Top of the World Cruises - Hurtigruten Passenger Favorite

Nordnorge - Hurtigruten

Award-winning Hurtigruten, which has run voyages along the Norwegian coast since 1893, reveals that once again, the North Cape – the northernmost point on the European continent – was the best-selling spot for shore excursions in 2011.  Last year, nearly 57,000 guests visited the site on Hurtigruten’s “North Cape” and “Breakfast at the North Cape” excursions, and the “North Cape” tour was officially the company’s top-seller. 

The Top 10 Excursions for 2011 were as follows:

•     The North Cape – Hunningsvåg: A stop 1,000 feet above the Arctic Ocean
•     Midnight Concert in Tromsø: A visit to the “Arctic Cathedral,” Tromsdalen Church
•     The Arctic Capital Tromsø: A tour of the largest town above the Arctic Circle
•     A Taste of Vesterålen: A sampling of Viking history accompanied by breathtaking scenery
•     Lofoten Islands: An exploration of a region known for aquaculture, agriculture and art
•     Geiranger Panorama 2: A journey up the “Eagle Road” and down the Trollstigen Road
•     The Russian Border – Kirkenes: An excursion to the place where East meets West
•     Breakfast at the North Cape: An early-morning adventure at the top of the world
•     Glacier Adventure – Svartisen: A trip to Norway’s second largest glacier
•     Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral: A sightseeing experience in Norway’s first capital

    On the top-ranking “North Cape” tour, offered on Hurtigruten’s northbound Bergen-Kirkenes sailings, guests cross the 71st parallel – something few people can claim – and take in the sub-Arctic landscape as they make their way to the North Cape Plateau. This part of the world is known as “Finnmark,” and it combines Sami, Russian and Finnish cultures.  Summer visitors may see grazing reindeer and Sami camps, and winter visitors’ bus may follow a snow plow up the final eight miles to reach the plateau, which rises more than 1,000 feet above the Arctic Ocean.  Once there, guests eagerly brace themselves against the winds to stand beside the iconic North Cape globe for photographic evidence that they have literally stood at the top of the world.  Guests on the “Breakfast at the North Cape” tour, offered on Hurtigruten’s southbound travels, have the opportunity to greet the day in this beautiful setting.  On their way back to their ship, participants meet a Sami family and their reindeer, then ultimately rejoin the ship in Hammerfest, the world’s northernmost town.

    Tromsø, which is Norway’s biggest city north of the Arctic Circle, also offers excursions that are popular among voyage guests.  “The Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral,” which drew nearly 20,000 guests to Tromsdalen Church in 2011, was Hurtigruten’s second best-selling excursion last year; the “Arctic Capital Tromsø”   excursion, which  attracted more than 18,000 participants last year, was the company’s third best-selling tour.  Hurtigruten guests must be on to something, as Tromsø was recently named the top cruise destination for 2012 by Frommer’s.  On the midnight concert tour, offered on southbound trips, guests enter an elegant church filled with candlelight and Norwegian folk music; on the capital tour, offered on the northbound route, guests get a grand tour of “The Paris of the North.”  A highlight of this excursion is a visit to the Polaria Centre, an educational facility that features an aquarium, displays and a panorama theater.  It’s a good place to learn about the Northern Lights and the polar bears and seals that are at home here in the tundra.  Other excursions in Tromsø offered by Hurtigruten include opportunities to ride a dog sled, visit with 250 huskies (without sledding) or gain a better understanding of the history of polar expeditions.

    Hurtigruten offers approximately 45 excursions in the 34 ports it visits on its sailings between Bergen and Kirkenes.  Guests can choose activities that suit their individual interests and taste for adventure – from embarking on a glacier adventure in Svartisen or participating in a Viking feast in Stamsund-Svolvaer on the northbound route, to taking a scooter expedition in Lapland or enjoying a day of sightseeing in Bergen on the southbound route.

    Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations – including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen – as well as year round along Norway's coast and Europe in the spring.  The company’s fleet of 14 intimate ships, which each carry 100 to 646 guests, allows travelers to enjoy unique destinations in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Dive Deep into Norwegian History with Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten invites guests to be immersed in Norwegian culture of old and present during the “Year of Nansen-Amundsen” with the seven-day Ice Breakers Voyage, carving the same path forged by the celebrated maritime pioneers. As the 691-passenger MS Nordkapp wends her way along Norway’s fjord-filled west coast, travelers are privy to the expertise of Scandinavian historian Arne Kertelhein, whose lectures illuminate the history of Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, their incredible journeys and the diverse regions visited. An array of optional excursions provide the opportunity to delve deeper into the rich history of each port, from an authentic Viking feast in the largest Viking building ever found to sightseeing among the wooden houses and colorful wharfs of charming Tromso, home to the Gothic-style Nidaros Cathedral. Prices for the Oct. 14 voyage range from $1,550 to $2,949 per person, double. Members of the 1893 Ambassador Club, a loyalty club for those who have sailed on Hurtigruten in the past three years, receive 10% savings as well as a range of complimentary onboard benefits.

While the MS Nordkapp takes in an ever-changing landscape of small fishing villages, bustling towns and islands, guests learn firsthand why the route was named “world’s most beautiful voyage” by Lonely Planet’s “Bluelist.” Departing Bergen and docking early in the charming Art Nouveau town of Alesund, guests have a chance to explore before continuing north to Trondheim, where Gothic-style architecture reigns supreme. Entering the Arctic Circle, travelers will see the busy town of Bodo and the rugged Lofoten Islands before arriving in Tromso, the gateway to the Arctic, where the stunning Arctic Cathedral and famous Polaria Center sit amid the collection of modern shops and cafes. After stopping in Hammerfest and Honningsvag, the ship calls at its final port of Kirkenes, near the Russian border.

The optional excursions are designed to impart an even deeper understanding of Norway in its guests, including its cities, traditions and people. Among the offerings available are a Viking feast in a genuine Viking banquet hall, complete with live entertainment and home-brewed mead; the Polar History City Walk in Tromso, which explores the history of the largest town in northern Norway with a visit to the Polar Museum and Tromso’s oldest pub, Olhallen; and a visit to Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium, including a diving show, followed by a chance to admire Alesund from the vantage point of Mount Aksla.

Rates include accommodation in cabin grade of choice; all meals on board, including a selection of drinks for those in suites; a wind and water proof jacket; and all aspects of the onboard program, including lectures. Optional excursions, flights and cruise fuel surcharge are additional.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen as well as year round along Norway's coast and Europe in the spring and fall. The company’s fleet of 12 intimate ships, carrying 100 to 646 passengers, allows passengers to enjoy unique destinations in a relaxed atmosphere.

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Additional Links:

Cruises From New York and New Jersey - Main Page
Cruises From New York and New Jersey - Cruise News

Cruises From Boston
Cruises From Baltimore
Cruises From Norfolk