Three Hurtigruten vessels will be transformed to premium, hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships.

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Equipped with battery packs and other green technology, the three ships will operate year-round expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast from 2021 on yet to be disclosed itineraries.

As they are transformed into full-fledged premium expedition cruise ships, the current MS Trollfjord, MS Finnmarken and MS Midnatsol, will be renamed MS Maud, MS Otto Sverdrup and MS Eirik Raude.

Battery packs and green technology

MS Otto Sverdrup will have battery packs installed during a 2020 yard stay, with a letter of intent for the same battery installation on MS Maud and MS Eirik Raude in 2021. The battery packs will support the engines of the ship, and drastically cut emissions.

The three ships will also be equipped for shore power, to cut emissions to zero when docked in ports with shore power facilities.

In addition, the three ships will get substantially upgraded low-emission engines, complying with all known and upcoming regulations (Tier3).

Large-scale upgrades

The ships will carry a maximum of 530 guests.

The keep-to-mast upgrades will introduce several new features and venues on the ships. Some highlights include:

• Using natural Scandinavian materials such as granite, oak, birch and wool
• A specially designed Expedition Launch – the tender pit area where guests embark on their excursions and off-ship adventures – will be added to all ships, complete with tender boats and other expedition equipment.
• All cabins and suites will be completely refurbished, and new suites with spectacular views added to all three ships.
• Hurtigruten’s signature Science Center will be added to the three ships.
• A brand new wellness-area, complete with gym, lounge and treatment rooms, will be built.

Three brand new restaurants will be added, matching Hurtigruten’s new restaurant concepts for the growing fleet of expedition cruise ships:

• The main restaurants will be transformed to Restaurant Aune, Hurtigruten’s new expedition cruise main restaurant concept serving breakfast, lunch and dinner based on a Scandinavian identity.
• Restaurant Lindstrøm, a speciality restaurant named after the favourite chef of the Norwegian polar heroes, will be added.
• The informal eatery Fredheim, named after a legendary 1920s hunting station in Svalbard that sheltered adventurers from around the world. In addition, a new outdoor grill venue will be added outdoor on the top decks.