Launched in 2018 and specially designed for expedition cruising, the Fridtjof Nansen is one of the most advanced ships in the polar fleet. Its 490 berths puts it on the larger side of expedition cruise ships that are allowed to visit Antarctica and still let passengers put their boots in the snow, but under the skin, it’s designed to leave the lightest of environmental footprints.
I’ve sailed to Antarctica multiple times, but it’s always been on smaller expedition cruise ships that carry around 200 guests. I was curious to understand what sort of experience a larger ship could offer, so I joined the Fridtjof Nansen on Swoop’s Antarctic Peninsula Redefined cruise, for 12 days of Scandinavian style exploring the White Continent.
- Fridtjof Nansen is a hybrid electric cruise ship
- What are cabins like on Fridtjof Nansen?
- What facilities are onboard Fridtjof Nansen?
- What is life on board Fridtjof Nansen like?
- What type of Antarctic traveller should sail on Fridtjof Nansen?
Fridtjof Nansen is a hybrid electric cruise ship
The Fridtjof Nansen is named after the celebrated Norwegian explorer and Nobel Peace Prize winner. This nod to Norway’s polar heritage is particularly appropriate as it’s operated by HX Expeditions, whose cruising roots go back to the first Arctic tourism cruises operated by Hurtigruten at the end of the 19th Century (its identical twin ship is called Roald Amundsen after the the conqueror of the South Pole).
No tradition gets maintained without looking to the future, and HX Expeditions are the embodiment of that. Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen were the world’s first polar cruise ships fitted with hybrid diesel-electric engines. This reduces the CO2 emissions by around 20% compared to other cruise ships of a comparable size. And as I was to discover on the Peninsula, the ship’s batteries meant that the ship could often operate in almost complete silence, allowing for some remarkable whale encounters.
As with most cruises that cross the Southern Ocean’s Drake Passage to get to Antarctica, the Fritdtjof Nansen sails from Ushuaia at the very tip of South America. A nice touch was that my trip actually began when I flew into Buenos Aires, where I joined my fellow passengers for a complimentary night in the capital. The following morning, everything was very smooth with a charter flight down down to Ushuaia. On landing, we were delighted to have a short tour of nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park, where we all took photos at the famous sign marking the end of the Pan-American Highway that had wound its way down the entire length of South America, before heading to the port, where Fridtjof Nansen was waiting for us.
What are cabins like on Fridtjof Nansen?
As befits a larger vessel, Fridtjof Nansen has plenty of choice when it comes to suites and cabins. There are five decks with cabins, and for my trip I stayed in one of the entry level “Polar Outside” cabins, on Deck 5 on the main entry level to the ship.
The cabin had a very modern and clean cut Scandinavian style, with plenty of space and blonde wood trimmings. There was a large window for views and some of that gorgeous polar light, though for first time cruisers to Antarctica I’d recommend choosing one of the Arctic Superior cabins or or one of the Expedition suite categories, which all come with balconies as standard. One of my favourite pastimes is just being out on the deck watching the icebergs and glaciers parade by, but if you have a balcony you can have your own private show any time you like.
My cabin had plenty of storage (the beds are high enough to accommodate most suitcases), and there were some thoughtful touches specifically for polar travellers. Some cruise passengers might initially be surprised to see one of the wardrobes fitted out with rubber matting, but the moment you come back from an Antarctic landing with wet boots, this is one of those small design features that you quickly appreciate.
What facilities are onboard Fridtjof Nansen?
Where smaller expedition cruise ships can be more limited in what they can offer on board, Fritdjof Nansen definitely takes advantage of its larger size to offer its guests a wider range of facilities.
The most immediately noticeable is the choice of places to eat. There are three restaurants: Aune, Fredheim and Lindstrøm. Aune is the light and airy main dining room, where most people would take their meals, with buffet lunches and à la carte dinners, often with a Scandinavian twist (those who love pickled herrings for breakfast will be in their element, though this isn’t compulsory!). Aune has a lot more tables set up just for two diners than on many Antarctic ships, so it’s great for couples who want some personal time instead of mingling with fellow passengers. Meals have timed seatings for dinner, which you can select for yourself at the restaurant or using the onboard HX app.
For more casual meals, I enjoyed the more relaxed Fredheim. Food here was more along the lines of open sandwiches, burgers, and simple buffet breakfasts for the early risers.
The last restaurant is the smaller reservation-only Lindstrøm on Deck 9 for more intimate fine dining. While all food and drinks with meals are included on board, there’s an extra €25 charge per head to dine here, although guests staying in the suites have this included in the package.
