The debut of the 2nd new expedition cruise ship of Hurtigruten, Fridtjof Nansen, has been pushed back. The change in the schedule is due to the delay of sibling vessel, Roald Amundsen, which the cruise line reported in February.
MS Midnatsol will replace Fridtjof Nansen on its voyages in Antarctica for 2019-2020 season. All affected passengers will receive full refund, including flight costs, and discounts on alternative Hurtigruten cruises.
The launch of Roald Amundsen was pushed back to 2019 after Kleven shipyard said it would need more time “due to the complexity of the project.” The vessel had been slated for delivery in 2018.
Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen are hybrid expedition ships that use partially electric propulsion, advanced hull design and efficient use of electricity onboard to cut CO2 emissions by up to 20%, according to Hurtigruten. The building of the ships represents the largest investment in the history of the company.
No new delivery date has been yet announced.