Hurtigruten charter new ship for Svalbard

Hurtigruten and Spitsbergen Travel are chartering MS Nordstjernen to offer a programme of expedition style short voyages around Svalbard from 2015.

The ship will be sailing through the months of June, July and August. Holidaymakers can combine a 3-4 day voyage with the unique activities and attractions offered in and around Longyearbyen.

Guests will be able to explore Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and the entire superb north-western coast of Spitsbergen. They can expect to see Arctic wildlife with walruses, polar bears, a diverse range of bird species and other Arctic animals such as whales, foxes, reindeer, and grouse.

MS Nordstjernen departs Bergen on 1 June and visits a number of fjords in Western Norway, Ålesund Town, Lofoten, Tromsø and Honningsvåg/North Cape before setting sail for the Svalbard archipelago. The voyage concludes in Longyearbyen after the ship has visited the Moffen nature reserve at 80 degrees Latitude.

Having relocated to Svalbard, the ship will offer voyages departing from Longyearbyen every Monday and Thursday until 28 August. Prices start from £927 for a six day trip departing on 11 June including transfers, one night in a hotel in Spitsbergen on half board basis, voyage on full board basis, plus all hikes and landings. Flights cost from £520 per person.

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Gane and Marshall announce early bird savings on new Arctic cruise

Gane and Marshall have announced early bird savings on a new Arctic cruise itinerary ‘Voyage to the Frozen North’. Newly launched for 2015, the six-day cruise provides an overview of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago.

If the weather is favourable, passengers will venture to the 80^th Parallel, as far north as it is possible to get on open water. There will be regular departure dates from 7 June to 24 August 2015.

Prices start from £1,345pp, including early bird booking discount, until 31 October, for travel in June – August 2015. The cruise begins in Longyearbyen and continues to Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund and Magdalenefjord.  Price rises to £1,445 if booked after 31 October. 

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Adventure Cruising blog

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Beluga Whales with Hurtigruten

Many thanks to all of you who emailed and said how disappointed you were we couldn't do the live blog from the Arctic on board Hurtigruten's Fram last week (due to internet connection problems).

So here in some form of compensation is a one-week-later very shortened daily entry. These Beluga whales were in a pod of some thirty animals we saw as the ship was berthed at Barentsburg on the first night.

They looked for all the world like a group of white jellybabies cavorting in the surf!

For more info on booking the cruise, see The Cruise Line Ltd.

See you tomorrow!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.