Hurtigruten Coastal Express vs Princess Cruises

The core difference

Hurtigruten Coastal Express and Princess Cruises both visit Norway. That shared destination is the beginning and end of their similarity. In every other dimension — ship design, onboard experience, product philosophy, fleet scale, global reach, and relevance to Australian travellers — these are fundamentally different propositions. One is a working mail route. The other is a global cruise line. Understanding that distinction is the entire foundation of this comparison.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express has connected Norway’s remote coastal communities since 1893. Seven ships sail the Bergen-Kirkenes route year-round, departing Bergen daily at 20:30 and calling at 34 ports over 6.5 days northbound. The ships carry cargo containers, local commuters hopping between towns, and tourists who have booked passage. There is no theatre, no casino, no pool, no spa, and no formal entertainment programme. The dining room serves included meals featuring Norwegian regional cuisine. The expedition team delivers lectures on Norwegian history, culture, and nature. The experience is the coastline itself — fjords, the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands, the North Cape, and in winter, the Northern Lights.

Princess Cruises operates 17 ships across four classes, deploying globally to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia, South Pacific, Northern Europe, and Australia. The fleet includes the revolutionary Sphere-class Sun Princess and Star Princess at 175,500 gross tonnes — among the largest and most innovative ships afloat — alongside the workhorse Royal, Regal, and Majestic-class vessels. MedallionClass technology enables touchless boarding, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food delivery to your GPS location, and what is marketed as the fastest Wi-Fi at sea. Curtis Stone’s SHARE restaurant, the Crown Grill steakhouse, Sabatini’s Italian, and up to 29 dining and bar venues on the newest ships create a comprehensive culinary programme. Princess has maintained a continuous Australian presence since 1975, sailing from five homeports.

Norwegian Fjords is one of dozens of Princess deployment regions. It is Hurtigruten’s only route — the route it has sailed every single day for over 130 years. That distinction shapes everything about how each product delivers a Norwegian experience.

What is actually included

The inclusion models reflect the different natures of these products.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express includes: full-board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in the main restaurant, featuring Norwegian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients; access to all public lounges and observation areas; port calls at all 34 stops along the route; and expedition team lectures on Norwegian topics. Drinks, shore excursions, and Wi-Fi are additional. There are no gratuities.

Princess’s base fare includes: stateroom accommodation; main dining room meals and buffet; entertainment including theatre shows and live music; pool and fitness centre access; and Movies Under the Stars. Gratuities are not included at USD 17 to 19 per person per day. Speciality dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, spa, and shore excursions are additional. Princess Plus (from USD 65 per person per day) bundles a beverage package, single-device Wi-Fi, four casual dining meals, and gratuities. Princess Premier (from USD 100 per person per day) adds unlimited speciality dining, four-device Wi-Fi, unlimited photos, reserved show seating, and shore excursion credits.

The inclusion comparison is structurally different from most cruise-line pairings because Hurtigruten simply has fewer things to include or charge for. There is no spa, no casino, no pool, no speciality restaurants, and no entertainment programme to upsell. Meals are included; drinks are not. The model is simple. Princess’s model is conventional cruise-industry practice — a base fare with tiered packages that add genuine value at each step. Princess Plus in particular represents strong bundled value for mainstream cruisers.

Dining and culinary experience

The dining philosophies could not be more different. Princess offers culinary variety across numerous venues. Hurtigruten offers a single restaurant serving the Norwegian coast on a plate.

Princess’s dining programme is anchored by the main dining room with Anytime Dining or traditional fixed seating, plus the World Fresh Marketplace buffet. Speciality venues include Crown Grill (steakhouse, approximately USD 39), Sabatini’s (Italian, approximately USD 29), SHARE by Curtis Stone (contemporary small plates, approximately USD 35), and on the Sphere-class ships, venues such as Umai (Japanese-Peruvian) and Butcher’s Block (charcuterie and meats). The newest ships offer up to 29 dining and bar venues. Princess Premier includes unlimited speciality dining, transforming the value proposition for food enthusiasts. The International Cafe serves complimentary pastries and sandwiches around the clock. Alfredo’s offers complimentary pizza.

