TORONTO — Hurtigruten will be adding one more ship to its current fleet of 13 with the purchase of a new expedition ship that will temporarily be named MS Norway Explorer.

Hurtigruten is represented in Canada by GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours.

“The new ship’s maneuverability and optimal size will bring Hurtigruten’s guests even closer to nature,” says CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “We invest in our fleet to ensure that Hurtigruten remains a world leader in sustainable explorer travels along the Norwegian coast and polar destinations as well as enrich our guests’ unique experiences by expanding our service at destinations such as Greenland, Svalbard and Antarctica.”

The ship was built in Portugal in 2009 at the Viana do Castelo shipyard and is now making its way to Scandinavia. The ship will undergo a total reconstruction including adapting for polar waters; upgrading the cabins, suites and public spaces for the 320 passengers; and adjusting the power plants and emissions so as to meet Hurtigruten’s high standards, the ship will then join the fleet along the Norwegian Coastal Voyage route. The new ship will replace the Midnatsol, which will join the MS Fram in Antarctica for the 2016/17 season.

Hurtigruten is expanding its marketing and sales efforts in North America. The cruise line was taken private in 2014 and will be launching new itineraries, an array of new soft and hard adventure excursions and expansion of its expedition leader teams over the next few years.

GLP Worldwide has produced a comprehensive 2015/16 Explorer Voyages 126-page brochure featuring cruises to Antarctica, Greenland, Spitsbergen and Europe. All pricing for the brochure is done in Canadian dollars making it easier for the travel agent and consumer to calculate costs.

GLP Worldwide makes available to retail travel agencies a variety of Canadian dollar priced brochures at Envoy. Visit envoynetworks.ca to order. For large quantities, call 1-866-760-1987, visit glpworldwide.com or e-mail sales@glpworldwide.com.