DOLLAR, and ATMs are available at the mainland airports, as well as in Baltra airport and in the towns of Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

No gratuities are expected onboard. Suggested gratuities for services on land will be shared in your travel documents.

The daily programme is shown on the information screens around the ship and on the TV in your cabin, with each day’s port calls, landings, lectures, meals, and activities on board. All our published plans are subject to change. You will receive the daily program with information about your next day the evening before. The timings of publication may vary due to ongoing operations on board - true expedition style.

For easy access to daily updates on board, we recommend using the Hurtigruten onboard app. For more information about the Hurtigruten app, please see here.

For guests onboard Santa Cruz II, each evening the expedition leader and his/her team hold a briefing regarding the next day's activities. The briefing is usually preceded by an “Eco Moment” – a short talk on a topic relevant to the Galapagos Islands and the activities and observations that day. The programme is also displayed on screens in various visible areas of the vessel and in the “Explorer” app.

In addition, one or more lectures will be given by expedition staff to enhance guest understanding of the Galapagos Islands and their history.

Expedition staff will also run sessions on various Citizen Science projects we are involved in onboard.

The use of passenger-operated drones is not permitted during your voyage. This is for general safety as well as the protection of vulnerable wildlife and other guests’ personal security.

Drones are not allowed in Galapagos. Flash photography is not allowed on wildlife in the national parks. Professional video photography requires a special permit of the National Park Directorate.

The plugs in your cabins are all 220V/50hz. Suites have 110V for shavers. The plugs are continental two-pin plugs, which may require an adapter. 

For Santa Cruz II, electricity on board is 110V, 60hz. Plugs are Type B (conventional US) and two-pin plugs.

The Hurtigruten APP is your digital guide onboard, it is recommended to download it before you come onboard, To be able to follow the activities on board, make restaurant reservation, book tours and find A-Z info here from the minute you step onboard. The App will only work while you are on board as it is connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.  

We offer Wi-Fi on board, but on expedition cruises to remote destinations, coverage and speed will be very limited. Internet will be provided through satellite connections (if in sight), except when we’re close to mobile communication infrastructure on land. Due to capacity limitations, the included Wi-Fi is limited to browsing and not streaming. Please contact the reception desk if you have any questions related to Wi-Fi usage.

Antarctica, Arctic Canada, North East Greenland, Svalbard, and many places in Alaska will have limited or no mobile coverage on shore. Check with your carrier for details.

Wi-Fi Internet connection is available on-board MS Santa Cruz II but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth. Limited complimentary Wi-Fi access is available for all guests.

Internet is only available in public areas.

All cell phones must be on AIRPLANE MODE for all trails within the National Park.

Cellular coverage is patchy, very low, and restricted to the vicinity of populated Islands (Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands).

The working language on board is English. Announcements and written information are also given in German, and may also be given in French and Chinese on selected departures. In order to be able to accommodate lectures in a language other than English, we offer an “in-ear” translation into German. Lectures will be streamed into the cabins. 

Whilst Santa Cruz II sails under the Ecuadorian flag; Announcements for guests are given in English, and may also be given in German, French, Spanish, or Italian depending on the guests traveling. Lectures and other presentations are held in different languages in different rooms.

A laundry service is available on board. The service is included for suite guests. No self-service or dry-cleaning is possible.

Unfortunately, laundry service is not available on board Santa Cruz II. Two domestic-type washer/dryers are available 24 hours at the stern of the vessel for complimentary guest use, together with instructions, baskets, and biodegradable detergent is available from reception.

The ships comply with international safety requirements and are modern vessels suitable for sailing in their respective destinations, including icy waters.

All guests will be instructed in safety procedures and the use and location of the safety equipment before departure. There is a Safety Notice posted on the inside of the cabin door which we encourage all guests to read carefully.

Santa Cruz II complies with the Galapagos Biocontrol Agency (ABG) AND ISPS (International Ship and Port Security System) regulations, where all luggage is subject to X-ray/metal and organic/biosecurity inspection prior to boarding the aircraft in mainland Ecuador. These inspections include carry-on screening before and after the Ecuador-Galapagos flight.

