Dining
Inspired Cuisine — Every Day of Your Trip
Your Norway exploration is more than a feast for your visual senses — it's also an opportunity to understand Scandinavian culture through its foods. With the sea at their doorstep, Norwegians have long been among the world's most intrepid fishermen, going out in all seasons to fish the rich northern Atlantic waters. In practical terms, that means menus can be quite different from those in North America and many other parts of Europe. For example, you'll find seafood on the menu quite often, including at breakfast. Reindeer meat is commonly found at meals, as well as a variety of cheeses, berries, and soups. Pies, casseroles, and pastries are also common throughout the day. In addition, the northern latitude of these countries, with its long, intense summer days but relatively short growing season, means that Scandinavians have developed creative ways to get the most from the land, growing root vegetables and using pickling and preserving techniques to produce a variety of side dishes and garnishes.
Aboard ship, you can expect breakfast and lunch buffets with a number of choices, while dinners are generally a set menu, consisting of fish, such as Arctic char, or a meat dish, which may be venison, steak, lamb, or chicken, as well as salad or vegetables. You will also have the option of substituting the main course on the menu for pasta, soup, or a sandwich.
View sample menu
Norway's Coastal Kitchen
During the cruise portion of your tour, Hurtigruten has enlisted the help of celebrity chef Andreas Viestad to offer a unique and exciting culinary journey on all of Hurtigruten’s ships that sail along the Norwegian coast, with a focus on local food of the highest quality. More than 80% of the food and drink served on Hurtigruten voyages is already produced in Norway, with menus focusing on seasonal delicacies of the regions you'll visit. They have also been identifying smaller food suppliers along the coast, helping them grow their businesses enough to be able to supply the ships on a regular basis. You'll find that each meal tells a story, from the origin of ingredients to the locals who harvested them. For example, passengers will enjoy cured leg of lamb from Hellesylt, a town near the Geirangerfjord; baked Arctic char from the Sigerfjord near Vesteralen, with gulløye potatoes from Tromsø; or roast reindeer from Finnmark. There is no shortage of traditional Norwegian treats on the menu, including kvæfjordkake, a special cake made of meringue, vanilla cream, and almonds, which can trace its origins to a small café in Harstad in Vesterålen. You can enjoy fresh Arctic char delivered directly to the ship during the day, then prepared and served just a few hours later. It is that sort of detail that makes this experience truly unique in offering an authentic culinary adventure through these fascinating waters.
Travelers may also upgrade their dining experience at additional cost and move to the ship's "A-La-Carte" restaurant. Arrangements can be made on board.
Healthy Choices at Every Meal
Along with traditional Scandinavian fare, you’ll also find some choices for the health-conscious, including vegetarian options. We are happy to accommodate special dietary requests provided you specify them at the time of booking.
