Cruise & Cruise Line

Hurtigruten Makes History

Image: PHOTO: Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen. (photo via Hurtigruten)
Image: PHOTO: Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen. (photo via Hurtigruten)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 2:32 PM ET, Fri February 21, 2020

Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen made history this week when it sailed the furthest south of any of the ships in the expedition cruise line's 127 years of operation.

The world's first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship crossed the Antarctic Circle and kept going, reaching the ice edge at 70 degrees south on Wednesday at 4:14 p.m. Antarctica time.

"Our guests are thrilled! This is what Hurtigruten's expedition cruises are all about, pushing new frontiers and creating unique experiences for guests from all over the world. We are following in the footsteps of polar hero Roald Amundsen himself, aboard his namesake ship," said Captain Torry Sakkariassen, in a statement.

The cutting-edge vessel is equipped with large battery packs that significantly reduce emissions and features a specially designed ice-strengthened hull that allows her to operate in areas other ships cannot.

Once MS Roald Amundsen completes its current 18-day sailing to the Chilean Fjords, Falkland Islands and Antarctica, she will complete one additional cruise in the region before shifting to South and Central America and ultimately spending the summer in Alaska.

MS Roald Amundsen's sister ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, will also be hybrid electric-powered when she embarks on her maiden voyage this coming spring.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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