The debut of the Fridtjof Nansen, the second new expedition cruise ship from Hurtigruten, has been pushed back, a representative of the cruise line tells Travel Agent. The change in schedule is due to the delay of the ship’s sibling vessel, the Roald Amundsen, which the expedition cruise line reported back in February.
“Kleven yard, where the highly advanced vessels are currently under construction, has informed us that as a direct result of the delayed delivery of Roald Amundsen, they will not be able to deliver Fridtjof Nansen on schedule,” a Hurtigruten representative said.
The Midnatsol will replace the Fridtjof Nansen on its scheduled voyages in Antarctica for the 2019 / 2020 season. All affected guests will receive a full refund, including flight cancellation costs, as well as a number of discounts on alternative Hurtigruten voyages.
In February Hurtigruten reported that the launch of the Roald Amundsen had been pushed back to 2019 after Kleven, the shipyard where the vessel is currently under construction, said it would need more time “due to the complexity of the project.” The ship had originally been slated for delivery in 2018.
Both the Roald Amundsen and the Fridtjof Nansen are hybrid expedition cruise ships, which use partially electric propulsion, the efficient use of electricity onboard and an advanced hull design to cut CO2 emissions by up to 20 percent, according to the cruise line. The building of the two hybrid ships represents the largest investment in the company’s history.
The two new ships will be specially designed for polar voyages and will have large observation platforms on several decks for scenery and wildlife viewing. They will have a capacity of approximately 600 guests based on double occupancy, with six out of 10 cabins having their own balcony. Two out of every 10 will be suites. The vessels will also have three restaurants with menus that aim to reflect local flavors, as well as a special pool deck with infinity pools, Jacuzzis and cocktail bars.
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