MS Richard With sailing between Svolvær and Kabelvåg in the Lofoten Islands.
Photo: JoachimKohlerBremen | Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0; crop by CruisePing.
MS Richard With is one of the most interesting classic Coastal Express ships because its 2022 hybrid upgrade is a real technical difference and its 20-suite inventory gives buyers more room choice. I would choose it when the date and cabin fit, not simply because the engineering is newer.
MS Richard With is one of the more interesting Coastal Express ships because its differences are not purely decorative. The 2022 hybrid upgrade added large batteries and new engines, while the ship also carries 20 suites, a larger suite inventory than several close sisters. The result is a 1993 vessel that can make sense for passengers who want classic Hurtigruten scale with more modern environmental hardware.
I would still resist treating the hybrid label as a reason to choose a worse date. Richard With follows the same service pattern as the other Coastal Express ships, and the practical holiday is shaped by daylight, weather, port timing and cabin location. Its technical upgrade is a genuine tie-breaker, not a replacement for itinerary judgement.
MS Richard With at a glance
| Cruise line | Hurtigruten |
|---|---|
| Ship class or type | Hybrid Coastal Express ship |
| Entered service | 1993 |
| Last major refurbishment | 2018 interior refurbishment; hybrid upgrade in 2022 and further refurbishment in 2023 |
| Gross tonnage | 11,205 GT |
| Length | 121.8 m |
| Guest capacity | 590 maximum |
| Crew | No fixed current guest-facing complement published |
| Passenger decks | Main passenger accommodation and public areas span Decks 2-7 |
| Cabins or suites | 199 cabins, including 20 suites |
| Accessible cabins | Cabins 331, 333, 335 and 643 with automatic doors |
| Dining venues | Torget, Brygga and Kysten, plus Multe bakery and café |
| Bars and lounges | Explorer Lounge & Bar and panoramic lounges |
| Pools and hot tubs | No swimming pool; one outdoor hot tub |
| Library | No large traditional library; panoramic lounges provide the practical reading spaces |
| Spa and fitness | Sauna and fitness room |
| Children’s facilities | No resort-style children’s club; family appeal depends on interest in the route |
| Adults-only facilities | No dedicated adults-only enclave |
| Wi-Fi | Free Wi-Fi available throughout the ship |
| UK departures or deployment | Year-round Coastal Express departures in Norway; UK guests normally join in Bergen, Kirkenes or another Norwegian port |
Best suited to
- Travellers wanting a hybrid Coastal Express ship with a broad suite ladder
- Passengers who value scenery, lectures and an informal working-ship atmosphere
- Guests comparing upgraded classic ships rather than chasing new-build luxury
Think carefully if
- You expect the hybrid label to mean a silent or luxury ship
- You need a pool, extensive spa or resort entertainment
- You would ignore a better date or cabin on a close sister
| Question | Why it matters | CruisePing view |
|---|---|---|
| Best reason to choose Richard With | Hybrid upgrade plus 20 suites in a classic-size hull | Strong for buyers wanting more room choice |
| Video decision | Older walkthroughs were not trusted after later upgrades | Use current deck plans instead |
| Closest alternatives | Kong Harald and Nordlys are the other upgraded classic choices | Compare cabin inventory and date |
The booking decision
Choose Richard With when you find a strong sailing date and value the combination of hybrid propulsion, a familiar 121.8-metre layout and a relatively broad suite ladder. It is a particularly sensible comparison with MS Kong Harald and MS Nordlys, which also bring upgraded environmental systems into classic Coastal Express hulls.
If the hybrid hardware is irrelevant to you, the case becomes more ordinary. MS Nordkapp and MS Polarlys offer hot tubs and similar panoramic living, while MS Vesterålen gives a much more distinctive small-ship atmosphere. Choose Richard With for a combination, not for one headline feature.
What the hybrid upgrade actually changes
The 2022 conversion paired large battery packs with new engines and other environmental systems. Fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by roughly a quarter, with selective catalytic reduction equipment cutting nitrogen oxides much further. Those changes do not transform the guest areas into a new ship, but they make the engineering base materially newer than the launch year suggests.
From a passenger perspective, the important lesson is not to equate 1993 with obsolete. Refurbished interiors, later cabin work and modern machinery sit inside an older hull. That is common on Hurtigruten, where the business case is to keep proven coastal ships working rather than replace them simply to create a new-ship marketing cycle.
Why there is no video in this guide
I have not included a ship-tour video here because the easily discoverable full walkthrough material could not be verified as sufficiently current after the hybrid and later refurbishment work. An older tour can be worse than no tour when it encourages a booking based on spaces that have changed. The current deck plan and cabin material are the safer planning tools.
Cabins and the unusually useful suite ladder
Richard With has 199 cabins including 20 suites. That suite count gives it a meaningful advantage for travellers who want a separate sitting area or more generous winter base without moving into the Signature product. The larger MG4 and M4 categories can sleep up to four and provide proper lounge space, while Q4 mini suites offer a smaller step up.
The best suite is still the one in the right location. Use the current Richard With deck plans to check walking routes and operational exposure. On the Coastal Express, a high-spec cabin close to a source of overnight noise can be a poor buy. A simpler outside room in a calmer position may improve the holiday more.
