World Leader in Exploration Travel

  Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam has received the 2022 Honorary Award from the Association of German Travel Journalists (VDRJ) for his “outstanding achievements” in tourism with emphasis on his efforts towards sustainability and for being a “role model” in the industry.   Rüdiger Edelmann, Chairman of the VDRJ said: "The Honorary Award pays tribute to companies and personalities in the travel industry who not only talk but take action. Hurtigruten Group and Daniel Skjeldam are excellent examples of this. He has implemented environmental protection and sustainability at an early stage, quickly and consistently and is a role model for sustainable change.”   Since taking the helm in 2012, Skjeldam stopped the use of heavy fuel oil on its fleet of ships, led Hurtigruten Group to become the first company of cruise liners to ban single-use plastic and overseen the launch of the world’s first battery hybrid ships.   More recently, Hurtigruten Group’s expedition cruise company Hurtigruten Expeditions, launched a third battery hybrid ship MS Otto Sverdrup in 2021. Its other battery hybrid ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, was named the world’s most sustainable ship by ratings agency Scope ESG Analysis in association with Stern magazine. Three ships on its Norwegian Coastal Express fleet are to have battery packs installed this year while Hurtigruten Svalbard launched a series of initiatives including partnering with Volvo Penta to run a hybrid day cruiser for guests.   “It’s a huge honour to accept this award on behalf of Hurtigruten Group. We live in an increasingly fragile planet, and we are more committed than ever to delivering the most unique, sustainable travel experiences for our guests. We will continue to be a catalyst for change in the travel industry not only for our guests but for the communities we visit, and we look forward to welcoming even more German guests as they explore across Hurtigruten Group’s portfolio of products,” said Skjeldam, who was presented with the award on board MS Otto Sverdrup in Hamburg earlier today.   Franz Neumeier, travel journalist and publisher of the cruise guide cruisetricks.de, who proposed Daniel Skjeldam as a candidate added: "Hurtigruten Group has been a pioneer in the cruise industry on many issues. Daniel Skjeldam takes a very clear public stance, criticizing his own industry, sometimes harshly, and regularly calling on legislators and competitors for more commitment to environmental protection and sustainability in cruising. Hurtigruten Group shows how sustainable and environmentally friendly cruise tourism is possible."   The VDRJ Honorary Award is presented annually to personalities, organizations or initiatives that have gained extraordinary achievements in the tourism industry and are sustainably successful.

  Hurtigruten Expeditions is significantly expanding its Galápagos offerings. From 2023, the world leader in exploration travel will add three new, year-round itineraries.   Hurtigruten Expeditions' inaugural Galápagos expedition cruise departs on January 7, 2022, but the company has already revealed an additional three new itineraries available for 2023 and 2024. Guests will be able to choose from four different small-ship expedition cruises, ranging from four to eight nights – essentially covering the full span of the remote 19-island archipelago considered one of the most unique places on earth. "The iconic Galápagos can be considered a planet within planet Earth due to its distinct wildlife and pristine landscape. This is one of the most distinct and pristine destinations there is. We are exceptionally proud to offer even more chances to sustainably connect with this adventure travel treasure,” said Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions.   The six-night Eastern Galápagos itinerary that launches this January will be complemented with a four-night Northern Galápagos cruise, a four-night Western Galápagos cruise, and an eight-night combination covering Northern and Western Galápagos. All four options are now available to book for travel in 2023 and 2024.   In addition, Hurtigruten Expeditions expands the land-based pre and post program, adding the award-winning luxury rainforest hotel Mashpi Lodge, located a few hours northwest of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, as a unique three-night pre or post-tour for any Galápagos cruise.   New small-ship experience Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Galápagos guests will be the first to experience the “new” MS Santa Cruz II. Custom built for small-ship exploration, and with only 50 cabins and suites, the ship offers guests an intimate and comfortable way of exploring Galápagos. Leading up to the 2022 season, MS Santa Cruz II has undergone a multi-million dollar upgrade, including all public areas, cabins and suites – effectively operating as a virtually brand new ship with a light and modern Nordic design.   Besides the spacious Darwin Suites, the ship also has dedicated family and single cabins to suit diverse needs better. All cabins have also been upgraded with new mattresses and beddings. A separate upgrade is the dining menu, which now features vegan and more vegetarian options at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.   A Science Corner was also added during the upgrade in line with Hurtigruten Expeditions' industry-leading Science Program, offering guests to even deeper explore the true wonders of the archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.   "Our guests are modern-day adventurers, eager to curiously explore the unparalleled beauty of our planet. There really is no other place like the Galápagos Islands. We therefore invite guests to participate in scientific activities to develop a deeper understanding of the region we are exploring together. We have installed a Science Corner onboard Santa Cruz II, and trained our knowledgeable and passionate guides on the two Citizen Science projects to help guests get a better understanding of what they will discover and experience in this remarkable destination," said Dr. Verena Meraldi, Chief Scientist at Hurtigruten Expeditions. While Hurtigruten Expedition’s maiden Galápagos voyage will be January 2022, the team behind the expedition cruises builds on the deepest experience in the region. Hurtigruten Expeditions has entered into a long-term partnership with Ecuador's’ Metropolitan Touring, that effectively founded expedition cruising in Galápagos more than 70 years ago.   This gives Hurtigruten Expeditions guests unique access to the local experience and knowledge, as well as exclusive access to the best landing-sites in the Galápagos archipelago.   “The added itineraries and experiences are the result of what has proven to be a very fruitful partnership for the benefit of our valued guests. Our expanded offering will truly cover all the key areas of the Galápagos, which are all distinctively different from each other, offering guests an otherworldly experience combined with incredible wildlife, " said Lassesen.

