Hurtigruten expedition ship to get keel-to-mast makeover

Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam: We take our guests where other ships can't

NOVEMBER 28, 2018 — Hurtigruten reports that its MS Fram is to receive a total makeover and reemerge as a brand-new expedition ship.

Leading up the 2020 season, the 2007-built Fram will be completely upgraded with new suites, new cabins, more environmentally friendly engines and a total makeover of all public areas – including new restaurants and Hurtigruten’s signature, high-tech Science Center.

“The original Fram was the most famous ship of its time and kept pushing the frontiers in the golden age of polar expeditions,” says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “Our MS Fram was built to embrace that legacy. With the upgrade she will keep setting the standard for expedition cruises, and deliver unparalleled, premium expedition experiences for her guests, says.

MS Fram will undergo major technical upgrades during the extensive drydocking that will include upgrading her engines to meet IMO Tier III requirements/

The keel-to-mast upgrade will bring several new features to the ship.

From the passenger perspective some of the highlights of the make-over include

All cabins and suites will be fully refurbished. Using natural Scandinavian materials this will create a relaxed and stylish look and feel, and add to the premium on-board experience.

Refurbished cabin

The main restaurant will be transformed to Restaurant Aune – Hurtigruten’s new expedition cruise main restaurant concept. The restaurant is social and informal with the use of natural elements in design and interiors, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner based on a Scandinavian identity.

Lindstrøm – a specialty restaurant named after the favorite chef of the Norwegian polar heroes, will be an upper premium fine dining restaurant.

Science Center

A brand new Hurtigruten signature – the Science Center – which will be packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets such as touch screens, science equipment and other interactive features. It will be where guests and staff meet, mingle and create a deeper understanding for the areas MS Fram explores.

The forward-facing Qilak Observation Lounge will be completely refurbished and reemerge as Explorer Lounge & Bar.

Reemerging as brand new in the spring of 2020, MS Fram will offer guests unparalleled expeditions in premium surroundings to destinations like the Arctic, Antarctica, the Northwest passage, and warmer waters such as the Caribbean and South America.

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Banning plastic – building hybrid

The complete MS Fram upgrade is the latest of several recently announced Hurtigruten developments The company is currently building the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship, MS Roald Amundsen, at Norway’s Kleven shipyard. Debuting in 2019, she will be followed by MS Fridtjof Nansen and a third sister ship in 2021.

Another ship getting its own extreme makeover is MS Richard With which will reemerge as a brand new ship in early December.

“We take our guests where other ships can’t, closer to nature with the special Hurtigruten edge. I spend most of my free time exploring and know the value of an expedition base that is safe, flexible and still offers premium comfort and experience to explorers,” says Skjeldam.

Hurtigruten celebrated its 125th anniversary by banning all single-use-plastics.

In another industry first, Hurtigruten is completely rebuilding existing ships to run on a combination of large battery packs, biogas (LBG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).