Hurtigruten Expeditions is launching its first-ever cruises to Africa in 2022, just one of many other exciting news items from the line. We discussed all the brand’s latest developments with Asta Lassesen, CEO of the cruise line.
What is the current state of operations for the Hurtigruten Expeditions fleet?
We are excited to introduce our third hybrid, battery-powered ship, MS Otto Sverdrup, in just a few weeks. The first battery-powered ship in the industry, MS Roald Amundsen, was brand-new in 2019, followed by MS Fridtjof Nansen last year. MS Otto Sverdrup joins the Hurtigruten Expeditions fleet after an extensive upgrade that installed battery packs that support the ship’s engines and drastically cut emissions. Other advanced green technologies, such as shore power equipment, were also implemented, which means we can now cut emissions to zero when docked in ports with shore power facilities.
MS Otto Sverdrup will be the first ship in our Expeditions fleet to enter service again on Aug. 24, when it departs from Hamburg, Germany, for an expedition cruise to the Norwegian coast. About a month later, on Sept. 22, MS Maud will depart from Dover, England, and be the second ship back in service, followed by three ships out of Valparaiso, Chile: MS Fram on Oct. 15, MS Roald Amundsen on Oct. 23, and MS Fridtjof Nansen on Nov. 2.
Looking ahead to 2022, we have record bookings, far stronger than pre-pandemic [times]. Overall, our bookings for 2022 are almost 50% higher than they were in 2019 for 2020. This truly shows how strong pent-up demand is, coupled with the growing interest in authentic adventure travel.
Looking ahead to 2022, we have record bookings, far stronger than pre-pandemic [times]. Overall, our bookings for 2022 are almost 50% higher than they were in 2019 for 2020.
In January 2022, we will launch our Galapagos Islands operations with MS Santa Cruz II. Then, MS Nordstjernen will launch out of Svalbard, Norway, in May 2022, and last is MS Spitsbergen, with our first-ever African expedition cruises at the end of 2022 (it will initially depart from Tromso, Norway, on Oct. 6, 2022).
What is the significance of the new Africa sailings for Hurtigruten?
Hurtigruten Expeditions has been known as the Polar expert for decades, which we will continue to be — but we know that our guests want to travel with us again and explore so many other parts of the world. Feedback we’ve received from past guests includes a wish for more warm-water destinations, so that’s something we’ve really focused on this year — first with the Galapagos Islands, and now our first-ever African expedition cruises.
Feedback we’ve received from past guests includes a wish for more warm-water destinations, so that’s something we’ve really focused on this year — first with the Galapagos Islands, and now our first-ever African expedition cruises.
Some cruise lines do include Cape Verde, but we will visit parts of the archipelago they don’t go to. And we’ll be the only cruise line next year going to the Bissagos Islands [off the coast of Guinea-Bissau]. So, we will offer a truly unique experience that should appeal to adventurous travelers who want to visit some of the most remote places on Earth.
Guests will see mighty rivers, mangrove swamps, jungle forests, wooded savannahs, palm groves, desert-like islands half-covered by sand dunes, volcanic mountain tops and dramatic cliffs towering over incredibly deep valleys. They will also visit the bustling capital cities of Dakar, Senegal; Praia, Cape Verde; and Banjul, the Gambia. No other cruise line offers anything like it. Our guests will meet the different peoples of Western Africa, learn about their culture and history, and experience some of their traditions.
Western Africa, and particularly the Bissagos Islands, are a hotspot of biodiversity, with hundreds of different birds, reptiles and iconic animals such as saltwater hippos, Nile crocodiles, manatees and sea turtles. We’re incredibly excited to offer our guests a sailing that has such exceptional variety.
Asta Lassesen, CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions
Credit: 2021 Hurtigruten ExpeditionsWhat kind of adventures will be featured on these sailings?
[There will be] kayaks and zodiacs, but also a heavy focus on small boat landings, nature walks and wildlife spotting. These archipelagos offer remarkable hiking paths, either through volcanic landscapes in Cape Verde or through mangrove fields in the Bissagos Islands.
For instance, in the Bissagos Islands, a particular highlight is Orango National Park, where in November and early December, a guided safari on foot will give guests the chance to witness the rare saltwater hippos, one of the islanders’ sacred animal icons.
How should travel agents be marketing the new destination to their clients?
[As with] our other bucket-list destinations, agents should be marketing it to clients who are looking for adventure and remote destinations. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, both in terms of the off-ship activities related to history, geology, wildlife and culture, and the on-ship comforts of local foods and relaxation/wellness options.
What specific health and safety measures can their clients expect for the time being?
As always, safety is our top priority, and of course, that has become even more of a focus with the pandemic. Therefore, all guests and crew onboard are required to be vaccinated. You can find our health and safety regulations on our website.
What else does the near future hold for Hurtigruten?
We have several exciting partnerships, most notably with the California Ocean Alliance, which will result in having a team of scientists onboard three Antarctica sailings in early 2022 to collect acoustic data and research ambient noise conditions. Ultimately, it will help us — and all cruise lines — better minimize interference with whales in the region. We will continue to announce more partnerships like this soon.
For Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express, we are fully focused on upgrading the entire fleet. All seven Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express ships will undergo significant green upgrades by 2023, which will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 25% and cut NOx emissions by 80%.
Three ships — MS Richard With, MS Nordlys and MS Kong Harald — will also undergo a full-fledged transformation to battery-hybrid power by installing new low-emission engines and large battery packs.
The Details
Hurtigruten Expeditions