Hurtigruten operates a single restaurant per ship with a set menu that changes daily as the ship moves along the coast. Breakfast is a Scandinavian buffet of cured fish, cheeses, and breads. Lunch is lighter — soups and open sandwiches. Dinner is the highlight: three courses featuring regional Norwegian produce. Fresh cod from the Lofoten Islands. King crab from the waters near Kirkenes. Reindeer from Finnmark. Cloudberries from the Arctic tundra. The cuisine is simple, honest, and rooted in the landscape the ship passes through. There is no a la carte menu, no speciality dining, and no celebrity chef.

Princess offers breadth. Hurtigruten offers authenticity. A food-motivated traveller who wants to explore multiple restaurants across a sailing will find nothing of interest on Hurtigruten’s single-venue format. A traveller who wants to eat food that was caught or harvested within sight of the ship will find nothing on Princess that matches Hurtigruten’s connection between plate and landscape.

Suites and accommodation

The accommodation comparison spans the full gap between modern cruise ships and working coastal vessels.

Princess’s cabin range on the newest Sphere-class ships includes Interior at approximately 162 to 193 square feet, Oceanview, Balcony at approximately 222 to 237 square feet, Mini-Suites at approximately 299 to 392 square feet, and full Suites including the Sky Suite and two-storey Signature Collection suites with living areas, dining space, and private balconies. MedallionClass technology enables keyless entry and on-demand service in every cabin. The Signature Collection suites include butler service, a private lounge, a dedicated sundeck, and priority boarding. All cabins feature modern design, Princess Luxury Bed mattresses, and contemporary bathrooms.

Hurtigruten’s cabins range from compact inside cabins to outside cabins with windows or portholes, mini-suites, and suites — some with private balconies on refurbished ships. The cabins are clean, functional, and practical. They are designed for sleeping and storing luggage — the assumption is that you will spend your waking hours in the panoramic lounges or on deck watching the coast. There is no keyless entry, no on-demand room service app, and no luxury bedding programme. The most important cabin decision is securing an outside room — on a voyage where the scenery is the product, a window matters enormously.

The gap is generational. Princess’s newest ships represent the cutting edge of cruise cabin design with technology integration and space optimisation. Hurtigruten’s cabins are functional working-vessel accommodation. For travellers who spend significant time in their cabin, Princess is immeasurably more comfortable. For travellers who treat their cabin as a place to sleep between stretches of scenery watching, Hurtigruten’s cabins serve their purpose.

Pricing and value

Pricing these two products side by side requires acknowledging they deliver completely different experiences.

Hurtigruten’s classic 12-day round trip starts from approximately GBP 1,300 to 1,800 per person for an inside cabin — roughly GBP 108 to 150 per night with all meals included. Outside cabins and suites cost more. Summer and Northern Lights seasons command premiums. Flights to Bergen are additional — from the UK approximately GBP 80 to 200 return, from Australia via European hubs considerably more.

Princess’s 7-night Norwegian Fjords itineraries from Southampton or Copenhagen start from approximately USD 120 to 170 per person per night for an inside cabin. A balcony cabin runs approximately USD 150 to 250 per night. Princess Plus adds USD 65 per person per day for drinks, Wi-Fi, casual dining, and gratuities. Princess Premier adds USD 100 per person per day for the full package including unlimited speciality dining. A moderate Princess Norwegian Fjords booking with Princess Plus runs approximately USD 185 to 315 per person per night all-in. For Australian departures on different itineraries, Princess prices from approximately AUD 155 per night at promotional rates.

Per-night costs are broadly comparable at the inside-cabin level, but the products are not. Princess delivers a complete cruise holiday with entertainment, multiple restaurants, a pool, spa, casino, and MedallionClass technology. Hurtigruten delivers 34 ports, the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands, and an immersive Norwegian experience with basic onboard facilities. Value is impossible to assess without knowing what you value.

Spa and wellness

The spa comparison has a single answer. Princess has comprehensive facilities. Hurtigruten does not.

Princess operates The Lotus Spa across its fleet, with thermal suites, treatment rooms, a beauty salon, and a comprehensive menu of massage, facial, and body treatments. The fitness centre features modern equipment and ocean views. The Sanctuary is an adults-only retreat deck with plush loungers, dedicated stewards, and cabana-style seating — bookable at approximately USD 40 per half-day. Multiple pools, hot tubs, and a jogging track complete the wellness offering. The Sphere-class ships feature expanded spa facilities with additional thermal areas.

