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Login Proudly bearing the name of the founder of Hurtigruten.
The ship displays an interior design and artworks which refect a traditional atmosphere and an intimate acquaintance with the coast it serves.
The comfortable facilities now include two outdoor Jacuzzis which were installed during 2005.
| Year build: | 1993 |
| Place built: | Strahlsund, Tyskland |
| Passengers: | 691 |
| Berths: | 466 |
| Car spaces: | 45 |
| Gross tonnage: | 11205 |
| Length: | 121.8 |
| Beam: | 19.2 |
| Speed: | 15 |
We wanted to see the Norwegian Coastline during the winter season and also the Northern lights.. This cruise didn't disappoint us. We took the Richard With from Bergen to Kirkenes. It was a stunnin...
Wife wanted to see obscure bits of Norway but not for 20 minutes in the dark when everything closed. Food very good but very small portions - captive audience. Expensive. Default cabin was th...
The hole Trip was Very good. The food wars delicious, the crew was friendly and helps where ever they can. And the expedition team was friendly and helpful and gave you a lot of hints if you want t...
We chose this cruise because the company have been doing this itinerary for many years. We had gone with them 2 years ago through the NW Passage on the Roald Amundsen ship and were very disappointe...
Done this trip before with the same ship, which satisfied. Corona time has special challenges, and was answered. Food was served with grace and deserved a Michelin star or two. The view of the Nor...
Richard With (named after the founder of Hurtigruten), is not a new ship, but it did have a bow-to-stern refresh in late 2018 which has completely changed the ship, bringing it up-to-date techwise, offering cabin types that appeal to cruisers looking for a more luxe experience, a wider variety of dining options, a high-tech multimedia center and new leisure choices, including two hot tubs and a bigger gym and sauna.
This is a small ship, carrying just 458 passengers, and you'll have discovered it all not long after you board (there is no casino, multiple dining options, shows, a cruise director or even balconies!). However, the point of this cruise is not what's onboard but what you do on land -- and there is plenty of that on offer from snowmobiling, wildlife watching and visiting a marble mine to horse riding, not to mention seeing the fabled northern lights, the main reason people take this journey over the winter months.
Richard With is primarily a "functional" ship (as are all the Hurtigruten ships that ply the1,250-mile Norwegian coastline), with space for cars and cargo, and stopping at 36 ports in five days, some of them for as short as 15 minutes. Passengers onboard are either here for the part coastal voyage (south or north) or the full round trip, 11-day voyage, or they are locals using the ship to hop from port to port.
Having said that, while onboard you are genuinely made to feel like it's your home away from home. The crew make you feel welcome and special. Most are local and all speak exceptional, often accentless, English. Richard With also excels in terms of food, superbly prepared, so fresh you might have seen it caught that day and exceptionally tasty.
It's not "cruising" in the traditional sense, but if you yearn for accommodations as good as you'd find on a premium vessel and want to "upgrade" your experience, Hurtigruten does have a Platinum fare type. This includes a guaranteed mini-suite, turn-down service (featuring fresh towels and water bottles daily) and private airport transfers.
Whether you opt for premium (or go for the "basic" fare), a Norwegian coastal voyage on Richard With is likely to be an adventure like no other you have experienced before.
Passenger mix is primarily Norwegian, German and French, with all announcements made in Norwegian, English and German. The average age is around 65, with people mainly in groups, though this skews younger during the summer vacation with families onboard.
There is no dress code, day or evening. The order of the day is practical, comfortable and, perhaps most importantly, suited to the time of year. Hurtigruten does offer a suggested packing list. For winter: waterproof outers and boots, thermals, a warm jacket, a warm jumper, hoodie and gloves. In the summer, invest in sunglasses and sunscreen, shorts and a hat. Walking poles are recommended at all times of the year, as is a bathing suit for the Jacuzzis and sauna onboard.
Included with your cruise fare:
Not included with your cruise fare
Although all cabins on Richard With got a refresh (November 2018), not all cabins are created equal, and the upper deck cabins vary significantly from the ones in the lower deck, with the former having more of a "cruise ship" feel. If you're staying in a room on the lower decks, you're going to feel more like you're on a car ferry. The upper deck (Decks 5 and 6) cabins and suites look and feel modern, with smart dark wood decor, new fixtures and fittings, and large prints on the walls. The lower cabins, though boasting new carpets, are small, with pull-down beds and sofa beds rather than regular beds and old fixtures and fittings. Also, the aft ones are affected by the juddering engine. To get a double bed, you'll have to book a cabin on Deck 6.
