On board the Express catamarans

The three catamarans are fitted out for a short crossing of 90 min. The window seats go in the first 10 min.

Checked August 2026

Rows of seats beside the ferry's panoramic windows with the Kattegat outside

The three ferries

Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4 work this route. They are close sisters rather than identical, and Molslinjen does not announce in advance which ship takes which sailing, so you cannot choose between them.

Molslinjen’s published specification for Express 2 gives the measure of all three:

Length: 112.6 m; 30.5 m across the beam
Maximum speed: 40 knots; 36 knots fully laden
Built: Incat Tasmania; Hull 067, sailed 25,000 km home
Deck clearance: 4.60 / 2.10 m; Lower deck and upper deck

40 knots is about 75 km/h. At that speed Express 2 covers the 70 km in 90 min, which is why the ride is firm rather than rolling.

A deck plan sign for Express 2 showing the lounges, restaurant and facilities — The deck plan is posted at the top of each stairway. It repays a look before you pick a seat, because the sections are not obvious from inside them.

Where to sit

Passengers sit down at the windows first and only then further in, and the tables for four go first. By 10 min after departure you will only find a seat in the middle of the cabin.

So go up first, take a seat, and get coffee afterwards. The queue at Barista’s is shorter at 20 min into the crossing than at 5 min, and the window seats will have gone by then.

The passenger decks divide into several sections. You will find them on the deck plan and on the signs at every stairhead:

Free seating, the red and blue sections, first come first served
Reserved seating, for those who have booked a specific seat
BlueClass lounge, included with the BlueClass ticket
Keepers business lounge, workspace with panoramic windows over the Kattegat
A rest area, a ship’s cinema, and a section where dogs are allowed

What you can sit in depends on the ticket, and the difference is not obvious from the deck plan.

Section	Included with	Reserved?
Red and blue free seating	Every ticket	No, first come first served
Reserved seats	Booked separately	Yes, by seat number
BlueClass lounge	The BlueClass ticket	Yes
Keepers business lounge	The BlueClass ticket	Yes, workspace with panoramic windows
Rest area, ship’s cinema, dog section	Every ticket	No

A blue overhead sign listing restaurant, BlueClass lounge, toilet, ship's cinema, rest area and dogs and picnic with seat numbers — Wayfinding is thorough and mostly in Danish, but the pictograms and seat numbers get you there without Danish.

Food and coffee

There is more here than a crossing of 90 min strictly needs.

Barista’s Coffee Shop is the one to know about: a proper coffee bar with a pastry counter, and the busiest place on board in the first 15 min. Molly’s Diner is the American-styled counter with red stools, doing burgers, shakes and iced coffee. There is a restaurant with a served counter, and a snack shop.

The pastry and cake display at Barista's Coffee Shop on board — Barista's. The queue is at its worst in the first 15 min and almost gone by the halfway point.

The counter at Molly's Diner with red bar stools and a neon sign — Molly's Diner, at the other end of the deck from Barista's and a great deal louder.

What BlueClass includes

At DKK 950 for the vehicle and up to nine people, BlueClass is the only ticket that changes the crossing rather than the booking terms. It includes the Keepers business lounge: proper desks, power, panoramic windows and a quiet that the main cabin does not have on a Friday afternoon.

It also includes priority on and off the car deck, which shortens the wait at both ends, and check-in 5 min before departure instead of 10 min.

Whether DKK 701 above a Lavpris fare is a reasonable price depends on what you are doing with the 90 min. For a family on holiday the main cabin covers it. For anyone working, the lounge is the difference.

Seats and tables in the business lounge with signage reading Business Lounge — The Keepers business lounge. Desk space, power and the quiet end of the passenger deck.

Outside

There is a small outer deck. On a fast catamaran the wind is considerable. Even so, most people walk out for a while, with the Danish coast passing alongside.

It is also where you want to be for the last 10 min into Odden, when the ferry slows right down along the breakwater.

Passengers standing at the railing of the ferry's open deck looking out over the sea — The open deck at the stern, with passengers at the railing.

Practical things

Free wifi, on the ships and on the Kombardo coaches
Charging points for a phone or a laptop
Clean toilets, more than one block, signposted from every section
A lift between the car deck and the passenger decks, alongside two staircases
A children’s play area, which counts on a crossing of 90 min with small children

The children's play area on board with a painted mural and low wooden seating — The play area. On a crossing of 90 min with small children it makes a difference.

Which of the three Express catamarans you get is not published in advance, so if the lounge matters, buy the ticket rather than hope for the right one. What each fare costs is on prices, and the deadline for boarding at all is on the timetable.

Questions people ask

Which ships sail between Aarhus and Odden?

Three high-speed catamarans: Express 2, Express 3 and Express 4. Which one you get is not published in advance.

How fast do they go?

Express 2 has a maximum of 40 knots, about 75 km/h, and 36 knots fully laden. It is 112.6 m long and 30.5 m wide, built by Incat in Tasmania.

Is there food on board?

Yes. A restaurant, Molly's Diner, Barista's Coffee Shop and a snack shop. There is also a waste sorting station, which on a crossing of 90 min says something about the quantities.

What is BlueClass?

A DKK 950 ticket that includes the Keepers business lounge with panoramic windows and workspace, priority on and off the car deck, free cancellation and check-in 5 min before departure.

Is there wifi?

Yes, free wifi, along with charging points, clean toilets, a children's play area and a lift between decks.