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MS Roald Amundsen is as pioneering as the man it is named after, Roald Amundsen - the legendary Norwegian explorer. One of two fully hybrid ships in our fleet, explore the wonders of the world onboard one of the most environmentally friendly ships in the world.
Named after the legendary Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen - the first man to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1903, and reach the Geographical South Pole in 1911. MS Roald Amundsen is as pioneering as the man it is named after, the state-of-the-art ship features new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology that reduces fuel consumption and shows the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships is possible.
MS Roald Amundsen serves as a comfortable base camp at sea – bringing adventurers from all over the world to the most spectacular destinations in the most sustainable way. As one of two hybrid ships within the fleet, the innovative sustainable technology reduces the ship's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 20%.
One of the most eye-catching exterior design features is the two-level indoor/outdoor Observation Deck. It is an ideal place to scan the scenery as you explore the world around you and watch for wildlife with your binoculars.
HX had a reputation to live up to after my initial experience with Hurtigruten in Norway, and they cleared that high bar very nicely on this expedition. After a quick registration at the hotel earlier in the day prior to boarding, I had time to explore Buenos Aires on foot from the well located Hilton. They had me on the first flight out to Ushuaia at 4:40am, which meant a lost night of sleep but was rewarded with a 5 hour bus tour in Tierra del Fuego. Though this was a whistle stop of Ushuaia and a few scenic sights, including a short walk on peatland, it was a welcome introduction to the southern landscape. Boarding the MS Roald Amundsen at 3pm was a seamless process from getting the personal tag to finding the cabin with luggage already delivered. A quick visit to the jacket distribution desk completed the process. The windproof jacket is well designed and proved it's mettle on the trip. The Roald Amundsen is in very good shape with no signs of ageing. My balcony cabin was clean, with well-appointed bathroom and room fixtures and good space for lounging. The only hitch for the room was a noisy squeaking during rougher Drake Passage days. Common areas were likewise well designed and maintained, with comfy nooks in the Explorer Lounge and Science Centre, and beautiful setting for the sauna. We had the Drake lake on the passage down, which made for great wildlife watching on the viewing deck. The 5 days in Antarctica went quickly, stopping at 8 locations including a special sea ice landing at Wilhelmina Bay. Between the 3 species of penguins, 3 whale species, 3 seal species and numerous bird species, it was a feast for wildlife watching. We were also lucky with a variety of scenery featuring blue sky days, downcast cloudy days, snow, sea ice, ice floes and icebergs, against the backdrop of sharp mountains, glaciers and even volcanic land. A feast for photographers. The only grouse would be not having more time on activities due to the larger than expected guest count at well over 300. A 200+ count seemed more typical for HX, based on past reviews. Each group outing was kept to 45 mins on land or water. A number of us who signed up for optional activities missed out entirely on the lottery system. The expedition team were however clearly motivated to get the best experience for all guests, and did so cheerfully. The kayaking, snowshoeing and camping activities are essentially paid opportunities to spend more time on the Antarctic sea or land as the type of activity itself was not unique to the location. With larger groups, these become more valuable though even less probable! The science programme was surprisingly good with great breadth of topics from marine biology, ecology and ornithology to geology, navigation and history. I enjoyed speaking with the team who were all practitioners in their field with current knowledge and insightful experiences. With a large guest count, service staff could have been stretched on this trip but hardly showed. The dining and housekeeping crew in particular were a pleasure to interact with. Food was good and plentiful, more so considering the remote location. Disembarking at Ushuaia was again executed efficiently though left no time for visiting town again. Ushuaia airport is small and gets congested with cruise groups. In all, HX was excellent value on this trip for the variety of experiences and quality of service. Being eco-conscious took a little guilt out of adding to the visitor numbers in Antarctica. I do worry for both the company and continent over the experience in future with larger numbers but have trust that HX will make the necessary adjustments to hold the high standards.
