Hurtigruten has decided to exten d the temporary suspension of its worldwide sailings until at least mid-June.
The company hopes to gradually restart operations from 16 June.
“We are two months into what is a truly extraordinary situation. In one way or another, the consequences of the pandemic impact us all,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty in what the next weeks and months will bring. However, we do see international restrictions gradually being lifted,” Hurtigruten’s CEO said.
“Step by step, the pandemic is being brought under control. Businesses are re-opening and everyday life is slowly getting back to a degree of normality.”
Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam
In Norway, which is one of the most popular destination for Arctic cruises and where Hurtigruten is headquartered, schools, kindergartens, restaurants, cinemas and hairdressers are already open and travel restrictions are being gradually lifted.
“Gradually restarting operations within Norwegian waters are the natural first steps towards normalisation for us,” he said.
“The size and scale of our step-by-step restart
Hurtigruten also plans to gradually restart Arctic expedition cruises this summer, according to Skjeldam “in areas where restrictions are lifted – where and when we believe it is safe”.
When voyages return there will be even stricter hygiene protocols as well as reduced guest capacity to allow social distancing.
As there still is a lot of uncertainty surrounding international travel restrictions in the following weeks and months, Hurtigruten has introduced a flexible rebooking policy.
- Hurtigruten is offering free rebooking for all guests on all voyages departing before 30 September.
- The guests are offered rebooking and a future discount of 10%, to any future Hurtigruten cruise – Expedition or Norwegian Coastal – in 2020 or 2021.
For full policy and rebooking options, click here to visit Hurtigruten’s dedicated information page.