New Northwest Passage Itinerary: Hurtigruten Reveals Flagship Expedition Cruise for 2023

Hurtigruten, the leader in sustainable expedition cruising, today revealed a new flagship voyage for the 2023 season for guests to follow in the footsteps of famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen along the Northwest Passage.

The Northwest Passage – In the Wake of the Great Explorers, is a 26-day itinerary on board the explorer's namesake ship and the world's first battery hybrid expedition cruise ship, the MS Roald Amundsen. Expedition fans will venture from the Gold Rush town Nome in Alaska through the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and the Amundsen Gulf before arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia. With a team of experts covering biology and wildlife, the onboard Expedition Team will also include 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 attempt to navigate the ice floes and islands of the stunning Northwest Passage while bringing to life the local history and culture of the surrounding area for guests. The onboard Expedition Team will choose locations along the route to arrange escorted landings and small boat cruising for onshore exploration in addition to opportunities to spot wildlife in all its natural habit from whales, seals and, on the rare occasion, polar bears.

Damian Perry, Managing Director of Hurtigruten Asia Pacific, said: “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. Following a year of border restrictions and lockdown, we know from our Australian and New Zealander customers that their appetite for exploration certainly hasn't dwindled, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard for their next adventure with us.”

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, together with other green technology to reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by 20%.

Onboard, guests can expect a welcoming and comfortable environment in the public spaces and personal cabins, while being spoilt for choice when it comes to where to dine, with restaurants Aune, Fredheim and Lindstrøm serving Norwegian and Nordic traditional fare, 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 that help guests discover and better understand each destination. Experts in marine biology, Arctic survival, photography, oceanography and more, the team hosts lectures which 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, packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets – there is no better place to learn about the remote locations and areas of natural beauty on the expedition cruise itinerary. 

Itinerary Details

The Northwest Passage – In the Wake of the Great Explorers
Price: Starting from $26,236 per person twin share
Duration: 26 days
Departure date: 18 August 2023
Ports: Vancouver, Nome, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Red Bay, Corner Brook and Halifax (in addition to escorted landings and small boat cruising throughout the sailing)
Ship: MS Roald Amundsen

The Northwest Passage is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America.

For further information visit www.hurtigruten.com.au

ABOUT HURTIGRUTEN

Building on 127 years of Norwegian pioneering heritage, Hurtigruten is the world's leading expedition cruise company.

Hurtigruten's rapidly growing fleet of custom-built expedition ships takes modern-day adventure travellers 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 great responsibility, and Hurtigruten runs a responsible, sustainable global operation. Read more about Hurtigruten's sustainability efforts here.

Hurtigruten introduced the world's first hybrid battery powered cruise ships, the MS Roald Amundsen, in 2019, and sister ship the MS Fridtjof Nansen in March 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 here.

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

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