Fridtjof Nansen: Ship, Routes & Consulting
3 Reasons for a an Expedition on the Fridtjof Nansen
- MS Fridtjof Nansen is a modern expedition ship with Polar Class PC6, designed for true adventure in the Arctic and Antarctica.
- You can choose from 13 comfortable cabin categories, balcony suites, 3 restaurants, and numerous shared spaces.
- Daily activities are included, such as shore landings, Zodiac excursions, lectures, and workshops. For an additional fee, you can even spend a night camping in Antarctica.
What Awaits You on an Expedition on the Fridtjof Nansen
Following in the Footsteps of Polar Explorers
The ship is named after the Norwegian polar explorer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.
With MS Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten continues the legacy of Norway’s polar exploration. The vessel is one of the largest expedition ships operating in Antarctica and, after MS Roald Amundsen, the second Hurtigruten ship equipped with a fuel-efficient hybrid propulsion system.
Comfort Aboard a Polar Vessel
The axe bow of MS Fridtjof Nansen provides a smoother sailing experience in Antarctic waters. As a Polar Class PC6 vessel, it ensures reliable access to destinations in Antarctica.
Onboard, you’ll find three restaurants, a sauna, spa, pools, an expedition lounge, and bars. All cabins and suites offer ocean views, and 50% feature a balcony.
Wide Range of Activities
You can choose from daily included shore landings in Antarctica. Together with the expedition team, you will explore the continent, take Zodiac cruises between icebergs, and visit penguin colonies.
Lectures and workshops in the Science Center are included. For an additional fee, you can explore Antarctica by sea kayak or spend a night camping in a tent.
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Cabins and Suites on the Fridtjof Nansen
| XL Suite with Balcony | 46 M2 |
| XL Suite | 44 M2 |
| Expedition Suite with Balcony | 22 M2 |
| Expedition Corner Suite with Balcony | 20 M2 |
| Expedition Large Suite with Balcony | 35 M2 |
| Expedition Corner Suite | 22 M2 |
| Arctic Superior Cabin with Balcony | 15 M2 |
| Arctic Superior Accessible Outside Cabin with Balcony | 19 M2 |
| Arctic Superior Cabin | 27 M2 |
| Arctic Superior Accessible Outside Cabin | 24 M2 |
| Polar Outside Cabin | 19 M2 |
XL Suite with Balcony
- 46 - 48 m² extra large Corner Suite.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows.
- Sofa bed, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee as well as an espresso machine.
- Up to 4 passengers.
XL Suite
- 44 m² extra large Corner Suite.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows.
- Sofa bed, TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee as well as an espresso machine.
- Up to 4 passengers.
Expedition Suite with Balcony
- 22 - 28 m² Suite with balcony.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows. Armchair, television, some with a sofa bed.
- TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso machine.
- Up to 4 passengers.
Expedition Corner Suite with Balcony
- 20 - 30 m² Corner Suite with a private balcony.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- Whirlpool.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows.
- Armchair.
- TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso machine.
- Up to 2 passengers.
Expedition Large Suite with Balcony
- 35 m² Large Suite with a balcony.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows.
- Armchair, television, some with a sofa bed.
- Including bathrobes, espresso machine and minibar.
- Up to 4 passengers.
- Accessible for wheelchair users, may be available for general bookings.
Expedition Corner Suite
- 22 m² Corner Suite with large windows.
- On the middle and upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Large windows.
- Armchair, television, some with a sofa bed.
- TV, minibar, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso machine.
- Up to 2 passengers.
Arctic Superior Cabin with Balcony
- 15 - 19 m² cabin with balcony on the upper decks.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Windows.
- Some with a sofa bed.
- Shower/WC, TV, kettle, tea and coffee.
- Up to 4 passengers.
Arctic Superior Accessible Outside Cabin with Balcony
- 19 m² cabin with balcony on the upper deck.
- With double bed.
- Shower/WC.
- Up to 2 persons.
- Wheelchair accessible cabin, may be available for general bookings.
Arctic Superior Cabin
- 27 m² cabin on the lower deck.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Windows.
- Shower/WC, kettle, tea and coffee.
- Up to 2 passengers.
Arctic Superior Accessible Outside Cabin
- 24 - 26 m² cabin on the lower deck.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Shower/WC.
- Up to 2 persons.
- Wheelchair accessible cabin, may be available for general bookings.
