1 NEW DISCOVERYS STYLE VOYAGE LAUNCHING OCTOBER, 2016 NEW ANTARCTICA VOYAGES NOW DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE FOR ALL Hands-on activities Small group landings Affordable! INSIDE Meet Your Polar Heroes SOLO TRAVELER FRIENDLY 2 Discovery and learning for all Dear Explorer, Imagine an expedition through a pristine environment you Oosten van © Marsel can only reach by ship, a life-changing voyage to a continent blanketed in ice and snow. No matter where you gaze you see wildlife in an untamed world of massive icebergs, endless snowfields, and deep blue sea. Now, open your eyes and stop imagining - because what, for many, has only ever been a dream, is now a reality. Starting in the fall of 2016, Hurtigruten will offer all new Discovery Style Voyages to Antarctica, making us the largest and most diverse provider of active voyages to and throughout the polar region. While our renowned MS Fram has sailed these remote waters for many years, now MS Midnatsol will be joining her with new itineraries via the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn. Our new Discovery Style Voyages are designed especially to bring polar exploration to all ages and learning levels. Most importantly, you will explore ashore and in small craft through iceberg-rich waters and feel like a real polar explorer. Back on board, you’ll have fun opportunities to learn and share discoveries with family and fellow explorers in casual comfort. As the most experienced operator in polar waters, our Antarctica voyages far exceed those of other cruise lines - most using either smaller expedition ships or large ocean liners. And with 120 years of polar exploration behind us, we’ll help you re-discover your ‘inner-explorer’ on a Discovery Style Voyage aboard the MS Midnatsol. We look forward to welcoming you on board! Daniel A. Skjeldam CEO, Hurtigruten AS August 2015 Small craft cruising with ice and wildlife 3 © Corinna Gamma NOW, EXPLORING ANTARCTICA ISN’T ONLY FOR THE FORTUNATE FEW NEW DISCOVERY STYLE VOYAGES faCTS Willy © Gian-Rico Newest Antarctica ship and itineraries Longest history of polar exploration Most 2016 Antarctica deployments 5 Most experience as polar travel specialist Custom-built ships - not too big, not too small Casual, comfortable, affordable NEW SHIP, UNIQUE ITINERARIES Travel aboard the casual, comfortable MS Midnatsol, © Dominic Barrington carrying a maximum of 500 fellow explorers, starting and ending in Punta Arenas, the thriving capital city of Chile’s southernmost region. On this epic voyage, we’ll explore the deep fjords of Chile. Take a front-row seat for the spectacular landscapes and stark natural beauty of Patagonia and enjoy the vibrant cultures of South America. All before experiencing the wild and spectacular beauty of Antarctica. There are 7 itineraries from which to choose. Small group explorations TOP-RATED ONBOARD TEAM OF EXPERTS Your onboard Discovery Team possesses a contagious enthusiasm, curiosity, and love for the places you’ll Oosten van © Marsel visit and are eager to share stories, interpret what you see, and guide you to the most interesting sites and experiences. Our guides are modern-day explorers comprised of expedition leaders, activity specialists, scientists, teachers, and ‘stewards’ of our planet, carefully selected for their local knowledge and expertise. Engaging Expedition Leaders and lecturers 4 MS Midnatsol © Jesper Nielsen - Guest image DISCOVER AND LEARN ON A MODERN AND COMFORTABLE SHIP MS Midnatsol provides Discovery Style Voyages suited for people with a true spirit of exploration, but with less emphasis on the rigors of an ‘expedition’. Put into service on April 15, 2003, and with an ice class 1X rating and advanced technology, she is very well-suited for our newest itineraries in Antarctica in 2016 – 2017. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM WHERE ANYONE CAN BECOME MS Midnatsol (Midnight Sun) is AN EXPLORER named after the Norwegian summer. MS Midnatsol is designed especially The interior’s bright, colorful décor to bring polar exploration to all is inspired by the warm, sunny ages and learning levels. Most climate, and is a great contrast to importantly, you will explore ashore the ice and snow in Antarctica. and in small craft through iceberg- rich waters to feel like a real polar ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND AND explorer. Back on board, you’ll have MODERN fun opportunities to learn and share The ship has a strong environmen- discoveries with family and new tal profile and a modern design, with friends in casual comfort. Norwegian materials used exten- sively throughout its interiors and HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPEDITION Norwegian art on display. What FEATURES characterizes MS Midnatsol is the ■ Daily lecture programs large, two-story panorama lounge ■ Expedition photographer above the bow and the large glass on board expanses that allow natural light to ■ Physician on board enter as well as provide extraordi- ■ Landing craft with individual nary views. There are also 23 beau- seating, handrails & tifully