HX, the Norwegian cruise line previously generally known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, revealed that its 532-guest ship MS Maud will return to service in April 2024 following an prolonged dry dock the place repairs are being made to the ship. Her return-to-service cruise will probably be a British Isles expedition roundtrip from Dover, England.
MS Maud to Sail British Isles, Northern Europe
MS Maud, the HX ship that was significantly broken by a rogue wave in December 2023, will formally resume operations on April 14, 2024, with a 13-day voyage exploring the British Isles.
A number of British Isles departures are scheduled in April and Could, together with a summer season sequence that can function Northern Europe locations resembling Iceland, Greenland, and Scandinavia.
MS Maud was hit by a rogue wave whereas crusing within the North Sea between Norway, Denmark, and the UK on December 21, 2023. Home windows had been damaged within the incident, together with on the bridge, and the ship was quickly adrift after shedding energy. No critical accidents had been reported, however the ship required navigational help.
The ship was working a 14-night “Northern Lights” expedition cruise roundtrip from Tilbury, England, when the wave hit. Authorities had been shortly alerted and a number of close by vessels and rescue personnel responded to the scene.
MS Maud was in the end towed to Bremerhaven, Germany, the place she is present process repairs at Bredo Dry Docks.
The ship’s subsequent scheduled cruise, a 13-night Christmas Expedition to varied ports in Norway, was cancelled as harm to the vessel was being assessed. Two cruises slated to depart in January, each Norwegian fjord cruises from Amsterdam, additionally had been cancelled, and now all different printed cruises by means of mid-March 2024 are cancelled.
A number of choices are being supplied to visitors booked to sail on the ship by means of March. Company can as a substitute sail aboard the road’s MS Spitsbergen, which gives the identical Northern Lights itinerary that MS Maud was alleged to sail.
Company can also rebook on different voyages by means of mid-April, together with choose Norway sailings on sister model, Hurtigruten, together with the North Cape Specific roundtrip from Bergen, Norway, and choose sailings departing from Hamburg, Germany, aboard MS Otto.
The gives are primarily based on availability, and visitors can rebook their unique cabin class alternative the place obtainable. Different choices embody a full refund, or a future cruise voucher that may be utilized to a distinct expedition voyage.
Arctic and Antarctic Sailings on Horizon
When MS Maud returns to service in April for her British Isles expedition cruises roundtrip from Dover, she’s going to supply visitors alternatives to discover locations resembling Wales; Northern Eire; the Orkney Islands, Stornoway, Islay, Isle of Man, and Isles of Scilly, all in Scotland; and England’s Devon coast, earlier than returning to Dover.
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The April 14, 2024 departure will function a particular visitor, Scottish climate presenter Carol Kirkwood, who will entertain visitors with lectures and Q&A classes. A number of different notable itineraries are arising in 2024.
On July 18, 2024, the ship will function her “Cruising Beneath the Midnight Solar” Arctic voyage. The 20-day cruise visits Greenland and Iceland, together with 5 ports above the Arctic Circle.
In fall of 2024, the ship will reposition to Antarctica and function a sequence of expedition cruises to the Patagonian fjords and the White Continent. A 17-day Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica expedition, with departures in November and December 2024, will name at ports in South America, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.
Onboard MS Maud, visitors will discover decor impressed by Norway’s pure wonders and furnishings and fixtures within the artwork deco type. The ship includes a Science Heart, the place visitors can change into concerned with lively analysis initiatives.
Three eating venues are supplied, together with the superb eating Restaurant Lindstrom, the informal Restaurant Fredheim, and the primary eating room, Restaurant Aune. The ship additionally gives a health room, a sauna and whirlpool, and one bar/lounge.
MS Maud’s expertise with a rogue wave is uncommon, however the phenomenon does occur on occasion. In December 2022, Viking’s Viking Polaris expedition ship was hit by a rogue wave within the Drake Passage because the ship was making her manner from Antarctica to Ushuaia, Argentina. That crusing led to tragedy, as one particular person died within the accident and 4 had been injured.
