Hurtigruten will charter a second ship next year, the 120-passenger Expedition, from G.A.P Adventures.

The ship will sail 13 cruises around Spitsbergen for Hurtigruten, from June through September. G.A.P will be sailing with the vessel from January through June and from September through December.

Formerly the Alandsfarjan, the 1972-built Expedition, is currently undergoing an extensive refit at STX Europe (Aker Yards) Finland.

Hurtigruten also charters the 94-passenger Polar Star, which will also be sailing in Spitsbergen next year, along with the 164-passenger Nordstjernen, which the company owns.

Hurtigruten has a fleet of 14 ships, and offers primarily year-round sailings along the coast of Norway, between Bergen and Kirkenes. The ships also carry cargo and local passengers. In addition to Spitsbergen, Hurtigruten operates expedition voyages to Greenland in the summer, as well as Antarctica cruises in the winter.