Hurtigruten’s new expedition ship, Roald Amundsen, has sailed beyond 70 degrees south – a record for the 127-year-old cruise line.
The battery hybrid-powered vessel crossed the Antarctic circle earlier this week, and on February 19, it reached the ice edge at 70°10.208’ south.
The ship’s captain, Torry Sakkariassen, said: “This is what Hurtigruten’s expedition cruises are all about: pushing new frontiers and creating unique experiences for guests from all over the world.
“We are exploring in the footsteps of the polar hero Roald Amundsen himself.”
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Roald Amundsen is the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ship, with large battery packs that significantly reduce emissions.
Sister ship Fridtjof Nansen will sail on its maiden voyage this spring.
Hurtigruten has 16 cruise ships, offering expedition cruises to more than 200 destinations in 40-plus countries.
After venturing beyond 70 degrees south in sub-zero temperatures, Roald Amundsen is heading back north to explore landing sites around the Antarctic peninsula and the Falkland Islands, before returning to Chile and the last two expedition cruises of the 2019-2020 Antarctic season.
For summer 2020, Roald Amundsen will explore off-the-beaten-track destinations in Alaska.