Close to 100 adventure-packed days; four continents and more than 100 landing sites; ever-changing climate zones and waters; world wonders both at sea and on land – all packed into one life-changing expedition from the Arctic to Antarctica.
In 1896, Hurtigruten Expeditions founded expedition cruising. Since then, the company has grown to become the world’s leading and largest expedition cruise line. Now, Hurtigruten Expeditions launches a series of unparalleled Grand Expedition Cruises.
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Three Pole-to-Pole cruises exploring the planet all the way from the extreme north to the deep south have been unveiled for 2023, following on from two sold-out Pole-to-Pole sailings this year.
The Pole-to-Pole Cruises combine iconic bucket-list destinations such as Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, South America and Antarctica – with crossings such as the Arctic Circle, the Panama Canal and the Drake Passage.
“These are undoubtedly the most unique and exclusive expedition cruises we have ever offered in our 126-year history, and we believe these are the ultimate expedition cruise experiences,” said Asta Lassesen, CEO Hurtigruten Expeditions.
“These extraordinary voyages will showcase some of the most spectacular nature and wildlife on our planet and offer authentic encounters with unique cultures.”
“Last year, Hurtigruten Expeditions announced two Pole to Pole cruises for 2022 which sold out in record time. Whilst Australians and New Zealanders couldn’t travel internationally over the past two years and missed those grand expeditions, the time has come to venture forth,” said Damian Perry, Managing Director, VP Sales & Marketing, Asia-Pacific.
“In 2023, the new Pole-to-Pole Cruises once again incorporate iconic bucket-list destinations such as Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, South America and Antarctica – with crossings such as the Arctic Circle, the Panama Canal and the Drake Passage.
“These itineraries are the ultimate journeys for the true adventurer,” Perry remarked.
Monumental memory-makers
Two of the 2023 Pole-to-Pole itineraries are offered by the world’s most sustainable cruise ships, the small-sized battery-hybrids MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen. The third Pole-to-Pole expedition is offered by the custom-build expedition original, the then fully upgraded MS Fram.
All the three epic adventures set sail in August 2023:
94 days with MS Roald Amundsen:
Vancouver – Alaska – the Northwest Passage – Antarctica
The 11-country itinerary of battery-hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen departs Vancouver on 3 August 2023. Guests will disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina. From Canada, the expedition heads north along the Alaskan coast and crosses the Arctic Circle before making its way through the fabled Northwest Passage – to Baffin Island and Greenland.
From the High North, MS Roald Amundsen then turns south along the eastern seaboard of the United States and the warm and colourful lands of Central America. Next, the world’s first battery-hybrid powered expedition ship passes the Panama Canal to reach South America where guests will immerse in a mix of culture and nature, experiencing ancient sites in Ecuador and Peru, as well as the ethereal splendor of the Chilean fjords and Patagonia – and, finally, Antarctica.
93 days with MS Fridtjof Nansen:
Iceland – the Northwest Passage – Alaska – Antarctica
13 August 2023 marks the start of battery-hybrid powered MS Fridtjof Nansen’s expedition from Reykjavik, Iceland to Ushuaia, Argentina. After crossing the Denmark Strait to Greenland, MS Fridtjof Nansen will traverse the full legendary Northwest Passage. On the journey to the Canadian Arctic and Alaska, MS Fridtjof Nansen will land at sites linked to early exploration history, visit Inuit communities and look out for Arctic wildlife.
From Alaska, the world’s greenest cruise ship will turn south and cruise along the western seaboard of the United States exploring the national parks of the Pacific coast before taking in the warm seas of Mexico and Central America. In South America, guests will expedience unique nature and culture, and ancient sites in Ecuador, Peru and Chile. The journey ends with an in-depth exploration of the White Continent, Antarctica.
66 days with MS Fram:
Canada – the Northwest Passage – South America – Antarctica
Small-sized MS Fram offers a distinctive expedition from Canada’s Northwest Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, in late August 2023. The expedition combines several iconic itineraries into one single epic journey with focus on science, learning and sustainability. The voyage starts off in Montréal, before guests embarking MS Fram in Cambridge Bay, deep inside the Northwest Passage.
Having navigated eastwards through the Northwest Passage to coastal Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, MS Fram turns south through the Atlantic – to then pass through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. After paying a visit to an indigenous tribe in the little-visited Darien region and exploring the remote Isla de la Plata, the expedition continues down the Pacific coast of South America – and thereafter Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile and Patagonia – topped off with the pristine Antarctic.
Full-month back-to-back options
In addition to the three epic Pole-to-Pole cruises, Hurtigruten Expeditions’ new series of Grand Expedition Cruises offers a vast selection of month-long voyages, combining several of the company’s most iconic itineraries.
Guests can expand their adventures even further by adding Hurtigruten Expeditions’ pre- and post-offerings to the Grand Expedition Cruises, including visits to one-of-a-kind destinations such as Easter Island or Machu Picchu.
“Exploring several of the most remote and unique regions of the planet for anywhere from one to three months, some only accessible by small expedition ships like ours, make the guests on these Grand Expedition Cruises true modern explorers,” said Karin Strand, Hurtigruten Expeditions VP of Expedition – who is also the godmother of MS Roald Amundsen, slated for the 94-day Pole-to-Pole voyage.
Bigger expedition teams – even more exploration and activities
The Pole-to-Pole expedition cruises as all Hurtigruten Expeditions’ cruises feature a large onboard expedition team with experts handpicked for each itinerary. Building on more than 125 years of experience, Hurtigruten Expeditions offers the widest range of experts in the industry.
“Our on-board colleagues’ sharing of passion and knowledge, and expertise of the areas we explore, is the core of the Hurtigruten Expeditions experience. Bigger expedition teams mean more of everything – more experts, more knowledge, more activities and more options for our guests,” said Lassesen.
Hurtigruten Expeditions is widely recognised for a push for more sustainable cruising. The company also offers signature state-of-the-art Science Centers to all ships – paired up with a world-leading Science Program that includes scientists on every cruise on every ship, and a wide range of Citizen Science research projects that guests are encouraged to actively participate in.
For more information on the 2023 Pole-to-Pole program, see global.hurtigruten.com/destinations/grand-expedition-cruises/.