ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Hurtigruten Group AS c/o Hurtigruten AS, Fredrik Langes gate 14, P.O. Box 6144 Langnes, 9291 Tromsø, Norway Booking: +47 810 30 000, Switchboard: +47 970 57 030 Business register number: NO 914 148 324 VAT Hurtigruten Group AS – Group Directors’ Report 2018 Hurtigruten - world leader in exploration travel The Hurtigruten Group, through its brand Hurtigruten, is the world leader in expedition travel. With a fleet of 14 custom-built expedition cruise vessels – and the world’s two first hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships under construction – Hurtigruten is the world’s largest expedition cruise company. It offers a unique gateway to experiences in the Arctic, Antarctica, along the Norwegian coast and to other unique destinations to travellers from all over the world. Hurtigruten’s operation builds on a rich and proud Norwegian Expedition Cruises heritage, having connected the many coastal communities in Norway for 125 years, offering the first voyages to Svalbard as early as 1896. Today, Hurtigruten combines a deeply-rooted desire to offer genuine experiences while leaving a smaller footprint as it shapes the future of the growing adventure travel and expedition cruise market. Along the Norwegian coast, Hurtigruten offers the classic Hurtigruten round trip between Bergen and Kirkenes, often referred to as “The world’s most beautiful voyage”. During the 11-day voyage, guests enjoy the spectacular scenery and highlights such as the Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun. Including Bergen and Kirkenes, the ships call at 34 ports, allowing guests to experience local sights, culture and a rapidly growing number of active excursions. Hurtigruten has introduced the culinary concept of “Norway’s Coastal Kitchen”, offering authentic Norwegian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients delivered fresh to the ships throughout the journey, reflecting both the seasons and local specialties. Hurtigruten is the only operator offering year-round, daily departures from each of these 34 ports and holds a unique competitive position on the Norwegian Coast. Travel industry trends continue to show growth in demand for unique destinations and an increasing interest in adventure travel and expedition cruising. With its strong history and clear positioning, Hurtigruten is becoming known as the world leader in this segment. With its strong focus on sustainability and the environment, Hurtigruten is in 2019 introducing the world’s first hybrid expedition cruise ship, MS Roald Amundsen, powered by hybrid battery technology. Her sister ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, is due to be launched in Q4 2019. These vessels are under construction at the Kleven Group’s yard in Norway and will greatly enhance Hurtigruten’s offering in the expedition cruise segment. Hurtigruten completed the buy-back of MS Richard With in 2017 and MS Nordlys at the beginning of 2018, which are tailor made for the coastal route. Hurtigruten has leased the vessels since 2002. MS Richard With underwent a complete refurbishment in 2018, increasing the number of suites, improving the cabins and the indoor decks and improving the general service offering on the vessels. MS Nordlys will undergo the same upgrade in May 2019.The existing fleet has provided Hurtigruten with greater flexibility and an opportunity to tailor offerings, attracting more guests and new segments. In 2017, Hurtigruten made the largest investment in land-based operations in the company’s history, announcing a NOK 200 million expansion programme for the operations of its subsidiary, Hurtigruten Svalbard, including upgrades of two hotels and Arctic adventure travel experiences. The first stage of the investment plan was the refurbishment of the Funken Lodge which was completed in February 2018. Funken Lodge is taking lodging in the Arctic to another level with state of the art cuisine and guest experience. In October 2018, refurbishments started at the Svalbard Radisson Blu Polar hotel, which was completed in February of 2019. The upgraded hotel will offer enhanced facilities for the guests and employees and will further strengthen the company’s position in the market. Hurtigruten Svalbard offers a wide range of excursions including dogsledding under the Northern Lights, ice-caving and snowmobile trips. Business and location Hurtigruten is the global leader in cruise-based exploration and adventure travel based on APCNs, offering adventures that provide customers with the feel of authentic exploration into polar waters. Its offering is differentiated from that of most other cruise operators, including itineraries with a wide range of distinctive excursions and activities that allow customers to connect with exotic and remote places. The Group views