Hurtigruten Expeditions Announces New Epic Pole-to-Pole Expedition Cruises

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 it launches a series of unparalleled Grand Expedition Cruises.

Most spectacular are the three 2023 Pole-to-Pole cruises exploring the planet all the way from the extreme north to the deep south.

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. These extraordinary voyages will showcase some of the most spectacular nature and wildlife on our planet and offer authentic encounters with unique cultures,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen.

Last year, Hurtigruten Expeditions announced two Pole-to-Pole cruises for the fall of 2022, which sold out.

Monumental memory-makers

Two of the 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 vast 11-countries itinerary of battery-hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsendeparts Vancouver on August 3, 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 colorful 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, the pristine otherworldly beauty of Antarctica.

93 days with MS Fridtjof Nansen: Iceland – the Northwest Passage – Alaska – Antarctica

August 13 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 and vibrant cultures 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 fabled Northwest Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, 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.

After navigating 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

VARYING WATERS: Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Grand Expedition Cruises explore exceptional nature and culture in multiple climate zones - as MS Fram in the waters surrounding Big Corn Island in Nicaragua. Photo: Dietmar Denger / Hurtigruten Expeditions

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 Hurtigruten Expeditions VP of Expedition, Karin Strand – 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 on-board 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 recognized for a push for more sustainable cruising. The company also offer 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.

EXPEDITION EXPERTS: Guests on all Hurtigruten Expeditions’ cruises are co-exploring alongside skilled on-board expedition teams made up of experts in various disciplines. Photo: Oscar Ferrera / Hurtigruten Expeditions