If you're doing the whole or half of the Coastal Voyage, it's worth getting an upper deck cabin.
What they all have in common are: wardrobe(s), safe, fixed desk (varies in size), beds (although these can be a fixed single, a pull-down or double), flat-screen TV showing a variety of European TV programs, Northern Europe plug sockets, fixed lights and a phone.
There are no interconnecting cabins. If you are traveling as a family of three or four, we recommend a suite or a mini-suite; the lower cabins can, in theory, sleep four but it's very cramped.
Only four wheelchair-accessible cabins are available on the ship: three ocean views and one suite.
It's also worth noting that if you do opt for a cabin on Deck 5, this is also the Promenade Deck and people will -- and do -- look into your room.
With the exception of the mini-suites, all bathrooms are the same: All have a shower stall with clingy curtains, a toilet and a basin. Hurtigruten has removed all single-use plastics from its ships; as a result, bathroom products are dispensed via fixed containers above the basin and in the shower. However, unlike most cruise ship generic gels, we recommend the Arctic Pure brand hand wash, shower gel/shampoo and conditioner -- made with cloudberry and birch. Two things we also loved: nonsteam mirrors and heated floors -- so lovely on a chilly polar night.
Interior: There are 17 interior cabins across Decks 3 and 5, which are all 54 square feet. You really want to avoid the ones at the aft of Deck 3 as these are directly above the engine; you're better off opting for one of the four at the front of Deck 3 or the four on Deck 5. All insides sleep two people on pull-down beds, rather than standard beds. (In other words, if you want a double, you will need to opt for a higher grade cabin.) The rooms also have collapsible surfaces, which act as makeshift tables when you stow the beds.
Oceanview: There are two different types of outside cabins -- Polar Outside and Arctic Superior -- which make up the bulk of the cabins onboard.
Polar Outside: These make up the majority of cabins on Decks 2 and 3, with a number on Decks 5 and 6. Note that they vary quite significantly within this category, sometimes on the same deck -- so make sure you ask at time of booking.
You really want to avoid the ones midship on Deck 2 (numbers 202 to 220); these are beside the car deck and above the engine, and are noisy and judder. (To be fair, the ship does its best to move people booked in these if there are other cabins available.) They are also tiny at just 54 square feet. Windows are oblong. Most sleep three people in single or pull-down beds, but it gets awfully crowded with three.
The Polar Outsides on Deck 3 are much the same in terms of layout but are bigger at 75 square feet. All have an oblong window, except for the ones toward the front of the ship, which have porthole windows.
Note the ones on Decks 5 and 6 only sleep two people, and the majority are, in fact, the same size as those on Deck 3, at 54 square feet (a handful are 75 square feet). The best of the bunch are the three on Deck 6 (611, 613 and 615), which have double beds; these also only have restricted views.
Arctic Superior: These feature double beds and come in at 118 square feet. They have a fresh, Nordic feel with light woods and a large black and white print of a polar landscape on the wall. They also have kettles, mugs and sachets of tea and coffee.
Mini-suites: These are the best cabins on the ship, as they have the most modern look and feel and are private (i.e., people can't look through the windows). All are on Deck 6 -- four toward the front, 14 at midship and toward the aft). These were radically redesigned in late 2018, with dark woods, thick carpets and a stylish, modern feel. They vary in size and layout, so the ones at the aft (648 to 653) are long and thin with lovely bay windows where you can sit and watch the passing scenery. There is a bed near the door and a living area, complete with sofa and a chair at the other end. These come in at 236 square feet.
The ones midship are more square-shaped with the advantage of having huge floor-to-ceiling windows, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. There is ample wardrobe space -- one in the living room and one in the bedroom -- as well as a chest of drawers and a desk. A huge TV, or more accurately, TVs, as there are two, back-to-back, split the room in half, resting on a low bookcase. The living area has a sofa bed, a coffee table and a stocked mini-fridge; the bedroom has a supremely comfy double bed, bedside tables and fixed bedside lamps. There are ample plug sockets and four USB sockets -- two by the bed and two above the desk. There's room under the bed for storing luggage and a bedside table with reading lights on both sides of the bed. The large picture windows have blackout blinds.