Hurtigruten has no spa, no gym (beyond a small fitness room on some refurbished ships), no swimming pool, and no wellness programme. The wellness offering is the Arctic air, the walking deck, and the port calls that provide opportunities to explore on foot.

For any traveller who values spa and wellness facilities, Princess is the only option from this pairing. Hurtigruten’s absence of these facilities is a feature of its working-vessel identity, not a deficiency to be corrected.

Entertainment and enrichment

The entertainment gap between these products is as wide as any comparison I write.

Princess offers a comprehensive entertainment programme. The Princess Theatre hosts Broadway-style production shows and guest performers. Movies Under the Stars screens films on the pool deck under the open sky. The Vista Lounge hosts comedy and cabaret. The casino operates nightly with table games, slots, and poker. Live music plays across multiple bars and lounges. MedallionClass technology powers interactive games and trivia. Themed deck parties, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and enrichment lectures fill the daytime programme. Princess’s Discovery at Sea programme brings destination-focused experiences including regional cooking classes and cultural performances. Family ships offer Camp Discovery for ages 3 to 17.

Hurtigruten has no conventional entertainment. No theatre, no shows, no casino, no cinema, no pool deck parties. The expedition team delivers lectures on Norwegian history, Viking heritage, Sami culture, Arctic wildlife, geology, and the Northern Lights. Port talks prepare passengers for upcoming calls. In winter, aurora alerts wake passengers for Northern Lights viewing on the observation deck. In summer, the Midnight Sun provides a natural spectacle that needs no production budget. The lounges are designed for watching rather than performing.

Princess entertains with professional productions and organised activities. Hurtigruten immerses with scenery, lectures, and the working rhythm of the coastal route. Both approaches serve their respective travellers. The distinction is whether you want the ship to entertain you or the destination to absorb you.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison is perhaps the starkest in this entire comparison — the largest global cruise line versus a single-route coastal operator.

Princess operates 17 ships across four classes. The Sphere-class Sun Princess and Star Princess (175,500 gross tonnes, 4,300 guests) are the flagships. Royal-class ships (Royal, Regal, Majestic Princess) operate at 142,000 to 145,000 gross tonnes. Grand-class ships (Grand, Golden, Star, Ruby, Emerald, Crown, Island, Diamond, Sapphire Princess) range from 108,000 to 116,000 gross tonnes. Pacific Princess completes the fleet. Deployments cover Alaska (Princess’s signature region with four ships), Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, South Pacific, Australia/New Zealand, South America, and annual world cruises. Three ships deploy to Australia for the southern summer season from five homeports.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express operates seven ships on a single route. All seven sail Bergen-Kirkenes year-round. The ships range from approximately 2,600 to 16,000 gross tonnes, carrying 200 to 700 passengers. One ship departs Bergen daily at 20:30.

The scale difference is enormous. Princess’s total fleet capacity exceeds 50,000 guests across 17 ships sailing every major ocean. Hurtigruten’s seven ships collectively carry approximately 3,000 passengers on a single Norwegian route. But Hurtigruten’s seven ships visit 34 ports that none of Princess’s 17 ships could ever reach — tiny harbours, narrow channels, and remote Arctic communities that are inaccessible to vessels above a certain size.

Where each line excels

Hurtigruten Coastal Express excels in:

• Immersive Norwegian experience. Thirty-four ports over 12 days along the entire Norwegian coast, including remote fishing villages, Arctic communities, and the Lofoten Islands. No cruise line matches this depth.
• Northern Lights. Extended winter sailings above the Arctic Circle with onboard alerts and a guarantee of a free voyage if the aurora fails to appear.
• Working-vessel authenticity. Sailing alongside local commuters and cargo operations provides an experience that manufactured cruise itineraries cannot replicate.
• Small-ship access. Tiny ports, narrow channels, and communities unreachable by conventional cruise ships.
• Year-round Norwegian operation. Every season reveals different scenery, light, and weather — Northern Lights in winter, Midnight Sun in summer, dramatic transitions in spring and autumn.

