Hurtigruten Expedition Cruises Heads to Alaska
If Hurtigruten isn’t yet a household name to you, that’s probably because it’s a Norwegian cruise line. Since 1893, Hurtigruten’s fleet of ships have cruised the Norwegian coastline and fjords, carrying residents, tourists and even cargo and mail. From Bergen to northernmost Kirkenes and then south to the Caribbean and Antarctica, Hurtigruten has always roamed the globe.
It was several years ago that I first became aware of this unique cruise line. While on a longitudinal cruise from Greenland to South America, their 500-passenger Fram was scheduled for a port call here at Port Canaveral
I was able to arrange to have a tour of the ship. I was captivated by the Scandinavian design of the ship, dining options and accommodations plus the unusual and expedition-type voyage.
My enthusiasm piqued today when I read that Hurtigruten announced that they would be heading to Alaska in 2020. Their new 530-passenger MS Roald Amundsen, launching in 2019, will sail a variety of 14- to 24-day Alaska cruise itineraries during the summer of 2020.
“Alaska is a perfect fit for Hurtigruten and our expedition cruise concept. We will go where the big ships can’t, taking guests far beyond the ordinary while exploring the true beauty of Alaska,” says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam.
Hurtigruten Alaska voyages will include several Inside Passage cruises. A smaller ship, MS Roald Amundsen will be able to cruise deeper into Alaskan waterways. Cruise itineraries will visit the iconic fjords and glacier-lined bays of both Alaska and British Columbia. Port visits in Alaska will include picturesque Petersburg, Wrangell and rugged Haines that are not usually visited by the larger cruise ships.
About MS Roald Amundsen
This new ship is a state-of-the-art vessel that will feature new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology. This new hybrid technology, combined with the advanced construction of the hull and effective use of electricity on board, will reduce fuel consumption and CO2-emissions on the ships by 20%.
Hurtigruten’s signature Expedition Team comprised of geologists, biologists, geographers, historians and activity guides will be on every cruise.
At the end of MS Roald Amundsen’s 2020 Alaska cruise season, the ship will undertake a historic 29-day voyage. Beginning on August 16, 2020, the ship sets out on a full Northwest Passage transit from Nome to Halifax.
Environmental firsts
Hurtigruten is the first cruise line to ban all single-use-plastics. Another cruise industry first, Hurtigruten is completely rebuilding existing ships to run on a combination of large battery packs, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biogas (LBG), produced from organic waste such as dead fish.
