This is a fast-growing market, with many new purpose-built expedition ships setting sail. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest cruise options, news and developments.

expedition vessel Roald Amundsen

Hurtigruten suspends expedition operations as large scale COVID outbreak hits Arctic cruise

Hurtigruten has temporarily suspended all expedition sailings on MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen until further notice following a large scale COVID outbreak on an Arctic cruise. The line reported that 36 crew members and several guests had tested positive in the outbreak on board the MS Roald Amundsen. Norwegian health authorities

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Hapag-Lloyd to resume cruising from Hamburg at end of July

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is planning to start sailing again at the end of this month but with reduced numbers on board. Passenger numbers will be reduced by 40 per cent when EUROPA 2, left, and expedition ship, the HANSEATIC inspiration, start cruising from Hamburg. And in accordance with the German authorities, Hapag-Lloyd will welcome only guests

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Damond Princess and coronavirus inset

We’re not ready to start cruising again, warns Foreign Office

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office today came down strongly against cruise ship travel at this time due to the ongoing pandemic and based on medical advice from Public Health England. It stated that the Government would continue to review its cruise ship travel advice based on the latest medical advice. “If you have future cruise

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Hurtigruten expedition ship Roald Amundsen

​Hurtigruten launches new September British Isles expedition cruises

Hurtigruten is to launch a series of new itineraries in the British Isles over the coming months. The battery hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen will head for British waters after completing a summer season on Svalbard. The September cruises are scheduled from Portsmouth on the 2nd, Glasgow on the 12th and Liverpool on the 7th

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Svalbard courtesy of Hurtigruten

Expedition cruising resumes in Svalbard, but Brits will have to wait

Expedition cruising in Svalbard resumed this week, which is great news. However, it is only available to residents from Nordic countries. It follows an announcement from the Norwegian Government easing restrictions but imposing strict new regulations. For a start, ships will only be able to carry half of their maximum capacity, guests will have to

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Cruise ship Crystal Endeavor

Crystal Endeavor won’t be making her debut until 2021

Crystal Endeavor, the first dedicated expedition ship in the Crystal fleet, will not be making an appearance until 2021 because of delays in her construction resulting from the Covid pandemic. It had been hoped Endeavor would set sail on 20 November but the MV Werften shipyard in Germany where she is being built continues to

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Hurtigruten ship

Hurtigruten plans “step by step” reintroduction of cruising from 16 June

Hurtigruten has further extended its suspension of worldwide sailings but is drawing up plans to gradually restart operations from 16 June. “We are two months into what is a truly extraordinary situation. In one way or another, the consequences of the pandemic impact us all,” says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “There is still a lot

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Hapag-Lloyd fleet

Homeward bound … Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet heads for Hamburg

The fleet of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which would normally be sailing the seven seas, is now heading for the waters of its home port, Hamburg. Expedition ship HANSEATIC nature will be the first to return on Monday (20 April), with sister ship HANSEATIC inspiration and the ocean ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2 also now on their

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Cruise ship Crystal Endeavor

Launch of Crystal Endeavor postponed until November

Crystal Cruises has been forced to  postpone the launch of its luxury expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor, pushing back the maiden voyage to November. The news comes following the temporary halt of operations at the MV WERFTEN shipyards during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Not knowing when production will resume, Crystal has been compelled to delay the

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expedition vessel Roald Amundsen

Hurtigruten extends temporary suspension of operations

Hurtigruten has extended its temporary suspension of operations  worldwide in response to the continuing global coronavirus outbreak. “The situation is affecting virtually everyone in one way or another. Hurtigruten is no exception,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said today. “This is a setback for us, for the local communities we work with and for our guests.

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