This expedition ship from Norwegian Coastal Voyage entered service in May 2007. At 12,700 tons, she carries up to 310 passengers on cruises to the top and bottom of the world. Named after Fridtjof Nansen's Norwegian polar explorer ship Fram, she is NCV's first large purpose-built cruise ship. The rest of the fleet holds down the regular daily Hurtigruten service along Norway's coast between Bergen and Kirkenes beyond the North Cape.
The company's origins go back to the 19th century when a regular passenger, mail and cargo service was established along the Norwegian coast. Several different firms have been involved, but today the Hurtigruten is one merged company. In the last two decades, NCV has begun to use its older ships and second-hand tonnage on summertime cruises to Spitzbergen, Iceland and Greenland and more recently in winter to Antarctica from South America. With the Fram, the line can now offer year-round cruises in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The Fram operates expedition-style cruises for passengers who like rugged scenery and wildlife, who don't mind cool weather and who can handle potentially rough seas. The market mainly comprises North American, British and European passengers, mostly well-heeled as the cruises are longer than the typical one-weeker. Passengers must be able to negotiate steps and be able to clamber in and out of Zodiac landing craft, though strong helping hands are there to steady you. Announcements are made in English, Norwegian (or Danish) and German.
Spring cruises to Iceland from Argentina may stop in the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Denmark, Finland, Russia and Estonia. Summertime cruises operate to northern Norway, the Faroe Islands, Spitzbergen, Iceland and Greenland. No other ship covers Greenland so extensively. On Antarctic cruises, the Fram carries about 100 passengers more than Hapag Lloyd’s five-star Hanseatic. In the fall, the ship makes long positioning cruises to and from South America via Panama and the west coast or the Amazon basin and the east coast. The ship then positions itself for the winter to sail to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Passengers are taken on excursions and ashore in PolarCirkal landing craft.
The Fram's interior decoration is a nod to Greenland and Scandinavia, and the layout is much like the newer Hurtigruten ships with a high-up forward panoramic lounge, two bars and a deck with a library, two conference rooms, Internet Center, a buffet, shop and a starboard side arcade leading aft to the restaurant. The artwork reflects the cruising regions as on the Hurtigruten coastal ships.
The dining room, located at the stern, has windows on three sides with buffet meals at breakfast and lunch and a served meal from a menu at dinner. A glass-enclosed viewing deck is located above the bridge, and two whirlpools are aft of the Panorama Lounge and bar in a protected spot. They see as much use in cold weather as warm.
The moderate-sized cabins, located on three decks, are mostly outsides with shower baths. The standard cabins have twin beds, one of which folds into the wall during the day, while the other becomes a sofa. The higher-priced mini-suites and suites have queen beds, refrigerators and TVs. A few have private balconies.
While still too new to thoroughly assess the complete picture for the Fram, it is assuring to note that the Norwegian Coastal Voyage operators have had ample experience handling ships in cold climes and keeping passengers happy and well-fed within.
