Color Line is a Norwegian ferry operator running passenger, vehicle and freight services between Norway, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Its current network includes Hirtshals-Kristiansand, Hirtshals-Larvik, Kiel-Oslo and Strömstad-Sandefjord.
Operator overview: Color Line operates four international ferry corridors linking southern and eastern Norway with Denmark, Germany and Sweden. The fleet ranges from the fast SuperSpeed ferries on the Hirtshals routes to the overnight Color Magic and Color Fantasy service between Kiel and Oslo.
Last checked: 7 September 2026.
Current Color Line ferry network
Color Line’s current passenger ferry network consists of four routes:
| Route | Main vessel | Network role |
|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals-Kristiansand | SuperSpeed 1 | Year-round passenger, vehicle and freight connection between Denmark and southern Norway |
| Hirtshals-Larvik | SuperSpeed 2 | Year-round passenger, vehicle and freight connection towards south-eastern Norway |
| Kiel-Oslo | Color Magic and Color Fantasy | Overnight passenger and vehicle route between Germany and Norway |
| Strömstad-Sandefjord | Color Hybrid | Short passenger and vehicle ferry between Sweden and Norway |
These routes give Color Line a network focused entirely on international connections to Norway.
Hirtshals-Kristiansand
Color Line operates between Hirtshals in Denmark and Kristiansand in southern Norway with SuperSpeed 1.
The normal crossing takes around three hours and fifteen minutes.
The route operates throughout the year and carries foot passengers, private vehicles and commercial freight.
See the Hirtshals-Kristiansand ferry route, Hirtshals ferry port and Kristiansand ferry port.
Hirtshals-Larvik
SuperSpeed 2 operates Color Line’s route between Hirtshals and Larvik.
The crossing normally takes around three hours and forty-five minutes and operates throughout the year.
Larvik provides a useful ferry gateway towards south-eastern Norway and the Oslo region.
See the Hirtshals-Larvik ferry route.
Kiel-Oslo
Color Line operates the direct overnight ferry between Kiel in Germany and Oslo in Norway with Color Magic and Color Fantasy.
The service combines ordinary one-way passenger and vehicle transport with a cruise-ferry product and substantial onboard facilities.
The route gives Germany a direct passenger ferry connection with the Norwegian capital and forms part of both the German and Norwegian ferry networks.
Strömstad-Sandefjord
Color Line operates the short international connection between Strömstad in Sweden and Sandefjord in Norway with Color Hybrid.
The route carries passengers and vehicles and provides a direct ferry link across the border region between western Sweden and south-eastern Norway.
Color Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid ferry designed specifically for this short-distance corridor.
Color Line fleet
Color Line’s current passenger fleet is closely matched to its four route groups.
- SuperSpeed 1 – Hirtshals-Kristiansand
- SuperSpeed 2 – Hirtshals-Larvik
- Color Magic – Kiel-Oslo
- Color Fantasy – Kiel-Oslo
- Color Hybrid – Strömstad-Sandefjord
The fleet therefore includes fast ro-pax ferries, large overnight cruise ferries and a hybrid short-sea vessel.
Main Color Line ports
- Hirtshals
- Kristiansand
- Larvik
- Kiel
- Oslo
- Strömstad
- Sandefjord
Hirtshals is the only port in the current Color Line network served by two separate routes.
Passengers, vehicles and freight
Color Line’s routes combine passenger transport with significant vehicle and freight capacity.
Foot passengers are accepted on the principal services, while cars, motorcycles, motorhomes, caravans and commercial vehicles can also be carried subject to route and booking conditions.
The Hirtshals routes are especially important road-ferry corridors between continental Europe and Norway.
Year-round operation
Color Line’s principal routes operate throughout the year.
Frequency and departure times vary by season, but Hirtshals-Kristiansand, Hirtshals-Larvik, Kiel-Oslo and Strömstad-Sandefjord are not summer-only ferry services.
Maintenance periods and operational changes can affect individual sailings.
Color Line in the wider ferry network
Color Line’s network links Norway directly with three neighbouring ferry markets.
Denmark provides the fast Hirtshals routes, Germany provides the long-distance Kiel-Oslo connection and Sweden provides the short Strömstad-Sandefjord corridor.
This gives Color Line an important role across the Norway, Denmark, Germany and Sweden ferry networks.
Explore Color Line connections
- Hirtshals-Kristiansand ferry
- Hirtshals-Larvik ferry
- Hirtshals ferry port
- Kristiansand ferry port
- Norway ferries
- Denmark ferries
- Germany ferries
- Browse ferry operators
Sources and verification
Current routes, vessels and operating patterns were checked against official Color Line route and timetable information for September 2026.
Color Line currently operates Hirtshals-Kristiansand with SuperSpeed 1, Hirtshals-Larvik with SuperSpeed 2, Kiel-Oslo with Color Magic and Color Fantasy, and Strömstad-Sandefjord with Color Hybrid.
Routes, schedules and vessel deployment can change. FerryLines distinguishes current passenger services from seasonal, freight-only, suspended and discontinued operations.