Princess Cruises excels in:

• Australian accessibility. Three ships from five homeports — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, and Adelaide. AUD pricing. Continuous presence since 1975. The most accessible premium cruise line for Australian travellers.
• MedallionClass technology. Touchless boarding, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food delivery to your GPS location, and the fastest Wi-Fi at sea. Industry-leading cruise technology.
• Dining variety. Curtis Stone’s SHARE, Crown Grill, Sabatini’s, and up to 29 venues on the newest ships. Princess Premier’s unlimited speciality dining is exceptional value.
• Global destination coverage. Seventeen ships sailing every major cruise region including Alaska (four ships), Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia, and Australia.
• Family-friendly infrastructure. Camp Discovery, connecting cabins, family dining, and activities for all ages make Princess a genuine multi-generational option.
• Bundled packages. Princess Plus and Princess Premier offer strong all-in value that simplifies budgeting.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Princess Cruises

New Zealand Roundtrip from Sydney (Royal Princess or Crown Princess, 13 to 14 nights). The core Australian-departure itinerary visiting Fiordland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, and Auckland. MedallionClass technology, Curtis Stone dining, and Movies Under the Stars through the fiords. From approximately AUD 2,100 per person.

South Pacific Island Hopping from Sydney or Brisbane (various ships, 10 to 14 nights). Noumea, Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Lifou on modern Princess ships. The ultimate accessible Pacific cruise from Australian homeports.

114-Day World Cruise (Grand Princess, roundtrip Sydney, 2026/27). Princess’s longest Australian departure — a circumnavigation from Sydney visiting 44 ports across five continents. From approximately AUD 25,000 per person. MedallionClass and Princess Premier make this a premium world cruise option.

7-Night Alaska Inside Passage from Seattle or Vancouver (multiple ships, May to September). Princess’s signature deployment — four ships in Alaska with glacier viewing, Glacier Bay National Park, and Skagway. Not an Australian departure, but Princess’s Alaska programme is the industry benchmark. Combines well with a North American holiday.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express

12-Day Classic Round Voyage — Bergen to Kirkenes and Return. The complete Norwegian coastal experience. Every port visited twice — what you pass at night heading north, you see in daylight heading south. The Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands, the North Cape, and Tromso. From approximately GBP 1,300 per person. The voyage I recommend above any shorter segment.

Northern Lights Voyage — October to March. The winter sailing above the Arctic Circle is one of the world’s premier aurora experiences. Dark Arctic skies, minimal light pollution, and Hurtigruten’s guarantee of a free voyage if the lights fail to appear.

6-Day Northbound — Bergen to Kirkenes. The classic one-way journey with major scenery in daylight. Ideal for time-limited travellers or those combining with broader Scandinavian travel.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Princess Cruises

Sun Princess — The newest and most innovative ship in the fleet. Sphere-class, 175,500 gross tonnes, up to 29 dining and bar venues, The Dome entertainment space, and the most expansive facilities in Princess history. Currently deployed to the Mediterranean and Caribbean — not yet in Australian waters, but worth seeking out for a European holiday.

Royal Princess — The ship most Australian travellers will sail. Deployed to Australia for the southern summer, 142,714 gross tonnes. MedallionClass technology, Crown Grill, SHARE by Curtis Stone, and a comprehensive entertainment programme. The best choice for a first Princess sailing from an Australian port.

Crown Princess — Also deployed to Australian waters. A slightly older Grand-class vessel at 116,000 gross tonnes, but fully MedallionClass-equipped and well maintained. A solid mid-fleet option at potentially softer pricing than Royal Princess.

Grand Princess — Sails the 114-day world cruise from Sydney. A well-established vessel for long voyages, with a loyal following among world cruise enthusiasts.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express

MS Trollfjord — The most extensively refurbished ship with the best cabins and dining facilities. The panoramic lounge is designed for scenery viewing. If you can align your dates with Trollfjord, do so.

MS Kong Harald — A reliable mid-fleet option with a good balance of character and comfort.

MS Vesteralen — The smallest and most authentic working-vessel experience. Fewer amenities but greater character.

For Australian travellers specifically

The Australian relevance of these two products differs so dramatically that it essentially settles the comparison for most local travellers.

