Hurtigruten APAC MD Damian Perry sits down with Karryon to talk about the cruise line’s unprecedented growth, freshly refurbished fleet and ambitious goal to be emission-free.
“Since Hurtigruten and HX went our separate ways last April, a lot has changed – for the company and for me,” says Hurtigruten APAC managing director Damian Perry.
“We’ve been able to build our sales team locally, which is our key focus, so we’re online now 24/7 between our Melbourne and Tallinn (Estonia) teams. A travel industry partner or a guest can call us any time, which has dramatically improved the service level.
“In 2025 and into 2026, we have seen outstanding growth in bookings, yield and profitability.
“And in terms of my role, I am now totally focused on Hurtigruten, the Nordic region and particularly Norway – all of which I am very passionate about.”
Expanded portfolio
Hurtigruten has completed a major upgrade program on its 10 ships and diversified the product portfolio into the Coastal Express, Signature Voyages and Cruise & Tour programs.
“The organisational change has given us the freedom to execute this – and execute it well – with the funding and support we have from operating a profitable business again,” says Perry.
The 12-day Coastal Express, which started in 1893, continues to run from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, crossing the Arctic Circle and calling at 34 different remote communities and towns.
“Guests can split the voyages into seven days northbound or six days southbound. Seven ships sail the route year-round, including the smaller, 274-guest “fan favourite” MS Vestarålen.
Hurtigruten’s premium ships MS Midnatsol, MS Trollfjord and MS Finnmarken sail the Signature Voyages, which provide an “elevated, slow-travel experience with more time ashore that Australians love”, Perry says.
“The 15-day Svalbard Line itineraries head north from Bergen to Longyearbyen in summer, and the 15-day North Cape Line voyages sail between Oslo and the North Cape in autumn, winter and spring.
“Our Signature ships are also sailing a series of voyages from Hamburg, Oslo and Copenhagen, which has opened new gateways into Norway. Cruise & Tour programs include rail and land journeys taking in Denmark, Finland and Iceland.”
Long-term sustainability
Hurtigruten is widely recognised as a leader in sustainable cruising, and Perry says Norway itself has long been a driver in sustainability.
“When you travel around Norway you can see how well they look after the ocean and land, how they operate and how clean it is. It’s impressive – there’s even a Norwegian word, friluftsliv, that expresses their love of the outdoors and the fundamental need to live in harmony with nature.
“Although we have four hybrid-powered ships and we’re aiming to run an emission-free fleet by 2030 with the Sea Zero project, we’re seeing that sustainability is also increasingly important to consumers across the board.
“It might not be the key reason why they choose a certain company or way to travel, but there’s certainly an expectation that they’re travelling with an organisation that has fundamentally strong sustainable practices.”
Hurtigruten is developing its first Coastal Express vessel with zero-emission propulsion, a project that started in 2022 in partnership with European science research institute SINTEF. It is being designed and engineered with Norwegian maritime company Vard and Perry says tests in 2025 on energy-saving technologies showed great progress.
“The technology is moving incredibly fast, which is a challenge – do we look at progress over perfection? Decisions need to be made in the next 12 months to make sure we can hit the 2030 target, and progress will continue beyond 2030.
“It’s exciting to see other companies in this space involved in similar projects. If we can make it a movement across the whole industry that’s good for the planet, it’s good for our people, and it’s good for the development of technology in the right area.”
Elevated onboard experiences
“While the fleet upgrades are incredible, the onboard experience has been elevated to the next level,” Perry says.
“We’ve had fantastic feedback on the quality of our culinary offerings and the food and beverage team is super-passionate. A major development in the past year has been an increased focus on Norway’s Indigenous Sámi food culture.
“Hurtigruten’s Sámi ambassador and chef Máret Rávdná Buljo brings traditional flavours, recipes, history and storytelling onboard. Sámi-inspired dishes are based on reindeer, seafood, berries and plants, and can be served not just with European wines but Norwegian ciders and beers.”
Signature ships feature Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept across three restaurants – Flora, the main dining room; Brasserie Árran, a Sámi-inspired bistro offering all-day dining; and Røst, a fine-dining restaurant featuring rotating seasonal menus.
“We source more than 80 per cent of our product locally – literally from the ports we dock at – as well as supporting numerous farming and recycling projects along the coast, so it is a very sustainable operation.”
A cruise for all seasons
Perry has just returned from a coastal cruise on MS Nordkapp, “mostly around the Lofoten Islands in May”, and he says he was blown away by how beautiful the region is in spring.
“The sun is shining, the days are long and light, but there’s still a bit of chill in the air. Everything is green, flowers are coming out, yet you’re surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains. Whales are migrating, the wildlife is magnificent – it’s a wonderful time to be there.
“Spring and summer have always been the most popular season for Europeans, Americans and Brits, while most travellers from Australia and NZ are attracted to Norway for its winters – the Northern Lights, dogsledding, snow adventures. However, we’re now seeing more AUNZ guests who want to return to Norway and explore in the summer.”
The Svalbard archipelago in the High Arctic is Perry’s favourite destination.
“Although I love everywhere we go, Svalbard, for me, is one of the most incredible places on the planet.
“Longyearbyen has the world’s northernmost brewery, fabulous fine dining at Funken Lodge and an extraordinary array of Arctic wildlife. We operate the 90-guest expedition ship Serenissima there to take you 80 degrees North, into polar bear territory. It’s like nature’s Disneyland.”
For more information, visit Hurtigruten.