Santa Cruz complies with international safety requirements and is a modern vessel suitable for sailing in the Galapagos.

The first day´s programme includes a short but complete mandatory safety briefing about safety on board and during landing operations. This briefing is followed by the compulsory boat drill exercise.

A separate safety briefing is held prior to the first snorkeling, kayaking, or paddle-boarding opportunity.

Regardless of the ship you join - during the sailing, special safety regulations will apply on landings with the Expedition boats. Please follow the instructions given by the Expedition Leader and crew/staff. Special lifejackets for use during landings will be provided to all passengers. A mandatory briefing regarding the safety guidelines will also be given.

You can hand in your mail at the reception, and for a service fee and cost of stamps, we will forward the post in every port where possible. The time needed for delivery of mail may be relatively long. Hurtigruten Expeditions accepts no responsibility for lost mail.

For those onboard Santa Cruz II - mailboxes and stamps are available at the Baltra Airport, and in Puerto Ayora. Be aware that the delivery may take a long time.

On board, we serve a delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mealtimes will be announced in the daily programme. In our main dining area, Aune restaurant, you are able to book your dining time via our onboard app and your table will be assigned to you. For the first day of the cruise for your convenience, we assign a time to you, and can be found in your welcome onboard letter. Please provide information regarding special requests for seating arrangements and dietary requirements to your sales office/travel agent before your cruise.

On the ships that have the à la carte restaurant Lindstrøm, our suite guests may enjoy all meals there. For dinner, Lindstrøm will be open for all guests, but there is an additional charge for non-suite guests. Reservation is required and will depend upon availability. Not available on MS Spitsbergen.

Fredheim is the ship’s third dining option, offering casual dining in a relaxed atmosphere, or a takeaway option during opening hours. There will be no takeaway option on the last day of the cruise when you disembark the ship. Not available on MS Spitsbergen, MS Fram.

Soft drinks, beer, and the house wine are included with all meals. Coffee, tea, and potable water that has been purified on board are included throughout the day. Complimentary still and sparkling water is provided for all meals. An upgraded beverage package is also available.

Onboard Santa Cruz II - All meals are designed by our Le Cordon Bleu-certified Gastronomic Director. Breakfast is buffet-style in the Beagle Restaurant on the Ocean deck. No reservations are required and the attire is always casual. We only ask our guests not to enter the dining area in bathing suits or barefoot.

Please provide information regarding special requests for seating arrangements and dietary requirements to Hurtigruten Expeditions or your travel agent before your cruise.

House beer, wine, and soft drinks are available and complimentary at lunch and dinner. Coffee, tea, and potable water that has been purified on board are included throughout the day. Complimentary still and sparkling water is provided for all meals. Other beverages, including cocktails, and an upgraded beverage package is also available for purchase.

Seasickness pills are available for purchase in reception, at 1 Euro each. If you are prone to seasickness, it is recommended that you bring pills that you are familiar with. You may also buy “sea bands” on board.

Hurtigruten complies with the ISPS-regulations (International Ship and Port Security System) where all luggage is subject to X-ray/metal detector inspection upon arrival at the port facility or ship. The ISPS regulations also include hand baggage scans in all ports of call throughout the course of the cruise.

Prohibited Items List:

The above list is not exhaustive. The SSO/Captain are authorised to make a professional judgment as to the legality of any item declared, detected or discovered on board.

In our onboard shop, you can buy clothing suitable for expedition cruises. Our Expedition Team will be happy to give you expert advice on how to dress properly according to the destinations. We offer a great range of both warm and practical clothing and we focus on fabrics with natural fibres.

We also offer souvenirs, handicrafts, and postcards, in addition to a small selection of soap, toothpaste, and other personal effects.

We offer a rich and varied programme of optional shore excursions. In many ports, we offer an included excursion, which can be reserved for no additional charge. In many cases, the included excursion can be combined with other optional excursions in the port. Most excursions can be pre-booked, but may also be bookable onboard if capacity remains. 

