Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal express ferry and expedition cruise ship operator, is to convert three ships to hybrid powered expedition cruise ships.
The company will from next year share the coastal express route between Bergen and Kirkenes with Havila Kystruten, a new company in the Havila group, which is building four 15,800 gross ton ships for this service, They are all due to enter service in 2020.
The Trollfjord, Finnmarken and Midnatsol will undergo a major refit that will, in addition to technical areas, include cabins and public spaces. All three will also be renamed. The company has not stated where the work would be done. It owns the Kleven shipyard, which is building expedition ships for it.
Otto Sverdrup, the present day Finnmarken, will have battery packs installed during a 2020 yard stay, with a letter of intent for the same battery installation on Maud (today Trollfjordand Eirik Raude (presently Midantsol) in 2021. The battery packs will support the ships engines, and drastically cut emissions.
The three ships will also be equipped for shore power, to cut emissions to zero when docked in ports with shore power facilities.
In addition, the three ships will get substantially upgraded low-emission engines, complying with all known and upcoming regulations (Tier3).
All cabins and suites will be renovated. This are the first sketches of the brand new corner-suites at the front of the top deck on board Maud and Eirik Raude.
Through the three single largest upgrade projects in Hurtigruten’s more than 125 years of history, the ships will be transformed into premium expedition cruise ships, carrying a maximum of 530 guests. This is the same as the capacity of the recently introduced expedition cruise ship newbuilding Roald Amundsen and its sister vessel Fridtjof Nansen, which is under construction at the Kleven shipyard in Norway.
The keel-to-mast upgrades will introduce several new features and venues on the ships. Some highlights include:
Using natural Scandinavian materials such as granite, oak, birch and wool, all public areas on Maud, Otto Sverdrup and Eirik Raude will be redesigned to create a relaxed and stylish look and feel, and add to the premium on-board experience.
A specially designed Expedition Launch – the tender pit area where guests embark on their on their excursions and off-ship adventures – will be added to all ships, complete with tender boats and other expedition equipment.
All cabins and suites will be completely refurbished, and new suites with spectacular views added to all three ships.
Hurtigruten’s signature Science Center will be added to the three ships. Packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets such as touch screens, science equipment and other interactive features, the edutainment area will also be the on-board HQ for the ship’s Expedition Team.
A brand new wellness-area, complete with gym, lounge and treatment rooms, will be built. The pool area (Otto Sverdrup) and outdoor hot tub areas (Maud and Eirik Raude) will be fully upgraded.
Three brand new restaurants will be added, matching Hurtigruten’s new restaurant concepts for the growing fleet of expedition cruise ships: The main restaurants will be transformed to Restaurant Aune (pictured above), Hurtigruten’s new expedition cruise main restaurant concept.
Aune will be social and informal with the use of natural elements in design and interiors, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner based on a Scandinavian identity.
Restaurant Lindstrøm a specialty restaurant named after the favourite chef of the Norwegian polar heroes, will be added. Lindstrøm will be an upper premium fine dining restaurant with strong roots in traditional Norwegian cooking that are contrasted with modern cuisine.
The informal eatery Fredheim, named after a legendary 1920s hunting station in Svalbard that sheltered adventurers from around the world. In addition, a new outdoor grill venue will be added outdoor on the top decks.
The ships’ extensive art collections will be preserved.
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