MS Fridtjof Nansen

The 2020-built / 2021-inaugurated MS Fridtjof Nansen cruise ship is the second in a two-ship series of hybrid-powered Hurtigruten expedition ships. The two newbuilds (Roald Amundsen and “Fridtjof Nansen”) were both named after the most influential Norwegian polar explorers from the era when Hurtigruten began offering expedition cruise itineraries.

In 2021, Hurtigruten allocated four older ships to its expedition fleet: Spitsbergen (2009), Midnatsol (2003), Trollfjord (2002), and Finnmarken (2002).

MS Fridtjof Nansen is now part of the Hurtigruten Expeditions / HX fleet.

The vessel (IMO number 9813084) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257088070) and registered in Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen Island). This port registry made MS Fridtjof Nansen the first cruise ship ever to be registered in Svalbard.

History - construction and ownership

The shipowner Hurtigruten is a Norwegian passenger shipping company specializing in cruise and ferry services. The “Norwegian Coastal Express Route” (Bergen-Kirkenes) is a cargo-passenger ferry service along Norway’s western and northern coast. Hurtigruten’s cruise ferries sail nearly the entire length of Norway and complete the roundtrip itinerary in 11 days. The route also includes the Lofoten Islands and the Vesteralen Islands.

This vessel class was purpose-built for Norwegian coastal and polar expedition cruises (Arctic and Antarctica itineraries). Rolls-Royce’s Marine division received GBP 25 million (USD 33 million) from the shipyard to provide the vessel’s design and equipment.

The new series of Hurtigruten expedition vessels features the latest environmentally friendly marine technologies. The hybrid system allows fully electric propulsion for up to 30 minutes. The main benefit is a substantial reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. The technology—together with efficient onboard power use and an optimized hull design—reduces harmful emissions by nearly 20%.

Building materials used during construction were predominantly Norwegian, with extensive use of granite, oak, and wool, among others.

Fridtjof Nansen is Hurtigruten’s second liner fitted with the largest LED screen at sea. The seven-deck-high screen (with sound) measures 17.5 m (57.5 ft) in height and is positioned vertically midship in the Atrium, facing the glass-walled elevators. The LED screen displays live footage of surrounding scenery and wildlife and can also be used for live-streaming lectures and media presentations, or simply to create different moods with HD images and videos.

The ship has four lifts (passenger elevators), of which two (midship) connect all decks, while the other two (forward) interconnect only the cabin decks.

Decks and Cabins

Hurtigruten Fridtjof Nansen has a total of 265 passenger cabins (all outside, 50% with balconies) across 13 categories and 3 main types: EXPEDITION SUITES, ARCTIC SUPERIOR (balcony cabins), and POLAR OUTSIDE (oceanview cabins). The ship has five wheelchair-accessible cabins (adapted for guests with disabilities), which are also available for general booking.

The boat has 11 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 have cabins.

All staterooms, regardless of category, offer standard complimentary amenities: a Queen-size double bed (with under-bed storage for suitcases), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, double sofabed, floor lamps, recessed ceiling lights, mirrored vanity table (writing desk) with chair and magnifying mirror, low table with two lounge chairs (with footstools), mirrored wardrobe, electronic safe (in the closet), coffee/tea-making facilities (kettle, tray with packaged coffee and tea), phone (intercom), wall-mounted smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system), mini-bar (refrigerator), carpet flooring, individually controlled air-conditioning, and an en-suite bathroom (wall-mounted toilet, glass shower, single-sink vanity, bathrobes, hairdryer). Cabins also feature 220V power outlets and USB ports.

EXPEDITION SUITES feature floor-to-ceiling windows (some slanted), private step-out balconies, a four-seat dining table, and an espresso coffee maker (in addition to the kettle with packaged tea and coffee). Top-tier suites have larger bathrooms with double-sink vanities. Aft corner suites have outdoor Jacuzzis on their balconies.

Categories MA–MB (XL Suite), MD (Large), and MC (Aft) are all corner suites with balconies. Category MC has a hot tub in the bathroom. ME Suites have balconies, while MF Suites have large windows (no balcony). EXPEDITION SUITES (by category) are sized as follows: MA (46–48 m² / 495–515 ft²), MB (44 m² / 470 ft²), MC (20–30 m² / 215–320 ft²), MD (35 m² / 375 ft²), ME (20–28 m² / 215–300 ft²), MF (22 m² / 235 ft²).