its ships as safe and comfortable Hurtigruten Group AS – Group platforms from which to offer its customers unique engagement with the surrounding nature, culture and activities and therefore, unlike traditional cruise operators, the ship itself is not the main attraction. It also provides local transport and cargo shipment on the Norwegian coast pursuant to the Coastal Service Contract. The Group has a fleet of 14 ships and has 125 years of experience operating ships in polar waters, having provided services along the Norwegian coast since 1893. As a result of its long-established presence, public service origins and association with a long and naturally distinct coast line, Hurtigruten is one of Norway’s most recognized international travel brands. Hurtigruten’s global headquarters are located in Tromsø, one of the key ports of call on the Norwegian coastal route. In addition, commercial offices in Oslo, Trondheim, Hamburg, London, Paris, Seattle, Tallinn, Hong Kong and Kirkenes (which also functions as Hurtigruten’s crew centre) form a global organisation serving Hurtigruten’s most important and emerging markets. Hurtigruten’s wholly-owned subsidiary Hurtigruten Svalbard AS, is headquartered in Longyearbyen. The group’s business segments are divided into the following product areas: Hurtigruten Norwegian Coast, Expedition Cruises and Svalbard. Hurtigruten Norwegian Coast represents Hurtigruten’s longest-running and largest business area and comprises a fleet of 11 ships providing a scheduled service between Bergen and Kirkenes. Calling at 34 ports northbound and 33 southbound, Hurtigruten’s legendary voyage ranks as one of Norway’s most renowned and iconic attractions. In recent years, Hurtigruten has developed the voyages significantly to offer a wide range of activities and excursions to guests along the coast. In this process, Hurtigruten Expedition Teams have been added to most of the ships, providing lectures, organising excursions and adding to the onboard experience. Each port on the voyage receives a daily northbound and southbound call from Hurtigruten throughout the year, except Vadsø (only northbound). The Norwegian state purchases local transport and freight shipment services along the Norwegian coast. In the period 2012-2020 Hurtigruten will operate 11 ships under the “Coastal Route Agreement”. In 2018 there was a tender for a new contract for the period 2021-2031. In the new tender the agreement was divided into 3 packages of 3,4 and 4 ships where potential interested parties could bid for one, two or three packages. Hurtigruten was awarded 2 packages of a total of 7 ships and will receive an annual payment NOK 546m (2018 value) for 7 ships (NOK 78m per vessel) which is a 22% increase in annual compensation per vessel compared to the compensation in 2018 of NOK 64m per vessel and will be KPI adjusted over the life time of the contract. This is a very positive outcome for Hurtigruten as we will be able to deploy our 3 largest ships into the fast-growing Expedition Cruise segment from 2021. Expedition Cruises products include Hurtigruten’s expedition cruise operations outside of the Norwegian coastal route. Voyages include visits to the Antarctic and Arctic, Iceland, Greenland, South America and a variety of other destinations. Two vessels operate year-round in this segment, MS Fram, MS Midnatsol (September–April) and MS Spitsbergen (May–August). MS Midnatsol and MS Spitsbergen operate in the Norwegian Coast segment when they are not in the Expedition Cruises segment, as part of the 11-ship fleet. In addition, MS Nordstjernen homeports in Longyearbyen and operates shorter expedition cruises around Svalbard during the Arctic summer. In 2019, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, the two hybrid vessels under construction, will join the Expedition Cruises segment, further increasing the number of unique itineraries. From 2021 our 3 largest ships will join this segment after undergoing a full refurbishment. The Svalbard product area comprises year-round hotel and restaurant activities, as well as Arctic adventure tourism in Svalbard. From a base in Longyearbyen, Hurtigruten Svalbard AS offers active Arctic experiences on snow-covered and snow-free terrain with an extensive portfolio of activities and excursions. These include day trips on skis, dog sledding, snowmobile trips, boat or hiking excursions and longer expeditions in the archipelago. Hurtigruten’s operations – originating back in 1896 – are the largest and most diversified in Svalbard. Business concept, objective and strategy Objective and vision Hurtigruten’s vision is to be the world leader in exploration travel by offering authentic and accessible experienced around the world to travellers who wish to explore and travel in a sustainable way. Hurtigruten will be a frontrunner in adventure