Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Choosing the right Hurtigruten cabin can have a bigger impact on your voyage than you might expect. Hurtigruten is a Norwegian coastal cruise line known for its scenic voyages along the country’s coastline, offering everything from budget friendly Polar Inside cabins to spacious Expedition Suites. With several cabin categories available, it’s not always clear which option offers the best value or which is right for you, especially when booking the Coastal Express route for the first time.
When I planned my Hurtigruten Coastal Express journey, I spent a lot of time comparing cabin types and trying to decide if upgrading was really worth it. After experiencing the voyage first-hand, I’ve put together this guide to break down each Hurtigruten cabin category, share the real pros and cons, and help you choose the best cabin for your trip.
Many travellers compare Hurtigruten inside vs outside cabins when deciding which category to book.
If you’re still deciding whether a Hurtigruten voyage is right for you, I’ve shared a full breakdown of my experience in this Hurtigruten Coastal Express Review.
Table Of Contents
- Table Of Contents
- Hurtigruten Cabin Types Explained (Quick Overview)
- Polar Inside Cabins – The Most Budget Friendly Option
- Polar Outside Cabins – Best Value for Most Travellers
- Arctic Superior Cabins – Comfort Without Suite Prices
- Hurtigruten Suites – Are They Worth the Splurge?
- Which Hurtigruten Cabin is Best?
- My Hurtigruten Cabin Review From the Coastal Express
- Tips for Choosing the Right Hurtigruten Cabin
- Hurtigruten Cabins FAQ
- Related Posts
Hurtigruten Cabin Types Explained (Quick Overview)
Hurtigruten offers four different cabin categories to suit different budgets and travel styles. Here’s a quick overview of the main Hurtigruten cabin types and who each one is best for.
|
Cabin type |
Best for |
Price range |
My thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Polar Inside cabin |
Budget travellers who plan to spend most of their time exploring the ship and ports |
$ |
The cheapest option and perfectly functional, but the lack of natural light can make it feel smaller. Better for short journeys or if you’re rarely in your room. |
|
Polar Outside cabin |
Most travellers wanting comfort, light and scenery without paying luxury prices |
$$ |
Having natural light and views makes a huge difference, especially with the beautiful coastal scenery. |
|
Arctic Superior cabin |
Travellers wanting extra comfort |
$$$ |
A step up with extra inclusions. Great if you’re on a longer voyage and want more comfort without splurging on a suite. |
|
Expedition Suite |
Those celebrating a special trip or wanting maximum space and privacy |
$$$$ |
Spacious and luxurious. Worth it for long journeys or special occasions, but not essential to enjoy the voyage. |
It’s worth noting that regardless of category, all Hurtigruten cabins include an en-suite bathroom, Wi-Fi, and a TV included as standard.
While the cabin category is important, location on the ship can make a big difference too. For example, mid-ship cabins tend to feel more stable and are conveniently located close to lounges and onboard facilities.
While there aren’t really any Hurtigruten cabins to avoid completely, location can make a noticeable difference to comfort, noise levels and privacy depending on where you’re positioned on the ship.
Polar Inside Cabins – The Most Budget Friendly Option
Size: 8 – 12m²
Layout: double, twin or bunk beds
Guests: 2 – 3
Pros of Hurtigruten Polar Inside Cabins
- Most affordable cabin category
- Total darkness for sleep, great for light sleepers
- Encourages exploring rather than spending time in your cabin
Cons of Hurtigruten Polar Inside Cabins
- No windows or natural light
- Can feel smaller than outside cabins
- Not ideal if you enjoy watching the scenery
Polar Outside Cabins – Best Value for Most Travellers
Size: 8 – 13m²
Layout: double, twin or bunk beds
Guests: 2 – 3
Pros of Hurtigruten Polar Outside Cabins
- Natural light from a window or porthole
- Ability to enjoy coastal scenery from your room
- Good balance of comfort and price
Cons of Hurtigruten Polar Outside Cabins
- More expensive than Polar Inside cabins
- Some cabins have partially obstructed views
Arctic Superior Cabins – Comfort Without Suite Prices
Size: 10 – 22m²
Layout: Double bed
Guests: 2
Pros of Hurtigruten Arctic Superior Cabins
- More spacious than Polar Inside and Polar Outside cabins
- Plenty of storage with a wardrobe, cupboards and shelving
- Extra comforts such as kettle with tea and coffee
- Often located in desirable mid-ship areas or on the promenade deck
Tea and coffee setup in the cabin (Arctic Superior perk) 
Desk and storage space inside the cabin
Cons of Hurtigruten Arctic Superior Cabins
- More expensive than standard cabins
- Upgrades may not feel necessary on shorter journeys
- Not necessary if you plan to spend most of your time in shared areas
Hurtigruten Suites – Are They Worth the Splurge?