ARCTIC SUPERIOR staterooms are balcony cabins (with step-out private verandas) and are sized as follows by category: XT and XTD (15–19 m² / 160–205 ft²), XY (19 m² / 205 ft²). POLAR OUTSIDE cabins are oceanview (without balconies) and are sized as follows by category: TT (27 m² / 290 ft²), TY (24–26 m² / 260–280 ft²), RR (19–23 m² / 205–250 ft²), RS (17 m² / 180 ft²).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Breakfast and lunch on Fridtjof Nansen are buffet-style and open seating. The serving area is situated at the center of the main restaurant in a square formation. Meals are spread over a couple of hours, so the dining room is seldom crowded. Some dinners are open-seating, self-service buffets, while others are plated meals served in one or two seatings, depending on how full the ship is.

Fridtjof Nansen has three restaurants.

• The Restaurant / Aune Main Dining (named after the Norwegian polar expedition supplier Tinus Aune) is the ship’s dining room (capacity 234 seats) with large floor-to-ceiling windows, a central buffet station, and an outdoor seating area (alfresco terrace).
• The Bistro / Fredheim (capacity 71 seats) is a casual dining lounge named after Villa Fredheim (an early-20th-century hunting station on Spits­ber­gen Island). Fredheim offers light snacks and beverages in lounge seating and has a separate buffet dining area.
• Lindstrom Specialty Restaurant (capacity 62 seats) is named after Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm (1866–1939), a Norwegian chef who took part in four polar expeditions (1898–1902, 1903–06, 1910–12, 1914–16). All Suite-category guests dine complimentary at Lindstrom daily (all-inclusive breakfast and dinner). Guests in other cabin categories may also dine at Lindstrom (breakfast and/or dinner) for an additional charge (à la carte menu, premium wine list).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MV Fridtjof Nansen features innovative Scandinavian design, large observation platforms (on several decks), and a pool deck with an infinity pool, Jacuzzis, and bars.

From the moment guests step aboard the compact Fridtjof Nansen, they feel as though they have arrived in the polar regions. The artwork reflects both Antarctica and the Arctic, with photos of early expeditions, paintings of snow-capped peaks, and images of penguins. MS Fridtjof Nansen brings her guests close to nature and unforgettable experiences. She offers numerous lounges for relaxation, as well as a well-equipped gym for more active travelers.

The vessel carries a variety of custom-built expedition equipment, including a fleet of Blueye underwater drones, large inflatable Explorer Boats (Zodiacs), and kayaks. After daily adventures, guests can rejuvenate in the vessel’s wellness area, panoramic sauna, gym, or on the pool deck with an infinity pool, pool bar, and Jacuzzis. The following is the complete list of Fridtjof Nansen’s lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Wardroom (ship officers’ dining room and relaxation lounge)
• Embarkation/disembarkation area and lobby for easy loading/unloading of guests going on land expeditions; ship-to-shore tendering is serviced by inflatable boats (used mostly for wildlife watching)
• Lecture halls (offer expert lectures and multimedia presentations)
• The Lobby (with floor-to-ceiling windows, reception, expedition bookings and information), and a seven-deck-high Atrium (with glass-wall elevators)
• Internet corner (Internet café with four computers, combined with a library)
• Shop (selling hand-made souvenirs, special-occasion gifts, Hurtigruten-logo merchandise); Video Games Arcade
• A two-level Observation Deck (indoor viewing area with large windows) located forward (at the bow) on decks 6 and 7
• Explorer Lounge (forward on deck 10 / pool deck) is an indoor observation lounge (bow-located) with a full-service bar, slanted floor-to-ceiling windows (270-degree views), comfortable seating, and an outdoor terrace (named “Passenger Bridge”)
• Fitness Centre – a large gym room equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machine, ping-pong table, free weights, and yoga mats
• On the Sun Deck are two outdoor gym areas, a walking/running track, and an aft observation deck (viewing area). The Sundeck is also where Hurtigruten holds the special “Arctic Circle baptism” ceremony, which includes a Neptune-costumed crew member, icy seawater, and a vodka shot for warming up.

Aft on the pool deck are the outdoor infinity pool (rectangular heated swimming pool) flanked by two outdoor Jacuzzis (whirlpools), pool showers, and a pool bar. Two separate sauna rooms (unisex) are located midship starboard.

