MS Fridtjof Nansen

MS Fridtjof Nansen is a 2020-built expedition ship, inaugurated in 2021, and the second in a two-ship series of hybrid-powered HX vessels. Named after polar explorer and scientist Fridtjof Nansen, she is a near-identical twin to MS Roald Amundsen. The ship accommodates 530 passengers, with a maximum capacity of 600, served by 150 crew, placing her firmly in the small ship category, built for nimble exploration rather than the sprawling entertainment complexes of mega-ships.

Built by Kleven Yards in Ulsteinvik and originally commissioned for Hurtigruten, she now sails under HX Expeditions. As the first cruise ship registered in Svalbard, she is based in Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island, and the vessel class was purpose-built for Norwegian coastal and polar expedition cruising across the Arctic and Antarctica.

Her design places environmental responsibility at the centre. A hybrid propulsion system allows fully electric sailing for up to thirty minutes, substantially cutting fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. That technology, paired with efficient onboard power use and an optimised hull design, reduces harmful emissions by nearly twenty percent. Building materials used during construction were predominantly Norwegian, with extensive use of granite, oak and wool throughout.

Onboard, the ship keeps its focus on the surrounding landscape. Fridtjof Nansen carries the largest LED screen at sea, a seven-deck-high display measuring seventeen and a half metres, positioned vertically midship in the Atrium and streaming live footage of the scenery and wildlife outside. The Nansen Science Centre houses a library, lecture halls, a photo centre, a conference room, an Expedition Team room, and dedicated areas for themed activities in biology, marine life, geography and photography. All 265 passenger cabins are outside rooms, with half featuring balconies.

Both ships in this series take their names from influential Norwegian polar explorers, reflecting the era when Hurtigruten first began offering expedition cruise itineraries. She suits adventurous travellers and couples seeking close contact with polar landscapes and wildlife, backed by serious science and environmental purpose.

Sailed with MS Fridtjof Nansen through the Arctic or Antarctic? Log this polar expedition on your account at The Cruise Globe to see the actual route your ship followed!