After lots of research on the more popular cruise lines with US passangers we decided on Hurtigruten (now HX) as the value for money seemed to be best and we were not disappointed. We decided to book our own airfare and arrive a day earlier in Buenos Aires adding another night at the same hotel they booked us at. The early morning travel was brutal but couldn't really be helped (130am hotel departure, 440am flight to Ushuaia). The charter airline they used was professional. The seats didn't recline and the legroom was a little tight. The on board food was better than any US airline. Since we arrived so early in Ushuaia they added a 5 hour bus tour of the national park including an optional hike and a decent buffet lunch. We finally got on the ship around 3pm. The ship was great with virtually everything you'd expect but smaller since there were only around 300 guests on board. The only thing that normal cruisers would miss is entertainment but that's the last thing we look for. The science and educational presentations every day were excellent and enhanced our experience. The service from all the staff was very good with a few people who were excellent. The cabins were exactly as expected but the shower stall was the biggest we've seen on a cruise ship. Heated floors were great. Dining was very good, not excellent. Breakfast was very short 7am-9am and done by 830am some days. On days at sea they should extend the hours to 930am or 10am. Overall the food in the main dining room was good. The restaurant next door had a limited menu but everything was made to order and the quality was much better. The Argentinian steak sandwich and milkshakes were amazing. We ate there for dinner half the time and enjoyed the staff there. We were lucky with the Drake passage sailing on the way down as it was calm but it was fairly rough on the way back. Actually made sleeping difficult the first night. consider a mid-ship cabin if you are worried about that, we were at the front. The 5 days in Antarctica were fantastic. 3 zodiac cruises, 3-4 landings and an ice breaking day. It definitely exceeded our expectations. The staff were great and the science team were so pleasant in educating us on what we were seeing. Embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze. Using the app on board is a must. We found that the communications on what was happening the next day to be a little disjointed which is to be expected with weather being such a big factor. It would have been nice to hear from the captain more than once a day on what we might be experiencing with the weather. The Explorers Lounge on 10 was very spacious and everyone enjoyed the cookies and drinks available. HX had just switched to "all-inclusive" for our cruise but the staff weren't 100% clear on what was included and what wasn't. Many times we were asked for our cabin number but ended up not being charged. Overall it was a good experience with drinks. Very limited enteratinment but we didn't miss it. HX provided a water-proof wind breaker, insulated boots and life jackets. You need a warm winter coat, hat and water proof gloves and water proof pants. You really don't need snow pants. It wasn't that cold. We also brought big sweaters that we didn't use. Better to have lots of thin layers. We were often more likely to be overheating than cold. Half the passangers were from Asia on our trip with the rest from UK, Aus, NZ, USA and Europe. I would definitely recommend HX for an expedition cruise and we are considering using them again in the future. Great value for money.
Really fabulous cruise. HX Expeditions are a great company. Their expedition team are all so knowledgeable and welcoming. The talks and presentations they give during the course of the voyage add so much to your understanding of the wildlife, places, history and environment of the area. The staff on the ship are so friendly and helpful too. I have some mobility issues, and there were others on the cruise who needed some extra help, and the staff on the ship and expedition team were just brilliant. They laid on an extra zodiac boat for me so I could see if one of the landing sites was suitable for me. When it wasn't, the driver took me on a short cruise, stopped by some penguins and a seal so I could take some photos on my way back to the ship. Wonderful place, and wonderful team. Can't praise them highly enough, and can't wait for the next one!
If you are one who doesn't need a strong itinerary, then Expedition Cruising on HX is for you. We arrived in BA at the Hotel where we met the friendly local HX staff who checked us and advised us of the particulars for the next days flights to Ushuaia and ship Embarkation. This cruise is a mix of science, lectures, landings and activities for the explorer in you. The ship has excellent facilities and the crew can not do enough for you. The meals are Norwegian and European based but with a great selection. The entertainment was spot on - a great signer/piano player and a one night only Crew Band. This is my 2nd HX cruse as I find great value for money and enjoy the learning and landings. We sighted whales, penguins ( great hosts), lots of different birds and the views are breath taking. I love sailing with HX. Great value, great crew, goes to places I want to see and I have already booked my next cruise with them.
