Hurtigruten expands to Alaska – presents the widest ever selection of expedition cruises

Hurtigruten is expanding the world’s greenest and most extensive expedition cruise program with a number of new and unique destinations. From 2020, Hurtigruten guests can explore the Alaskan wilderness on board the brand-new and hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen.

Offering more than 250 spectacular worldwide destinations, Hurtigruten’s 2020/2021 expedition cruise program includes several major news:

• The inaugural season of the ground-breaking hybrid powered and eco-friendly MS Fridtjof Nansen – exploring the unspoiled and raw beauty of Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland and the Norwegian coast.
• The widest ever selection of Antarctica voyages – with more than 30 different itineraries to choose your perfect adventure to the white continent.
• An extreme makeover for Hurtigruten expedition favourite MS Fram – that will re-emerge as a brand-new expedition ship.
• And most notably: The summer of 2020 will see Hurtigruten enter Alaska with a series of expedition cruises.

- Alaska is a perfect fit for Hurtigruten and our expedition cruise concept. We will go where the big ships can’t, taking you far beyond the ordinary while exploring the true beauty of Alaska, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

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Alaska: Wilderness, Glaciers and Culture

ALASKA: Wild nature, rich wildlife and interesting culture - Alaska is a perfect for fit for Hurtigruten's expedition cruises. Photo: GETTYIMAGES

Alaska is a perfect destination for expedition cruising - a true frontier with a rich sense of adventure, untouched wilderness, glaciers, interesting culture and amazing wildlife.

Hurtigruten takes you closer and deeper into the Alaskan wilderness – with 12 to 18 days’ voyages covering the highlights of the legendary Inside Passage combined with off the beaten path-destinations rarely visited by other cruise lines – such as picturesque Petersburg.

With the expansion to Alaska, Hurtigruten also introduces the first hybrid powered cruise ship in Alaska. Equipped with large battery packs, MS Roald Amundsen features innovative green technology, premium surroundings and of course Hurtigruten’s signature Expedition Team, consisting of geologists, biologists, geographers, historians and activity guides for a maximum of just 500 fellow explorers.

- Imagine kayaking in pristine waters, hiking through untouched wilderness and spotting bears, whales, caribou or eagles. And then returning to the comfort of a cruise ship you know is greener than any other ship you have experienced. This is the unparalleled Alaska experience Hurtigruten will offer you, Skjeldam says.

MS Roald Amundsen will conclude her 2020 Alaska season by conducting an epic North West Passage transit – from Nome, via Greenland to Halifax.

More information on Hurtigruten Alaska expeditions:

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GROUNDBREAKING SHIPS - NEW DESTINATIONS: MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen. Photo: HURTIGRUTEN

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Antarctica: A true explorer’s dream

Unforgettable impressions await, when you experience the awe of the most isolated and breathtaking white continent with Hurtigruten. Calving glaciers, massive table icebergs and encounters with penguins, seals and whales - few things can compare to Antarctica, where Roald Amundsen was the first person to reach the South-Pole in 1911.

Exploring Antarctica on board vessels that proudly draw their names from the golden age of polar heroes and exploration, Hurtigruten guests can choose from 31 voyages to the frozen continent.

Spanning from 12 to 23 days, the widest selection of Antarctica voyages offers the opportunity to voyage straight across the Drake Passage to maximise your time in Antarctica or spend time exploring the Falkland Islands and South Georgia en route.

More information on Hurtigruten Antarctica expeditions.

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Russia, Svalbard, South America and more

The 2020/2021 Hurtigruten expedition cruise program also includes Russia and Franz Josef Land (MS Spitsbergen), a wide selection of Svalbard expeditions (multiple ships), warm water expeditions to the Caribbean, and several South- and Central America voyages - including Mexico and Baja California with MS Roald Amundsen – and more.

- Since Hurtigruten started operations in Polar waters in 1893, we have been looking for new places to explore. Each and every one of our 250 destinations has been carefully handpicked by our team to give you unforgettable wilderness experiences in some of themost spectacular places on Earth, Skjeldam says.

Hurtigruten CEO, Daniel Skjeldam. Photo: HURTIGRUTEN

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The introduction of the world’s first hybrid powered expedition ships is the latest in a number of Hurtigruten green initiatives. Hurtigruten celebrated its 125th anniversary by banning all single-use-plastics. In another 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.

DID YOU KNOW? Hurtigruten is also offering an extensive pre- and post cruise program, including opportunities to explore unique destinations such as the Easter Island, Galapagos, Patagonia and the Atacama Desert.

Full Hurtigruten expedition voyages program 2020/2021 to be found at TravelHX.com

GREEN VOYAGES TO THE WHITE CONTINENT: With more than 30 different itineraries to choose from, Hurtigruten offers the widest selection of Antarctica voyages ever. Photo: HURTIGRUTEN