There was more to Fridtjof Nansen than just the food. In keeping with the hybrid-electric sustainability features, there is also a strong focus on science and education on board. The lecture theatre was in almost constant use for talks from the expedition team, as well as a really excellent science centre.
Wellness facilities on board included a well-equipped gym, saunas with large picture windows, outdoor hot tubs and a plunge pool – all with mesmerising polar views. The outdoor walking track on Deck 11 was always popular with people taking a morning constitutional. Usually I saw them when I wrapped up against the weather with my pair of binoculars, but when I wanted to relax inside I would generally retire to the large and comfy Explorer Lounge on Deck 10. This has floor to ceiling windows for a 270º view, and was perfect for curling up with a book and a view, or just sitting with a drink and trying to spot albatrosses on the Drake Passage or whales once we were in Antarctica.
What is life on board Fridtjof Nansen like?
With all its facilities, it would almost be tempting to spend all your time on board, but Antarctica is a destination that demands exploring in close up, which means landings, zodiac cruises and adventure activities.
When we were in the Peninsula, we got off the ship daily, sometimes even twice a day, depending on our location and the weather conditions”. We were divided into five groups for excursions – although Fridtjof Nansen can carry nearly 500 guests, regulations mean that only 100 people are allowed on shore in Antarctica at any one time to minimise any environmental impact. Embarking from the ship on the special zodiac loading platforms was very efficient, and the landings would generally last somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour.
Other off-ship activities available include camping, kayaking and even a photography-focussed zodiac excursion. Although these all come with an additional cost, they’re great ways of experiencing Antarctica (there’s nothing quite like having penguins darting around you when you’re silently paddling a kayak), but it’s worth noting that unlike some other ships, on Fridtjof Nansen you sign up when you get on board rather than when you book the trip, and there’s a lottery system for spaces if demand is high.
The science centre was in constant use throughout the trip, and was one of my favourite on board features. There were plenty of opportunities to participate in citizen science projects by signing up for the dedicated citizen science zodiac and getting hands on collecting phytoplankton samples and the like. HX Expeditions also hosts scientists who are carrying out their own research – donating over 1,900 cabin nights to guest researchers in 2025 alone. My voyage had several whale biologists taking observations on board, and it really added to the expedition nature of the cruise to be able to hear from them directly about life at the cutting edge of polar science.
In between excursions, there was always something going on. If you wanted to relax in your cabin, you could stream a live talk from the lecture theatre. There were a variety of child-friendly activities for families, including microscope sessions, and even wellness activities for kids of all ages. At the beginning on my trip I hadn’t anticipated that I’d be modelling my own penguin from clay, but it was a lovely unexpected bonus.
Something else I’d never experienced before was a result of the ship’s electric power. One evening after dinner when we were in Wilhemina Bay, we found ourselves in what I can only describe as a humpback whale conveyor belt. The blows of dozens of whales got closer and closer until the ship was surrounded on all sides. This is where I discovered one of the unexpected bonuses of a ship that can switch to running on batteries. The Fritdtjof Nansen was almost completely silent, so the sounds of the whales blows – and even some exuberant tail-slapping – cut through the air. People were running out of the restaurant to join us on deck. The noise was unbelievable, and like nothing I’ve experienced on all my trips to Antarctica.
What type of Antarctic traveller should sail on Fridtjof Nansen?
I had a great time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula on Fridtjof Nansen, and discovered that it’s a hybrid ship in more ways than one. Yes, the hybrid diesel-electric engines give a lighter carbon footprint, but the ship’s size also allowed it to offer a blend of expedition cruising with some of the facilities offered by the larger cruise ships that sail in other parts of the world. You can expect educational talks from world-class guides rather than evening entertainment, but it was a blend that worked really well.
Fridtjof Nansen’s large range of cabin categories and suites make Antarctica accessible to a wider range of budgets. With many dining tables for two in the restaurants, the Fridtjof Nansen is particularly well-suited for couples, especially mixed couples where one is more adventurous than the other, as non-explorers will be supremely comfortable on board. After all, icebergs can look just as good from a jacuzzi as when you’re out exploring in a zodiac.
Fridtjof Nansen is also a great choice for families. The wide range of activities both on and off the ship means there’s something for everyone, and there are cabins that can be made up for triple and quad occupancy. HX Expeditions operate a minimum age of 5 for their Antarctic cruises, though it’s at the discretion of the captain and expedition leader for children for children aged 12 or younger to take part in landings, zodiac cruises and other off-ship activities
For those looking for a well-rounded Antarctic cruise with multiple expedition activities and some plenty of on board amenities to enjoy on the ship, Fritdjof Nansen finds the perfect middle ground.
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