 thumb|200px|ms trollfjord, the second newest ship in hurtigruten's coastal service as of 2010, in molde. hurtigruten ("the express route") is a daily passenger and freight shipping service along norway's western and northern coast between bergen and kirkenes. sometimes referred to as norwegian coastal express, hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the round-trip journey in 11 days. the trip has been described as the "world's most beautiful sea voyage," with highlights including the hanseatic league city of bergen, the geiranger fjord (summer only), and the lofoten islands. the company has nearly 2% of the worldwide cruise market. ==company history==  hurtigruten was established in 1893 by government contract to improve communications along the long, jagged coastline.  commenced the first round-trip journey from trondheim on 2 july 1893 bound for hammerfest, with calls at rÃ¸rvik, brÃ¸nnÃ¸y, sandnessjÃ¸en, bodÃ¸, svolvÃ¦r, lÃ¸dingen, harstad, tromsÃ¸ and skjervÃ¸y. the ship arrived at svolvÃ¦r on monday 3 july at 8pm after 35Â½ hours and hammerfest on wednesday 5 july after 67 hours. she was captained by richard with, considered the founder of hurtigruten. at present () trondheim - svolvÃ¦r takes 33 hours, hammerfest 41 hours 15 min. originally only vesteraalens dampskibsselskab was willing to sail the then poorly charted waters; the voyage was especially difficult during the long, dark winters. hurtigruten was a substantial breakthrough for communities along its path. mail from central norway to hammerfest, which had taken three weeks in summer and five months in winter, could now be delivered in seven days.  encouraged by vesteraalens' early success, several other shipping companies obtained a concession to operate the route, extended to run between bergen in the southwest and kirkenes in the far northeast. a fleet of 11 ships visits each of the 34 ports daily, both northbound and southbound. beginning in the 1980s, the role of hurtigruten changed; operating subsidies were gradually phased out and the operators put more emphasis on tourism. new, bigger and more luxurious ships were introduced, with attention given to hot tubs, bars, restaurants and other comforts. however, hurtigruten still serves important passenger and cargo n
Cruise_lines Ferry_companies_of_Norway Hurtigruten