Polar Outside Cabin
- 19 - 23 m² cabin on the lower deck.
- With double bed or two single beds.
- Windows.
- Some with a sofa bed.
- Shower/WC and television.
- Up to 4 passengers.
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Itineraries of the Fridtjof Nansen in Antarctica
Frequently Asked Questions about Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian polar explorer, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. With MS Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten aims to honor the spirit of Norway’s polar explorers and their social engagement.
MS Fridtjof Nansen is a ship designed for adventurous Antarctic voyages with a more sustainable approach. It runs with a fuel-efficient hybrid propulsion system and operates without single-use plastics in Antarctica.
Design and Features:
- All 265 cabins and suites aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen have ocean views. Around 50% have a balcony.
- You will have a choice of daily shore landings, Zodiac excursions, workshops, lectures, and additional activities in
- Antarctica. The exact program always depends on the region, weather, and available landing sites for MS Fridtjof Nansen.
- Two restaurants onboard MS Fridtjof Nansen are included with beverages during meals. Dining at the Lindstrøm restaurant is additionally included for suite guests.
- MS Fridtjof Nansen is one of the largest vessels permitted to conduct genuine Antarctic expedition cruises. Only ships with fewer than 500 passengers may offer landings in Antarctica. On MS Fridtjof Nansen, you will travel with a maximum of 499 passengers to the White Continent.
Technical Specifications:
- MS Fridtjof Nansen is an ice-strengthened vessel with Polar Class PC6. This allows reliable access to locations in Antarctica where other ships may have already needed to turn back.
- Its sister ship, MS Roald Amundsen, was the first hybrid-powered expedition ship in Antarctica. With these vessels, Hurtigruten has paved a more eco-friendly path for Antarctic travel.
- You travel at speeds of up to 18 knots, which means less time at sea and more time ashore.
- Free satellite Wi-Fi available in Antarctica.
Onboard Experience:
- Two included restaurants and one specialty restaurant (included for suite guests).
- Spa with sauna.
- Infinity pool and whirlpool.
- Fitness center.
- Science Center for lectures and workshops.
- Languages onboard: German, English, and Norwegian.
Expedition Team:
- All shore landings and Zodiac excursions are included. You decide your own program.
- An experienced expedition team accompanies your Antarctic cruise aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, from onboard lectures to landings ashore.
- Optional sea kayaking available for an additional fee.
- Optional overnight camping in Antarctica available for an additional charge.
Expedition Equipment:
- Zodiacs for landings and exploration in Antarctica.
- Gear for landings.
- Complimentary rubber boots available for use during landings and Zodiac outings.
- Complimentary Helly Hansen windbreaker.
- Passengers: maximum 530 (restricted to 499 in Antarctica).
- Year built: 2020.
- Crew: approx. 160 crew members in Antarctica.
- Expedition team: approx. 20–30 Antarctic experts.
- Ice class: PC6, suitable for travel through up to 90 cm of one-year sea ice.
- Size: length 140 m, width 23.6 m.
- Decks: 11.
- Speed: 18 knots.
- Stabilization: yes.
- Expedition equipment: Zodiacs, sea kayaks, shore equipment, tents for overnight camping ashore.
Included:
- Antarctic expedition voyage in the booked cabin category or suite aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen.
- Most itineraries include economy-class flights between Germany and Ushuaia via Buenos Aires, including round-trip
- Rail&Fly tickets. Depending on the departure port, services may vary.
- One overnight stay in Buenos Aires before and after the expedition cruise, including breakfast.
- Transfers before and after the voyage between the airport and hotel in Buenos Aires.
- Transfers between the airport and MS Fridtjof Nansen in Ushuaia, including a short city tour.
- Guided shore landings.
- Scientific lectures and onboard entertainment.
- Science Center with modern equipment, library, exhibits, and maps.
- Photography tips and techniques for wildlife and landscape images from the onboard photographer.
- Use of onboard facilities, such as whirlpools, panoramic sauna, and fitness area.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including beverages at Aune and Fredheim restaurants.
- Complimentary tea and coffee available all day.
- Refillable stainless steel water bottle.
- Complimentary Helly Hansen windbreaker.
- Complimentary rubber boots for landings.
- Free Wi-Fi onboard.
- Comprehensive travel documentation before and after the journey.
Excluded:
- International flights: On some itineraries, international airfare is not included. When booking with Arctic Desire, you may request an offer including international flights and an optional pre- or post-tour in Patagonia.