Nansen Science Centre (deck 6 forward, shown in the photo below) is a large “scientific lounge” (research lab) packed with high-tech gadgets (including microscopes and touch screens) and the latest digital equipment. The venue includes a library, lecture halls, photo center (photo- and video-processing studio), conference room, Expedition Team room, and dedicated areas for themed educational activities (workshops in biology, marine life, geography, photography, etc.). Hurtigruten’s Expedition Team provides guests with scientific information and technology assistance here.

The vessel (Kleven Yard / hull number 401) has a volume of 21,765 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 2,421 tons, and a maximum draught of 5.5 m. Her powerplant is based on Bergen marine diesel engines (model B33/45L6). The registered owner and manager is HX TO GmbH.

The Norway-flagged MS Fridtjof Nansen is the second of Hurtigruten’s new expedition cruise ships, built in Poland (Montex Shipyard in Gdansk – hull and superstructure) and Norway (Kleven Shipyard in Ulsteinvik – marine interior and outfitting). In April 2016, the company signed a letter of intent with the Kleven Verft shipyard for two vessels, with an option for two additional ships of the same class and design. The shipbuilding contract was finalized in July 2016. MS Roald Amundsen was scheduled for delivery in July 2018, and MS Fridtjof Nansen in July 2019.

The vessel was launched (floated out) from drydock at Kleven Shipyard on December 9, 2018, and delivered to Hurtigruten AS on December 20, 2019.

The ship’s inaugural cruise was initially planned for April 1, 2020, as a Norwegian Fjords roundtrip from Hamburg. A series of exclusive pre-inaugural voyages for VIP guests (by invitation only) was also scheduled.

The ship’s christening ceremony took place on September 15, 2021, dockside in Longyearbyen (Svalbard, Norway).

• On September 8, 2021, Daniel Skjeldam (Hurtigruten Group’s CEO) announced the vessel’s godmothers – Sunniva Sorby (Canadian) and Hilde Fålun Strøm (Norwegian). In 2019–2020, they became the first women to overwinter alone on Spitsbergen Island (part of Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago). Through their “Hearts in the Ice” project, they spent nine months (August 2019 to May 2020) at Spitsbergen’s Bamsebu trapper hut, located approximately 140 km (87 mi) from Longyearbyen. The 1930-built Bamsebu Cabin is 20 m² (215 ft²) and has no running water; electricity is provided by a wind turbine and solar panels, and Internet connectivity via satellite.
• The live-streamed naming ceremony featured the breaking of an ice block against the hull instead of the traditional champagne bottle. The customary monetary gift to the ship’s godmothers was donated to the Hurtigruten Foundation.

Fridtjof Nansen Ship Technology

The ship’s design features an ice-strengthened hull, a wave-piercing bulbous bow, and a Rolls-Royce Unified Bridge (navigation consoles and software interfaces) for safe and efficient operations. She is equipped with a DP0 (Bridge Mate dynamic positioning system), Aquarius 100 stabilizers, and an ACON integrated automation and control system. The vessel’s maximum draught is 5.3 m (17 ft).

The hybrid powerplant combines advanced electric systems, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 20% and CO₂ emissions by about 20% (equivalent to over 3,000 tons of CO₂ per year). The vessel is powered by four Bergen B33:45L diesel engines (by Rolls-Royce) supported by battery packs. The engines are equipped with an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system to meet IMO Tier III NOx emission standards.

Scanship supplied the ship’s waste management and cleaning systems, including food waste processing, garbage handling, and wastewater treatment plants. The vessel also uses “Jets Vacuum” systems for toilets and wastewater collection. Scanship’s blackwater purification system is IMO MARPOL certified.

Hurtigruten’s newbuilds are also equipped with underwater drones (ROVs – remotely operated vehicles) developed by Blueye Robotics (Norway). Each drone weighs 7 kg and has four thrusters for propulsion. The ROV is fitted with a wide-angle video camera (Blueye Pioneer) designed to operate in low-light conditions. It streams true-color live images to all onboard TV screens, cabin TVs, and the digital diving masks of guests using the ship’s Zodiac boats. The ship’s fully electric propulsion includes two Azipull thrusters (driven by a permanent magnet motor) and two tunnel thrusters. The permanent magnet motor ensures high efficiency at variable speeds.

In November 2018, Hurtigruten announced that its fleet would be powered by LBG (liquefied biogas), produced primarily from dead fish using organic waste recycling processes. LBG will be sourced from Norway and other Northern European countries with large fisheries and forestry industries generating significant volumes of organic waste. By 2021, the company planned to operate six ships powered by a combination of LBG, LNG, and batteries. The project, budgeted at USD 850 million, aims to create the world’s greenest cruise brand.