MS Otto Sverdrup

The 2002-built (as "MS Finnmarken") cruise ship MS Otto Sverdrup was the first of three Millennium-class Hurtigruten cruiseferries - together with the fleetmates Midnatsol and Trollfjord. In 2021, Hurtigruten adds 4 old ships to the company's expedition fleet - Spitsbergen (2009), Midnatsol (2003), Trollfjord (2002) and Finnmarken (2002). This fleet also includes Fram (2007) and the 3 newbuilds - Roald Amundsen (2019), Fridtjof Nansen (2020) and TBN (2021).

Following a USD 35 million (~EUR 32 million) drydock refurbishment and refit (January 4 through March 8, 2020), the ship was renamed from Finnmarken to "Otto Sverdrup" - after the Norwegian sailor and Arctic explorer Otto Neumann Knoph Sverdrup (1854-1930). He participated in the polar expeditions of 1888 (Greenland) and 1898-1902 (circumnavigation of Greenland via Nares Strait, mapping approx 260,000 km2 / 100,390 mi2 of the Canadian Arctic territories).

The Finnmarken ship was named after Finnmark (formerly known as “Finmarkens amt”) - a county located in Norway’s extreme northeastern part, boarding with Finland (south) and Russia (east).

The vessel (IMO number 9231951) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 259210000) and registered in Tromso.

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 this roundtrip itinerary in 11 days. The route also includes Lofoten Islands and Vesteralen Islands.

MS Finnmarken is Hurtigruten's first ship to bear this name after- the 1912-launched Finnmarken. Launched in 2002, the vessel belongs to the same class as the fleetmates Midnatsol and Trollfjord but is fleet's only to have both Jacuzzis and swimming pool on the sundeck. Another signature feature is the bow accessibility on Deck 5 (Promenade) where passengers can walk all the way to the front of the ship.

Decks and Cabins

MS Otto Sverdrup staterooms (282 total, in 10 grades) include 32x Suites, 192x Outside, 55x Inside. Cabin sizes vary from 85 to 400 ft2 (8-37 m2). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 3. Most staterooms are sized 75-140 ft2 (7-13 m2).

Standard cabin amenities include lower and upper bunk beds, bedside reading lamps, foldable table with chair, LCDTV, radio, phone, mini-fridge, electronic safe box, wardrobe with dressers and cabinets, en-suite bathroom (WC-shower, bath products, hairdryer), individual air-conditioning, blankets (for sitting outside).

Mini-Suites also have large picture windows and a sitting area, and the suites include bathrobes, minibar, coffee and tea making facilities (kettle and glasses), fresh fruits daily, sparkling wine upon arrival.

The boat has 8 decks, of which 7 are passenger-accessible and 6 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Otto Sverdrup ship has 3 restaurants - Aune (dining room), Lindstrom and Fredheim.

Aft on Deck 4 is Aune Restaurant (Aune Main Dining, fka Imag Restaurant). This is the ship's complimentary Dining Room (capacity 335 seats) with floor-ceiling windows, buffet station in the middle, self-service beverage station (for coffee-tea-juices), an outdoor seating area (alfresco terrace). The Galley / Kitchen is adjacent to the Restaurant. Aune Restaurant serves complimentary Breakfast (7-10 am), Lunch (11:30 am - 2:30 pm) and Dinner (2 fixed seatings - at 6:30 or 8:30 pm). Breakfast is buffet-style (bacon, eggs, sausages, cold meats, cheeses, seafood, bread selection, cereals, fruits, porridge, desserts). Lunch is also buffet-style (salads, soups, hot/cold meats, seafood, vegetables, desserts). Dinner is 2-seating and waiter-served (3-course menu, including traditional Scandinavian dishes). Wine by the bottle is offered at extra cost. Hurtigruten has a wine package available for purchase at the Reception. At Dinner additionally is offered a la carte menu items (light snacks, sandwiches, hot meals). Meals are prepared with locally sourced fresh ingredients from the ports of call. Soft drinks, beer, and wine are included for all meals. Tea and coffee are included throughout the day.

Midship-portside on Deck 4 is Lindstrom Specialty Restaurant. Suite-category passengers dine complimentary at Lindstrom daily (all-inclusive breakfast and dinner). Other cabin grade passengers can also dine at Lindstrom (breakfast and/or dinner) but at extra charge (a la carte priced menu, premium wine list).

