Hurtigruten to offer expeditions to 80° North

Polar bear sighting during a Spitsbergen voyage

Hurtigruten are to become the only company to offer spring expedition cruises as far as 80° North in 2016. Setting sail on 25 April and 4 May 2016, the ten-day ‘Polar pioneers of Svalbard’ itinerary departs Tromsø and calls at the remote island of Bjørnøya, Spitsbergen and the North Cape (the northernmost point of mainland Europe) before heading back.

Despite it being springtime then guests will likely encounter snow and ice at all ports of call, as well as sea ice during the voyage. The wildlife opportunities are bountiful though, with sightings of seals and polar bears a likely possibility.

Prices for this itinerary start from £1,222 per person including early booking savings of more than 25 per cent. 

Hurtigruten are also offering new shore excursions during their Norwegian coastal voyages in 2015.

Experience the traditionally Norwegian activities of cross-country skiing, sledging and tobogganing on a short excursion out of Trondheim. Available as of 1 February this excursions costs £67 per person.

Alternatively you could opt for a sightseeing tour of Trondheim by bicycle. Available from 3 April 2015 at a cost of £43 per person, this tour includes a trip on the world’s only cycle lift and a journey along the new bike bridge crossing the River Nid.

If you are more comfortable on a river than over it, a kayak tour along the River Nid offers a different perspective of the city. Priced at £97 per person this excursion is available in the summer.

Follow in the footsteps of polar explorer Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm by hiking to the top of the mountains of Hammerfest, the most northerly town in the world. Available from 8 January this excursion is priced at £71.

To learn about local culture and fishing heritage a tour of Svolvær, the largest town in the Lofoten islands, is ideal. Available during the winter months this leisurely tour costs £51 per person.

Lastly, for those wanting to get close to killer and humpback whales then this tour in the Andenes area is a perfect choice. The tour is being trialled on selected winter dates at £232 per person and takes place on a nimble rigid-hulled inflatable boat.

(Photo credit to Hurtigruten)

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Explore New Lands With Hapag-Lloyd

You know we love our adventure cruising here at World of Cruising, hence anything new in this vein immediately gets our attention. Luxury expedition-cruise company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is featuring several new adventurous routes in 2014, pioneering the way for ships Hanseatic (above) and Bremen through the Northeast Passage and into the polar regions.

These exclusive and individual expedition cruises feature a maximum of 175 passengers and with the highest ice class for passenger ships, yet they remain superbly comfortable and stylish on board.

The design of each ship – with a low draught of just 4.8metres, maximum lengths of 122.8m (Hanseatic) and 111.5m (Bremen) – allows them to travel to destinations previously inaccessible to a cruise ship.

Says Thilo Natke, Captain of the Hanseatic: “When we offer new destinations with our expedition ships, we have to consult alternative sources and collect all the information we can find about the planned route. This is how we can paint a more accurate picture, which allows us to optimise our itinerary and prepare the excursions on land, together with the expedition leaders. 

"Then, for example, we research whether there have already been excursions ashore at the cruise destination, whether it was perhaps traversed by a sailing boat and whether there are any other cruises to the destination region on offer. The fact the expedition cruises do not call at traditional cities is also a challenge. Special excursions on land – for example in the tundra or on a remote island – are organised instead. Here we use our on-board Zodiacs.”

A cruise premiere: In 2014, the Hanseatic will be the first non-Russian passenger ship to traverse the Northeast Passage through the Russian Arctic. Other unique voyages include both the Arctic and Antarctic, Central America and Panama, Australasia, the Amazon and Alaska.

More info: call +49 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline) or visit www.hl-cruises.com.

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Un-Cruise's New Washington Adventures

Adventure travellers seeking to explore Washington State’s islands and shores will have a whole new opportunity next spring as the experts of Un-Cruise Adventures unveil a novel itinerary. And there's a bonus for anyone booking by December 20, with a saving of $100 per couple on the new 'Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands' sailings.

Beginning April 2014 and returning in the autumn, the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer expedition vessel will explore Washington’s Puget Sound and Salish Sea from South Hood Canal to Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands. Week long Active Adventure cruises sail round-trip from Seattle, with cruise rates beginning at $1,595 per person, double occupancy (before savings) and including all meals, transfers, adventure activities, hot tub, sauna and yoga on deck.

Guests making a new booking by December 20 for travel April-May 2014 or September-November 2014, receive a $100 per couple Adventure Savings.
 

The expedition vessel carries a full complement of adventure gear for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking and skiff excursions. A custom-made kayak launch platform allows four kayaks at once to quickly and safely launch off a stable platform.

Highlights of the itinerary include hiking in the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Constitution and Washington State Parks. Waterborne expeditions by kayaks, skiffs and paddle-boards explore glacial fjords and the San Juan archipelago. In Quilcene Bay, a local family hosts a home-grown oyster and clam tasting. Guests enjoy free time in scenic Friday Harbor and discover Native cultures in Port Townsend.

Travellers also spend the week searching out and seeing marine life and seabirds up close. Gray whales, orcas, seals, sea lions and bald eagles are all found in the area. A knowledgeable team of expedition guides leads excursions and provides interpretation along the way.

A Washington craft beer theme cruise scheduled for the April 19 departure also features guest experts Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe Jones, authorities on the Seattle craft beer scene. Guests will enjoy nightly tastings of select craft beer from nearby breweries aboard the vessel, presentations by the Jones’ and beer recommendations matching the evening’s dinner menu.

