MS Trollfjord Cruise Ship

MS Trollfjord sailing in Moldefjorden, Norway.
Photo: Aldebaran | Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0; crop by CruisePing.

MS Trollfjord is a premium small ship, but calling it simply a cruise ship misses what makes it useful. Its job is to put Norway in front of you for most of the day, then make the hours between ports comfortable rather than spectacular. The ship succeeds because the lounges, dining and guiding support that purpose instead of trying to compete with it.

At 135.75 metres and 16,140 GT, Trollfjord is small enough to feel connected to the coast. The 500-guest maximum is substantial by expedition standards but modest beside mainstream Norwegian-fjords ships. That scale gives you enough public space without losing the sense that everyone is following the same landscape.

MS Trollfjord at a glance

Cruise line	Hurtigruten
Ship class or type	Signature coastal cruise ship
Entered service	2002
Last major refurbishment	2023
Gross tonnage	16,140 GT
Length	135.75 m
Guest capacity	500 maximum
Crew	No fixed current guest-facing complement published
Passenger decks	Main guest areas span Decks 4-9
Cabins or suites	270 cabins, including 21 suites
Accessible cabins	Cabins 614, 616, 619 and 625
Dining venues	3 restaurants: Flora, Brasserie Árran and Røst
Bars and lounges	1893 Bar plus two-storey panoramic observation lounge
Pools and hot tubs	No conventional swimming pool; outside relaxation space rather than a resort pool deck
Library	Dedicated library and quiet reading space
Spa and fitness	Panoramic sauna and fitness room
Children’s facilities	No resort-style children’s club; families are accepted but the experience is destination-led rather than child-entertainment-led
Adults-only facilities	No dedicated adults-only enclave
Wi-Fi	Free Wi-Fi
UK departures or deployment	Signature itineraries on The Svalbard Line, The North Cape Line and selected Collection routes; UK travellers join in Norway or other listed embarkation ports

The booking decision in one table

If this matters most	CruisePing view
Best overall Signature choice	Yes – this is where I would start.
Best pool and wellness ship	No – MS Finnmarken is stronger.
Best freshly refurbished ship	No – MS Midnatsol has the 2026 refit.
Best for English-first onboard life	Yes, alongside MS Midnatsol.
Best if ship entertainment matters	No – choose another cruise line.

See MS Trollfjord before you book

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Why MS Trollfjord is my first Hurtigruten recommendation

MS Trollfjord is the ship I would use to introduce a conventional cruiser to Hurtigruten. It retains the brand’s small-scale, Norway-first character without asking the passenger to embrace the freight-and-ferry rhythm of the Coastal Express. At 500 guests it is intimate enough for scenery to dominate and large enough to provide three real restaurants, a panoramic lounge, a proper lecture space and plenty of places to sit with a view.

The strongest advantage for a UK passenger is that the onboard experience is easy to access linguistically. English and Norwegian are the official languages for announcements and lectures, with written material also available in German and French. That sounds mundane until you compare Trollfjord with Finnmarken, where German is primary. If you are booking for the Expedition Team as well as the scenery, language belongs near the top of the decision.

Layout and atmosphere

Trollfjord does not feel like a miniature megaship. The plan is built around observation, conversation and moving between indoor and outdoor viewpoints. The two-storey panoramic lounge is the social heart when weather pushes people inside, while the open decks become the real theatre when the coast tightens around the ship. The 1893 Bar fits the same pattern: it is a place to sit with a drink and keep watching Norway rather than a nightlife venue competing for attention.

The décor deliberately leans into Norwegian maritime heritage, using wood and stone rather than glossy resort styling. I think that works. A highly themed entertainment interior would feel absurd on a voyage where mountains, islands and winter light are constantly outside. The compromise is that evenings can feel very quiet if you normally expect theatre shows, live bands and a programme that runs until midnight.

Cabins and suites

The 270 cabins include 21 suites, with a mixture of inside, outside, Arctic Superior and Expedition Suite categories. Balcony space is concentrated in the top suites rather than spread across the ship. I would therefore choose cabin location before category. A good outside cabin can be more useful than an expensive upgrade if it gives you a clear view, easy deck access and less operational noise.

Suites add space, better amenities and access to Røst fine dining as part of the Signature suite proposition. That can be worthwhile on a long voyage, but I would not buy a suite simply because this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Trollfjord has excellent public viewing spaces and the coastline is the point. Spend first on the itinerary and the excursions you genuinely cannot reproduce independently.

Dining and inclusions

Signature sailings are all-inclusive for the core onboard product. Flora is the main restaurant, Brasserie Árran is the more informal option and Røst provides fine dining. Suite guests have broader included access to Røst; other passengers can upgrade subject to availability. The selected drinks package and gratuities are included in the Signature fare, while shore excursions remain extra.

I rate the food proposition more highly than the raw restaurant count suggests. Three venues do not sound generous beside a large premium ship, but the menus are connected to Norway and regional produce rather than designed to tick off cuisines. The important question is whether you value local narrative over variety. If you do, Trollfjord’s dining makes sense. If you want sushi one night, steakhouse the next and a dozen casual outlets, it will feel narrow.

