Last Saturday, September 17th, we had the distinct pleasure of visiting a cruise ship like no other: The m/s Roald Amundsen from Hurtigruten expeditions. This ship is no ordinary cruise ship, she’s specifically intended as an expedition cruiser. Hurtigruten believes that expedition cruising should have minimal environmental impact – so she’s a hybrid ship – the same technological concept of battery and internal combustion power that can be found in a Toyota Prius.

Hurtigruten also believes that their passengers can be ambassadors for change when it comes to dealing with the environment – all excursions take precautions not to interfere with the natural environment, everything that is carried in is also carried out and beach cleanups are often included as part of the excursions. Hurtigruten cruisers often leave the ship with a different attitude to the flora and fauna that we all share.

We met up with our Hurtigruten BDM, Émilie, at 10 AM at pier 23 in Halifax. Émilie had just completed a Hurtigruten cruise in the Galapagos and was very enthusiastic about the product we were about to see. Bob, Hurtigruten project manager who spends 50 percent of his time cruising and the other 50 percent cruising at a desk on land guided us through security and on to the ship.

We entered the ship through the gangway on deck four, where a 17.5 meter tall videowall greets you in the ships atrium. We proceeded to the expedition ready room one deck below. There, folding seats lined the walls. Behind the seats were large supplies of boots that are issued to each passenger as part of their cruise. The seats face a very large video screen that is used to prepare the passengers for their excursions - we were shown a promo video explaining the environmental awareness ethos that Hurtigruten adheres to, while at the same time selling their cruises very effectively. Way to go marketing team! Included in the cruise fare is a bright red Helly Hansen expedition jacket that keeps cruisers warm and dry as well as making them immediately identifiable out and about.


From there, on to the expedition launch room – where cruisers go to start their exploration adventures – be it by zodiac, kayak or paddleboard. A large watertight door separates the inside comfort of the ship with the adventurous environment outside. When returning to the ship all passengers go through the boot washer, so environmental cross contamination stands less of a chance. Safety equipment such as neoprene dry suits as well as all the supplies that come ashore were explained; Bob also modelled an auto inflating life vest for us.


Next stop was the garage – containing no less than 17 Zodiacs that each comfortably seat 10 passengers. It was explained that Hurtigruten is looking for battery powered propulsion solutions for the Zodiacs, but for now 60 horse Yamaha’s will (have to) do. Zodiacs are winched out of the ship through an oversized door. The same room contained yellow one man kayaks for the guides and red two man kayaks for the cruisers. No one is allowed out on their own, even if they're proferssional kayakers. Safety first. Bob explained that if one of the passengers does not feel happy with their kayak pairing that one of the expedition crew will help out.

Next stop was the science center on deck 6. There, passengers have access to a library filled with books and multimedia aids that inform them about the biome that they are cruising through. Impressive were the 8 Zeiss microscopes (one of which is connected to a TV screen) for studying samples. Equally impressive was the touch screen video table that passengers may use. The science center had comfortable seating for some quiet research. Castings of bones and skeletons were available to study the differences between animal species. The science center is also connected to two lecture halls and two double sided videowalls arranged in a herringbone that make four screens in total.

Screens everywhere – Besides the very large videowall in the atrium, screens all around the lounges and science center displayed current location, wind, temperature, maps and also a continuous presentation of what was going on at both sides of pier 23 in Halifax. The screens add bright yet useful touches to the subdued, classy Scandinavian interior.

Outside the Science center is an enclosed observation deck that leads to the bow of the ship. There is a large outdoor science table with a sink and a holding tank for wet specimens. Bob told us that the ship also continuously samples the seawater as it sails along – collecting information on temperature, salinity, currents, sea life, pollutants, etc. that is shared with scientists worldwide and in real time.

Next was the forward observation deck on deck 7 – a nice open air space and also where the angled, forward facing windows of the Explorer suites on deck 7 and 8 are located.

Back inside we passed by the one and only shop on board that carries branded clothing, some jewelry, basic toiletries and articles from Beach Clean, with usable items made with materials found on beaches.

Next were the passenger accommodations. Bob introduced Laszló the hotel manger who looked smart dressed in full uniform for the plaque ceremony – each ship exchanges a plaque on a visit to a new port. First were the standard oceanview staterooms. Classy yet very functional is the best description. Light tones outweigh dark ones, and light wood furnishings give this a very Scandinavian feel. Nice touch is the built in bottle rack in each room. There are no interior staterooms on the Roald Amundsen. Next was the balcony stateroom, which as far as the room itself goes was really no different from the Oceanview. The balcony was interesting in that it was deeper than one would expect from a (regular) cruise ship – offering more shelter from the elements. The suite accommodations were next. The base suite is really not much bigger than a good sized balcony stateroom on most regular cruise ships, about the size of a jr suite on Royal Caribbean. It does feature a full size pull out couch (balcony and oceanview have two chairs and a table) a separate dressing area, large bathroom and a stocked minibar – first stocking is included, thereafter it is chargeable. Explorer suites, which we did not see, have a large forward facing sloped window, and are significantly larger. We also did not get to see the Corner suites. There were still passengers on board continuing (some all the way to Antarctica on a 93 day sailing)

Suite guests have 3x daily access to the Lindstrøm Restaurant included in their cruise fare. One of three restaurants aboard, the Lindstrøm is separated in to two zones and features a partially open kitchen. Seating is classy with warm tones and mood lighting. Tables come in two top, four top and six top versions. There are windows to one side only. Non suite passengers may access the Lindstrøm for a 25 Euro supplement and is based on availability only. Other dining venues are the Aune Restaurant, which is the main dining room with a variety of seating and the Fredheim, which is the least formal of the three. Interesting to see was that all tables have raised edges, so that the contents of the coffee cup and soup bowl don’t make their way to your lap or the carpet in case of a bumpy ride.


We stopped by the gym, the (closed) wellness center, made a quick but very hot tour of the side facing sauna with picture windows and the walking track with outdoor gym on the top deck.

Next stop was the bridge, where we toured the 3 consoles and bridge wings. The Roald Amundsen is equipped with the best in navigation and control systems and can be controlled from any of four independent control posts, including one that is away from the bridge, should the bridge be unserviceable. It has a geopositioning system that allows the ship to stay in one place without the use of an anchor, thereby avoiding damage to the seabed. The senior officers are mostly European, but I did spot some Asian staff on the bridge – Like on most cruise ships there is a large Filipino contingent on board.


Last stop was the Explorer lounge, which is on the top deck. This space is where the staff introduces themselves to the cruisers on embarkation day and make a point of being approachable. The lounge has plenty of seating and a welcoming bar. Typically guests do not opt for a drinks package (49 euros a day) but instead purchase a few drinks as they go along. There is seating under slanted windows that allow for great stargazing or viewing the northern lights from the daybeds. The Explorer also has a classic chart table, giving the guests the chance to look at a good old - fashioned rolled map.

After being treated to (very delicious) salmon or beef sandwiches we said our goodbyes to Emily, Bob and the other travel agents. This was a great ship visit. Truly unique, Hurtigruten is a cruise line that offers a very niche product that we were very impressed with. They offer a unique and enriching experience to its guests; delivered with a practical and warm Scandinavian style.