More info: call (in the US) 1888 862 8881 or visit www.un-cruise.com.

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Expedition Amazon With Hapag-Lloyd

Anyone looking to experience the amazing Amazion River in true expedition style should give serious consideration to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and their adventuring duo Bremen and Hanseatic.

Their small size means the ships can travel a particularly long way upstream, giving passengers first-hand experience of the wonders of the Amazon both on board and during extensive Zodiac rides. The shallow draft of both vessels actually enables them to travel the more than 4,000km passage from the mouth of the Amazon in Belem to Peru and back.

A total of 12 robust Zodiacs await to carry the maximum 164 guests aboard the Bremen on numerous detours into the fascinating Amazonian environment while the slightly larger Hanseatic can carry 184 passengers and has 14 of these inflatable boats to take guests exploring. 

After Manaus, the Amazon narrows and flattens but both ships to continue on to Iquitos in peru. The constant proximity to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the unusual flora and fauna and the indigenous cultures combine to make Hapag-Lloyd's Amazon cruises a true adventure.

Example cruise:

Bremen: Expedition Amazon from April 10-26, 2015 (16 nights) from Iquitos/Peru, in the Upper Amazon to Manaus; onward journey downstream from the Lower Amazon to Belem/Brazil, from £5,700 (per person, cruise only).

More info: call +49 40 3001-4580 (English-speaking hotline), email salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com.

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New Winter Options From Ponant

Leading French cruise line and five-star expedition specialist Compagnie du Ponant has launched its new Winter 2013/14 cruise collection, including exceptional itineraries to South America, Africa and Antarctica.

The range of voyages are featured on the trio of elegant 264-passenger yachts Le Boreal, L'Austral and Le Soleal and its magnificent and intimate three-masted yacht Le Ponant (carrying just 64 passengers). From October 2013 to April 2014,their full cruise programme will feature sailings around the Caribbean and Central America, South America, Antarctica and South Georgia, Asia and Africa.

Each of the 132-cabin yachts offers spacious suites, impeccable service and excellent food and wine, while their small size allows them to reach destinations larger ships cannot, and offer its passengers the opportunity to sail in the company of experts and historians as guides and lecturers who are passionate about their subjects.

Be it a luxury expedition in the Antarctic region, island-hopping round the Caribbean or a “cruise circuit” in South America and Asia, Ponant offers passengers a real travel experience.

For more info on Compagnie du Ponant, and booking opportunities, see this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury adventure-cruise specialists.

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Cruise Miss Takes A Day Visit To 'Norway'

Our special guest blogger Danielle Fear, aka Cruise Miss, provides a fascinating look at the MS Fram of one of our favourite cruise lines, Norway's Hurtigruten, during a day visit at Port of Tyne.

I knew she was small but, as we drove towards the terminal, I couldn’t see anything that resembled a ship. Finally, she peeked out from behind the apartment building that sits directly in front of the dock and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

At just 11,647 tons and taking only 318 passengers, MS Fram may well be small but she is the perfect sized explorer vessel in my eyes.

The chief purser introduced himself and said if I needed anything to make my way back to the front desk where they would assist me, otherwise I was free to explore as I wished. Perfect! I do like guided ship tours but sometimes, especially on a vessel this size, it’s nice to break free and explore at your own pace.

The front desk was located on Deck 4 and offered a rather pleasant seating area. The space was open but the seating was arranged in such a manner as to make it feel like you had your own square living room. One of the sections even had a TV imitating a burning fire on the wall which created a lovely feel - only to be outshone by the floor-to-ceiling windows and an unspoilt view across the ocean.

To the left there was a bistro, small shop and buffet area and to the right a small internet section and some function rooms.

As I made my way back to the other end of the ship I found the Imaq Dining Room, right aft and offering beautiful panoramic views. The tables were prepared and there was a large buffet station in the centre of the room. I was told they do a mixture of buffet dining and waiter service, varying per evening.

On Deck 7 the first door I came across led directly into the gym where I was  greeted by a space larger than anticipated. It was still small, of course, but it felt generous for the ship's size. There was more than enough equipment to keep fitness enthusiasts happy, including treadmills, exercise bikes, ping-pong table, weights and a rowing machine. The door at the back led out on to a small deck area which was home to two bubbling hot tubs.

The pleasant sun deck aft was equipped with numerous tables and chairs and, to my surprise, two huge chimney BBQ’s. Going up to the observation deck, I can only imagine what cruising through the Polar Regions on this ship must be like. It truly is designed for exploring and not missing a thing - rarely is your view obstructed from anywhere on board.

Now it was time to view some cabins and I entered number 539, the Thorvald Nilsen cabin. And what a cabin it was - everything was fitted with a dark wood yet with enough light from the huge window to avoid making it feel small, while the bathroom was one of the nicest I have seen on any ship. There was a large wardrobe space and then a small seating area with TV. This clearly was a high grade of cabin. I did view another, an inside, and the décor contrast was quite different, but it was still spacious and comfortable.

My visit to MS Fram was certainly something different; after all, she is an expedition ship built to explore not entertain with numerous bars, clubs and lounges. She was extremely modern and every crew member I had the pleasure of passing greeted me with a genuine smile and a hearty hello. I chatted with a few passengers and all seemed very happy on board; one couple even said it was their fourth time on the ship, so they clearly enjoy what she has to offer.

She certainly left me hoping I can also experience an expedition voyage one, so, in that sense, she has certainly done her job!

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