Cruise News - Hurtigruten - Whale-watching
January 25 - 2011 : HURTIGRUTEN’S 12-DAY “GIANTS OF THE DEEP” COMBINES NINE DAYS OF THE
CLASSIC NORWEGIAN VOYAGE WITH A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME WHALE WATCHING EXPEDITION
Marine Biologist Dr. Boris Culik and Tour Leader Dr. Fenella Bazin Provide Incredible Insight and Fascinating Lectures
Hurtigruten has invited respected researcher and marine biologist Dr. Boris Culik and Dr. Fenella Bazin, an extramural lecturer in the Universities of Birmingham and Liverpool, aboard its 12-day “Giants of the Deep” sailing.
MS Trollfjord - Photo courtesy Hurtigruten
This special itinerary combines nine days of the Classic Norwegian Coastal Voyage – named “world’s most beautiful voyage” by Lonely Planet – with stays in Bergen and Andenes and a once-in-a-lifetime whale watching expedition.
The two speakers provide guests with fascinating lectures and intimate knowledge of the area and its wildlife throughout the voyage. Optional excursions in each of the stops – including a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geiranger Fjord and an authentic Viking feast in Lofotr – start at only $32 and allow guests to personalize their cruising experience. Prices for the July 31, 2011 voyage range from $4,211 to $8,882 per person, double.
The picturesque Lofoten Islands and Hammerfest, the world’s most northerly town, are among the ten unique ports visited before the cruise disembarks for a three-day stay in Andenes, where guests enjoy the highlight of the trip – an expedition to the continental shelf, home to rarely seen schools of sperm whale. Guests also spend a night at the First Hotel Marin in the UNESCO listed harbor town of Bergen before sailing north to the beautiful Art Nouveau town of Alesund and Molde, with its magnificent view of the Romsdal Alps. Other highlights include strolling the charming streets of Norway’s first capital of Trondheim, crossing the Arctic Circle, trendy Tromso and the small fishing villages of Kjollefjord and Berlevag. The final stop is Kirkenes where the ship begins its southbound journey.
A diverse array of optional excursions allows passengers to personalize their cruise experience and return with a greater understanding of the histories and current attractions. Offerings include a trip to the breathtaking Geiranger Fjord – a UNESCO World Heritage Site praised by National Geographic – that features a picturesque ferry ride and a dinner in Molde; a journey across the 71st parallel to the North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe and home to grazing reindeer and the indigenous Sami people; and the Lofotr Viking Feast, which immerses guests in Viking culture with a visit to the Viking museum and a real Viking feast, complete with home-brewed mead.
Fares include the cabin grade of your choice; transfers; all meals on board, including a selection of drinks for those in suites; one night in Bergen and two nights in an Andenes hotel on a bed and breakfast basis; and a Hurtigruten guide book. International flights and optional excursions 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.
The company’s fleet of 14 intimate ships, carrying 100 to 646 passengers, allows passengers to enjoy unique destinations in a relaxed atmosphere. Additional information on all of these adventures, as well as brochures and reservations, can be obtained from travel agents or Hurtigruten's visitor-friendly web site, www.hurtigruten.us; or by phone: (800) 323-7436; fax (888)-524-2145; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day.
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