Midship on Deck 7 is Fredheim Restaurant featuring large windows (partially obstructed by lifeboats). Fredheim is open all day and offers international "street food". Fredheim is complimentary only for Suite passengers.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MS Finnmarken has a Naturalist for lectures about ports of call. There is a fitness centre onboard with cardio equipment and free weights, as well as two saunas (separate for men and women). The heated swimming pool, as well as the two Jacuzzi whirlpools, are on Deck 7. The Beauty Salon and Spa offer manicures, pedicures, cuts, and massage treatments.

Next are listed MS Otto Sverdrup ship's main venues

• Conference Rooms (two portside - Lyderhorn and Lovstakken; two starboard - Rundemannen and Ulriken; host multimedia presentations, lectures by scientists/wildlife experts, films about Norway; no onboard show program is offered)
• Floybaren Lounge and Bar (show lounge with full-service bar and live music for entertainment)
• Finstuen Club Room
• Morestuen Cafe (24-hour cafeteria with full-service Bar and a la carte menu for sandwiches, burgers, snacks, drinks, hot meals)
• Internet Cafe (for personal laptops only; Wi-Fi onboard is free, shipwide coverage is provided)
• Boutique Shop sells Norwegian souvenirs, Hurtigruten-logoed merchandise, jewelry, limited toiletries, warm clothing, postcards, toys (stuffed animals).
• The cruise ship has a full-circle Promenade Deck - an open-air deck space perfect for daily observation (including wildlife viewing) and strolling. A unique feature of this vessel is that even its bow is passenger-accessible.
• 4 smaller Conference Rooms (for special occasion events)
• Stiftsstaden Lounge and Bar (with a full-service bar)
• Babbettes Cafe (serves as patisserie for specialty coffee and daily special sweets)
• The Cafes (seating areas often used for reading)
• The swimming pool is with heated water and flanked by 2 Whirlpools. The pool deck has plenty of sunloungers and small tables with chairs.
• Brotoppen Panorama Lounge and Bar (indoor observation lounge with floor-ceiling windows; has an Internet Cafe and a small dance floor)
• The ship’s wellness center includes TRIM Fitness, Outdoor Gym, 2x Saunas (men/women), locker rooms with showers, reception desk, Spa & Beauty Salon (massage room, haircuts, face-, hand- and foot treatments). TRIM Fitness is a 2-room gym (open 6 am - 12midnight) equipped with a stepper machine, an elliptical machine, treadmills, rowers, exercise bikes, free weights, weight machines, medicine balls, yoga mats.
• The Sun Deck is the place for Hurtigruten's special ceremony "Arctic Circle baptism", including a Neptune-costumed crewmember, icy seawater, and a shot for warming up.
• Observation Deck (deck 8) has an open-air promenade space providing the best vantage points for passengers to enjoy the Arctic scenery along the current itinerary route. The area is accessible via both stairs and the aft elevator.

Otto Sverdrup Science Centre (deck 4 forward, on the below photo) is a large "scientific lounge" (research lab) packed with high-tech gadgets (including microscopes and touch screens) and latest digital technology equipment. The venue consists of Library, Lecture Halls, Photo Center (photo- and video-processing studio), Conference Room, Expedition Team Room, dedicated areas for themed educational activities (workshops in biology, marine life, geography, photography, etc), Bar. Hurtigruten's Expedition Team provides here passengers with scientific information and technology assistance.

Follows the complete list of MS Finnmarken lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Car Deck had cargo capacity 47 vehicles/cars.
• Cafe (24-hours open cafeteria with full-service Bar and a la carte menu for snacks, sandwiches, burgers, hot meals, drinks). The Cafe serves mainly local passengers, who use the ship as a port-to-port ferry boat.
• A small Kids Playroom (no organized activities or babysitting) is equipped with a ball pit, chairs, table for craft activities, legos). There is a Video Games Arcade with consoles.
• Explorer Bar Lounge is an indoor observation lounge (Finnmarken ship's largest) with comfortable furniture (plush sofas and chairs) and floor-ceiling windows. The lounge has also an Internet Cafe (with 2 PC stations) and a small dance floor. The Internet Cafe is for personal laptops only (cables are not provided). Wi-Fi onboard is free, with shipwide coverage.

Itineraries

MS Finnmarken itinerary program was based on Norwegian Coastal Voyages, featuring scenic cruising through the Norwegian Fjords. Finnmarken was mostly used as a ferry for both passengers and cars, with some guests staying on board for the roundtrip 12-day itineraries out of Bergen and Kirkenes.

MS Otto Sverdrup itinerary program started with the Maiden Voyage on August 24, 2021, leaving roundtrip from homeport Hamburg Germany. The year-round expedition voyages (14-day itineraries out of Hamburg) visit ports in Norway.