Statement regarding HX vessel Fridtof Nansen

On November 16th, a contained technical issue occurred on our vessel, MS Fridtjof Nansen. The ship is continuing its planned journey to the disembarkation port, Ushuaia, and will arrive on November 18th. We can confirm that all passengers and crew are safe and accounted for.

We want to reassure everyone that the isolated incident has not affected the safety or integrity of the vessel. Our technicians are actively working to resolve the issue, and the ship is on track to return to Ushuaia tomorrow. The safety and well-being of our guests and crew remains our top priority, and we are in continuous communication with all guests on board, providing timely updates as we work through this situation.

For those due to board the next voyage, scheduled to depart on November 18^th the voyage has sadly been cancelled, and our Guest Services team has been in touch with them directly via text, email, and our call centre to address any urgent concerns. We are doing everything possible to assist them in returning home or rebooking their travels.

We sincerely apologise for this unforeseen disruption. We understand the emotional impact this has, especially given that many of these trips are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We are committed to supporting our guests throughout this situation and are working tirelessly to resolve the issue and get everyone home or onto new journeys as quickly as possible.

We deeply appreciate the understanding and patience of our guests, both those currently onboard and those affected by the changes to their upcoming trips. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the crew and our teams for their professionalism and dedication as they work together to resolve this matter.

 

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On Background:

About the guests:

• Our HX Guest Support and Flight Teams have been working through the weekend to arrange onward travel for both embarking and disembarking guests, including flights and accommodation.
• Our teams are providing full support for all guests affected by this situation, including arranging flights, transfers, accommodation, and additional staff on the ground. We are also actively working on compensation offers for everyone impacted.

About the ship:

• MS Fridtjof Nansen is a modern expedition vessel built for polar waters. It is part of Hurtigruten Expeditions' fleet, known for our commitment to safety, sustainability, and immersive exploration of some of the most remote environments on Earth.
• The ship, one of two custom-built hybrid battery ships, joined the fleet in 2020 and is designed with cutting-edge technology to ensure safety and comfort in the most challenging conditions.
• With an ice-strengthened hull (Polar Class 6), MS Fridtjof Nansen is fully equipped to operate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The isolated incident has had no impact on the overall safety or structural integrity of the vessel.
• The ship adheres to the highest international maritime safety standards, including those set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), and MARPOL (pollution control) regulations.
• Our crew is highly trained in polar navigation, safety procedures, and emergency response, and acted swiftly in accordance with established protocols.

 
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Silversea Kicks Off Its 2024/2025 Antarctica Season

#expeditioncruising .

Silver Endeavour, one of the world’s most luxurious expedition ships, embarks on Silversea’s first Antarctica voyage of the 2024/2025 season

Three Ships, 34 Voyages, Up To 80 Landing Sites

Silversea, a leading experiential luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, has kicked off its 2024/2025 Antarctica season with Silver Endeavour hosting guests on an 18-day voyage to South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Between October 29, 2024, and March 10, 2025, Silversea will deploy three ships to the continent, undertaking 34 voyages in the austral summer as part of one of the broadest and most diverse Antarctica offerings in luxury expedition travel.

Expedition ship damaged in South Georgia [updated]

#expeditioncruising .

Albatros Expeditions Ocean Victory (file image)

Information is slowly coming in and it seems Albatros Expeditions' vessel, Ocean Victory, sustained some damage while in South Georgia, possibly to a stabiliser. Previously reported as Antarctica.

As can be seen on Cruise Mapper, the ship is heading to Ushuaia under its own power and at a respectable 12-13kts. It should arrive on the morning of November 14th to carry out inspections and possible repairs. There are no reported injuries to passengers or crew.

The ship was about halfway through a 19-day Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands Islands itinerary and was due to head to the Antarctic Peninsula.

A statement from Albatros Expeditions CEO Jakob Lunøe has been received"

During the early hours of November 9th, 2024, MV Ocean Victory sustained damage from an unknown source, affecting the stabilizer system of the vessel and causing slight water ingress into void spaces on the vessel. This damage was sustained off the coast of the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Thankfully, nobody onboard has sustained any injuries from this incident, nor is there any immediate risk to the vessel or those onboard after our crew worked hard to minimize the impact of the damage. However, after a thorough initial assessment of the damage, the Captain and owners of MV Ocean Victory have taken the difficult decision to return immediately to port to make necessary repairs to the vessel. The safety of our guests, crew and vessels is our utmost priority. We are grateful to the guests onboard MV Ocean Victory for their understanding and patience during this difficult period and thank them for their continued support as we worked to return them and the vessel safely to South America.

How this will affect the remainder of the ship's season is unclear. 

We will continue to update this report as new details come to hand.

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Expedition Kit: This little Bluetooth speaker could get you into trouble.

#expeditioncruising .


Review: Ultimate Ears MINIROLL Bluetooth Speaker

Once upon a time, those little add-on speakers for your Walkman, Apple iPod or MP3 player were tinny, rattly little things that had all the HiFi quality of fingernails down a blackboard.

