HX Hurtigruten Expeditions have a well-established history of intrepid expedition cruises and a voyage with them will be like no other. Taking you to the Land of the fjords and Northern Lights in Norway, and Antartica, you will marvel at the impressive sights you see.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions' two newest ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen provide a new-level of comfort when it comes to adventurous travel. So step onboard and see the world from a different angle.
Gary Buchanan has sailed the Seven Seas during his 33-year career as an award-winning specialist cruise writer. Author of four books about cruising, he regularly contributes to prestigious newspapers such as The Telegraph and magazines including American Express Departures. He is a pundit on all things cruise and is looking forward to enhancing the content library for Panache Cruises.
“HX Hurtigruten Expeditions has been operating Norwegian coastal voyages since 1893. Their fleet of 18 vessels includes MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridjof Nansen - superb new ships which I have no hesitation in recommending for expedition cruising. I also have fond memories of the classic sailings to and from Bergen visiting serene fjords, quaint fishing villages and charming towns along Norway’s western coastline - or the magical Northern Lights cruises.”
The restaurants offer a variety of dining options, with menus drawn from the rich Norwegian and Nordic tradition, as well as international cuisine. The honest and delicious cuisine reflects the destinations visited and is low key yet refined.
Four dining options for you to enjoy whilst onboard include:
On board a buffet breakfast is served and lunch and dinner varies between set meals and buffets, all in in line with the daily program. Meal times are announced in the programme published daily. The Head Waiter will assign tables in the main dining prior to arrival. Information about table numbers and meal times will also be in your cabin upon arrival.
All meals will include ship wine and beer and soft drinks. Coffee and tea are also included throughout the day.
All cabins have an exterior view and 50 % will have a balcony. Aft suites will feature a private outdoor hot tub that has spectacular views.
Options include:
Comfortable and roomy accommodation, most Arctic Superior class cabins have balconies. There are flexible sleeping arrangements including sofa beds plus a TV and other features which make this one of the most popular categories. The Arctic Superior concept includes a kettle, tea and coffee. Can accommodate two to four passengers.
Found only in upper and mid-deck locations, these are large and well-appointed, most with a balcony but always expansive windows and several have their own outdoor hot tub. They have flexible sleeping arrangements and comfortable sofas and a TV and can accommodate up to four people. The Expedition Suite concept includes a bathrobe, espresso maker, and more and an exciting welcome gift awaits all suite guests in their cabin.
After a day of exploring new destinations, you can relax and rejuvenate in the elegant Explorer Lounge. You can make use of the large gym and wellness centre. Or maybe enjoy the scenery and sunsets on the massive in- and outdoor Observation Decks from the hot tubs and infinity pool. In the wellness centre, you have the option to purchase treatments as body massage, face-, hand- and foot treatments for that overall sense of relaxed indulgence.
A carefully selected team of specialists and modern explorers accompanies every expedition. This Expedition Team is both passionate and knowledgeable and highly experienced. They will guide and safeguard you, informing you about the science of the area and sustainability. They will also instruct you on safety.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions offer a selection of excursions that can be pre-booked with only remaining places sold whilst you are onboard. Please ensure you book well in advance to avoid disappointment. If any places remain once on board the Expedition Team will advise you of any excursions still available.
The excursions have English speaking guides unless otherwise indicated and are subject to cancellation due to weather conditions and are also dependent on the number of guests taking part. The small boat cruising and expedition shore landings during the call in Antarctica are included in the schedule with others available at a supplement.
Further to the optional excursions you can take part in, the Expedition Team also host a range of other activities to take part in. They may be small boat cruising, kayaking, hiking, camping or snowshoeing. Sone kayaking is available for advance booking on certain voyages, but all other activities need to be booked onboard and are of course subject to availability.
A HX Hurtigruten Expedition is tailored towards maximising your experiences of the places you are going to. On days at sea, you are encouraged to spend as much time as possible out on deck. You should also join educational talks and lectures at different locations on board because travel is often a much richer experience if you know something about the culture, wildlife, nature, and history of the places you visit. The lectures are given by lecturers who have an in-depth knowledge of the areas in which you sail and are highly experienced. They will cover topics such as biology, history and geology throughout the voyage.
The ships will feature a variety of custom-built expedition equipment, including kayaks, a fleet of Blueye underwater drones and Expedition Boats for safe landings in remote areas.
The ship has a library with some books on different topics that are available to guests while on board.
The Observation lounges are the perfect place to watch the world sail by thanks to their large panoramic windows and comfortable seating areas. Binoculars are for sale in the shop onboard for you to get a closer look.
There may also be some light entertainment onboard of an evening, but the focus of this type of cruise is not the traditional onboard activities, it is to see more and learn more of the destinations you visit.
Both ships have a science centre right at the core of the onboard experience. They are packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets such as touch screens and science equipment. The science centre is where guests can spend time with the staff or crew onboard to learn more about where you visit. It has a library and spaces for lectures. There is also space for biology and photography workshops and is the home to the Expedition Team.
An onboard photographer will be there to assist guests in the use of their photo equipment and to help improve their photo skills. To enhance the experience of the places you explore, photography is actively encouraged. Slideshows are shared onboard before the end of the voyage and made available for all guests in an Expedition Logbook – this includes a selection of photos plus biographies of the Expedition Team, Daily Programs and maps from the voyage available to share and download.
These two hybrid ships are at the cutting edge of technological advancement for sustainability. Sailing by electrical propulsion cuts emissions and innovative sustainable technology reduces fuel consumption and CO2-emissions on the ships by 20 percent.
The ships are made specially to suit cruising in polar waters where applicable. Furthermore, the Captains take pride in route planning that minimises the load of the engines and therefore reduces emissions. All waste is stored onboard until it is deposited for treatment ashore. Waste is never expelled into the sea and you are asked not to bring all rubbish back onboard after an excursion – you’ll find plenty of containers for depositing waste. If you find plastic waste on beaches where you land, the crew will gladly help removing this from the ecosystem if it is brought back to the ship. HX Hurtigruten Expeditions follow the motto “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures and kill nothing but time”.