| February 2008
General Information and Activities.
On October 9th, Hurtigruten's new MS Fram made her maiden call at New York
City. This compact exploration vessel was specifically designed to care
for passengers in the harshest of environments including visits to the
Norwegian coast, Greenland, Iceland, the Artic and Antarctica. The Fram was
calling at New York as part of a re-positioning voyage from Norway to
Antarctica. This voyage took the ship southward from Norway to Greenland,
Iceland, Canada, coastal US, Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, along
the West coast of South America to Antarctica. A full 66 days.
Based on my past history with exploration ships, most tend to be
converted, ice strengthened, research vessels, Russian surveillance or
research ships or converted freighters. The Fram does not fit this model.
Specifically built to explore the remote corners of the world. Built in
2007, at Italy's prestigious Fincantieri shipyard, the 12,700 tons ships is
modest in size when compared with the larger cruise ships - only carrying
318 passengers.
Her decor is clean, neat, functional and definitely Scandinavian. There
is extensive use of silver, brass and lightly stained wood tones. The
furniture is Scandinavian in style with clean lines and basic
shapes. The ship has the feel of a ski lodge more than a cruise ship. She
has many cozy places to gather with fellow passengers which are ideal after a
day of shore excursions or zodiac adventures in chilly locations.
MS Fram Entering New York and a Suite Cabin with Balcony. -
Copyright Hurtigruten.
Accommodations
The Fram has 112 outside
cabins and 24 inside cabins.
The Standard Cabins onboard
the Fram tend to be functional but very confining. These
cabins have a decent size window and have either two or 4
fold out beds. There is just enough room between the beds to
navigate in and out with a small nightstand that folds out of
the wall. There is a small sitting area, TV and refrigerator.
These lower category cabins are small and passengers traveling
in them must be well organized to operate within limited
space.
The suites and mini-suites
(pictured above) offer a more spacious configuration and are
more appealing to American tastes. With more colorful decor
and upscale furnishing, bigger windows (some
with balconies), larger seating area, TV, mini-bar(some) and
larger private facilities, these accommodations are luxurious
and are more comparable to those found on modern cruise ships.
Each Cabin has private
facilities and shower. The Fram does offer handicapped
accessible cabins.
Main Dining:
The Fram has two dining establishments - the main dining room
- The IMAQ Dining and the Bistro. The IMAQ is a beautifully
decorated dining establishment which takes up the entire aft
part of the deck. The room is lined with windows on three
sides and offers an elegant dining experience. The Warm colors
and wood tones make this an inviting dining establishment. The
dining experience is in two seatings and the room can
accommodate 174 in a single seating.
For less formal dining, there is the Bistro, a cafeteria
styling dining establishment, offering buffet style entrees.
There is open seating in the bistro and the decor is
comfortable and casual. The Bisto seats 60.
The menu offers a wide range of continental and Scandinavia
influenced cuisine. Delicacies including reindeer and other
traditional Scandinavia specialties.
Spa / Gym and Saunas
The Fram does not offer Spa
Services but does have a gym with treadmills, Stairmasters,
free wrights and basic equipment. After working out, the Fram
has 2 Jacuzzi's and also a Sauna where you can relax.
Entertainment
The Fram does not offer traditional Las Vegas
style entertainment. The entertainment on board
the ship is geared toward enhancing your education
about the places and heritage of the port of
calls.
Entertainment is usually guest lecturers,
musicians, comedians and pianists.
Public Rooms
In addition to the Dining
Room, Gym, Sauna, and the Bisto, The Fram offers 13
public rooms including the following places:
The Nunami Lobby - This
areas is very welcoming and is located just outside the
Excursion Desk. The area offers a cozy sitting area
surrounding a real fireplace. This area seem extremely
welcoming after a chilly day ashore.
Internet Cafe - Adjacent to
the Nunami Lobby is the internet cafe. Hidden behind a
partition there are a number of PCs for passenger use.
(Internet access available at an extra charge).