The bathrooms are the best onboard -- twice the size of regular ones and completely redesigned, with glass doors, large Hansgrohe showerheads, heated floors and square basins. These suites are 258 square feet.
The four toward the front are a slightly different design, with no sofa and two chairs instead. These are 236 square feet.
Suites: Due to their positioning right at the front of the ship, it is difficult to structurally change these suites, so post-refurb they still have oblong windows and a small bathroom with clingy curtains. They are both 322 square feet, the largest by far in terms of space, with two distinct rooms with a door to separate them. In the living room area, you will find a couch, a TV and a set of drawers, as well as a wardrobe and a surface for a kettle. The bedroom features a double bed and a chest of drawers. The bathroom is small and features a shower area. There are ample plug sockets in both rooms.
What they (and indeed all the cabins on Deck 5) suffer from is lack of privacy. As they are in the best position on the ship in terms of wildlife viewing, people tend to congregate in front of the windows here (which look out over the Promenade Deck), thus inviting other cruises to look into the room and also effectively blocking the view when the deck is crowded.
For a small ship, Richard With certainly punches way above its weight in terms of cuisine, both in terms of variety and quality. There may be only one MDR/buffet, but you wouldn't be bored if you ate here every night as the food on offer is different each evening. One night it may be Seafood Night, with an ultralocal catch; on another evening, it may be a three-course, sit-down waiter-served meal; or it might be showcasing some regional specialty.
We also love that every day at breakfast, a pamphlet is placed on tables detailing the evening meal to come. It lists the food, whether there is a theme that night or if it's a waiter-served meal, the food's provenance and any history attached to the meal (i.e., if it's a local special, how it arrived in Norway etc.).
It's the same in the extra-fee Kysten Fine Dining venue; the menu choices may be short, but the menu is thick as every dish has a story attached. We'd recommend splashing out in Kysten on one night, especially on King Crab Night, for the variety and attention to detail.
A dinner in Kysten is included in your fare if you have paid the higher Platinum fare. If you are on Basic or Select fare, you will have to pay for an upgrade and then you can choose from a set menu.
If you're on the full or half Coastal Voyage, you are on Full Board, i.e., all your meals in the main dining room are included in the fare.
There is no room service onboard Richard With.
Torget (Deck 4)
Meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)
Richard With has just one main dining room/buffet, which is open for all three meals (it does close between meals). You can opt for a flexible dining package, or fixed-time dining at two times: 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tables are allocated at dinner time only. Note: Torget is the only venue serving free tea, coffee and juices.
Breakfast, which generally begins at 7 a.m., is self-serve; expect all the standard morning items, with a few more "European-style" dishes, such as cold cuts, smoked fish and, at the cooking station, Norwegian-style waffles.
Lunch is also a buffet, with waiters on hand to take drinks orders.
The evening meal always features a local specialty, either in the form of meat, seafood or dessert. Hurtigruten does a great job in bringing the story of the menu items to life, with a pamphlet detailing the provenance and history of the cuisine. In addition to whatever the focus is on, you'll find a wide variety of other dishes, including vegetarian options.
Dinner is often an event, either a special night -- like Seafood Night, which features local fish and shellfish such as shrimp, crawfish, mussels, oysters, arctic char and salmon -- or a three-course, sit-down meal featuring a local delicacy.
Allergies or intolerances are clearly marked by signs on the menu or on the little signs by each buffet item.
In terms of kids' food, the best thing to do is ask, and the chef will make a burger, pasta or pizza dish.
Service is outstanding.
Pricing was accurate at time of review but may have changed since.
Kysten (Deck 4): 240 NOK (about $30) per person cover charge, plus a la carte prices per item, 99 NOK (about $10) to 345 NOK (about $40); King Crab set menu 695 NOK per person (about $80);
Open: D
Kysten is a small venue, rarely crowded, adjacent to (but not separate from) the main lounge, which during the day doubles as Brygga, one of two spots to grab an extra-fee daytime snack. The restaurant has an open kitchen and a dedicated chef. It's top-notch Norwegian cooking; we liken it to eating in a Michelin-starred restaurant in terms of the service, the knowledge and the preparation and quality of food.
There are two menus. The first is the full a la carte menu and is included for Platinum fare passengers. Alternatively, you can pay a cover charge to enter the restaurant and then also pay for the a la carte menu items. The second menu is a smaller set menu for those who do not want to pay the cover charge to access to the full a la carte menu. This set menu has a cover charge, but there are no a la carte charges on top of that.