An absolutely magnificent experience on a luxurious ship with a gracious and friendly crew and a brilliant expedition team. You have ruined me for any cruises going forward. Everything was so well organised and ran like a military operation, even if it eventually became Plan B, C or D on the day - we would never be able to tell. We saw plenty of wildlife both on land and from the ship - don't tell the penguins but I think the Commerson's dolphins were my favourite. The food was always delicious and with the option of the all-day dining gave extra variety and allowed options when you couldn't make a set meal time or wanted to eat in your room. I loved it that they provided the options for single travellers to be allocated to a shared table for meals. The staff were always friendly and helpful whether it be allocating you to your dinner table or helping you from a zodiac. There is a real camaraderie amongst the staff and this is reflected in their work and their always smiling faces. The Expedition Team were brilliant with their presentations and scientific talks all adding to the cruise along with the special art/craft activities helping keep you entertained - not that you needed much, the view alone kept you captivated. Some of the extra activities are a little pricey but you are pretty much only going to be here once, right. It was hard knowing exactly what to pack seeing as snow gear isn't our usual dress code any time of year so I read lots of blogs looking for help but actually, after now having been, the brief list given by HX is all you need - except the shoe ice grips. I would definitely recommend a buff. Also, I didn't realise that you could borrow binoculars on the ship so didn't necessarily have to bring my own. I started and ended my cruise with a few days in Buenos Aires and it rounded off one hell of a trip. Thanks HX
Expedition Suite
These suites are large, well-appointed cabins with expansive windows and most have balconies. Some have a private outdoor hot tub. The suites feature flexible sleeping arrangements with comfortable seating areas and TV. Many can accommodate up to four people. Expedition suites are exclusively in upper and mid-deck locations. Our Expedition Suite concept includes a bathrobe, espresso maker, and more. An exciting welcome gift awaits all suite guests in their cabin.
Arctic Superior
Arctic Superior class cabins are comfortable and roomy accommodation and most have balconies. Flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa beds, TV and other features make this one of our most popular categories. Our Arctic Superior concept includes a kettle, tea and coffee. Can accommodate two to four passengers.
Polar Outside
The Polar Outside cabins are primarily on the middle decks with windows, most are spacious, have flexible sleeping arrangements and TV for excellent and high standard accommodation. Can accommodate two to four passengers.
Prepare your tastebuds for mouthwatering meals inspired by the region’s flavours and crafted from many locally sourced ingredients, with three different restaurants to choose between.
We offer a rich and varied program of optional shore excursions. We offer included excursions at many ports that can be reserved for no additional charge. In many cases, the included excursion can be combined with other optional excursions. Most excursions can be pre-booked, but may also be bookable onboard if there is enough capacity.
We advise that you book well in advance to avoid disappointment when the excursion is fully booked. Please note that registration is binding. Once on board, the expedition team will advise you of booking deadlines for excursions that are still available. Our excursions have English-speaking guides, unless stated otherwise. Other languages cannot be guaranteed, unless otherwise specified. Excursions are subject to change and possible cancellation due to weather conditions. They are also subject to a sufficient number of participants.
All expedition shore landings and small-boat cruising during our time in Antarctica are included the program. Along with the optional excursions available to book, the expedition team also arranges a variety of activities during the cruise. These vary according to location and season, but may include hiking, small-boat cruising, kayaking, snowshoeing, or camping. A limited number of kayaking slots are available for booking prior to select cruises, but all other activities are booked on board and subject to availability.
Your expedition ship is your home away from home; casual, comfortable and complete with everything you need for your adventure. Top to bottom, bow to stern, your ship is fitted out with quality materials inspired by simple Scandinavian chic.
A full suite of facilities equip you to maintain an active lifestyle balanced by relaxation for body and mind. After exploring new destinations or exercising on board, you can rejuvenate in the wellness center, or relax in the infinity pool.
No Hurtigruten Expedition ships feature children’s playrooms.
