Hurtigruten Liner FINNMARKEN:  Forced Break in Hamburg

Cruise Cancelled, Passengers Rebooked

The popular Hurtigruten ship FINNMARKEN’s planned Norway cruise from July 25th to August 8th was abruptly interrupted before it could even begin. A defect in the stern thruster forced the ship into dry dock at the Norderwerft shipyard in Hamburg. This incident led to the cancellation of the 15-day voyage, which was scheduled to depart from Hamburg along the Norwegian coast.

The stern thruster is a crucial component, particularly for safe docking in Norwegian ports, which are often narrow and challenging in changeable weather. To repair the damage, the ship had to be removed from the water and moved into dry dock.

Although the defect was already known before the previous round trip from July 11th to 25th, this voyage was still able to proceed as scheduled because there were no serious safety-related restrictions. However, for the now-canceled voyage, repairs were essential to ensure the safety and maneuverability of the ship.

Hurtigruten responded promptly to the situation and informed all affected guests. Passengers were offered free re-bookings to later departures or a full refund. The cruise line announced that about half of the affected passengers rebooked directly, while others initially contacted customer service to find individual solutions.

According to current plans, the FINNMARKEN is scheduled to resume service on August 8, 2025, and then depart as planned for her next Norway cruise. Until then, it remains to be hoped that the repairs proceed smoothly and that the ship can set sail again on time to guide its guests safely through the impressive Norwegian fjord landscape.