It's not cheap (nothing in Norway is), but it's worth a splurge at least once on your voyage. It rarely (if ever) gets crowded, and you'll be sure of attentive and knowledgeable service by the young wait staff.
Everything is local, so much so that you can sometimes see the fish being loaded from one of the tiny fishing villages the ship pulls in to along the way. The restaurant is priced a la carte, except for King Crab Night, where the famous dish is prepared table-side for you. (You can find out everything about your crab by scanning the QR code attached to its shell -- it will tell you where, when and by whom it was caught.)
The a la carte menu is delicious but limited, with just a handful of starters, entrees and desserts from which to choose from. The menu includes local fish, reindeer, beef and pork, as well as vegetarian dishes.
The wine list is extensive and varied, and there is also a suggested wine pairing. House wines start at a pricy 475 NOK (about $55) and 565 NOK (about $65) for red.
Brygga (Deck 4); a la carte
Open: L
Sharing the space that Kysten occupies in the evening, Brygga sells a limited selection of food, including hamburgers, steaks, mussels and a local specialty, bacalao.
Multe Bakery (Deck 7); a la carte
Open: B, L
A lovely spot at the top of the ship that sells specialty coffees, pastries and open sandwiches, as well as an interesting selection of local ice creams, including most of your favorites, plus a fish flavor and beer flavor.
Shore Excursions
There are a large number of shore excursions available (46 in the winter months alone) which change depending on time of year. There is a useful booklet at the shore ex desk that gives full details of what's on offer. They are generally of a high quality, though some could do with a tweak or two to make them even better. The guides both on and off the ship are excellent -- all speak perfect English and have great knowledge. Most people take advantage of these excursions, as this trip is very much about what you see and do on land, rather than the ship itself. Reservations must be made ahead of time and none are included.
In terms of what's available, the variety is huge and it would be tough to try them all. During the winter season, they include a snowmobile safari (both day and night), husky sledding, skiing, snow shoeing, ice dipping in Vardo, king crab fishing and a night in the Snowhotel in Kirkenes.
If you're after the northern lights, the best period to spot them is fall through to early March (the winter and spring equinoxes), and for many passengers this is the main reason they are on this voyage. (Hurtigruten even offers a Northern Lights Promise: For anyone on the full 11-day Coastal Voyage, if you don't spot them, Hurtigruten will offer you another five-day cruise for free.) The ship has a "Northern Lights Button" on every in-cabin phone, which, if you keep on, will alert you at any time, day or night, they become visible.
In the summer, the excursions are more about the fjords, farm visits, city tours, cycling and sea kayaking.
Excursions available year-round are the midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral, horse riding in the Lofoten Islands, sea eagle spotting, rigid inflatable boat safaris and hikes with the guides.
Unlike on big ship cruises, these shore excursions do not run "half day" or "full day" but will run for as long as the ship is in port, or you join the ship at another port (such as the snow mobile safari and horse riding).
Many of Hurtigruten's shore excursions require a certain level of mobility, and some passengers might not be able to participate as a result. The line grades them on a scale of one to four to give people an idea how active they really are. The sea eagle safari is on a regular boat (not a RIB) and would be suitable for someone with mobility issues. Most bus excursions are also accessible, as the buses have wheelchair lifts.
There are no family-friendly specific excursions, but more are perfectly suited for kids, ages 6 and older.
In all ports, you are docked in the center of town, so you can just head off exploring on your own -- many stops have small museums almost adjacent to the port. (But beware: Some stops are just for 15 minutes!)
Wildlife Viewing
In theory, there's a heck of a lot of wildlife out there, but a lot of it is shy (wolverine) or well-camouflaged (Artic fox, Arctic hare, Arctic tern, etc.), so don't expect this to be one long nature fest. It's more of a scenic cruise. However, you should be able to spot reindeer and, occasionally, moose.
Having said that, the confluence of the Arctic waters and the Gulf Stream attracts some big marine wildlife, including blue whales, humpbacks, orcas, pilot, fin and minkes as well as dolphins and seals. The ship will slow down or stop if the captain spies any marine life.
It's worth bringing a good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom and a tripod.
