Save Big With Hurtigruten This Spring

With every season in Norway holding its own unique appeal, there is always something different to see and experience. Thanks to a new special offer from Hurtigruten, it is now possible to travel for less and save up to £456 per person on selected departures this spring.

Available on the 12-day Classic Round Voyage, 11-day Norwegian Discovery Voyage, seven-day Classic Voyage North and six-day Classic Voyage South, guests can take advantage of the special prices on various dates during March, April and May when booking an unspecified inside or outside cabin before March 31, which will then be allocated on arrival. 

More importantly, a voyage with Hurtigruten offers passengers the opportunity to get closer to the shores, coastline and communities of Norway as the ships call at over 34 ports of call, many of them not visited by the larger cruise ships.

The ultimate journey is the full Classic Round Voyage from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north, taking guests high above the Arctic Circle and back to Bergen. There is no better time to enjoy a voyage than during spring – a time of true awakening when the daylight returns, snow begins to melt and the landscape emerges in a riot of colour from its crisp, white winter blanket. 

The Classic Voyage now costs from £1,536pp (a saving of up to £456); price includes 12 days full voyage with full board on the ship and fuel supplement. The Norwegian Discovery Voyage now costs from £1,442pp (saving up to £429); price includes 11 days voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Trondheim, full board on the ship and fuel supplement. Voyage North now costs from £1,067pp (a saving of up to £319pp); price includes seven days voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes, full board on the ship and fuel supplement. The Voyage South now costs from £840pp (saving up to £250pp); price includes six days voyage from Kirkenes to Bergen, full board on the ship and fuel supplement. 

In all cases, flights are extra and price is based on two sharing an unspecified outside cabin on selected dates in March and April. Book before March 31 for savings.

For booking details, see this link to UK cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

A Canary Islands New Year or Norwegian Fjords Summer?

Bring in the New Year with Royal Caribbean on board their Independence of the Seas on a 12-night Spain & Canary Islands cruise, and pay just £949 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin).

This fab lead-in price includes the 12-night cruise, departing from Southampton and calling at Lisbon, Funchal (Madeira), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Tenerife and La Coruna before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment onboard, plus all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on the December 29 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Or how about planning a summer voyage? You can have fun in the Fjords with Celebrity Cruises aboard their Celebrity Eclipse on an eight-night Norwegian cruise from just £937 per person in May (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This price includes an eight-night cruise departing Southampton and calling at Bergen, Flam, Geiranger (above) and Oslo before returning to Southampton; all meals and entertainment and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on a May 4 departure.

For more information or to book use this link for agents The Cruise Line Ltd.

Hurtigruten Launches New 2012 Brochure

Fancy kayaking silently in the fjords against an impressive mountainous backdrop? Or learning prawn-shelling skills from local Norwegian fishermen? These are just two of the activities available in 2012 as part of Hurtigruten’s new ‘The Spring Awakening’ onboard programme, which runs from 15 March to 31 May.

For next year, Hurtigruten is focusing on the different experiences the four seasons offer in Norway as they each offer something unique to enjoy. In addition, for 2012, Hurtigruten will be offering a range of packages that include flights from Stansted for added value, plus an extended Opera Voyage for those who like something a little different. The Spring Awakening programme aims to enrich the voyage with onboard activities and new land excursions.

It takes guests closer to the teeming life in the ocean, the migratory birds and the inhabitants of small communities. It includes activities such as fishermen coming on board and presenting skills such as shelling prawns with the guests, on board lectures and, for something a little different, during the spring a saxophonist plays on deck. In addition, customers can now enjoy a new excursion ‘Kayaking in Tromso’ which offers the chance to paddle in the waters off the coast of Tromso and enjoy the views and get closer to the marine life. Hurtigruten use stable, double sea kayaks and no experience is needed. Priced from £129pp.

For those with music as a passion, Hurtigruten has extended its annual ‘Opera Voyage’ from four days to 12 where, alongside the set programme of concerts, additional concerts ashore can be added to make even more of the journey. The voyage features soloists and musicians from the National Norwegian Opera and provides an extra dimension to a winter sailing.

In addition, optional concerts can be added in impressive arenas such as the Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø, the North Cape Plateau and the Lofoten Cathedral, making this opera voyage a magical and memorable journey. Priced from £1,232 per person for a 12-day voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, it departs on 6 January including 11 nights full board on the ship, a tour leader and various concerts (based on two sharing).

Flights are not included and can be added from £400pp (price valid for bookings made before 31 December). For those looking for great value and direct flights, Hurtigruten’s 2012 flight inclusive packages from Stansted to Bergen are available on selected dates in April, May, September and October. The flights will combine with the 12-day Classic Round Voyage, which travels from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. Packages will include flights, cabin on full board plus transfer arrangements and prices lead in at £1,801pp if booked by 31 December.