Hurtigruten Svalbard has teamed up with Volvo Penta to test a new hybrid vessel allowing guests to experience the Arctic Archipelago without disturbing the habitat. The near-silent, Marell M15 cruiser called 'Kvitbjorn' (polar bear in English) will allow for fully electric operation in the waters around Svalbard, which is hugely popular with nature-loving adventure travellers. CEO of Hurtigruten Group Daniel Skjeldam said: "We are thrilled to be working with Volvo Penta which is taking sustainable engineering to a whole new level. As one of the biggest employers on the archipelago, our Hurtigruten Svalbard team continue to lead the charge in finding innovative ways and partnerships to enable our guests to get even closer to nature." Among Kvitbjorn's features is a hydraulic clutch that allows silent and smooth shifting at low engine speeds, which is perfect for slow cruising when wildlife watching. The Marell M15 boat has a top speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 25 knots. It is robust enough to operate in the demanding Arctic environment and to run in sub-zero temperatures. The companies will also test a new pay-by-the-hour business approach. It will be the first time Volvo Penta tests out the concept of "e-mobility as a service" while Hurtigruten Svalbard will trial paying by the kilowatt-hour for operation. The concept could revolutionize investing in marine e-mobility solutions. Hurtigruten Svalbard plans to test the Marell M15 day cruiser in May 2022.  

Hurtigruten Group has joined the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers (ATAS), becoming the first-ever expedition cruise company in the association. The membership gives ATAS agents access to Hurtigruten's travel agent portal, agentportal.hurtigruten.com, arming them with the tools they need to help sell a Hurtigruten Expeditions or Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express cruise to clients. The portal offers information about destinations, ships and excursions, and access to customised marketing materials. Mark Walter, Head of UK Sales at Hurtigruten Group, said; "We are delighted to be a member of ATAS, and to bring the Hurtigruten experience to those passionate about adventure travel. This is a great opportunity for us to align with agents who understand our brand, products and ethos and to showcase the very best of what we have to offer to customers.." This year, Hurtigruten Group announced a series of new itineraries to lesser-explored destinations, including the Galapagos Islands, the Bissagos and Northern Russia. Claire Brighton, ATAS Account Director said; "We are elated Hurtigruten have joined ATAS as our first expedition cruise member. ATAS are keen to broaden our membership to include a full array of adventure products to bring to our agent members."

