Hurtigruten Norway cancelled its remaining 2020-2021 Antarctica cruise season through 2021-Q1, citing the impact of the pandemic. The company will also reduce the Norwegian coastal ferry service capacity.
The decision follows the Hurtigruten’s announcement in September that it would suspend voyages in 2020, with plans to resume operations in January 2021.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting large parts of the world and travel restrictions and quarantine requirements are wide spread and changing rapidly. The circumstances ae challenging and that developments are unpredictable.”
Hurtigruten said that there was a strong demand for its expedition voyages for the second half of 2021 and into 2022 with bookings for the next year 8.4% higher in comparison with the same time last year and for 2022 currently 97% higher compared to the same time last year for 2021.
With the low number of national and international travelers, the impact the pandemic has on the Norwegian Coast operations, and the uncertainties, Hurtigruten has also decided to reduce its capacity on the coastal service.
In November 2020, the company will only operate a limited ferry service between Bodo and Kirkenes with 2 ships only, at the request of Norway's Ministry of Transport.