It’s been a busy time for Hurtigruten recently. Two very big announcements from the cruise line have outlined forthcoming plans for new ships and the fact that you’ll soon be able to sail directly from the UK.

The news has certainly got us excited and means that it will be even easier for UK cruisers to experience one of Huritgruten’s in-depth sailings along the Norwegian coast, including stops in the North Cape, Lofoten Islands and Tromso – the ideal place to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

It’s been revealed that, from 2021, MS Trollfjord, MS Finnmarken and MS Midnatsol will all be transformed into state-of-the-art, hybrid ships, just like the brand new MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen. As well as changing the power supply to LNG (liquefied natural gas) and equipping the vessels with the ability to use shore power whilst in port, there will be plenty of renovations taking place inside. The technologically advanced Science Centre is sure to be a key feature, allowing guests to learn more about the ports they’ll visit and even take part in experiments.

To reflect these changes, the ships will all be renamed. MS Trollfjord will become MS Maud, reflecting the name of Roald Amundsen’s Arctic expedition vessel and a former Norwegian Queen; MS Finnmarken will emerge as MS Otto Sverdrup, named after another great Norwegian explorer; and MS Midnatsol will be rechristened as MS Eirik Raude, a nod to the legendary viking Eric the Red.

But Hurtigruten was not finished with the revelations. Soon after, we found out that MS Maud will sail directly from Dover between 6th October 2021 and 9th March 2022. This is the first time that the line has chosen to base one of its ships in the UK and a rare opportunity for travellers to embark on an expedition-style cruise from these shores.

The 15-day itineraries will feature stops in a range of different ports and include at least one free activity in each. These include everything from discovering the deep at the Ålesund Aquarium to riding the Bergen funicular and visiting a traditional Lofoten fishing village. The voyages will also offer Hutigruten’s Northern Lights promise, meaning that if you don’t see the Aurora, you’ll be given another six or seven-day Classic Voyage for free! (T+Cs apply).

If you would like to learn more about the Hurtigruten cruises we have available, or you want to book your departure from the UK in 2021, call us on 0800 035 0701.