For more info, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk or adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

NASA Predicts Bumper Winter For Northern Lights

Is seeing the Northern Lights high on your must-do list? Well, this winter could be the year to maximise the chance of seeing them, as NASA predicts that the winter months will see the strongest Northern Lights activity in 50 years.

And what better place to see them than from a Hurtigruten ship, where they are set against the dark night sky, away from artificial light? The Aurora Borealis have increased in intensity since 2007 and will be at their peak in 2012 as the Solar Maximum - the period with the greatest solar activity - peaks around every 11 to 12 years. NASA are also predicting the Solar Maximum will be stronger than at any time in the last 50 years.

The Northern Lights are at their most active in the late autumn and occur most frequently and at their brightest in a belt some 2,500km from the magnetic pole. Much of the Norwegian coast lies in an area with the greatest activity, especially the high Arctic above the Arctic Circle.

Hurtigruten's six-day Voyage North departs daily between November 1 and December 31, sailing from Bergen to Kirkenes, with the chance to add a range of excursions such as a visit to the North Cape, snowmobiling or dog-sledding. Prices start from £625 per person, including six nights half-board on the ship and no single supplements. Flight packages including transfers are available from £495 based on London departures.

For more info, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk or the UK's adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Hurtigruten's Special Flight-Inclusive Offer

Anyone who fancies a trip to Norway with Hurtigruten later this year to search for the Northern Lights can take advantage of a new flight-inclusive offer. A special package has been created that includes flights and transfers (usually, prices are exclusive of flights and these have to be added) with savings of up to 35%.

Available on the 12-day Classic Round Voyage, for selected dates in October and November, this is an ideal time to spot the Northern Lights. These offers are limited in number and must be booked by June 30. Demand is anticipated to be very high.

A voyage with Hurtigruten offers passengers the opportunity to get closer to the shores, coastline and communities of Norway as the ships call at over 34 ports, many not visited by the larger cruise ships. The ultimate voyage journey is the full 12-day voyage from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north, taking guests high above the Arctic Circle and back.

Classic Round Voyage – From £999 (saving £35%) - travelling on select dates in October and November, this includes full board on the ship and return direct flights from Heathrow to Bergen with BMI. Based on two sharing.

Dates are: October 1, 20, 23, 25 and 31 and November 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 22, 25 and 28.

For more info, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk or the UK's adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Giants of the Deep: Vesterålen Whale Watching Adventure from £2656

Departing Bergen July 31, this 12-day trip with Hurtigruten from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to the Vesterålen Islands with two nights in Andenes for a whale-watching safari.

Just an hour north-west of Andenes is Bleik Canyon, part of the continental shelf and home to a rich supply of deepwater squid, cuttlefish and plankton; the staple diet of the sperm whale.

Accompanying this tour is marine biologist and lecturer, Professor Boris Culik, who has taken part in over 20 expeditions to study whales and other mammals in their natural habitat.

The trip costs from £2656 per person, including the eight-night voyage on a full board basis, one night in Bergen and two nights in Andenes on a B&B basis, whale-watching and tour lecturer and tour guide, based on two sharing. Flights are extra.

For more info, visit http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or contact the adventure-cruise specialist of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Norway's Big Day Out In May

Join the parties and parades of the great Norwegian National Day this May with Hurtigruten.

Every year on 17 May, Norway becomes a country of celebration as it marks the day it became a fully independent nation. The way the Norwegians celebrate their National Day is unique - there are no military parades, instead colourful processions of children with banners, flags and bands play the main role. It is possible to sample true Norwegian culture and join in the festivities with a trip on the famous ‘Hurtigruten’, which has been an important part of Norway’s history for more than a century, as it calls at over 30 villages and towns between Bergen and Kirkenes.

The day is celebrated across the country, from remote villages to the main cities and is a time when national pride rides high. Locals of all ages dress up in beautiful bunads (national costume), as do students preparing to graduate. Lively events are staged by local schools, orchestras play music and elaborate festivals take place in every town in Norway. Hurtigruten’s ships also mark the celebrations and, where possible, join the parades when they call into port – an unforgettable experience.

Wherever the ship is on National Day, there will be the chance to experience this traditional celebration and feel part of it! In addition, on the Classic Round Voyage departures from Bergen between 6 and 16 May, there will be a series of informative lectures about the history and significance of the National Day, the Norwegian royal family and the story behind the national costumes. During these voyages it will also be possible to enjoy traditional folk music and singing. A voyage at this time is a unique opportunity to gain a deep understanding of Norway, its people, its cultural heritage, all the while joining in with the locals and guests to celebrate.