Size: 16 – 45m²
Layout: Double bed and seating area
Guests: 2 – 4
Pros of Hurtigruten Expedition Suites
- The most spacious cabins onboard
- Higher comfort and privacy
- Ideal for special occasions
- Prime upper deck locations with excellent views
- Priority check-in and welcome gift
Cons of Hurtigruten Expedition Suites
- Significantly more expensive
- Use of a sofa bed if sleeping up to 4 guests
Which Hurtigruten Cabin is Best?
The best Hurtigruten cabin depends on your budget, travel style and how much time you plan to spend in your room.
Best cabin for budget travellers: Polar Inside Cabin
Perfect if you’ll be exploring the ship and heading ashore often rather than spending time in your room. There are plenty of comfortable shared spaces onboard such as the Explorer Lounge and Bar.
Since you don’t spend much time in your cabin during the day, you’ll likely be in lounges, decks and restaurants. I’ve shared what daily life onboard Hurtigruten is really like in a separate guide.
Best overall value: Polar Outside Cabin
For most travellers, a polar outside cabin will offer the right balance of comfort and price. Having natural light and a window or porthole makes the cabin feel more spacious, and being able to watch the scenery from your room is a real bonus on the Coastal Express route.
Best for comfort: Arctic Superior Cabin
If comfort is a priority, arctic superior cabins are a step up from the polar outside. They’re generally more spacious and have extra touches like a kettle with tea and coffee that makes the longer journeys more enjoyable. This category is a great option if you want added comfort without the cost of a suite.
If you’re planning a longer voyage, having the right clothing and essentials makes a big difference. I’ve shared a full what to pack for a Hurtigruten cruise guide here.
Best for luxury: Expedition Suite
The most spacious and luxurious cabins on Hurtigruten ships. They’re ideal for special occasions, longer voyages or travellers who want plenty of space to relax in private. While they come with a significant price increase, they do offer the highest level of luxury onboard.
My overall recommendation: prioritise a Polar Outside or Arctic Superior cabin if your budget allows, having a window to enjoy the coastal scenery really enhances the experience.
My Hurtigruten Cabin Review From the Coastal Express
On my recent Coastal Express trip, I booked an Arctic Superior cabin onboard MS Nordkapp. I wanted a window for the scenery and was choosing between the Polar Outside or an Arctic Superior cabin. After booking during a Black Friday sale, the Arctic Superior upgrade felt like great value.
I was assigned cabin number 528, located in the centre of deck 5. To help you decide whether Arctic Superior is the right cabin category for you, I’ve put together a very detailed list of pros and cons based on my experience.
Pros
- Central location close to most ship facilities
- Deck 5 is both the walking and observation deck, and it’s the only deck where you can fully walk around the outside of the ship
- Easy outdoor access, especially during Northern Lights viewing, as I could step straight outside without navigating stairs or lifts
- Kettle to enjoy hot drinks at anytime
- Large comfortable double bed with multiple pillows
- Plenty of storage space, including a wardrobe with hanging rail and hangers, multiple cupboards with shelves, and open shelving above the bed
- Luggage fits neatly under the bed. The bed sits 45cm off the ground – making it the perfect place to slide your empty luggage once you’ve unpacked
- Compact but functional bathroom with great water pressure
- Good soundproofing – I never heard our neighbours, except for the occasional toilet flush when I was in the bathroom
Cons
- Being on the walking deck meant people could (and did) look straight into the cabin. I found some people to be quite nosy, often staring in as they walked past. On one occasion, someone even waved to my boyfriend while he was standing by the window. There are blinds that you can close for privacy but I liked having them open to enjoy the view
- Narrow layout with very limited space at the end of the bed
- You need to do a bit of a sideways shimmy to get past the bed, which becomes mildly annoying (My boyfriend knows all about this!) over a 12 day trip, particularly if you’re sleeping on that side, or if you need to close the blinds
Overall, I was very happy with the arctic superior category. If I booked again, price would likely be the deciding factor. The reality is that you don’t spend much time in your cabin, it’s mainly a place to sleep. During the day you’re outside exploring the ports or spending time in other areas of the ship.
