Rendering courtesy of Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten purchased a new expedition ship to operate in Norway, replacing the Midnatsol, which will join the Fram in Antarctica for the 2016-17 season.
Temporarily named Norway Explorer, the 320-passenger ship was built in Portugal in 2009 at the Viana do Castelo shipyard. Formerly known as Atlantida, it will undergo a total reconstruction that will adapt it for polar waters. The project also will upgrade the cabins, suites and public spaces.
"The new ship's maneuverability and optimal size will bring Hurtigruten's guests even closer to nature," CEO Daniel Skjeldam said. "We invest in our fleet to ensure that Hurtigruten remains a world leader in sustainable explorer travels along the Norwegian coast and polar destinations as well as enrich our guests' unique experiences by expanding our service at destinations such as Greenland, Svalbard and Antarctica."
An exploration travel specialist, 123-year-old Hurtigruten is continuing to expand its marketing and sales efforts in North America. Having been taken private late in 2014, the company is gearing up to offer new itineraries, new soft and hard adventure excursions, and expanding its expedition leader teams over the next few years.
The acquisition brings the size of the company's fleet to 13 ships that carry 100 to 646 guests.
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