The data consists of 158 hyperspectral images 512x512 pixels in 204 bands in the wavengths range between 400 - 1000 nm with 2.5 nm step, obtained with the SPECIM IQ hyperspectral camera. All images contain melt pond surfaces and are taken in nadir view (0° incidence angle). See the referenced cruise report for details of the used measurement set-up. The data are raw data in the original SPECIM IQ format. Each data record is a folder (compressed as one file) readable by the Specim IQ software, which is downloadable free of charge from the manufacturer (Specim) after registration. Within the field of view of each scene, there is a white reference plate, which can be used for image calibration to obtain the hemispheric-directional surface reflectances. Out-of-focus white reference still can be used for calibration as the spectral properties are not affected. We provide some additional parameters to each image if available. For some of the images there are co-located under-pond sea ice thickness measurements which are published in another dataset on PANGAEA (doi not available yet). The images here and the referenced sea ice thickness measurements can be linked using the site names given in the location_unified parameter. These site names are used throughout all publications related to CONTRASTS cruise melt pond observations. For each image there is another site name under location_original which refers to the site names which were chosen in the field and used in the O2A registry. Further hyperspectral images taken during the PS149 CONTRASTS expedition, which have been taken along short transects with an incidence angle of about 40-50°, are available in a separate dataset.