HX’s Fridtjof Nansen Marks Five Years of Service – Cruise Industry News

HX’s Fridtjof Nansen is set to celebrate its fifth year of service for HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) in early March.

As a sister to the 2019-built Roald Amundsen, the 530-guest expedition vessel was built by the Kleven Yard in Norway.

Named after the Norwegian scientist who explored Greenland and the North Pole, the ship is highlighted by its green technologies, which include a hybrid-powered propulsion system.

After being delivered to Hurtigruten in late 2019, the Fridtjof Nansen officially set sail on its maiden voyage in early March 2020.

The ship’s inaugural season, however, was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the cruise industry shut down in March 2020.

After welcoming guests back following the health emergency, the Fridtjof Nansen was finally christened during a ceremony in September 2021.

The inaugural celebration took place in Svalbard and replaced the traditional bottle of champagne with a chunk of ice.

Environmental advocates Hilde Fålun Strøm and Sunniva Sørby served as godmothers, crushing the ice against the ship’s raked bow.

In addition to Norway and the Arctic, the Fridtjof Nansen later debuted in additional destinations, including South America and Antarctica.

In 2025, the ship is initially scheduled to offer ten- and 11-night expeditions to Antarctica, in addition to a series of six- and seven-night itineraries in Iceland and Northern Europe.

The 20,000-ton vessel is also set to offer longer expeditions to Greenland and the Canadian Arctic before embarking on a Northwest Passage cruise.

Sailing in August, the 23-day expedition sails between Reykjavik and Seattle in mid-August and includes visits to Baffin Island, Cambridge Bay, Smoking Hills and more.

The Fridtjof Nansen is scheduled to offer cruises in Alaska and South America before returning to Antarctica for the 2025-26 season in late October.