Expedition Team and life on board

The Expedition Team is central rather than decorative. Talks, photography guidance, storytelling, tastings, crafts and informal sessions help explain what is passing the windows. The lecture hall can also become a cinema. I would actively attend the talks on a first Hurtigruten voyage because the difference between seeing a fishing village and understanding why it exists is a large part of the value.

There is no casino and no big theatre culture. That should not be treated as a missing feature; it is the product. The best evenings are often a drink in the panoramic lounge, an Expedition Team session and a final walk outside to look at the sky. Anyone who finds that prospect dull should believe their instinct and book a different line.

Wellness and outdoor space

The top-deck sauna and fitness room have large windows, which is exactly the right kind of wellness facility for this route. Trollfjord is not the strongest Signature ship for pool facilities because Finnmarken has a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs. I would not regard that as a serious weakness unless regular pool use is important to you.

Open-deck access matters more than a swimming pool on these itineraries. Wind, cold and spray can make a short outside spell feel more intense than an hour on a Caribbean sun deck, but being able to move quickly from a warm lounge to a clear viewpoint is one of the ship’s strengths.

Accessibility, families and solo travel

Trollfjord has step-free access to key public areas, accessible public toilets and four specified accessible cabins. The practical caveat is the destination. Snow, steep gangways, weather and remote ports can create barriers even when the ship itself works well. Discuss the whole itinerary rather than treating an accessible cabin as proof that every excursion is suitable.

Families are accepted, but there is no resort-style children’s programme. I would bring an older child who is fascinated by wildlife, geography or the Arctic before I would bring one who needs constant organised entertainment. Solo travellers often fit well because the small lounges, dining and activity programme make conversation relatively easy without forcing anyone into organised social events.

Where MS Trollfjord sails

Trollfjord currently works the Svalbard Line, North Cape Line and selected limited Collection routes. The Svalbard Line is the bigger adventure, pairing the Norwegian coast with the Barents Sea crossing and High Arctic. The North Cape Line is the stronger winter proposition if aurora, snow and longer Norwegian port calls matter more than reaching Svalbard.

I would choose between those routes before choosing a cabin. Svalbard adds logistical complexity and often more expensive excursions, but also a genuine sense of going further north. The North Cape Line is easier to understand as a premium winter Norway cruise. Both are better judged by daylight, weather and the length of calls than by a checklist of onboard facilities.

Fare value, excursions and what I would spend extra on

Trollfjord makes most sense when you value the Signature inclusions rather than treating them as free extras. Selected drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, so the main optional spend becomes shore excursions, fine-dining upgrades outside the suite entitlement and cabin choice. I would protect a budget for excursions that solve a transport problem or provide access you cannot easily arrange yourself. I would not buy an expensive coach tour in every walkable town just because the ship sells one.

If two Trollfjord fares differ substantially, compare the exact cabin and itinerary before assuming the higher price buys a better experience. Long daylight, weather and port timing can alter the value of a sailing more than a cabin-grade label. On a winter voyage I would pay more for a quieter cabin and sensible travel margin. On a summer Svalbard trip I would prioritise the itinerary and specialist wildlife opportunities.

The ship is also one of the better examples of when all-inclusive can reduce friction without encouraging overconsumption. You can order a drink, attend a talk, eat well and move back to the view without repeatedly making small spending decisions. For me, that calm is part of the Signature value proposition and one reason Trollfjord is easier to recommend than the more transactional feel of many premium cruise packages.

One final reason I prefer Trollfjord

Trollfjord also strikes the best balance between being special and being uncomplicated. You do not need to explain away a German-first programme, and you are not paying primarily for the novelty of a fresh refurbishment. The ship has had time to settle into the Signature role, which makes the experience easier to understand and easier to recommend.

Before you book

• Compare the complete itinerary and port timings, not just the ship name.
• Check the exact cabin location against public rooms, lifts, outside walkways and operational areas.
• Price excursions separately even on an all-inclusive Signature fare.
• Confirm current accessibility arrangements if step-free access, accessible cabins or assisted boarding matter.
• Build enough travel margin around the embarkation port, especially for winter flights or long-distance rail connections.
• Read the final booking inclusions because packages and promotions can change without altering the basic ship experience.

Related CruisePing guides

• Hurtigruten cruise line guide
• Which Hurtigruten Ship Is Best for You?
• MS Midnatsol cruise ship guide
• MS Finnmarken cruise ship guide
• MS Midnatsol cruise ship guide
• Bergen cruise port guide
• Kirkenes cruise port guide

Useful official links

• Hurtigruten ships
• Signature voyages
• Signature voyage FAQs
• Norway’s Coastal Kitchen
• Signature dining
• Onboard and Expedition Teams
• Accessibility information
• Official MS Trollfjord page

MS Trollfjord sailing in Moldefjorden, Norway.

Photo: Aldebaran. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0; crop by CruisePing.