---
title: "Hurtigruten Cruise Ships Stream Underwater Drone Footage for Passengers"
description: "Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten is introducing Blueye Pioneer underwater drones to to live-stream footage of nearby marine life to its passengers."
date: "2017-10-11"
modified: "2017-10-11"
authors:
  - name: "Marco Margaritoff"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/marco-margaritoff"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/15043/hurtigruten-cruise-ships-stream-underwater-drone-footage-for-passengers"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Aerial"
  - "Drones"
  - "underwater drones"
---

# Hurtigruten Cruise Ships Stream Underwater Drone Footage for Passengers

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/hurtigruten-drone-hero-01.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Underwater drones are being [eyed by the Navy](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/13601/researchers-create-naviator-drone-that-can-both-fly-and-swim>) for research and defense, [marine biologists for analyzing the Great Barrier reef](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/14901/wave-glider-drone-finishes-7-day-great-barrier-reef-research-mission>), and [hobbyists who simply get a kick out of exploring what lies beneath](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/12243/the-biki-underwater-drone-is-designed-like-a-fish-can-dive-196-feet>) the surface. These remote operated vehicles are a tool just like their aerial counterparts, and now it seems that even the tourism industry sees their appeal. Norwegian cruise line company [Hurtigruten](<https://www.hurtigruten.us/?gclid=CjwKEAjwgvfOBRD7_IDSuP3znTwSJAB4_t6Gx1cxjM2NHypIA7LbN-nUl1ySd-cNob710RrrvUkOYxoCrM_w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds>) is introducing an underwater drone footage as part of their on-board amenities. It will stream real-time video of the marine life lurking beneath its ships to passengers on board.

The drone in question is a [Blueye Pioneer](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11894/blueye-robotics-is-pioneering-the-underwater-drone>), which was designed for operating in low light and is fitted with powerful thrusters to maintain course and stability. [According to *The* *Los Angeles Times*](<https://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/la-tr-cruises-hurtigruten-underwater-drone-views-20171010-story.html>), Hurtigruten will equip its remote polar water-based cruise ships with the Pioneer, and provide its customers with live footage of wildlife such as orcas, penguins, sharks, and other local species.

The 15-pound ROV will traverse the oceans and stream back footage to screens across the ship. Passengers can then either wear first-person goggles or simply glance at the screens on board. The former option may actually convert people unfamiliar with drones or first-person experiences to learn more about the technology, as it’s a really exciting, visceral experience to behold.

Initially, Hurtigruten plans to equip only two of their ships, both of which are hybrid-powered vehicles. Passengers of Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen ships will be the first lucky customers to encounter this underwater drone experience.

“\[W\]ith underwater drones on our ships we can take our guests to areas less explored than the surface of Mars,” said [Daniel Skjeldam, Chief Executive of Hurtigruten, to the LA Times](<https://www.latimes.com/travel/cruises/la-tr-cruises-hurtigruten-underwater-drone-views-20171010-story.html>). Hurtigruten’s cruise ships traverse areas such as Antarctica, Arctic Canada, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Svalbard and, of course, the Norwegian coast.

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