Tag Archives: Hurtigruten

January Update: Here Are the Latest Five Cruise Ship Moves

Posted on by
Reply

Cruise Industry News looks at some of the key ship transactions and moves that took place in recent weeks.

Pacific Explorer
Company: P&O Cruises Australia
Capacity: 1,998 guests
Tonnage: 77,000
Year built: 1997
Move: Sold to Resorts World Cruises
Date: December 2024

Currently in service for P&O Cruises Australia, the Pacific Explorer was sold to Resorts World Cruises in December.

Set to be renamed Star Scorpio, the 1997-built ship will launch service for its new operator in March, offering a series of cruises in Southeast Asia.

Maud
Company: HX Expeditions
Capacity: 500 guests
Tonnage: 16,151
Year built: 2003
Move: Transferred to Hurtigruten’s coastal service
Date: November 2024

The Maud was transferred back to Hurtigruten’s coastal service in November after three years offering expedition cruises for HX.

Before resuming its regular schedule on the Norwegian coast, the 2003-built ship regained its original name, the Midnatsol.

Renaissance
Company: CFC – Compagnie Française de Croisières
Capacity: 1,258 guests
Tonnage: 55,451
Year built: 1993
Move: To be jointly operated by CFC, Ambassador and Corendon in 2025-26
Date: January 2025

Now part of the Ambassador Group, CFC’s Renaissance is set to spend the upcoming winter season in the Caribbean as part of a joint operation with Ambassador Cruise Line and Corendon.

Starting in October, the ship will offer itineraries departing from Barbados, Martinique and Curaçao as part of a fly-cruise operation aimed at guests from the UK, France and the Netherlands.

Celebrity Xpedition
Company: Celebrity Cruises
Capacity: 100 guests
Tonnage: 2,842
Year built: 2001
Move: Handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Date: January 2025

The Xpedition was delivered to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions in January 2025, after completing a final sailing for Celebrity Cruises.

The 2001-built ship is now set to undergo a refurbishment before joining the fleet of its new operator as the National Geographic Gemini in March.

Celebrity Xploration
Company: Celebrity Cruises
Capacity: 16 guests
Tonnage: 317
Year built: 2007
Move: Handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Date: January 2025

The Xploration was also handed over to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions in January, after wrapping up its sailing career with Celebrity Cruises.

Currently in Ecuador, the catamaran, which will be renamed the National Geographic Delfina, is scheduled to undergo a refit ahead of its debut for Lindblad next February.

HX Pushes Marketing Efforts to Source Chinese Guests

Posted on by
Reply

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) is pushing its marketing efforts in China with a new roadshow that will visit three cities in the country.

According to a statement,, experts from HX’s global headquarters will join the series of events, along with the presidents of the Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).

The roadshow is scheduled to take place from Sept. 9 to 13, 2024, with events in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.

“We hope to attract up to 500 travel partners, tourism bureaus, consulates and media guests to our afternoon events in three cities, so we want to ensure that the guests can get a lot of valuable information from the expedition cruise experts from our global headquarters,” said Joe Zou, HX sales director for Mainland China and Southeast Asia.

Zou also highlighted HX’s investment in China, noting that Antarctica expeditions are currently a “hot-selling product” in China.

Each event will include a presentation of HX’s ships and onboard experience, followed by in-depth discussions on topics such as the new company’s destinations for the 2025-26 season and sustainable initiatives.

“The international cruises we have been promoting have been a great success. In the past seasons, we found that Chinese tourists really like this international atmosphere. We have made this unique experience even better by continuously upgrading our ‘China Ready’ program with the headquarters operations department and the expedition team,” Zou added.

As part of the initiative, HX offers Chinese news and movies in its cabins, as well as Chinese dining options.

The company also hired Chinese nationals for its expedition teams, front desks and restaurants, Zou explained.

HX opened a regional sales office in Shanghai and further expanded its APAC division with the appointment of new executives in mid-2023.

HX Announces MS Maud’s Return In April

Posted on by
Reply

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) announced the return of the Maud to service in April 2024, according to a press release.

After necessary repairs due to weather damage in late December, the Maud will set sail on an expedition around the British Isles. 

Guests will explore diverse coastlines and remote islands, led by HX’s Expedition Team. The ship will welcome Scottish weather presenter Carol Kirkwood on its second British Isles sailing, where guests can expect insightful talks and Q&A sessions while sailing from Douglas to Dover.

In July, HX’s Maud will venture into the Arctic, exploring Greenland and Iceland, with itineraries that bring guests closer to the local communities and wilderness of the north.

Starting in October, the ship will head south to Antarctica for a series of new expeditions combining the majestic Patagonian fjords with Antarctica. Highlighted itinerary is the 17-day Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica expedition. Additionally, the Maud will embark on 23- and 24-day sailings exploring South America, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in a single adventure.