After more than a decade in service, Hurtigruten’s expedition cruise ship ‘Fram’ is to receive a total makeover.
Leading up the 2020 season, ‘Fram’ will be completely upgraded with new suites and cabins, more environmentally friendly engines and a total makeover of all public areas – including new restaurants and Hurtigruten’s signature science centre.
“The original ‘Fram’ was the most famous ship of its time and kept pushing the frontiers in the golden age of Polar expeditions. Our ‘Fram’ was built to embrace that legacy. With the upgrade she will keep setting the standard for expedition cruises, and deliver unparalleled, premium expedition experiences for her guests,” Hurtigruten CEO, Daniel Skjeldam, said.
‘Fram’ was custom built for exploring the Arctic, Antarctica and other destinations in Hurtigruten’s extensive expedition cruise programme – spanning both poles.
Some of the highlights include –
*All cabins and suites will be fully refurbished. Using natural Scandinavian materials such as granite, oak, birch and wool, this will create a relaxed and stylish look and feel, and add to the premium on-board experience.
*Main restaurant will be transformed to Restaurant Aune – Hurtigruten’s new expedition cruise main restaurant concept. The restaurant will be social and informal with the use of natural elements in design and interiors. It will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner based on a Scandinavian identity.
*Lindstrøm – a specialty restaurant named after the Norwegian Polar heroes chef, will be added. This will be an upper premium fine dining restaurant with strong roots in traditional Norwegian cooking that are contrasted with modern cuisine, accompanied with a lounge for a glass of champagne and classic cocktails.
*A new Hurtigruten signature – the Science Centre – will include state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets, such as touch screens, science equipment and other interactive features. The edutainment area will be the place guests and staff meet, mingle and create a deeper understanding for the areas ‘Fram’ explores.
*The forward-facing Qilak Observation Lounge will be completely refurbished and re-emerge as Explorer Lounge & Bar. In addition to hand crafted cocktails, this area has unbeatable views.
‘Fram will also undergo major technical upgrades during the extensive drydocking, including upgrading her engines to the highest environmental standards (Tier III).
“We take our guests where other ships can’t, closer to nature with the special Hurtigruten edge. I spend most of my free time exploring and know the value of an expedition base that is safe, flexible and still offers premium comfort and experience to explorers,” said Skjeldam.
This upgrade is just the latest of several innovations announced by Hurtigruten. For example, the company is currently building the world’s first hybrid powered cruise ship, ‘Roald Amundsen’, at Norway’s Kleven yard.
To enter service next year, she will be followed by ‘Fridtjof Nansen’ and a third sister ship in 2021. ‘Richard With’ will re-emerge as a brand new ship in the beginning of December after her own extreme makeover.
Hurtigruten also celebrated its 125th anniversary by banning all single-use-plastics.