Hurtigruten Expeditions is adding a new region to its list of destinations - Russia. It will debut a 17-day Expedition Cruise to the White Sea - Norway and Russia Adventure departing Bergen, Norway, on 6 October 2022. It includes the Norwegian coast, the Lofoten Islands and the North Cape, the northernmost point of the European mainland. It then has seven days in Russia, travellling to one of the least visited parts of the country. The itinerary combines modern-day Russian cities and historic ports with expedition landings at rarely visited villages on the shores of the White Sea. The trip also includes the Solovetsky Islands, one of Northern Russia's iconic sights. "Finally, guests will now be able to go to Russia's best-kept secret, the White Sea, which very few travellers ever get to experience," said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen. It follows the recent additions of expedition cruises to the Galapagos Islands, the Bissagos Islands and Cape Verde in Western Africa, and the Canary Islands and Madeira Islands, which will all launch in 2022. Calls include Murmansk and Arkhangelsk on the MS Spitsbergen, which has a capacity of 180 guests. It features Hurtigruten Expedition's signature Science Center. MS Spitsbergen will also offer a 23-day Grand Expedition cruise from Tromso, Norway, to Lisbon, Portugal. The journey can be cut to a smaller trip departing from Hamburg, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or Dover to Lisbon.  

Hurtigruten Expeditions has introduced its third battery-hybrid powered ship to its fleet. MS Otto Sverdrup departed on her maiden voyage out of Hamburg this week on the first year-round expedition cruises from Germany. It marks the return of expedition cruises after more than a year of pandemic pause. "We are thrilled to finally be back exploring with our guests. This is a day we have all been really looking forward to after a very challenging year," said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen. Equipped with battery packs and other green technology, MS Otto Sverdrup will operate year-round expedition cruises from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast. It is Hurtigruten Expeditions; third hybrid vessel after MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof. After a complete upgrade and transfer to Hurtigruten Expeditions, MS Otto Sverdrup's maiden voyage from Germany is the first sailing in the step-by-step restart of operations. In late September, MS Maud will start the first ever year-round UK-based expedition cruises. Hurtigruten Expeditions 2022/2023 winter program also includes Antarctica, West Africa, Alaska, and from January 2022, the Galapagos Islands. Hurtigruten Expeditions recently announced its first ever cruises to West Africa, including Bissagos Islands and Cape Verde.

Hurtigruten Group has unveiled a new platform for UK travel agents, offering all the resources they need to help sell a Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express cruises. The new platform, agentportal.hurtigruten.com, features live availability, real-time pricing and instant booking; as well as an overview of agent bookings and commissions. It also offers in-depth training to become a Certified Hurtigruten Specialist; detailed information about Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express, destinations, ships and excursions. Users get access to customised marketing materials. To mark the reveal, Hurtigruten Group has launched a competition for one UK travel agent to win a cabin on a four-day cruise from Portsmouth to Liverpool departing on 7 May 2022. The winner will sail on battery-hybrid powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen. UK agents simply need to sign up to the portal by 31 July 2021 to be in with a chance of winning. Mark Walter, Head of UK Sales at Hurtigruten Group said; "We understand that now more than ever our trade partners need quick access to up to date information, news, marketing support, training and an easy-to-use booking system. Our new agent portal does exactly this and we are delighted to launch all this handy information in one place."

Expedition cruise line Hurtigruten has boosted its UK coastal cruise programme with additional sailings. Due to demand, Hurtigruten is adding two extra 'British Isles - Picturesque Ports, Isolated Islands and Wonderful Wildlife' sailings from Dover. The two,15-day itineraries see guests travel onboard the new MS Maud to destinations i including the Isles of Iona, Holyhead, Isles of Scilly, and Fowey. The two extra sailings join the existing four scheduled MS Maud expedition departures from Dover this summer exploring some of the most remote locations around the British Isles. These sailings can be booked with peace of mind thanks to Hurtigruten's Book with Confidence policy offering flexibility to rebook or the option of a full refund. "Our small expedition ship MS Maud can reach destinations the big white ships cannot get to, whilst still offering plenty of space to relax and dine onboard. We will create a unique perspective of the British Isles coastline," said Anthony Daniels, General Manager at Hurtigruten UK and EMEA. MS Maud accommodates less than 500 guests and has received several significant changes during lockdown, including a name change from MS Midnatsol. It has introduced the Science Center to the ship and updated the audio-visual systems in the Lecture Hall. This now allows lectures to be streamed to all cabins and suites.