Spitsbergen
Sails from Tromsø, Norway · Fly into TOS
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Spitsbergen at Fairlie Quay, Scotland, 2026 · Photo: Raibeart MacAoidh, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is an HX Hurtigruten Expeditions cruise ship, in service since 2016. She measures 7,344 gross tons and carries 150 guests. She sails Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe itineraries. We rate her 3.2 out of 5.
Spitsbergen began as Atlântida, a ferry completed in 2009 at Viana do Castelo, Portugal, that the operator Atlanticoline never accepted because of weight problems. Hurtigruten bought her in 2015, rebuilt her as an expedition ship and christened her at Svolvær in July 2016; she sailed the coastal route for a season before taking up expedition work in 2017. After an extensive 2025 refurbishment she carries up to 150 guests and measures 100 meters and 7,344 gross tons, with a new Science Centre, the Aune restaurant and two open-air hot tubs. In winter she runs northern lights voyages round trip from Tromsø, and in spring she sails Scotland's Hebrides.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 150
- Fewer guests than 78% of 600 ships
- Entered service
- 2016
- Refitted 2025
- Length
- 100 m
- Shorter than 87% of 575 ships
Spitsbergen is smaller than 76% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries fewer guests than 78%. At 49.0 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 79% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 4/5, fleet average 4.2
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Value
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the HX Hurtigruten Expeditions fleet average across 5 rated ships in service.
More from HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
3.3 ★Fram2007 · 11,647 GT · 200 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropeFram is a polar expedition ship built by Fincantieri in Italy for Hurtigruten's expedition program and in service since 2007, named after the vessel used by explorers Fridtjof…
3.0 ★Santa Cruz II2002 · 2,664 GT · 90 guests · GalápagosSanta Cruz II is a 90-guest Galápagos expedition ship owned by the Ecuadorian company Metropolitan Touring, which formed a partnership with Hurtigruten's expedition arm in 2021…
3.3 ★Fridtjof Nansen2020 · 20,889 GT · 490 guests · Antarctica · Norwegian FjordsFridtjof Nansen is the near-identical sister of Roald Amundsen, a battery-hybrid Polar Class 6 expedition ship built by Kleven in Ulsteinvik and delivered at the end of 2019. She…Official deck plans
Photos
Spitsbergen at Fairlie Quay, Scotland, 2026Photo: Raibeart MacAoidh, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- Norwegian Fjordsfjords and the North Cape, with midnight sun in summer
- Northern Europethe Baltic, British Isles and Iceland, May to September
Home port: Tromsø, Norway.
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Spitsbergen?
Spitsbergen is operated by HX Hurtigruten Expeditions.
How big is Spitsbergen?
Spitsbergen measures 7,344 gross tons and 100 metres in length.
How does Spitsbergen compare in size with other cruise ships?
Spitsbergen is smaller than 76% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries fewer guests than 78%. At 49.0 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 79% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Spitsbergen feel?
Spitsbergen has a passenger space ratio of 49.0: 7,344 gross tons for 150 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Spitsbergen feels comfortable for her size.
How many passengers does Spitsbergen carry?
Spitsbergen carries 150 guests at double occupancy.
When did Spitsbergen enter service?
Spitsbergen entered service in 2016 and was last refurbished in 2025.
Where does Spitsbergen sail?
Spitsbergen sails Norwegian Fjords and Northern Europe itineraries. Her home port is Tromsø, Norway.
Which airport should I fly into for Spitsbergen?
Spitsbergen sails from Tromsø, Norway. Fly into Tromsø Airport (TOS).
Where can I find the deck plans for Spitsbergen?
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions publishes the deck plans for Spitsbergen; this page links to Deck plans.
How is Spitsbergen rated?
Cruise Frog rates Spitsbergen 3.2 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on cabins (4/5) and lowest on entertainment (2/5).
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Spitsbergen
- Solo expedition cruising with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions: low supplements on every departure
HX publishes a low solo supplement on every departure, from 25 percent, and drops it entirely on some. Nearly one in five of its guests travels alone.
Cruise lines