Greener Arctic Expeditions

For families seeking adventure and exploration through polar waters and remote locales, Hurtigruten

is a top name in the business. While the largest cruise line of its kind with more than 125 years of experience, Hurtigruten offers intimate and immersive treks through incredible destinations, including Norway, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Svalbard, Antarctica and Arctic Canada, among many others.

Needless to say, this fleet has seen its fair share of family-friendly cruises and adventure vacations.

With an adventure and exploration-focused fleet of 14 ships already, the cruise operation is in the midst of a few new vessels that will be the most advanced and environmentally friendly cruise ships on the water. The new MS Roald Amundsen will be delivered in 2019; MS Fridtjof Nansen in 2020; and another to be announced in 2021. The new ships will be the first hybrid electric-powered cruise vessels in the world.

Leading the way in sustainable cruising and branching out as a socially responsible organization, cruising with Hurtigruten is easier than ever for socially conscious families. What used to be a heavy-handed industry leaving a large carbon footprint around the tourism world, cruising is more approachable for green families. Now using liquified biogas, Hurtigruten’s new ships will run on renewable fossil-free fuel generated from organic waste like dead fish. The biodegradable and environmentally responsible fuel will fill at least six ships for Hurtigruten by the year 2021.

Ship Norwegian Hurtigruten cruising Fjord © Anita Kuipers | Dreamstime.com

Green technology is on the rise in the tourism industry, and for good reason. Families seeking socially responsible transportation for their next vacation should know, this isn’t Hurtigruten’s first stab at green-travel compliances. The cruise line was the first to ban single-use plastic and already overhauled outdated battery packs and fueling services on older ships.

Biogas and other renewable energy sources serve other transportation forms around the world, so it seemed fine time to get cruise lines involved — especially those traveling in sensitive waters of Antarctica and other polar regions.

The various new builds and upgrades will be a $850 million investment for the cruise operation, making it one of the greenest cruise lines of the world — especially if the others don’t catch up. With more than 300 vessels at sea running on polluting fuel, the three new hybrid electric-powered expedition cruise ships will be in the great minority.

Check out the long list of itineraries left in the season, plan for spring or hold off for the new ships’ arrivals. Either way, the website offers an incredible sneak peek of all the cruise line has to offer for your family.