Due to the nature of expedition cruising, our cruises often take us far away from the resources and the facilities we are used to in day-to-day life. We recognize that disabilities and mobility issues can range in severity, and recommend that all guests consider traveling accompanied by a companion if they need assistance, either on board or ashore, due to the environment, operations and unique safety requirements found on an expedition ship.

We are happy to discuss access for people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility on each itinerary to understand the needs and expectations of each guest to both facilitate participation in our programs and ensure expectations match the experience we can provide.

For guests who use wheelchairs, please note that you must bring your own. To ensure ease of movement on the ship, wheelchairs and mobility aids must be no wider than 24 in. 

All mobility or medical equipment brought on board must be capable of being carried safely and must be declared before setting sail. We may impose limits on the number of pieces and value of equipment and may decline to carry any equipment where it is not safe to do so or where it has not been notified in time to enable a risk assessment to be carried out.

The crew is not obligated to lift guests or push wheelchairs, or provide personal care such as assistance with eating, medication, personal hygiene, or using the restroom. We welcome guests who require such additional assistance but ask that they be accompanied by a companion to provide this support at their own cost. In the event of an emergency, our crew will provide additional evacuation assistance to guests with disabilities and guests with reduced mobility.

Hurtigruten Expeditions cannot guarantee that guests with disabilities or guests with reduced mobility will be able to participate in operations that require the use of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) or other small boats. Please note that Hurtigruten Expeditions offers experiences that involve cruising and landing at places with infrastructure (including jetties, floating pontoons, gangways and slipways), as well as nature landings. We are unable to offer nature landings to guests who require the use of a wheelchair.

Embarkation of small boats (RIBs) from the ship or shore requires that guests can step in and out of the RIB. This decision has been made with the safety and wellbeing of the guest and crew in mind.

Hurtigruten Expeditions offers several excursions provided by third-party providers. We strive to make our excursions accessible, but we cannot guarantee that all of them will be wheelchair friendly or suitable for guests with reduced mobility, although we will make reasonable efforts to arrange this in advance if possible. Some ports of call may have limited facilities, and guests may need to navigate jetties, floating pontoons, gangways and slipways, steep ramps or steps with obstructions.

To ensure that all guests can be safely evacuated during an emergency, guests that require the use of a wheelchair can only be accommodated in accessible cabins. 

The number of guests using a wheelchair that we can accept on board at any given time is governed by the number of crew we can assign to provide evacuation assistance in an emergency. This number is directly linked to the number of accessible cabins available on each ship.Accessible cabins are available for guests who require adapted bathrooms and other accessibility aids. Standard cabins have raised door sills and may not be suitable for larger mobility aids.

We regret that we cannot provide sustained or long-term assistance on board. Guests who choose to travel alone and find that they experience excessive mobility and accessibility challenges may be asked to meet with a senior officer to discuss the situation regarding their own safety and wellbeing. In extreme circumstances, the guest may be disembarked at their own cost.

Our commitment is to provide an enjoyable and accessible experience for all guests, and we are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.