MS Maud
Long a mainstay on the Norwegian coast, the 570-guest MS Maud (formerly the MS Midnatsol) has more recently been venturing to more distant shores. As part of Hurtigruten‘s rebranded HX expedition fleet, MS Maud has cruised Antarctica and the Chilean fjords, as well as the British Isles, Iceland, and Greenland. Hurtigruten said in early 2024, that the ship will rejoin its coastal Norway fleet for 2024 and 2025, filling in as other ships undergo environmental upgrades, before returning to HX expedition cruising in 2026. MS Maud is named after Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s 1917 polar vessel, Maud.
What We Love
Stunning Views: The scenery is an important part of the cruise, and the ship delivers on that demand in many different ways: There's a two-deck panoramic lounge that's flooded with natural light, wraparound windows in the aft dining room, and nooks on just about every level where you can peer out from floor-to-ceiling windows — including from the onboard sauna.
Best Known For
All-Weather Construction: Built to withstand heavy weather, this ice-strengthened vessel is well suited for ocean voyages to Antarctica and passages through the Chilean fjords, as well as coastal Norway.
Nature- and Landscape-Spotting: Expedition cruising is noted for allowing passengers to experience spectacular ice formations and resilient forms of wildlife both on land and in the sea, whether that be penguins, seals, seabirds, or whales. The Norwegian coast, where MS Maud will sail in 2024 and 2025, is drop-dead gorgeous at all times of the year, with colorfully painted towns and sparsely populated fishing and farming settlements.