Gift Shop - There is a
small gift shop featuring polar type gifts (stuffed penguins,
whales, sharks), tee-shirts, sweat shirts and toiletries.
Framheim and Polhegda
Lecture Halls - These two rooms, set up with auditorium
seating, are the location for numerous educational
sessions, which are so much a part of the cursing experience
aboard the Fram. Guests assemble in these rooms on a daily
basis, for briefings and lectures on the natural attractions
found in the ports being visited. These sessions are conducted
by the top guides and naturalists which will lead your shore
excursions.
Qilak Observation Lounge -
The beautiful and friendly lounge is located high on deck 7
facing forward. With floor to ceiling windows, comfortable
chairs, binoculars and even a number of wide, high back style
airline chairs for observing the land and seascapes. This
room offers a fully stocked bar and idea for a pre or post
dinner cocktail.
The Arcade - This entry way
into the dining room is a museum onboard the ship, featuring a
replica of the original Fram - which was a wooden sailing ship
sailing between 1893 and 1912. In addition, there is artwork,
animal skins and photographs from Norway and Antarctica heritage.
The ship has two elevators.
Deck Space
The Fram does offer a large
exterior lounging area located on the bow of the ship. This
are is idea for sitting outside on a warmer day or for viewing
the coastline or wild life.
High on deck 7aft, there is
a large observation area, which also doubles as a helipad,
should an emergency occur or for a special shore excursion.
This area is also idea for examining the shoreline and
wildlife from the rear of the ship.
As a side note, the Fram does
not have any wrap around decks, therefore getting from one
location to the next will require walking through the interior
of the ship.
Service
The Fram has Scandinavian Officers and the crew is primarily Pilipino. I
found the staff to be very pleasant and accommodating. I was always
greeted with a hello and a smile. The crew always seemed willing to assist
and would go-the-extra-mile to make your travel experience enjoyable.
What the Fram does not offer.
The Fram does not have a pool, casino, kid's program or Las
Vegas Style entertainment.
Shore Excursions
Most shore excursions are included in the cruise fares.
Additional excursions are usually pre and post cruise stays
and visits to inland destinations.
The Fram also features Zodiacs and tenders which are used
to help bring people ashore - depending on the conditions.
Attire
The dress code aboard ship is casual. Hurtigruten
recommends two-three changes of indoor clothing. A pair of
regular shoes and sneakers are ideal to wear onboard the ship
and a warm jacket is necessary. Several layer of clothes are
recommended for venturing out on deck or ashore. The
Hurtigruten website and brochures lists, in detail, the
clothing ideal for Antarctica and Greenland cruises.
Conclusion
The Fram is not like other cruise ships. The cruise
experience is very low key and the ship is not glitzy. The
Fram is very comfortable and has a very homey and relaxed
feel. The entertainment is educational in nature. She does not
have all of the amenities that a large cruise ship have - such
as a spa, pool, casino and kids program. Passenger traveling
on Fram should expect a different type of cruise experience.
MS Fram was specially designed for cruising arctic waters.
Through the extensive use of wool, leather, and oak, its
interior has a Nordic feel. As she spends the summer months
cruising the Greenland sea, the MS Fram is decorated with
works by esteemed Greenlandic artists. The cabins are
stylish and comfortable, and feature two lower berths or a
twin-sized bed, private bathrooms with hair dryers. Each is
fitted with air-conditioning, heating, and a smoke alarm.
The standard cabins tend to me compact. There are a variety of suites and junior suites with
queen-size beds and TV. These are more suitable for American
travelers. She offers a comfortable restaurant,
two well-stocked bars, panoramic lounges, Internet café, and
conference rooms. She also features a library with a
selection of books about the polar regions, a fitness room,
a sauna, two heated outdoor Jacuzzis, a gift shop purveying
souvenirs, postcards, stamps, and other personal effects.
The Fram is the perfect retreat from the harsh
environments that she visits. Unlike other cruise ships, she
had the feel of a Scandinavian Ski lodge. |
