Hurtigruten introduces a new Northwest Passage itinerary
HURTIGRUTEN
Seattle
Photo courtesy of Hurtigruten
In 2023, passengers on board the MS Roald Amundsen will sail through the Northwest Passage.
On March 22, 2021, Hurtigruten, the world leader in exploration travel, revealed a new flagship sailing for the 2023 season. On board the MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery hybrid expedition cruise ship, passengers will travel along the Northwest Passage following the footsteps of famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
The Northwest Passage—In the Wake of the Great Explorers is a 26-day itinerary commencing on Aug. 18, 2023, that will take expedition fans from the Gold Rush town Nome in Alaska through the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and the Amundsen Gulf before arriving at Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. The expedition team will include experts covering biology and wildlife, a professional photographer, an archaeologist, and one or more Inuit cultural interpreters.
Known as one of the most challenging stretches of water to navigate, the MS Roald Amundsen will navigate the ice floes and islands of the stunning Northwest Passage while bringing to life for guests the local history and culture of the surrounding area. The expedition team will choose locations along the route to arrange escorted landing, small boat cruising for on-shore exploration, and opportunities to spot wildlife in its natural habitat, from whales, seals and, on the rare occasion, polar bears.
“This is one of our most ambitious and adventurous itineraries to date, offering our guests the chance to become true explorers as we navigate one of the most challenging stretches of water in the world. We believe in delivering truly life-changing and memorable experiences for our guests and navigating the Northwest Passage is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said John Downey, president of Hurtigruten Americas.
MS Roald Amundsen: a small, more sustainable, battery hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship
Hosting around 500 guests, MS Roald Amundsen is a state-of-the-art battery hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship, the first vessel of its kind in the world. Specifically designed for expedition cruising, MS Roald Amundsen features a revolutionary battery hybrid propulsion system, with other green technology to reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by 20%.
On board the MS Roald Amundsen, guests can expect a welcoming and comfortable environment in the public spaces and personal cabins. They will be spoiled with choice when it comes to where to dine, with restaurants Aune, Fredheim, and Lindstrøm serving Norwegian and Nordic tradition, as well as international cuisine and local inspiration.
Handpicked expedition teams
On all Hurtigruten expedition cruises, you will encounter a handpicked expedition team, a dedicated group of experts, who help guests discover and better understand each destination. Experts in marine biology, arctic survival, photography, oceanography, and more, the team hosts lectures that delve into the history of locations, and informally brings this knowledge to life by leading activities on adventurous excursions.
Citizen science
Feed your curiosity in our Science Center, join fun talks, wildlife spotting, and experiments with our scientists and expedition teams, and help contribute to research through citizen science projects around the world. The impressive Science Center is the heartbeat of MS Roald Amundsen, staffed by Hurtigruten’s handpicked expedition team and packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets.
About Hurtigruten and its fleet
Building on 127 years of Norwegian pioneering heritage, Hurtigruten is today the world’s largest expedition cruise company.Hurtigruten’s rapidly growing fleet of custom-built expedition ships takes modern-day adventure travelers to the world’s most spectacular destinations on our planet, from the High North to Antarctica in the south. Being the world leader in exploration travel comes with a great responsibility.
Hurtigruten introduced the world’s first hybrid battery powered cruise ship the MS Roald Amundsen in 2019, and followed this with sister ship, the MS Fridtjof Nansen, in 2020.
Hurtigruten takes the health and safety of crew and passengers seriously and is constantly updating protocols based on the latest government advice. More information can be found at www.hurtigruten.co.uk/practical-information/health-and-safety.
For more details about the 2023 Northwest Passage voyage, visit:
This article originally appeared in the April 23, 2021, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
