Our ship, the NORDSTJERNEN, was built in 1956 at the renowned Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. She sailed for 56 years for the well-known Hurtigruten on the Norwegian coastal routes and was the only way to reach small towns, as the road and rail network had not yet been developed. There were always three postmen on board to sort mail and parcels. Cars were transported on the forecastle and the cargo hold was also heavily utilised for the various needs of the population. In 2012, the ship was sold to the Norwegian shipping company Vestland Classic, which extensively renovated and restored it. This work had to be carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of the monument protection authorities, as the ship was to be preserved for posterity in its original form and equipment in accordance with the specifications of the Norwegian Imperial Antiquarian. In the years 2015 – 2024, the ship was again chartered by Hurtigruten, which used it to supply the population of Spitsbergen. Due to new legal regulations, the ship is no longer allowed to sail in polar waters and will now only be available for passenger travel from spring to autumn from 2025. Planning for 2025 is currently in full swing. We expect voyages from Rostock-Warnemünde to the Norwegian west coast with harbours such as Bodø, Mo i Rana, Namsos, Åndalsnes, Fjærland and others, some of which are hidden deep in the fjords and cannot be called at by the large passenger ships. There will also be trips to other Scandinavian countries with passages through the Kiel Canal, where the NORDSTJERNEN is the most photographed ship. The ship is in excellent condition and embodies the flair of the 1950s, which is probably no longer to be found in this form anywhere else in the world. Around 70 – 90 passengers have room on board in the nostalgically small cabins with bunk beds and (mostly) shower/WC. There are now enthusiasts of the ship who feel like a kind of ‘shiplover family’.
The shared ‘experience of something special’ is what makes these trips so appealing. Excursions and/or sightseeing are offered in every harbour. The friendly crew of 28 is part of the ship’s family. The languages spoken on board are German, English and Norwegian. There is no age restriction, but unrestricted mobility is required. Here are some more ship details: NORDSTJERNEN, year of construction 1956, Norwegian shipping company, Northern European ship’s command, length 80.77 m, width 12.60 m, draught 4.50 m, speed 15.5 kn, engine MaK (Maschinenbau Kiel), 3001 hp.
As soon as the itineraries and prices are finalised, we will show them on our website.