De Båten
At first sight, I would suggest, it is impossible not to be awestruck at the sublime nautical beauty and to wonder at the feat of engineering that the Roald Amundsen presents. The vessel oozes with sleek glamour. It convinces you completely and without doubt that every detail of its design and construction has been carefully considered with efficiency, style and absolute necessity in mind. There are no superfluous whims of gaudy fancy.
Built in 2019 in Norway the ship boasts to be the most advanced hybrid powered expedition vessel on the planet. It has 264 cabins, all with outboard views, that provide space for a maximum of 530 passengers. When full, there are a total of 160 crew.
The ship is powered by four engines and two large battery units. Water that is used to cool the engines is recycled to provide hot water to the galley, cabin showers, ventilation systems and outdoor infinity pool. The flat hull of the ship behind the ice breaking nose means that not only is the Roald Amundsen able to travel further into polar ice caps than any other passenger vessel but also provides a better aerodynamic shape that increases the efficiency of energy usage. Outrigger booms like giant stabilisers compensate for the lack of hull depth and are computerised to make constant micro adjustments to hold the ship steady in rough waters.
Achieving a polar ice class of PC-6, the ship benefits from significant hull and propeller strengthening. This combined with the existence of azimuth propellers and bow tunnel thrusters means that sea ice is flushed away from the hull to allow greater manoeuvrability in Antarctic conditions.
Suite 909 when we first arrived. ( I know, I know, I should have taken the bags off the bed )
The full height LED lobby screen measuring 17.5m high by 6.5m wide provides stunning photos to brighten the trips around the ship
The science centre shared as a learning resource for the passengers and and work area for the on board scientific team that use the journey for research. One of the ongoing projects is monitoring the southern oceans for micro plastics with daily samples taken of the seas to supply data to international research centres. Very few other vessels are doing this so far south of the Antarctic Circle.
One of the four restaurants on board where the menu is changed every other day. The food on offer blends South American cuisine with Norwegian. Sometimes a little odd but always very tasty and extremely well presented. All drinks are included at table service but not in the bars, so it’s a bit like the old GNER system of being able to sit in first class for breakfast with a second class ticket: ‘I’ll just have another coffee and a slice of toast to see me through to Newcastle please’
The open air jacuzzi! -1° outside temperature plus (well, minus actually) wind chill, whilst the bath water sits at 29°C. Lovely!
The top deck with outdoor gym and running track
Zodiac landings back to the ship. There is no guarantee about staying dry!
The man that reached the South Pole first whose name adorns every corner of the ship