It is well known that Hurtgruten sails along the Norwegian coast and on its expedition cruises to Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica, but in 2017 the company is adding new destinations to its program. Guests will be taken closer to nature with the expedition ships MS “Fram” and MS “Midnatso” l, as well as the new MS “Spitsbergen”.

– We want to offer our guests unique and meaningful experiences, both where the water is icy and where it is more temperate. We want people to follow in the footsteps of the Vikings, Amundsen and Nansen, as well as Heyerdahl, says Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten, in a press release.

South America

Hurtigruten takes its guests on cruises along the South American Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Hurtigruten expedition ship will sail along the coasts of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. Some routes also serve islands in the South Atlantic, such as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. There will be encounters with local people and with penguins, birds, whales, seals and other wildlife.

The voyages also take in tropical beaches and major cities, and some sailings take the Amazon River into the rainforest. On all crossings, experienced expedition teams will take guests on excursions. There will also be lectures on board.

– We offer meaningful travel. Our guests have the opportunity to learn more about the destinations and give back to them. Many of the areas in which Hurtigruten sails are vulnerable. It is important to present nature in a gentle way and to involve ambassadors who contribute to its preservation, says Skjeldam.

Canada

To the west, the program extends to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Among other places, there will be landings at L’Anse aux Meadows. This small fishing village, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where Norwegians Anne Stine, Helge Ingstad and their daughter Benedicte discovered a Viking settlement in 1960.

Benedicte Ingstad (72) is currently a researcher and professor in medical anthropology. She will participate in some Hurtigruten cruises to tell the story of the family’s discovery.

– There are many indications that this is where the pioneer explorer Leiv Erikson landed and called the region Vinland. It’s like a fairy tale to be able to travel here well over 1,000 years later, Skjeldam says.

There will also be stops at beautiful national parks, the provincial capital of St. John’s and places like Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Red Bay and Battle Harbour.

Fearthly experiences

On the eastern side of Greenland, it will be possible to explore Kangertittivaq or Scoresbysundet, which with its 350 kilometers is the longest fjord in the world. The trip there is combined with Iceland, Jan Mayen with the northernmost volcano in the world, Beerenberg and the Lofoten.

– We will take guests to glaciers where large icebergs calve, to smoking volcanoes and to the homelands of whales, dolphins, seabirds and muskrats, explains Skjeldam.

There will also be Arctic expeditions to Thule, in the far northwest, on the largest island there is.

The new expedition ship MS “Spitsbergen” will take adventurous guests west to the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and the Faroe Islands, as well as ports such as Lerwick, Kirkwall and Thorshavn.

Antarctic

Around Svalbard there will be sailings to the ice edge and circular sailings around the archipelago.

Hurtigruten is also increasing its investments in Antarctica. Since winter 2016, the offer has tripled as the MS “Midnatsol” also sails to the southern hemisphere for the summer season. The Chilean fjords, Cape Horn, the Strait of Magellan and the South Pole continent itself are some of the highlights.

Sailings are tailored to seasonal variations and follow the region’s wildlife, ice conditions and local cultural history. Guests can enjoy hiking on ancient breis, walking among penguins, kayaking among seals and snorkeling in the icy waters.

– On Antarctic expeditions, it is the elements that rule. Weather, wind and ice conditions set the framework for these extreme experiences, Skjeldam explains.

Antarctica expeditions with MS Midnatsol begin and end in Punta Arenas, allowing passengers to explore the deep fjords of Chile, see Patagonia, visit Cape Horn and then experience all the highlights of Antarctica.

MS “Fram” continues the legacy of the original expedition ship “Fram” and takes around 200 guests on more extreme experiences from Ushuaya in Argentina. The ship is small and gets close to virtually inaccessible places on the world’s southernmost continent.