Hurtigruten canceled its remaining cruises scheduled for 2020 due to the rise in COVID cases in Europe and the Americas, the company announced on Thursday, September 17. In a statement, Hurtigruten said their goal was to resume operations in January 2021.
The decision affects the company’s so-called expedition cruises (Arctic and Antarctic itineraries) while Hurtigruten's ferry shipping services (transporting passengers and goods along the Norwegian coast) continues. The latest cancellations affected only Hurtigruten's expedition fleet - the ships Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Spitsbergen and Fram.
Hurtigruten was the world's first cruise ship line to resume ocean cruising (in mid-June 2020), touting reduced guest capacity, strict rules on hygiene, and social distancing.
However, dozens of passengers and crew onboard a Hurtigruten ship tested positive for the virus following an Arctic voyage in July, triggering a police investigation.