MS Polarlys|MS Kong Harald

MS Polarlys vs MS Kong Harald

Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.

MS Polarlys cruise ship
Trondheim Havn from Trondheim, Norway · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

MS Polarlys

Hurtigruten

Check prices on CruiseDirect
VS

Newer Ship

MS Polarlys

Built in 1996

3 years newer

Lower Price Per Day

MS Kong Harald

$590 / day

$102 less per day

More Spacious Ship

Both ships are the same

MS Polarlys vs MS Kong Harald: Quick Comparison

MS Polarlys is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 1996, it is 3 years newer than MS Kong Harald, which entered service in 1993. MS Polarlys is approximately 1% larger by gross tonnage at 11,341 GT. MS Polarlys has upcoming sailings in Mainland Norway, while MS Kong Harald has sailings in Mainland Norway. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, MS Kong Harald has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.

Ship Comparison

Specification comparison of MS Polarlys and MS Kong Harald
SpecMS PolarlysMS Kong Harald
Year Built1996Newer1993
Gross Tonnage11,341 GT11,204 GT
Passenger Capacity737—
Space per Passenger15.4 GT—
Length123 m121.8 m
Decks——
Cabins——

Key Differences: MS Polarlys vs MS Kong Harald

Age

MS Polarlys was built in 1996, making it 3 years newer than MS Kong Harald, which was built in 1993.

Size

At 11,341 GT, MS Polarlys is approximately 1% larger by gross tonnage than MS Kong Harald at 11,204 GT.

Itineraries

The upcoming sailings shown for MS Polarlys (Mainland Norway) and MS Kong Harald (Mainland Norway) currently cover different regions or departure ports.

Price

Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, MS Kong Harald has the lower average starting price per day at $590 per day.

Compare Ports of Call

MS Polarlys

The Coastal Express – North

Departure Port
Bergen
Region
Mainland Norway
Nights
6
Round Trip
No
  1. Day 1 · Sep 11, 2026Bergen
  2. Day 2 · Sep 12, 2026Alesund
  3. Day 3 · Sep 13, 2026Molde
  4. Day 4 · Sep 14, 2026Trondheim
  5. Day 5 · Sep 15, 2026Bodø
  6. Day 6 · Sep 16, 2026Tromso
  7. Day 7 · Sep 17, 2026Honningsvåg
  8. Day 8 · Sep 18, 2026Kirkenes
  9. Day 9 · Sep 19, 2026Båtsfjord

Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.

MS Kong Harald

Viking Capital to the West Fjords

Departure Port
Trondheim
Region
Mainland Norway
Nights
1
Round Trip
No
  1. Day 1 · Sep 4, 2026Trondheim
  2. Day 2 · Sep 5, 2026Bergen

Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.

Upcoming Cruises & Prices

MS Polarlys

MS Kong Harald

Prices shown are starting fares and may change.

Which Ship Is Cheaper?

MS Polarlys

Average

$692 / day

VS

MS Kong Harald

Average

$590 / day

MS Kong Harald has the lower price per day among the sailings shown

$590/day vs $692/day

About $102 less per day

This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.

Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.

Which Ship Should You Choose?

Choose MS Polarlys if…

  • You prefer the newer ship.
  • You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
  • You want to sail in Mainland Norway.
  • Departing from Bergen works for your plans.

Choose MS Kong Harald if…

  • You want to sail in Mainland Norway.
  • Departing from Trondheim and Bergen works for your plans.
  • The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
  • You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than MS Polarlys.

MS Polarlys vs MS Kong Harald: Final Comparison Summary

Newer

MS Polarlys

Built in 1996

3 years newer

Bigger

MS Polarlys

11,341 GT

1% larger by gross tonnage

Lower Price Per Day

MS Kong Harald

$590 / day

About $102 less per day

  • MS Polarlys is 3 years newer.
  • MS Polarlys is 1% larger by gross tonnage.
  • Passenger capacity is not available for both ships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is newer, MS Polarlys or MS Kong Harald?

MS Polarlys is newer. It was built in 1996, while MS Kong Harald was built in 1993, making MS Polarlys 3 years newer.

Which is bigger, MS Polarlys or MS Kong Harald?

MS Polarlys is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 11,341 GT compared with MS Kong Harald at 11,204 GT.

Which ship is cheaper, MS Polarlys or MS Kong Harald?

Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, MS Kong Harald has the lower average starting price per day at $590 per day versus $692 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.

Where does MS Polarlys sail?

The upcoming MS Polarlys sailings currently listed cover Mainland Norway, departing from Bergen.

Where does MS Kong Harald sail?

The upcoming MS Kong Harald sailings currently listed cover Mainland Norway, departing from Trondheim and Bergen.

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