New hybrid powered cruise ship completes sea trials – Hurtigruten launches pre-inaugural voyages
Hurtigruten’s new hybrid battery powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen will be completed earlier than expected. As a result, Hurtigruten is adding a series of shorter pre-inaugural voyages.
MS Fridtjof Nansen is packed with green technology and large battery packs and is, alongside her sister ship MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ship.
The groundbreaking expedition cruise ship is set for delivery by the end of 2019, well ahead of her April 1st inaugural voyage from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast.
“Pre-inaugural voyages are normally offered to specially invited guests only. We want to share the special occasion and give more explorers the opportunity for a first-hand experience of the incredible MS Fridtjof Nansen and our unique expedition cruises“, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.
Exclusive opportunities – unique destinations
Departing from London (March 7), Liverpool (March 12) and Portsmouth (March 17), the exclusive 5-night pre-inaugural voyages will take guests exploring hand-picked destinations in and around the British Isles. The hybrid powered ship will visit destinations such as Isles of Scilly, Fowey, Isle of Man and Dartmouth.
A 4-night voyage to the Norwegian capital of Oslo will take guests through the Kiel Canal and Aalborg in Denmark, from a spectacular departure point; London’s iconic Tower Bridge.
In addition to the exclusive pre-inaugural voyages, MS Fridtjof Nansen’s maiden season includes a series of cruises from Hamburg to the Norwegian coast, before spending the summer of 2020 exploring Greenland and Iceland. The 2020/2021 winter season she will join her hybrid powered sister ship MS Roald Amundsen for Hurtigruten’s signature Antarctica cruises.
“We see great demand for our expedition cruises across all markets and all destinations. With their green technology and unprecedented focus on sustainable solutions, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen are not only driving demand, they are driving change in the cruise industry”, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.