Enrichment
There are two lecture theaters in the Kompass area toward the front of the ship on Deck 4 (just beyond Reception and the shops). Here the shore ex team describes the shore excursions, gives tips on wildlife spotting, offers fun facts about Norway, teaches you Norwegian words and also announces the finalists and winner of the photography exhibition.
There is always one lecture in English and another in German, depending on passenger demographic onboard.
The ship has a multimedia center on Deck 4 that has three main features: a virtual reality area, a huge TV showing mainly videos about the shore excursions and a large iPad-style touch-screen desk that tells you where all the Hurtigruten ships are at that moment with details about destinations.
The line offers a fun (extra-fee) cooking class that teaches people how to marinate salmon (295 NOK or about $35), which you get to eat afterward.
Daytime and Evening Entertainment
There is no entertainment in the classic cruise ship sense of the word. During the day, if you are not on an excursion, you'll find plenty to divert you in the multimedia center including board games. Or check out your next shore excursion in virtual reality.
When the ship crosses the Arctic Circle between Ornes and Bodo, there is a "Baptism Ceremony," which involves a blessing with ice down the back, some cloudberry liquor and the Norwegian version of Poseidon makes an appearance. There is also a competition to guess when the ship crosses the Arctic Circle and the nearest guess gets the flag from the ship.
Southbound, there is a ceremony with a few words from the shore excursion team followed by Champagne (for the ladies) and cod liver oil for the men.
The only bar onboard Richard With is the Panorama Bar on Deck 7, situated at the front and the top of the ship. During the day, it is mainly used by passengers for wildlife watching; by night the bar opens and it is popular for a nightcap.
There is no pool, but there are two hot tubs on Deck 6 at the back of the ship. Deck 7, at the back, is your best bet for sunbathing. Deck 5, which wraps around the ship promenade-style, is used for wildlife and landscape watching.
Reception is on Deck 4, though it temporarily decamps to Deck 3 (the gangway) when in port. On Deck 4 you will also find the shore excursions desk and a shop selling essentials, sodas and water, logo goods, postcards and good quality Helly Hansen outdoor gear, as well as a photo booth to print out images.
Adjoining here are the two lecture theaters.
Wi-Fi is 60 NOK (about $10) for one day; 155 NOK (about $20) for three days, 245 NOK (about $30) for five days and 485 NOK (about $55) for the entire journey. It is fast and reliable.
A self-serve laundry is on Deck 3. You'll need two tokens (30 NOK (about $5) each) per wash, but the detergent ( dispensed automatically) and the dryers are free to use.
The ship boasts a multimedia center, the centerpiece of which is a giant screen that shows highlights of the shore excursions throughout the day. There is also an interactive touch-screen table (a bit like a giant iPad), where you can find out information about ports and excursions and where in the world all the Hurtigruten ships are at that moment. There is also a virtual reality area, which is not functional yet, but when it is, will allow you to slip on a headset and "try out" the shore excursions. The area is full of tables and chairs, most with power sockets. There are two TVs on one wall. A tea and coffee area is set up for Select and Platinum fare cruisers.
MS Richard With does not have a spa; however, it has two hot tubs at the back of the ship on Deck 6 and a small sauna on Deck 2, at the front.
There is a decent-sized fitness center (for a ship this size) at the rear of Deck 7, with two treadmills, a rowing machine, two bikes, a step machine, weights and mats. Everything is free to use, but there are no classes.
Deck 5 acts as a Promenade Deck and could conceivably be used as a jogging track, though you'll annoy the photographers.
Richard With is not geared toward kids (none of the Hurtigruten ships are), and there is no kids programing onboard nor a kids' club. When sailing with a lot of children (mainly in the summer months), a room may be put aside as a play area, but this is purely on an ad-hoc basis. In the same way, expedition leaders may tailor their lectures toward children on some occasions.
But with so many amazing things to see and do on land -- and on the water -- this ship is ideal for a family with inquisitive kids, particularly if they are into wildlife and nature. Plus, the crew love kids and spoil them, as there are generally so few onboard.
There are no interconnecting cabins, but there are a number of rooms that sleep three people, and the suites all sleep four people on a sofa bed. There is also no kids' menu onboard, but the chef is always happy to whip up a pasta dish or a burger for a picky child.
Baltic Sea Itinerary: Richard With sails Baltic Sea voyages year round, roundtrip from Bergen, open jaw from Bergen to Trondheim, and between Bergen and Kirkenes.
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