Hurtigruten Expeditions has announced it will be returning to Antarctica later this year, with the battery-hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fram, both departing from Chile.
Hurtigruten Expeditions has announced that its Antarctica #ArrivalRevival is underway, with guests being able to explore the White Continent in November and December 2021, departing from Punta Arenas, Chile.
Damian Perry, Managing Director, APAC Region at Hurtigruten said the company decided to select Chile for its departures, despite Argentina announcing the country is beginning to reopen.
“We have had to remain nimble and even though there are now signals about Argentina gradually opening for tourists, the rules and procedures applicable for cruises and cruise travellers are still uncertain and unclear,” he said.
“I guess it is a similar situation for those attempting to sail in Australia or alternatively choose to relocate when there are no absolutes or clarity from policy makers and authorities.”
Due to the travel restrictions situation, Hurigruten says the third ship planned for Antarctica, the newly named battery-hybrid powered MS Fridtjof Nansen, will instead be offering expedition cruises to the coast of Norway from Hamburg, Germany.
She will complement the refurbished battery-hybrid powered MS Otto Sverdrup, as most of her sailings are sold out for the first quarter of 2022 due to strong demand.
The cruise company says affected guests have been contacted with rebooking options.
“Preparing for a two-ship Antarctica season this fall marks a remarkable turning point for us,” said Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam.
“With MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fram sailing out of Punta Arenas, and MS Fridtjof Nansen offering in-demand expedition cruises in Europe, we are back with all our planned expedition fleet activities at the start of the new year.
“Knowing that also all Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express ships are back in schedule, and that all hotels and on-land offers will be open to guests again, we look optimistically and enthusiastically at the adventure travel year of 2022.”
With very strong 2022 booking numbers demonstrating substantial pent-up demand for future adventure travel, Hurtigruten Expeditions now prepare for:
- MS Roald Amundsen to sail her first Antarctica expedition cruise out of Punta Arenas on November 25.
- MS Fram, originally scheduled to depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, to kick off her 2021/22 Antarctica season from Punta Arenas, on December 14.
- MS Fridtjof Nansen, initially scheduled for Antarctica 2021/22, to have her first departure from Hamburg in January 2022.
All guests and crew members for all Antarctica expedition cruises will be vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency.
“We are thrilled to again offer our guests safe and sustainable, lifechanging Antarctic adventures,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen.
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