Hurtigruten to Christen Newest Ships Under the Midnight Sun

Hurtigruten's newest ship, MS Spitsbergen, will be christened in Svolvaer, one of Lofoten's most spectacular cities. MS Spitsbergen, is named after the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago, which is where Hurtigruten founder Richard With first started explorer tourism in the Arctic.

Alongside the MS Spitsbergen, the MS Richard With and MS Midnatsol will all be berthed in Svolvaer during the event. Lofoten and Svolvaer have everything the modern adventure traveler seeks: spectacular scenery, the midnight sun, unique culture and opportunities for raw, active experiences.

Next stop Arctic Canada

After a first season in Norway, MS Spitsbergen will alternate between the Norwegian coast and polar expeditions. Adventurous guests can, for instance, sail with her in the Wake of the Vikings to the first European settlements and also visit spectacular national parks in North America.

The many exceptional scenic stops will include L'Anse aux Meadows, a small fishing village on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also the place where Norwegians Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad and their daughter Benedicte, discovered a Viking settlement in 1960.

Adventure tourism boom

Explorer tourism is one of the fast growing sectors in the tourism industry. MS Spitsbergen adds to Hurtigruten's impressive global operations as the company now offers four ships with unique nature and cultural experiences around the South and North poles.

In the Arctic, Hurtigruten currently offers voyages to Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard and beginning in 2017 will also venture to Arctic Canada. In the southern hemisphere, Hurtigruten takes guests to the waters around Antarctica, along both coasts of South America, and from 2017, to the Amazon rainforest.

About MS Spitsbergen

• Number of guests: 335
• Total berth capacity: 180
• Gross Tonnage: 7025
• Length: 100,54 m
• Width: 21,4 m
• Propeller system: 360 deg. pod and thruster
• Speed: 16 knots

Hurtigruten is the original Norwegian coastal route since 1893. The company brings goods, local passengers and tourists to 34 ports along the unique Norwegian coast between Bergen and Kirkenes – every day of the year. Hurtigruten explorer ship MS Fram sails in Antarctica, around Spitsbergen and around Greenland.

Visit website: www.hurtigruten.com

Top photo: Norwegian explorer cruise line Hurtigruten's new ship MS Spitsbergen will be christened under the midnight sun in spectacular Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands, Northern Norway, north of the Polar Circle, July 6th. Photomontage: Kristine Oksnes, Hurtigruten.