Norway’s Big Day Out – from £1952 per person - departs Bergen between 6 and 16 May for a 12-day voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, calling at a wide range of port along the way. The price includes 11 nights full board accommodation. Flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten.

For more info, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Hurtigruten Launches Free Flights Offer

To celebrate the launch of BMI’s new direct service from Heathrow to Bergen, Hurtigruten is offering free flights on a limited number of departure dates in April for its Classic Round Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, plus additional savings off the brochure cruise-only price of up to 22%. Prices lead in at £1544 per person, including full board and free flights.

The offer is currently available on April 16 (covering the Easter break), April 27 and 30 departures on either Trollfjord of Midnatsol, two of the leading ships in the fleet. The popular UNESCO destination of Geirangerfjord will have just opened up for the summer, allowing the Hurtigruten ships to sail into it, which is an experience many people wish to enjoy.

The Classic Round Voyage calls at more than 30 ports of call as it travels north and on the return journey, with many of the ports that were visited at night on the way up being visited during the day on the way back, so there really is the chance to enjoy everything.

CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE WITH FREE FLIGHTS – From £1544 per person including 11 nights full board voyaging from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the far north and back, plus free flights from London Heathrow (based on two sharing).

For more information, contact the UK's adventure-cruise specialists of the Cruise Line Ltd or http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/.

Half-Price Second Passenger With Hurtigruten

Anyone who fancies a trip to Norway with Hurtigruten this year can take advantage of a new offer that is now available this week. Two passengers travelling together can take advantage of a 50% saving on the second person on selected dates between May and October for the Classic Round Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back and both the Voyage North and Voyage South.

With dates throughout the various seasons, this offer also gives the chance to enjoy the warming days of springtime, the Midnight Sun in summer or the autumn as the colours change ready for winter. Prices for a couple travelling in May now start from £1565 per couple, including full board. This offer must be booked by May 31.

A voyage with Hurtigruten offers passengers the opportunity to get closer to the shores, coastline and communities of Norway as the ships call at over 34 ports of call, many of them not visited by the larger cruise ships. The ultimate voyage is the full 12-day trip from Bergen in the South to Kirkenes in the north, taking guests high above the Arctic Circle and back, or there are shorter six and seven-day half -version voyages from Bergen to Kirkenes or vice versa.

Classic Round Voyage – From £2846 per couple (saving £948), travelling on selected dates in May 2011. This 12-day full voyage includes full board on the ship. Flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten (June and July from £3200 per couple).

Voyage North – From £1992 per couple (saving £664), travelling on selected dates in May 2011. This 7-day voyage includes full board on the ship. Flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten (June and July from £2240 per couple).

Voyage South – From £1565 per couple (saving £521), travelling on selected dates in May 2011. This 6-day voyage includes full board on the ship. Flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten (June and July from £1760 per couple).

For more information, visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line.

Land of the Midnight Sun with Crystal Cruises

In the middle of writing new copy for the next Adventure Cruise Collection, this little press release arrived on my desk this afternoon (well, in my Inbox, anyway), with some great detail on Crystal Cruises' two new North Cape voyages in 2011. Very timely, and well worth considering...

Witness stunning fjords, court adventure on a glacier trek across an ice field or simply enjoy the mystical beauty of the Norwegian archipelago as you sail as far north as possible in Europe in ultra-luxurious style with Crystal Cruises.

Crystal Symphony has recently completed its one 2010 North Cape voyage, with guests experiencing some of the most spectacular sights in the world (see above). Due to popular demand, Crystal Cruises has now announced that it will be offering TWO North Cape voyages in 2011 aboard Crystal Serenity…it’s time to travel beyond the Arctic Circle….

The Copenhagen to Stockholm ‘North Cape Panorama’ sails from 13-27 June 2011 whilst the Copenhagen to London ‘Into the Midnight Sun’ sails 8-22 July 2011.

Both 14-night voyages cruise the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, the North Cape, Bear Island, Polar Ice Cap and the Baltic Sea, with ports of call including Copenhagen and five destinations in Norway including Longyear City, plus Stockholm.

2011 North Cape prices start from £5,019 and include FREE return economy air travel from London, transfers, 14-nights in a deluxe stateroom with picture window with all meals and soft drinks.

In addition, as part of Crystal's “All Inclusive – As You Wish” promotion, guests on these voyages will also receive shipboard credits of up to $1,000 per person, which they can spend on shore excursions, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, purchases in the onboard boutiques, gratuities or Vintage Room experiences. Port taxes are not included.