MS Fram: Small HX Expedition Ship

Built: 2007, upgraded 2022
Guests: Up to 200 in 125 cabins
Restaurants: Aune and Lindstrøm
Sails: South Georgia, Falklands, Antarctica

About the Ship

Named after the ship that went furthest

The original Fram, whose name means “forward” in Norwegian, is probably the most celebrated wooden ship in the history of exploration. She was designed by the Scottish Norwegian shipbuilder Colin Archer for Fridtjof Nansen and launched in 1892, with a rounded, egg shaped hull so that when the pack ice closed in she would be squeezed upwards rather than crushed. Nansen froze her into the Arctic ice in 1893 and let her drift for three years.

She did not rest for long. Between 1898 and 1902 Otto Sverdrup took her to the islands of the Canadian Arctic, mapping a vast area that had never been charted. Then in 1910 Roald Amundsen borrowed her and, having told almost nobody of his change of plan, turned south instead of north. Fram carried his men and dogs to the Bay of Whales in Antarctica, the starting point for the first journey to the South Pole. No other wooden ship is thought to have sailed further north and further south. Today she stands, fully preserved, inside the Fram Museum on the Bygøy peninsula in Oslo, where you can walk her decks and climb down into the cramped cabins. If you are ever in Oslo it is well worth a visit, ideally before your voyage.

Her modern namesake was built at the Fincantieri yard in Italy in 2007, designed for Hurtigruten's polar expedition cruising, and she was fully upgraded in 2022. She is not hybrid powered like her younger fleetmates, but she has an ice strengthened hull, a dedicated expedition launch for the small boats, and the great advantage of size. With a maximum of 200 guests, fewer than half the number on the larger ships, she can land everyone ashore in two groups where a bigger ship needs several. In practice that means more time with the penguins, quicker boat operations, and the freedom to tuck into narrow bays and smaller landing sites.

That is why HX use her for the voyages that cover the most ground. In 2026/27 she sails the 23 day In-Depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition from Punta Arenas, the springtime voyage timed for king penguin courtship on South Georgia, and the 24 day late season sailing from Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires, which spends up to ten days in Antarctica. Her guests tend to be well travelled, keen on wildlife and photography, and very happy to swap stories in the bar. By the end of three weeks most of the ship knows each other by name.

On Board

Life on board MS Fram

Fram is simpler than the hybrid sisters, with no pool, spa or Fredheim diner, but nothing that matters on an expedition is missing. The cabins and public rooms are decorated with work by Arctic artists, the outside decks are generous for a ship of her size, and there are two hot tubs and a panoramic sauna for warming up after a landing.

The Aune dining room on MS Fram, with round tables laid beside large windows

Aune restaurant

The main dining room serves a generous breakfast, a hot and cold lunch buffet and a waiter served dinner with suggested wine pairings. Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with meals.

Explorer Lounge & Bar

Panoramic windows, deep armchairs and a bar. It is the social centre of the ship, and on long sea days between South Georgia and the Peninsula it is where the conversation, and the whale spotting, happens.

The view from an expedition boat towards MS Fram among the ice of Fournier Bay

Expedition boats

Landings and ice cruises are made in sturdy small boats driven by the Expedition Team. With fewer guests to move, boat operations are quick, so you spend your time ashore rather than waiting your turn.

The Science Centre on MS Fram with its library shelves and work benches

Science Centre and lecture hall

Fram has her own Science Centre and a separate lecture hall, so the programme of talks on whaling history, glaciology and seabirds keeps going even on the longest crossings of the Scotia Sea.

The à la carte Lindstrøm restaurant is included for suite guests and available to everyone else for a charge. There is also a small fitness room, a shop, a library and a medical centre with a doctor and nurse. Read about the daily rhythm on board on our life on board page.

Ship Facts

MS Fram specification

Feature	Detail
Shipyard	Fincantieri, Italy
Year built	2007, fully upgraded 2022
Flag	Norway
Gross tonnage	11,647
Length	114 metres
Beam	20.2 metres
Service speed	13 knots
Guests	Up to 200
Cabins	125, including inside cabins and suites
Hull	Ice strengthened, built for polar expedition cruising
Restaurants	Aune and Lindstrøm
Facilities	Science Centre, lecture hall, Explorer Lounge & Bar, observation decks, two hot tubs, sauna, fitness room, library, shop, medical centre, expedition boats

Where You Sleep

Cabins and suites on MS Fram

Fram is the only HX Antarctica ship with inside cabins, which makes the Polar Inside grade the most affordable way onto her long voyages. Cabins are cosier than on the larger ships, but every one has a private shower room with toiletries, a TV, a safe, tea and coffee making facilities and European two pin sockets. Most have a double bed that can be split into twins on request when you book.

Code	Type	Description	Size
Expedition Suites
MG	Grand Suite	Suite with private balcony, double bed, seating area, minibar and coffee machine. Decks 5 and 6.	20 to 27 m²
Q	Mini Suite	Suite with double bed, seating area, minibar and coffee machine; Q4 suites have a sofa bed. Decks 5 and 6.	15 to 20 m²
Arctic Superior
F	Outside cabin	Larger cabin with double bed, seating area and fridge, some with sofa bed, some with limited view. Decks 3 and 5.	17 to 23 m²
U	Outside cabin	Outside cabin with double bed or twins. Decks 5 and 6.	10 to 11 m²
Polar Outside
N	Outside cabin	Outside cabin with double bed or twins. Deck 3.	10 to 13 m²
SD	Outside cabin	Wheelchair accessible cabin with twin beds (one converts to a sofa) and fridge. Deck 3.	15 to 16 m²
FJ	Outside cabin	Cabin with double bed and fridge, some with sofa bed. Limited or no view. Deck 5.	17 to 21 m²
Polar Inside
I	Inside cabin	Inside cabin with double bed or twins. Deck 6.	10 to 13 m²

Cabins SD-342 and SD-346 are wheelchair accessible and may also be sold for general booking. Wheelchairs must be no wider than 60 cm. All information is subject to change by HX.

2026/27 Season