By
Alex Smith |
Hurtigruten Expeditions is to sail three ‘Pole-to-Pole’ cruises in 2023, traveling across the world from the Arctic to Antarctica.
The battery-hybrid-powered Roald Amundsen will be the first of the cruise line’s vessels to set sail when she departs from Vancouver, Canada, on 3 August 2023 for a 94-day voyage. From Canada, the ship will head north along the Alaskan coast and cross the Arctic Circle before sailing though the Northwest Passage. She will then turn south along the East Coast of the USA and Central America, and then pass through the Panama Canal to South America. The itinerary will include calls in Ecuador, Peru and Chile, followed by a sail past Antarctica before finally returning to disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Sister ship Fridtjof Nansen will begin sailing a 93-day cruise from Reykjavik, Iceland, on 13 August. After crossing the Denmark Strait to Greenland, Fridtjof Nansen will sail through the Northwest Passage, turning south once reaching Alaska to cruise along the West Coast of the USA. She will then make calls in Mexico and Central America, before visiting Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Finally, she will explore Antarctica before returning to Ushuaia for disembarkation.
Finally, Hurtigruten’s Fram will offer a 66-day cruise that will beginning in Montréal, Canada, in late August, though guests will embark in Cambridge Bay inside the Northwest Passage. She will then sail to Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador before turning south through the Atlantic Ocean and then passing through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. Guests will be able to visit an indigenous tribe in the Darian Province of Panama and the Isla de la Plata, before the cruise continues down the Pacific coast of South America and on to the Antarctic. It will then return to Punta Arenas in Chile for disembarkation.
In addition to the three Pole-to-Pole cruises, Hurtigruten Expeditions will offer a new series of month-long ‘Grand Expedition Cruises’, that combine several of the company’s itineraries. Guests can also add to these voyages with pre- and post-cruise packages, including visits to destinations such as Easter Island or Machu Picchu in Peru.
“These are undoubtedly the most unique and exclusive expedition cruises we have ever offered in our 126-year history, and we believe these are the ultimate expedition cruise experiences,” said Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions. “These extraordinary voyages will showcase some of the most spectacular nature and wildlife on our planet and offer authentic encounters with unique cultures.”