We advise that you book well in advance in order to avoid disappointment due to the excursion being fully booked. Please note that registration is binding, and once on board the Expedition Team will advise you of booking deadlines for excursions still available. Our excursions have English speaking guides unless otherwise indicated and other languages cannot be guaranteed unless specified. Excursions are subject to change and possible cancellation due to weather conditions. They are also dependent on the number of participants.  

In addition, the Expedition Team also arrange a variety of activities during the cruise. These will depend on location and season, but may include hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking. These activities are booked on board and subject to availability. 

Guests are respectfully reminded that only our stable expedition boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings in otherwise inaccessible areas. You will need to be fairly agile to board these, but there is otherwise no need to worry about travelling in them. The crew will show you what to do and as long as you follow their instructions, after a few times it will become second nature. On all landings in expedition boats, guests are expected to wear proper footwear. For additional information about the footwear, see separate point “Equipment loans”. Landing operations depend on favourable conditions. 

On board, smoking is only permitted in designated areas on outside decks. Smoking is not permitted in cabins or private balconies. Throwing cigarette butts overboard is strictly prohibited. A cleaning charge of approximately 150 EUR will be applied for smoking in a cabin/suite, to cover the cost of cleaning linen and curtains to return it to a non-smoking standard. E-Cigarettes, according to Norwegian law, are the equivalent of tobacco cigarettes, and therefore smoking these is only permitted in the designated smoking areas.

When the ship is refuelling smoking is prohibited. Announcements will be made on board accordingly. Smoking is not allowed during nature landings in AECO and IAATO areas, except for city landings.

For those on board Santa Cruz II - smoking is only permitted at the Sky Deck, where ashtrays are available. Smoking is not permitted in cabins. Throwing cigarette butts overboard is strictly prohibited. Smoking is strictly prohibited while ashore within the Galapagos Islands National Park.

If you have special requests (e.g. dietary or medical), please inform us as soon as possible, and no later than 12 weeks prior to your cruise departure. We will do our best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and under no circumstance will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of a contractual agreement.

À la carte dining option | On the ships that have a Lindstrøm restaurant, suite guests are offered the chance to have all their meals here. Reservations must be made on board and are offered upon availability.

Room service | This service is offered to selected suite guests free of charge only, within the Lindstrøm opening times. (Suite number for MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen: 800, 801, 700, 701, 932, 919, 856, 849, 756, 749)

Suite check-in | Are first to check in as per our timeslot system. An exclusive welcome area in Lindstrøm is available for suite guests, where they may meet and greet some of the ship officers.

Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, the suite guests will find a carabiner watch, a bottle of champagne, and a welcome greeting from the captain in their suite after check-in.

Turn-down service | Suite guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.

Laundry service | This service is free of charge for all suite guests. This does not apply to MS Otto Sverdrup; only self-service is possible on board this ship.

Minibar | Daily replenishment of the minibar is included for suites, except for large bottles of wine, sparkling wine, and Champagne (The first round is included, any additional refills will charged ).

For those on Santa Cruz II, only guests who book a suite will receive:

Welcome greeting | On embarkation day, all guests will receive a complimentary Galapagos wildlife book and a reusable water bottle. Suite guests will receive an additional welcome gift in their cabin.

Turn-down service | Guests will receive a daily turn-down service, including fresh towels and chocolate or similar on the pillow.

Wi-fi | Guests will receive limited complimentary Wi-fi access. Additional Wi-Fi is available for purchase, but due to the Galapagos’ remote location, please be aware that the internet connection is intermittent and low-bandwidth.

Wetsuit rental | Wetsuit rental is complimentary for guests on request.

We kindly remind you to take care when walking on board the ship while at sea, especially when venturing out on deck, observing the signs for warnings of wet and slippery decks. Be aware the doors toward the outer deck are potentially dangerous in windy conditions.

Please adhere to the signs and announcements when it is not advised to go outside. While walking inside, hold on to railings but not to door frames, to avoid injury.

For those guests on Santa Cruz II - In addition to the above, there are no elevators on the ship. Stairs are steep and guests should take extra care when moving between decks. Hold the hand rail!