Tony Soper Joins Fred. Olsen

Expedition leader, naturalist and veteran broadcaster, Tony Soper, will be joining guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar cruise to the North Cape in June 2012. Appearing as part of its Vistas cruise enhancement programme, Tony’s expert topic will be ‘Flora and Fauna’.

Tony Soper started his career as a trainee with the BBC and is a co-founder of its Natural History Unit. His many TV credits include BBC2’s ‘Nature’ and the film series ‘Discovering Birds’ and ‘Beside the Sea’. A renowned bird watcher, he is also an accomplished expedition leader, having led wildlife safaris to both the Arctic and the Antarctic, and is a pioneer of expedition cruising.

Many people will have fond memories of his time on the classic children’s nature programme, ‘Animal Magic,’ which he co-presented with multi-voiced Johnny Morris. The much-loved series ran for 21 years, from April 1962.

The cruise also lends itself perfectly to Tony’s subject. Setting sail from Dover on June 14, the first port of call is Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam), then Braemar cruises north to Leknes, in the Lofoten Islands, inside the Arctic Circle. The wild landscape, with jagged peaks and white sand, is visually stunning, and one of the most picturesque in Norway.

Next port is Tromsø and from there the classic ship travels right up to the North Cape, to Honningsvǻg, Norway’s most northerly village, framed by rugged mountains and the Arctic Ocean. At this time of year, there is daylight around the clock, so the sightseeing is unparalleled. On the return journey, Braemar visits Trondheim, then Ǻlesund, with its strikingly pretty ‘Art Nouveau’ architecture, and, finally, the bustling port of Bergen, with its cobbled streets and quaint wooden buildings. The cruise then returns to Dover on June 27.

A North Cape cruise offers many opportunities for spotting birds and wildlife, including reindeer, whales and many species of seabird, and no doubt the guests’ enjoyment will be greatly enhanced by Tony Soper's fascinating and well-informed talks.
Prices for this cruise start from £1,529 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes, and there is no extra charge for the Vistas activities.

For more info, see www.fredolsencruises.com or the specialist cruise travel agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

148 Countries Tune In To Hurtigruten!

Reports show that 148 countries around the world tuned in via TV, the live stream on the internet or via embedded players to watch the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s (NRK) 134-hour non-stop live coverage of a voyage with Hurtigruten from Bergen to Kirkenes. Broadcast June 16-22, the show has also been accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Live TV Documentary.

The show, on national TV channel NRK2, brought a sense of euphoria to the country. In total, three million Norwegians watched the show, representing almost three quarters of the country’s population and produced record-breaking ratings for NRK2. In addition, 2.9 million watched the streamed voyage online, almost half of these from outside Norway. The UK was the fifth most popular country for online viewing figures.

Social media across the globe also joined the frenzy. During the TV show, Hurtigruten was the trending topic on Twitter, at one time with one tweet every six seconds. The show’s Facebook-site ‘Hurtigruten minute by minute’ received 65,000 ‘likes’ during the five-and-a-half day voyage.

Kathryn Beadle, managing director at Hurtigruten said: "Nobody could have imagined just how popular this show proved to be. Along the coast, crowds turned up in every port to welcome the ship and boats joined in to escort her along the way. The impressive figures clearly show the incredible interest there is in Hurtigruten’s voyages along the Norwegian coastline and the global fascination there is for NRK’s innovative concept – Slow-TV.”

Hurtigruten, established in 1893, has been en-route ever since and is an important part of the Norwegian infrastructure and one of Norway’s best-known travel brands. The classic coastal route is known as the world’s most beautiful voyage and this was exactly what viewers from all over the world were able to see. All of Norway’s beauty was shown live on TV including Geirangerfjord and the western fjords of Norway, the crossing of the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands, North Cape and the midnight sun. The broadcast resulted in all-time high visits on Hurtigruten’s websites around the world and all-time high ratings for NRK2. Coverage can still be enjoyed at www.nrk.no/hurtigruten/.

Find out more about the classic Norwegian coastal voyage at www.hurtigruten.co.uk or, for bookings, contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

The World's Longest Live Travel TV Programme?

134 Hours LIVE with Hurtigruten

This is a travel TV at the extreme! Tomorrow (June 16), adventure-cruise specialists Hurtigruten and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) will embark on a 134-hour non-stop live broadcast.

At least nine cameras will be used during the voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes on board MS Nordnorge to stream the action live into homes across Norway and via the Internet to the rest of the world.

The show will feature real experiences on a minute-by-minute basis, including interviews with the guests and crew along the way. NRK have dedicated their second largest channel NRK2 to the show.

During the marathon broadcast, viewers will be able to experience the amazing Norwegian coastline, celebrated worldwide for its natural beauty and untouched scenery.

The itinerary includes the western fjords with UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, the coast of Helgeland, the Lofoten Islands, Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic, and the North Cape. The route, of course, includes a wealth of other breathtaking sights.

So, whether you fancy whetting your appetite or want to relive a trip you have done in the past, go to http://hurtigruten.co.uk/live where the show will be streamed live. To book a Hurtigruten cruise, visit the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.