Hybrid cruise ship to dock in Eastport

The new 459-foot Hurtigruten expedition ship Roald Amundsen, the world's first hybrid cruise ship, will be visiting Maine for the first time when it docks in Eastport on Tuesday, September 20, arriving at 10 a.m. and departing at 8 p.m. The vessel, which is a battery-supported cruise ship from Norway, will also be visiting the Maine ports of Bar Harbor, Castine and Rockland. The hybrid technology reduces fuel consumption and C02 emissions by 20%.
Among those who will be attending the cruise ship's visit in Eastport will be Sarah Flink, the executive director of CruiseMaine, and Hannah Collins of the Maine Office of Tourism, along with possibly other state officials. Flink comments, "CruiseMaine is thrilled to welcome the world's first hybrid cruise ship, Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen, to Maine later this month. This innovative expedition ship will showcase the future of sustainable cruising during its visit to the Maine coast. Most importantly, the ship will introduce the beauty of our state to hundreds of visitors who we are certain will want to plan a return trip."
The ship left Nome, Alaska, traveling through the Northwest Passage, on its journey to Eastport, and after leaving Maine it will be headed to Antarctica. The ship is scheduled to return to Maine next year.
While the ship can carry 530 passengers, just over 250 will be on board when it comes to Eastport. They will be offered four options during their time in Eastport: whale-watching and lobster boat tours; kayaking tours; guided walking tours of the downtown; and a hike at Shackford Head State Park.
Chris Brown and Tessa Ftorek are the cruise ship visit coordinators for the Eastport Port Authority, and Brown notes that the passengers on the Roald Amundsen are "more active people" than passengers on some cruise ships. Ftorek says, "We are excited to have the MS Roald Amundsen visit Eastport. It is particularly exciting that these passengers are interested in exploring the outdoors! It will be a treat for them and for us to kayak in our bay and hike at Shackford Head State Park!"
Launched in 2018, the Norwegian vessel began expedition cruises in 2019, but cruises were interrupted during the coronavirus pandemic. The ship, which was built to undertake polar voyages, is named for the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole in 1911.
In addition to the visit by the Roald Amundsen, the 325-foot cruise ship Pearl Mist will again be visiting Eastport four times in the upcoming weeks. Its first visit will be on Monday, September 12, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. During the succeeding three visits the ship will be in Eastport from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing time for passengers to be transported by boat to Lubec and then by bus to visit the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. Those visits are on Friday, October 7; Friday, October 14; and Friday, October 21.