That someone would voluntarily undertake the arduous journey through wind, weather, and heavy seas was certainly not something Hurtigruten founder and shipowner Richard With had in mind. However, the small, resilient ships, which battled through ice and darkness with just one screw propeller, soon became known for their reliability. It’s no surprise that leisure travelers also used them to see as much of Norway's unique coastal landscapes as possible on their way to the North Cape – inspired by Kaiser Wilhelm II. With the slogan "The most beautiful sea voyage in the world" and the termination of the mail transport contract in 1984, all the conditions were set for tourist operations, although still limited to the classic "race track" from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. It has only been in the last ten years that Hurtigruten ships have switched to the Antarctic region in winter and undertaken Antarctic voyages.