MS Spitsbergen to be christened under the midnight sun

Norwegian explorer company Hurtigruten has today announced the setting for the much-anticipated christening of its new ship, MS Spitsbergen.

Scheduled to take place on July 6th, the ceremony will see the new explorer ship christened under one of Norway’s most spectacular natural phenomenon, the midnight sun, for the first time in history.

With the port town of Svolvaer as a backdrop the event will be particularly significant as Lofoten has been a highlight of Hurtigruten’s voyages since 1893.

Named after the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago, the vessel will start its first season in Norway before alternating between sailings along the Norwegian coastline and polar expeditions.

Adventurous guests will be able to join her on a range of voyages, including In the Wake of the Vikings, which sails along the Viking trail, from Bergen via the British Isles to Iceland, landing on several of the beautiful islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Located in the northernmost part of Norway, the Svalbard Archipelago is important for Hurtigruten as it’s where the company’s founder, Richard With, first ventured into explorer tourism in the Arctic region.

Among the many unique landings guests will get to experience is L’Anse aux Meadows, a small fishing village on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where Norwegians Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad and their daughter Benedicte, made discovery of a Viking settlement in 1960.

Daniel Skjeldam, chief executive, Hurtigruten commented: “Lofoten and Svolvaer have everything the modern adventure traveller seeks – spectacular scenery, the midnight sun, unique culture and opportunities for active experiences.

“For the christening, we will stitch together a compact event with sustainable adventure tourism at its core.

“The three ships, MS Spitsbergen, MS Richard With and MS Midnatsol, will all be berthed in Svolvaer during the ceremony.”