Hurtigruten temporarily suspends all expedition cruises

[hallasm]

As a response to the coronavirus outbreak on board MS Roald Amundsen, Hurtigruten temporarily suspends all expedition sailings on MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen until further notice.

Press release from Hurtigruten
 

Coastal voyages from Bergen to Kirkenes are still sailing - this decision Has no  no impact on the Coastal Voyage Operation.

[ighten]

Think ill have to move the UK trip to a coastal

[tommui987]

8 hours ago, hallasm said:

Hurtigruten temporarily suspends all expedition sailings on MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen until further notice.

Press release from Hurtigruten
 

Coastal voyages from Bergen to Kirkenes are still sailing - this decision Has no  no impact on the Coastal Voyage Operation.

 

Part of my bucket list was to take a trip on Hurtigruten up the coast of Norway.

 

I was under the impression that ALL their ships were quasi-ferry boats delivering people, cars, mail, supplies etc up and down the western coast line.

 

Does the line have dedicated ships just for cruising?

[ighten]

It has expedition ships which are different to the coastal service offered.. Its the expedition ships that have been suspended for now..

[hallasm]

1 hour ago, tommui987 said:

Does the line have dedicated ships just for cruising?

Yes, Hurtigruten expedition cruises and ships are very different from the Coastal  operation with cargo/car operation with 34 port stops in 6 days from Bergen to Kirkenes.

Previously the expedition cruises did have a focus on Arctic and Antarctic- because of COVID-19 the current focus is Norwegian waters.

Due to changes in the coastal operation by January 2021 where HAVILA will operate 3 out og the 11 coastal ships Hurtigruten will start to offer expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast from Hamburg, Dover and Bergen - fewer and longer port stops.

[clo]

4 hours ago, tommui987 said:

Part of my bucket list was to take a trip on Hurtigruten up the coast of Norway.

 

It's a stunning trip. We did the RT and were going to the NB only this past March as part of a bigger trip. When the time is right I highly recommend it.

[tommui987]

Thank you for all your responses on the ferry vs expedition ships.

 

Pray that the Corona19 didn't hit the port cities.

 

[Cienfuegos]

Bergen, Norway has reported two cases as of about two weeks ago.  Resulting in about one hundred individuals identified and tested, etc. Three cases were reported in the entire country that day.

 

This article suggests that the stringent health rules, and the adherence to same, has made a significant impact on controlling the spread.

 

https://www.thelocal.no/20200720/norwegian-city-could-see-over-100-contacts-traced-after-positive-covid-19-tests