MS Fram

The 2007-built MS Fram cruise ship is a purpose-built for Antarctica expedition vessel in HX's fleet (1B ice-class, double hull). The name means “forward” in Norwegian. She was named after the original wooden ship “Fram,” used between 1893 and 1912 by Norwegian North Pole explorers Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, Oscar Wisting, and Otto Sverdrup. The original vessel is preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo, Norway.

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

The vessel (IMO number 9370018) is Norway-flagged (MMSI 258932000) and registered in Tromso.

History - Construction and Ownership

Until 2024, MS Fram was owned by Hurtigruten. Now, it is part of HX Expeditions' fleet, which is an asset of HX Expeditions Holdings Ltd.

The 320-passenger MS Fram serves HX's Antarctica expedition program. With her addition, the company expanded its offering for travelers seeking both relaxation and discovery. Fram was built specifically for polar waters and meets the highest safety standards. Her size ensures optimal comfort and maneuverability, allowing guests to experience nature and wildlife up close.

Decks and Cabins

MS Fram staterooms (137 total, across 8 categories) include 38 Suites, 88 Outside cabins, 9 Inside cabins, and 2 accessible cabins. Most staterooms are Oceanview rooms measuring 85-140 ft². The largest accommodation is the Grand Suite (400 ft²), featuring one or two rooms, private balconies, separate sitting areas, queen beds, and Internet access.

The ship has 8 decks, of which 7 are accessible to passengers, and 3 include cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

All meals are served in Fram’s Aune Restaurant on Deck 4. The two-level venue is lined with large picture windows on three sides, offering panoramic sea views. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style with open seating, and the central serving area ensures minimal crowding. Some dinners are buffet-style, while others are plated and served in up to four seatings depending on passenger capacity.

Below is the full list of MS Fram’s dining venues and bars:

• Aune Restaurant (Main Dining Room) – The ship’s complimentary main restaurant (234 seats) with floor-to-ceiling windows, a central buffet station, self-service beverage area (coffee, tea, juices), and an alfresco terrace. The adjacent Galley/Kitchen serves buffet-style breakfast (bacon, eggs, sausages, cold meats, cheeses, seafood, bread, cereals, fruits, porridge) and lunch (salads, soups, meats, seafood, vegetables, desserts). Dinner is a four-seating, waiter-served 3-course meal featuring traditional Scandinavian cuisine. Wine by the bottle is available at extra cost, with optional wine packages for purchase.
• Lindstrom Specialty Restaurant – Located aft-portside on Deck 4. Suite guests dine here complimentary (breakfast and dinner included). Other passengers may dine à la carte for an additional charge, with access to a premium wine list.

Shipboard Entertainment Options – Fun and Sport

From the moment passengers step aboard, MS Fram immerses them in a polar atmosphere. Her interior features artwork depicting early expeditions, snow-capped peaks, and penguins. Highlights include exhibits of Fram artifacts and a model of the original sailing ship.

The onboard design combines oak, leather, and wool for a warm Nordic aesthetic. The Observation Lounge offers 270-degree panoramic views. On the Sun Deck (Deck 7), adjacent to the gym, are two outdoor whirlpools enclosed by glass panels - a unique feature offering a panoramic spa experience regardless of weather conditions.

Below is the complete list of MS Fram’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for guests of all ages:

• Ward (officers’ dining and relaxation lounge)
• Tender Lobby (embarkation/disembarkation area for land expeditions; equipped with 6 inflatable boats used mainly for wildlife watching in Antarctica)
• Lobby (with reception, expedition bookings, and information desk, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows)
• Shop (selling handmade souvenirs, gifts, and HX Expeditions-branded merchandise)
• Observation Terraces and Promenade Deck (open-air viewing areas)
• Explorer Lounge (hosts daily lectures and media presentations by wildlife experts and scientists; includes a bar and outdoor terrace near the Bridge)
• Fitness Room (treadmills, bikes, rowing machine, ping pong table, free weights), two whirlpools with shower area, and two separate unisex saunas
• Sun Deck/Observation Deck offers the best vantage points on the ship for passengers to enjoy the scenery along the current itinerary route. The top deck also has a large seating area with tables and deckchairs.

The Fram Science Centre (Deck 4 forward) is a modern “scientific lounge” and research hub featuring microscopes, touch screens, and the latest digital technology. The venue includes a library, lecture halls, photo center (photo/video lab), conference room, expedition team office, and dedicated spaces for educational workshops in biology, marine life, geography, and photography. HX's Expedition Team offers scientific insights and technical assistance to passengers here.

Itineraries

MS Fram's itinerary program focuses on Greenland and Arctic cruises during the northern summer, including voyages to Canada. During the southern summer, she sails to Antarctica from Argentina, typically on roundtrips from Buenos Aires.

