Skip to main content

World’s First Hybrid-Electric Cruise Ship Sails the Northwest Passage

Hurtigruten Roald AmundsenRoald Amundsen
Hurtigruten/Facebook

Traditional cruise ships are notoriously brutal on the environment. They’re big, heavy, and more fuel-hungry than a Saturn V rocket. Hybrid technology has come a long way in the last few decades, with everything from cars to homes now capable of running on renewable, sustainable energy. It was only a matter of time before the cruise industry got on board (pun intended). Norwegian luxury small ship cruise provider Hurtigruten made waves earlier this month with a world-first sailing of the most eco-friendly oceanliner on the planet.

Recommended Videos

The so-called “world’s greenest cruise ship” just completed its maiden crossing of the famed Northwest Passage. In a world-first, the MS Roald Amundsen traveled more than 3,000 nautical miles from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean entirely under hybrid propulsion. The oceanliner relies on state-of-the-art battery-hybrid technology that reduces overall fuel consumption and cuts CO2 emissions by more than 20%.

While the ship is more eco-friendly than its gas-powered counterparts in almost every way, it’s also surprisingly more luxurious. A two-story observation deck wraps around the ship’s bow, providing panoramic ocean views inside and out. Adjacent the observation deck is the Amundsen Science Center, where passengers can access educational touchscreen displays and high-tech microscopes to explore nature samples collected from their latest shore excursions. Although the relatively small ship sleeps just 500 passengers, it boasts a long list of upscale amenities included three full restaurants, a gym, saunas, a wellness center, and an infinity pool.

MS Roald Amundsen: Walk around world's first hybrid cruise ship with Wayne

Every guest room is equally well-appointed. With no interior staterooms, every cabin guarantees excellent views. Many even boast private balconies and outdoor hot tubs. Inside, the cabins are spacious with sleek, Scandinavian-inspired furniture, colorways, and accents. Espresso makers, minibars, wine racks, boot warmers, and separate sitting areas are standard throughout.

The MS Roald Amundsen bears a fitting name: that of the first explorer to cross Antarctica and touch the South Pole. He’s also famous, of course, for making the first-ever end-to-end crossing of the Northwest Passage in 1906.

With its inaugural traverse of the Northwest Passage complete, the MS Roald Amundsen will travel south through the Atlantic Ocean, following the coastline of the Americas. The ship is slated for a full winter of Antarctic expedition cruises. Next summer, she’ll head back to North America to offer passengers small ship tours of Alaska. Hurtigruten will launch a sister ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, sometime in 2020.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Yes, you’re probably overpacking — 7 travel tips for packing I swear by
Years of travel mistakes led me here. These tips actually work
An overhead view of a man packing a suitcase

There are two types of people in the world – the ones who pack two weeks in advance with a packing checklist, and the ones who shove a random pair of shoes into a bag 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. I’ve been both.

But after years of red eyes, lost luggage, and trying to survive long layovers in jeans, I’ve learned what actually works. These are the travel tips for packing I swear by – the things that save space, stress, and yes, your sanity.
1. Lay everything out. Then put a third of it back.

Read more
Move over Vegas — this U.S. city is now the top casino spot
Is Chicago the new Las Vegas?
Casino

Before you book your next trip to Las Vegas, you might want to consider a surprising alternative. A new ranking from gaming aggregator SlotMatrix reveals that Sin City isn’t even in the top three casino destinations in the U.S. In fact, Las Vegas came in fourth place, while the number one spot went to an unexpected winner: Chicago, Illinois.

The study analyzed several factors, including the number of casinos per 100,000 residents, casino amenities like hotels and restaurants, the number of slot machines, table games, poker tables, late-night bar options, and average hotel prices.

Read more
Luggage shipping gains popularity as travelers seek stress-free flying
Avoid long baggage claim waits and lost luggage stresses
Man carrying luggage in both hands

In case you are unaware, AAA says a record-setting 72.2 million Americans are estimated to travel ahead of Independence Day this week (between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 4th). AAA projects that this year's domestic travel forecast will surpass 1.7 million travelers over last year, and 7 million more than in 2019. Busy summer travel also means an increased chance of encountering common airport hassles, such as long wait times at baggage claim, and even lost, damaged, or stolen luggage. Travelers are also looking for new ways to avoid rising checked bag fees and overweight baggage fees.

As a solution, more travelers are turning to luggage shipping as an alternative to make their summer journeys a bit smoother. With luggage shipping options at The UPS store, specialty luggage boxes are used to accommodate a wide variety of the most common suitcase sizes. For airlines with strict size and weight regulations, using luggage shipping may offer an easier, stress-free option to transport your belongings without the hassle. Travelers with specific mobility issues or with multiple suitcases have also turned to luggage shipping as a more straightforward solution than navigating busy airports with numerous suitcases at once.

Read more