appointed suites, some of shore steps which have balconies. ■ Retractable landing craft loading deck EXPLORER DecK & MEDIA ROOM ■ Funding for endangered Our explorer deck is where you can wildlife meet fellow adventurers for scien- ■ Kayaks & expedition tific fun with our engaging Discov- equipment ery Team, no matter your age. The ■ Open sea stabilizers Media Room on board shows the ■ Low sulfur fuel/emissions highlights of the day. And if you ■ Forward-scanning sonar haven’t joined an excursion or land- ■ Ice radar system ing, you will see films and photos ■ GMDSS emergency safety Rødahl © Pål and share in the adventures here at the end of each day. Enjoy time sharing adventures 5 © Leslie A. Kelly © Leslie © Gian-Rico Willy © Gian-Rico © Madis Särglepp Enjoy MS Midnatsol’s two-story panorama lounge for natural light and extraordinary views Norwegian art on display © Ragnar Hartvig © Ragnar © Øyvind Grønbech © Øyvind Grønbech Your choice of inside, outside, and suite cabins Relax in comfort after a full day of exploration 6 FAMOUS ‘FIRSTS’ UNDER THE NORWEGIAN FLAG Sailing under the Norwegian flag carries a lot of significant maritime history. In the heroic age of exploration (around the turn of the 20th century), man’s desire to map the globe and the pursuit of science drove the race to unveil the planet’s last ‘terra incognitas’. The polar ship Fram and explorer Fridtjof Nansen left Norway for an expedition to the North Pole in 1893. The same year, Captain Richard With established a regular steamship service linking northern and southern Norway – Hurtigruten. The original Fram was the most months, and 2002 was Hurtigruten’s famous vessel of its time, and the first season in Antarctica. 1 2 achievements of her expeditions are © Frammuseet unparalleled: With Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten had its first season in she was the first ship to sail across Greenland with its new explorer the Arctic Ocean. Then Otto Sver- ship MS Fram in 2007. The ship was drup used her to survey a larger area named after the polar ship Fram. than any previous expedition – the In 2008, MS Fram passed both the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Most northern and the southern polar famous of all, she took Roald Amund- circles. sen to his starting point in Antarctica, as he raced to reach the South Pole. Today, more than 120 years later, Hurtigruten’s explorer ships take In 1896 Hurtigruten started the guests to Antarctica, Spitsbergen, ‘Sports Route’ from Hammerfest to Greenland, Iceland, and Europe. Our Spitsbergen with DS Lofoten. The ships travel in the wake of these great captain on board was Otto Sver- explorers. The original Fram was a ves- drup, who just came home after an sel for broadening the understanding expedition in the Arctic Ocean. The of the world – let our explorer ships same year Richard With built a hotel be the same for you! near Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen. In 1969, Hurtigruten set up an express 3 route to Spitsbergen in the summer 1893 1896 Captain Richard With establishes Hurtigruten starts the ‘Sports a steamship service to link Route’ between Hammerfest and northern and southern Norway Spitsbergen using DS Lofoten. – Hurtigruten. Captain With ships his hotel to Spitsbergen from Trondheim on board the Raftsund steamer. 1888-1889 Fridtjof Nansen becomes the first 1893-1896 explorer to cross the Greenland Fridtjof Nansen takes Fram on her ice cap. first expedition in the Arctic Ocean. 7 1. Polar pioneer Roald Amundsen. 2. The original Fram in Canada, May 17, 1899. 3. In 1888, Fridtjof Nansen, with five companions, became the first explorers to cross Greenland’s inland. 4. Fridtjof Nansen on his way to explore the North Pole in 1893. © Nasjonalbiblioteket 4 © Nasjonalbiblioteket, Billedsamlingen © Nasjonalbiblioteket, © Nasjonalbiblioteket, Billedsamlingen © Nasjonalbiblioteket, 1934-1965 2002 DS Lyngen starts sailing to Hurtigruten starts expedition Spitsbergen with trappers, voyages to the Antarctic cargo, and tourists. Peninsula. 1910-1912 1994 2008 Roald Amundsen and his 2016 The summer service to MS Fram passes both the team use Fram to cross the Hurtigruten celebrates the anni- Spitsbergen is relaunched, this northern and the southern Ross Sea and become the versary for explorer voyages to time with MS Nordstjernen. polar circles. first humans to set foot on Spitsbergen, 120 years after the the Geographic South Pole. ‘Sports Route’ started in 1896. 8 © Thomas Schmidt - Guest image EXPERTS IN POLAR WATERS POLARCIRKEL BOATS - A STEP ABOVE Polarcirkel boats are a unique landing craft used only by Hurtigruten and can provide far superior performance than Zodiac-style boats in certain NORWEGIAN conditions. Their unique hull design, interior construction, and handrail bow access provides greater comfort and safety and are invaluable KNOW-HOW for times when it’s challenging to get to the best With over 120 years of polar operations, Hurtigruten shorelines with the best wildlife. has more combined experience than any other polar operator and holds the highest maritime reputation.