Hurtigruten Group Adapts Fleet To Expand Expedition Itineraries And Strengthen Norwegian Coastal Sailings

Oslo, Norway: July 19, 2023 – Today, Hurtigruten Group (the Company) shared that it would be adapting its fleet to address its long-term strategic growth initiatives by moving MS Otto Sverdrup to Hurtigruten Norway and deploying MS Maud to the Arctic, and Antarctica, leaving the Norwegian coast.

This fleet adjustment is a natural extension of the Company’s operational split in 2021 and the recent restructuring that created dedicated support functions for Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norway.

“This is an important milestone for the company as we strengthen Hurtigruten Norway's iconic position on the Norwegian coast and give Hurtigruten Expeditions more flexibility to build new, high-end expedition itineraries in some of the most adventurous, remote places around the world,” said Daniel Skjeldam, CEO Hurtigruten Group.

With the addition of MS Otto Sverdrup, Hurtigruten Norway will now have three hybrid ships and nine overall in its fleet. MS Otto Sverdrup has been sailing out of Hamburg with a focus on the German market since 2021 and will continue to do so within the Hurtigruten Norway business.

Norway is a favorite travel destination for German guests who have been onboard the coastal offering since it began sailing 130 years ago. With this move, Hurtigruten Norway will evolve itineraries over time to complement its incredibly successful Svalbard Express and North Cape Express routes.

At the same time, Hurtigruten Expeditions will now sail six, small custom-built cruise ships including the world’s first battery-hybrid powered ship, MS Roald Amundsen, taking guests to over 250 spectacular destinations in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Fully dedicated to high-end expedition sailings, it recently unveiled that MS Maud would be deployed for new, immersive expedition cruise series in 2024 that combines the Patagonian fjords with Antarctica and voyages that include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. These new itineraries continue to deliver on life-changing exploration steeped in science and discovery with some of the most renowned scientists, historians, and expedition leaders.