Seabourn announces 2026-2027 Expeditions

Seabourn, a leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, has unveiled its new 2026-2027 expedition itineraries to the world's most remote and exotic destinations. The line's two new ultra-luxury expedition ships Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, are scheduled to visit up to 161 destinations in 31 countries on 24 unique sailings of 46 departures:

BREAKING: Paspaley Pearl cancels 2025 bookings

#expeditioncruising .

Updated: 6 Nov 24

The much-anticipated luxury Kimberley expedition vessel, Paspaley Pearl, will not sail its inaugural 2025 season as planned and has cancelled future bookings.

The website (since taken offline) carried the simple message:

Industry insiders are speculating about the future of the 56m, 32-passenger boutique vessel, which was to be managed by Ponant and championed by industry identity Sarina Bratton. Bratton was contacted for comment, but declined.

According to reports received by Expedition Cruising, Ponant sales reps contacted trade partners to advise that Ponant would no longer be marketing the vessel. Competing operators have also emailed their respective databases offering places to passengers displaced by the cancellations.

In a statement sent to ExpeditionCruising, Ponant Asia-Pacific CEO Deb Corbett said:

"PONANT regrets to inform its valued customers and travel partners that the proposed cruise program to operate on PASPALEY PEARL is not proceeding with Ponant as the cruise operator. However, PONANT remains dedicated to exploring the Kimberley, Australia’s Far North, Papua New Guinea and East Indonesia, with over 40 explorations on PONANT’s Le Soleal and Le Jacques Cartier over the next 2 years. Guests holding reservations have been advised that they will receive a full refund or alternatively, guests can receive a travel credit with an additional 15% saving to choose a cruise on PONANT’s fleet across the globe, which is combinable with the PONANT Bonus Savings and PONANT Yacht Club benefits for members of the club. Guests have until 31 December 2025 to book an alternative cruise for travel at any time. Trade partners have been advised that their commission will be fully protected. PONANT continues to innovate and develop new experiences and looks forward to sharing this pioneering spirit with future travellers”.

Launched by now-defunct operator, Island Escape Cruises, the vessel was arrested in 2022 and later sold at auction. The Pearling dynasty, Paspaley, purchased the vessel for a reported A$5.5 million.

Have you been affected by these cancellations? Let us know

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From On Board: Meet photographer, Harry Rogers

#expeditioncruising .

Guests aboard modern expedition cruise ships now enjoy many benefits that were never available when I first sailed aboard the sturdy old ex-Soviet vessels in the late 1990s.

The cavalcade of enrichment that has always been part of the expedition experience is now further enhanced with dedicated photographers and videographers whose task it is to record the voyages for guests. Once upon a time, a camera was just thrown into the hands of an available crew member, but now we are seeing credentialled documentary artists produce broadcast and magazine-quality material as a permanent reminder for guests to keep as lasting mementoes of their life-changing vacations.

From On Board: How to enjoy a day at sea #expeditioncruising

#expeditioncruising . 

A day at sea has the potential to be one of the duller sections of a long expedition voyage. The side gates are stowed, the zodiacs strapped down and the coffee tends to flow. Lectures are attended and much fabulous knowledge imparted but in between our minds can wander. For those keeping a weather eye on the horizon there may be a thing or two to make them stand and raise a pair of binoculars to their eyes. Perhaps a migratory sea bird soars on locked wings, riding the air pockets above the waves. Perhaps a lonely boat is tossed on a choppy sea. Perhaps an intrepid whale takes their necessary breaths of air on their long trek through the deep oceans. 

HX partners with Heriot-Watt University - WAVE project for sustainable protection of whales in the Arctic

 

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), one of the world's leading providers of expedition cruises, and Heriot-Watt University, one of the world's leading research-oriented universities, have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

Wildlife Television Presenter Nigel Marven to Film 'The Last Penguin' Documentary on Heritage Expeditions' Ross Sea Antarctica Voyage

#expeditioncruising .

Pioneering small-ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions is excited to announce its partnership with legendary wildlife television presenter, producer, author, zoologist and naturalist Nigel Marven on his new wildlife documentary, The Last Penguin.

Swan Hellenic's New Destinations for 2025-2026

Swan Hellenic spotlights 34 extraordinary destinations worldwide in its 2025-2026 itineraries that are visited by few if any other expedition cruise lines – nine of them exclusives



Cultural expedition cruise pioneers' expertly curated itineraries take its purpose-designed boutique ships on maiden calls to see what others don't.

From On Board Swan Hellenic Diana in the Indian Ocean: Zanzibar

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(c) Gennadiy Skorokhod/Swan Hellenic

Location: Stone Town, Zanzibar
Vessel: SH Diana IMO 9921740
Itinerary: Paradise Isles of the Indian Ocean

The very mention of Zanzibar is enough to conjure images of exotic scenarios replete with vibrant costumes, vivid spices and produce as well as age-old architecture and customs.