Princess Cruises has the deepest Australian presence of any premium cruise line. Three ships from five homeports for the 2026/27 season. Forty-two itineraries and 62 departures covering New Zealand, South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Asia, and a world cruise. AUD pricing through Australian booking channels. A dedicated Australian website and customer service operation. The Captain’s Circle loyalty programme with tier benefits earning across a fleet of 17 ships. Princess has been part of the Australian cruise landscape since 1975. For Australians who want a cruise, Princess is among the most accessible and practical options available.

Hurtigruten Coastal Express has no Australian presence whatsoever. The route operates exclusively between Bergen and Kirkenes on the Norwegian coast. There are no Australian departures, no Australian marketing, and no AUD pricing. Australian travellers must fly to Bergen via London, Copenhagen, or another European hub. The voyage is bookable through Australian agencies, but it is a niche product requiring dedicated European travel planning.

For Australian travellers choosing a cruise holiday, Princess wins by default — it sails from home. For Australian travellers planning a European trip and specifically wanting an immersive Norwegian experience, Hurtigruten is a unique product that Princess’s Norwegian Fjords itineraries cannot replicate. The 34-port coastal voyage is not a cruise — it is a journey, and it delivers something no conventional cruise line can match.

The practical recommendation is clear. If you want to cruise from Australia, book Princess. If you are planning a Scandinavian holiday and want the Norwegian coast to be the centrepiece, add Hurtigruten from Bergen. The two products serve different purposes at different times for different trips. Many well-travelled Australians will eventually experience both.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres reflect completely different product philosophies.

Princess’s atmosphere is welcoming, organised, and gently premium. The ships are designed as floating resorts — multiple dining venues, bars, entertainment spaces, pools, and quiet corners create a range of moods and social settings. The MedallionClass technology quietly smooths the experience — your cabin door opens as you approach, food arrives at your deckchair, and navigation around a large ship becomes intuitive. The passenger demographic is broad — couples in their 40s to 70s, families during school holidays, and multi-generational groups. The dress code includes smart casual evenings and occasional formal nights. The overall impression is of a well-run premium holiday with enough options to keep every age and interest engaged.

Hurtigruten’s atmosphere is contemplative, quiet, and authentically Norwegian. The passenger mix includes international tourists, Norwegian locals, and working crew. The dominant activity is watching — the coast, the weather, the light, the small dramas of each port call as cargo is loaded and local passengers board and disembark. Conversations form naturally in panoramic lounges, often sparked by whatever just passed outside. Meals are communal and friendly. There is no dress code. In winter, a quiet tension runs through the ship as passengers watch for the Northern Lights — the sudden alert, the rush to the deck, the shared wonder. In summer, passengers linger outside past midnight under a sun that will not set.

Princess provides a holiday. Hurtigruten provides a journey. Both atmospheres have genuine value, and both create lasting memories. The distinction is whether the memories centre on the ship or on the coastline outside.

The bottom line

Hurtigruten Coastal Express and Princess Cruises represent two entirely different approaches to experiencing Norway — and, more broadly, two entirely different approaches to time at sea. They do not compete. They coexist for different travellers with different goals.

Choose Princess if you want a full-service cruise holiday with modern technology, multiple restaurants, entertainment, a spa, a pool, and the convenience of Australian departures. Choose it for the MedallionClass experience, Curtis Stone dining, and the breadth of a fleet that sails every major ocean. Choose it for the Norwegian Fjords greatest hits — Bergen, Geiranger, Stavanger — experienced from the comfort of a well-equipped modern ship. Choose it if you want Norway as one ingredient in a broader cruise holiday.

Choose Hurtigruten if you want Norway to be the entire experience. Choose it for 34 ports in 12 days, for the Arctic Circle crossing, for the Lofoten Islands at dusk, for king crab in Kirkenes, and for the Northern Lights above a working vessel that has sailed this coast since 1893. Choose it if the absence of a casino, pool, spa, and theatre does not concern you, because the coastline will provide more drama than any production show. Choose it for one specific, extraordinary journey rather than a broad holiday experience.

For Australian travellers, Princess is the home-port cruise line — accessible, familiar, and available from five cities across the country. Hurtigruten is the bucket-list voyage — requiring a dedicated trip to Norway but delivering one of the most distinctive sea experiences on earth. The best advice may be the simplest: sail Princess from Sydney this year, and start planning your Hurtigruten journey for the year after.