That said, I really valued having a window and would recommend either Polar Outside or Arctic Superior cabins if your budget allows.
If you’re still planning your trip, I’ve shared a step-by-step Hurtigruten Coastal Express planning guide covering arrival in Bergen, boarding and disembarkation.
Tips for Choosing the Right Hurtigruten Cabin
When to save money vs Upgrade
If you plan to spend most of your time on deck, in lounges or exploring ports, a polar inside cabin can be a smart way to save money. It’s perfectly practical for sleeping and storing your belongings.
Since you’ll spend a lot of time exploring ports, this guide to things to do at Hurtigruten ports without an excursion is a great resource.
If scenic cruising is a big part of why you’re choosing Hurtigruten, upgrading to an outside cabin is often worth the extra cost for views and natural light.
For longer voyages, Arctic Superior cabins offer extra comfort without the big price jump of a suite.
Solo travellers
Unfortunately, cruise travel can come at a higher cost for solo travellers due to the fact that prices are typically based on two people, twin share. Solo travellers can save money choosing an inside cabin.
Hurtigruten also occasionally offers solo deals with a reduced single supplement. Keep an eye out for details of the promotion on their website.
Motion sickness considerations
If you’re prone to motion sickness, cabin location can matter more than category. Cabins located lower in the ship and closer to the centre tend to feel more stable than those higher up or at the front and back of the ship.
While any cabin type can work, you might prefer to choose a specified cabin number and location while booking. Alternatively, you could choose the Arctic Superior category as those cabins are all located in the middle of the ship on decks 5 and 6.
Light sleepers
Similar to motion sickness, one of the main deciding factors for light sleepers may not be the cabin category itself, but its location on the ship. Cabins on lower decks can experience some noise from the cargo areas or engines. As Hurtigruten is a working ship and makes port stops throughout the night, this may be an important consideration for some travellers.
Polar Inside cabins can also be a good option for light sleepers, as the lack of windows makes them darker and often quieter. This can be especially helpful during the summer months, when daylight lasts late into the evening.
Short voyage vs full route
For shorter or port to port trips, an inside cabin is often more than sufficient, as you’ll spend most of your time exploring the ship and ports.
For the full Coastal Express route, many travellers find upgrading to Polar Outside or Arctic Superior cabins significantly improves comfort. Over multiple days, natural light, extra space and a more pleasant cabin environment can make a big difference.
Hurtigruten Cabins FAQ
Are accessible cabins available?
Yes, Hurtigruten offers a limited number of accessible cabins designed for guests with mobility needs. These cabins are typically more spacious, feature wider doorways and adapted bathrooms with support rails and open shower areas. If needed, you should choose an accessible cabin when booking.
Can you choose your exact cabin location?
In many cases, yes. Hurtigruten allows you to select specific cabin numbers in certain categories when booking, while cheaper “unassigned” options assign a cabin automatically at check in (this is what I did to save on costs). If you’re prone to motion sickness or sensitive to noise, choosing your location can be worth the extra cost.
What facilities are available on the ship?
There are many great facilities and areas on the ship. If you’re curious to know more, I’ve written a detailed Hurtigruten Review outlining everything you would want to know about the Hurtigruten Coastal Express before booking.
Which Hurtigruten cabins to avoid?
There aren’t necessarily any “bad” cabins on Hurtigruten, but some locations may suit certain travellers better than others. Cabins near busy areas, stairwells or on the walking deck may experience more noise or less privacy. Some outside cabins may also have partially obstructed views. If you’re a light sleeper or value privacy, choosing a mid-ship cabin away from high-traffic areas is usually the best option.