HX Expeditions offer flight-and-cruise package deals, protected under the UK’s ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) certification administered by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6144) has a volume of 11,647 GT, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 984 tons, and a maximum draught of 5.1 m. Her powerplant consists of MAK Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model 6M25) with a combined output of 7.92 MW. The registered shipowner and manager is HX VESSELS AS.

The Fincantieri Monfalcone-built MS Fram is an expedition cruise ship designed for operations in the Arctic (Europe) and Antarctic (South America) regions. She is named after Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen’s ship “Fram.” The original Fram was a wooden expedition vessel rigged as a three-masted schooner, notable for her uniquely rounded hull (bow, stern, and keel), which prevented ice from packing around it.

The ship’s officers are Norwegian, while the hotel staff and crew are Filipino.

MS Fram Refurbishments Review

Drydock 2025

The 2025 drydock refurbishment (April 21 through May 26) was conducted at Panama Dry Dock & Shipyard (Balboa/Panama City).

The project included updates to passenger cabins and public areas.

Renovations covered 19 Arctic Superior cabins, 14 Expedition Suites, and 6 Expedition Grand Suites.

All Polar Cabins received new bathrooms.

The Aune Restaurant and Galley/Kitchen were upgraded.

Crew areas were expanded, including cabins and dining facilities. Bathrooms in 33 crew cabins were renovated, and ADA-compliant bathrooms were installed.

A new Fram Science Center was added as an “edutainment” venue where passengers can meet and interact with the staff and crew.

Drydock 2020

Before the 2020 Arctic season, the ship underwent an extensive refurbishment.

Following the refit, MS Fram received larger windows in most venues, new open-deck spaces, new restaurants, fully redesigned staterooms and public areas, and new dual-fuel engines.

The main dining room was redesigned and renamed “Aune Restaurant.”

The specialty restaurant “Lindstrom” was added, offering traditional Norwegian cuisine and featuring its own bar lounge.

The bow-facing Qilak Observation Lounge was redesigned and renamed “Explorer Lounge and Bar.”

Pole-to-Pole Expedition Cruises 2022

In early June 2021, Hurtigruten Expeditions announced its first two “Pole-to-Pole” cruises, combining Arctic and Antarctic regions into single itineraries. Destinations included Alaska (Aleutian Islands, St. Matthew Island), the Northwest Passage (Arctic Canada’s Atlantic-Pacific route, Baffin Island), Greenland, the Caribbean (Belize, Nicaragua), the Panama Canal (full transit), South America (including the Chilean Fjords), and Antarctica.

• The 93-day itinerary (Vancouver BC, Canada to Buenos Aires, Argentina) was operated by MS Roald Amundsen, departing on August 8, 2022, and visiting 11 countries. Fares started from USD 64,580 (EUR 53,045) per person (double occupancy).
• The 66-day itinerary (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile) was operated by MS Fram, departing on September 22, 2022, and visiting 7 countries. Fares started from USD 50,140 (EUR 41,175) per person (double occupancy).

Hurtigruten’s 93-day “Arctic to Antarctica” cruise included the following segments:

• DAYS 2–17 (Vancouver to Nome, Alaska) – Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Sitka, Icy Bay (glaciers Guyot, Yahtse, Tyndall, Guyot), Kodiak, Katmai National Park, Chignik, Unga Village, Dutch Harbor, St. Paul and St. Matthew Islands, Nome
• DAYS 18–21 (at sea) – Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea
• DAYS 22–32 (Canada and Greenland) – Amundsen Gulf, Cape Bathurst, Ulukhaktok, Cambridge Bay (Victoria Island), Gjoa Haven, Somerset Island (Fort Ross, Hudson Bay), Beechey Island, Devon Island, Baffin Island (Mittimatalik)
• DAYS 33–40 (Greenland and Atlantic Canada) – Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Red Bay (Belle Isle Strait), Corner Brook
• DAYS 41–48 (Halifax NS to Boston MA) – Halifax, Sable Island, Lunenburg, Eastport ME, Bar Harbor ME, Provincetown MA, Boston
• DAYS 49–52 (at sea)
• DAYS 53–62 (Miami FL to Colon, Panama) – Miami, Belize City, Lighthouse Reef (Belize), Isla de Providencia (Colombia), Corn Islands (Nicaragua), Bocas del Toro (Panama), Colon
• DAYS 63–76 (Panama Canal to Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile) – Manta, Machala-Puerto Bolivar (Ecuador), Salaverry, Lima, Paracas (Peru), Arica, Iquique, La Serena, Valparaiso
• DAYS 77–86 (Chilean Patagonia) – Castro, Puerto Eden, Puerto Natales, Chilean fjords, Magellan Strait, Cape Horn, Drake Passage
• DAYS 87–90 (Antarctica) – Antarctic Peninsula (approx. 20 landing sites), South Shetland Islands
• DAYS 91–93 (Ushuaia/debarkation) – Flight to Buenos Aires