- Personal expenses, such as purchases in the onboard boutique.
- Massages and similar spa services.
- Drinks from the bar.
- Luggage handling.
- Gratuities.
- Optional: sea kayaking experience for an additional fee.
- Optional: overnight Antarctic camping.
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There is no fixed schedule aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen. The expedition team plans each day according to weather and operating conditions in the region.
Every voyage is unique. The daily program is usually provided the evening before or in the morning. The unexpected is part of an Antarctic journey — every day is a new adventure.
With MS Fridtjof Nansen, you can reliably reach locations in Antarctica that may no longer be accessible to other expedition ships. As an ice-strengthened PC6 vessel, a voyage aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen is a true expedition experience.
The following activities are possible on MS Fridtjof Nansen in Antarctica:
- Shore landings: A selection of daily included landings with the expedition team. Complimentary loan boots are available, and you will also receive a free Helly Hansen windbreaker. You may visit a penguin colony one day and take a snowshoe hike or walk through the Antarctic landscape the next.
- Zodiac excursions: Zodiac outings for landings, whale-watching, close iceberg approaches, and many additional activities are included.
- Polar Plunge: For those who dare, a jump into the icy waters of Antarctica is possible — with luck, you may even swim briefly.
- Lectures: Presentations in the Science Center are included and also broadcast live to cabins for your convenience.
- Science Center: Participate in ongoing scientific projects and contribute to research.
- Workshops: Photography workshops and technical sessions hosted by professional expedition photographers.
- Spa: The fitness area, wellness center, sauna, and pool are popular during sea days. Advanced booking of treatments is recommended.
- Camping in Antarctica (additional fee): Spend an Amundsen-style night camping in Antarctica. This activity is only bookable onboard.
- Sea kayaking (additional fee): Paddle among icebergs, wildlife, sea ice, and coastlines in Antarctica.
All activities aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen are optional. You do not need to join shore landings — you may instead enjoy a relaxing day in the sauna, Explorer Lounge, or on your private balcony.
Please contact us for details about available activities aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen in Antarctica.
Free Wi-Fi is available onboard MS Fridtjof Nansen in Antarctica. However, connection speed may be limited. Antarctica is one of the most remote places on Earth. Only a few years ago, having internet at sea was not possible. Satellite internet has changed this greatly, but connection quality cannot match what you may know from flights. To ensure access for all guests, streaming and file-sharing may be restricted.
You will dine in one of three Scandinavian-styled restaurants aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen. The main restaurants, Aune and Fredheim, are included. The premium restaurant Lindstrøm is available to suite guests for breakfast and lunch.
Suite guests also enjoy included dinner at Lindstrøm. Passengers in other cabin categories may dine there for dinner at an additional charge.
The dining selection is varied and generous, and the culinary team strives to use local ingredients whenever possible. There is no single-use plastic onboard.
There are no restaurant snacks between meals, but cookies, coffee, and tea are always available at the pool deck and Explorer Lounge.
- Aune: Aune is twice the size of the other restaurants and serves as the main dining room with seating for 240 guests.
- Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, and dinner is à la carte. Seats and table numbers are assigned.
- Fredheim: Open for lunch and dinner. Fredheim serves burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, milkshakes, and waffles.
- Depending on the itinerary, additional regional dishes such as crab, mussels, or lobster rolls may be available.
- Lindstrøm: Lindstrøm is the specialty restaurant. It is complimentary for suite guests. Only suite guests may dine here for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is a six-course menu and is also available for non-suite guests for an additional fee.
- Explorer Lounge & Bar – Panoramic Bar: Cookies, coffee, and tea available at any time.
- Pool Bar: Cookies, coffee, and tea.
- Room service: There is no traditional room service onboard. Instead, meals from Fredheim are available to go and may be taken to your cabin or suite.
When booking with Arctic Desire, you may request an offer including international flights to MS Fridtjof Nansen.
Many itineraries already include economy-class flights between Germany and Ushuaia with a stop in Buenos Aires and Rail&Fly tickets. Around 90% of Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia. A pre-night stay in Buenos Aires, airport transfers, and breakfast are included.
In the case of another departure port, the arrival and departure package may differ.
We can also assist with an optional pre-tour or post-tour extension, such as Buenos Aires, Patagonia, or Chile.
Please contact us for more information on arrival packages for MS Fridtjof Nansen.