Public spaces and scenic viewing
Panorama lounges are central to the ship. Richard With is not trying to create neighbourhoods, atriums or activity zones. The design assumes that passengers will spend a large part of the voyage looking outward. That makes window orientation and access to open deck more useful to understand than the square footage of individual lounges.
The single outdoor hot tub is a nice addition, but it cannot absorb as many people as the twin-tub setups on Nordkapp or Polarlys. I would regard it as a bonus rather than a core reason to choose the ship. The sauna is more predictable as a cold-weather retreat.
Dining and meal strategy
Torget, Brygga, Multe and Kysten create the familiar current Coastal Express dining pattern. The main restaurant is where full-board passengers will eat most often, while Brygga and Multe give useful flexibility during awkward port timings. Kysten provides the more deliberate evening option.
The point is not quantity. Norway’s Coastal Kitchen gives the food a strong sense of place through regional ingredients and suppliers. A passenger who wants ten restaurants may find the ship limited. A passenger who likes the idea that dinner connects with the coastline outside may find four venues entirely sufficient.
Port calls, sleep and the working-ship compromise
Richard With operates through the night. Some ports are short service calls, and manoeuvring or loading can be audible in cabins. That is why a cabin guide that ignores the operational route is incomplete. Look at the schedule as well as the deck plan before deciding whether a lower-deck bargain is genuinely good value.
The Original voyage FAQs are worth reading in full because they reset expectations. There is no theatre programme competing with the coastline, and port time is not designed around conventional cruise tourism alone. The ship is a means of experiencing the route rather than a destination that happens to move.
Accessibility and wheelchair cabins
Four designated accessible cabins, 331, 333, 335 and 643, give Richard With more options than some sisters. Key public areas are step free, with accessible toilets on Decks 4 and 7. That can make the ship a sensible shortlist candidate when an adapted room is required.
The harder part may be ashore. Gangways, winter weather and brief calls can make independent movement difficult even when the ship works well. Confirm needs through Hurtigruten accessibility information and discuss any equipment or assistance before booking. I would also map the adapted cabin against the lift and dining route rather than assuming all accessible positions are equally convenient.
Taking a vehicle
The ship can carry a small number of vehicles, with capacity changing by season. Maximum dimensions are restrictive and campervans, minivans and trailers are excluded. More importantly, vehicle carriage is for eligible port-to-port sectors, not the full twelve-day round trip.
Use the vehicle rules as a booking condition, not a background note. If the car is essential to the wider Norway itinerary, reserve that space before committing accommodation around it. A missed assumption here can unravel an otherwise clever fly-drive or rail-and-road plan.
Medical support and practical limits
There are basic medical facilities and trained crew, but no doctor on board. The ship stays close to land for much of the route, which helps emergency access, but anyone with a significant medical condition should plan medication and insurance around the actual voyage rather than relying on a cruise-ship infirmary model.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship. Connectivity can still be influenced by geography and conditions, so remote work that depends on flawless continuous service is a risky premise. For ordinary messaging, planning and keeping in touch, the inclusion is useful.
Richard With versus Kong Harald and Nordlys
All three are classic-size hybrid Coastal Express ships, but their current details differ. Richard With has 199 cabins and 20 suites, Kong Harald has 218 cabins and only two suites, while Nordlys sits between them in cabin count and also has a substantial suite inventory. The right answer depends on the room you can actually buy, not the abstract specification sheet.
If suite choice matters, Richard With deserves early attention. If your priority is a later refurbishment or a particular guest maximum, Nordlys may win. If the cheapest suitable cabin is on Kong Harald, the trip can be just as rewarding. The complete comparison keeps those differences in proportion.
Season and value
Winter makes indoor panorama space, sauna and cabin comfort more important. Summer makes daylight and open decks dominant. Because Richard With does not have the twin-hot-tub appeal of Nordkapp or Polarlys, I would be less inclined to pay a winter premium solely for hardware. Its suite inventory may be the more valuable winter differentiator.
Price the whole journey from the UK. Flights, an overnight in Bergen, excursions and cabin grade can matter more than a small difference in cruise fare. If two ships depart within a useful window, compare the final cost of the cabins you would actually accept.
Who should book MS Richard With?
Book Richard With when you want the working Coastal Express on a hybrid-upgraded ship and can secure a cabin or suite that fits. It is a technically interesting ship with a very conventional Hurtigruten guest experience, which is exactly the right combination for some travellers.
Do not book it expecting hybrid propulsion to make the voyage silent or the 20 suites to create a luxury ship. Port operations remain real, public spaces remain functional and the route remains the star. For a more polished cruise product, MS Trollfjord or MS Midnatsol on Signature is the more coherent move.
Before you book
- Use the current post-upgrade deck plan rather than an old ship-tour video when judging spaces and cabin positions.
- Compare suite availability with Nordlys if extra living space is important.
- Treat the hybrid system as a useful tie-breaker after season, sailing date and cabin have been fixed.
- If a car is part of the plan, remember that the full twelve-day round trip does not accept vehicle carriage.
Related CruisePing guides
- Hurtigruten cruise line guide
- Which Hurtigruten Ship Is Best for You?
- MS Kong Harald cruise ship guide
- MS Nordlys cruise ship guide
- MS Nordkapp cruise ship guide
- MS Polarlys cruise ship guide
- MS Vesterålen cruise ship guide
- Bergen cruise port guide
- Kirkenes cruise port guide