Sample A Fjord Spring With Holland America

Here's a great idea to sample a spring break in the fjords this May as Holland America Line are featuring a one-off cruise at a great price.

Their Norwegian Fjords cruise sets sail round-trip from Dover on May 10 and features a chance to to see the glorious blossoming of the fruit trees Prices start from £499pp for an Inside Stateroom and just £599 for an Ocean View Stateroom.

Setting off from the Kent port, guests can start their holiday the moment they step on board without the hassle of airport queues or baggage allowances. The first port of call is cultural Oslo, where open-air music concerts can be enjoyed throughout spring and summer. The ship then cruises through the scenic Oslo Fjord and up the Norwegian coast to the fjords further north. 

A paradise for walkers, guests can explore the beautiful hills, rustic towns and quaint villages of Kristiansand, Stavanger, and Ulvik before experiencing the breathtaking scenery of the Hardangerfjord.

Hardangerfjord is known as the Orchard of Norway as it is the main fruit producing region and May is the perfect time to catch the blossoming of the trees. One final day at sea gives guests the opportunity to relax and indulge in some onboard pampering before the ship arrives back in Dover.

More info: call 0843 374 2300 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.

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Saga and Fjordland Melodies

Think “Norway” and you’re thinking of one the most visually spectacular places in the world. Winding fjords lined by snow-capped mountains with waterfalls thundering down thousand-foot cliffs to the still waters below while eagles waft lazily across the bow of your ship.

The fjords may be stunning but there is plenty to more to enjoy in this scenic part of the world as the towns and cities with their architecture frozen in time and exquisite seafood-based cuisine are complemented by the people being so friendly.

And Saga's Fjordland Memories voyage will encapsutale much of it, spending three leisurely days cruising the Hardangerfjord during the unique Hardanger Music Festival, with musicians from the festival performing on board against a backdrop of breath-taking scenery.

The voyage starts in picturesque Bergen (above), however, where there will be a chance to visit composer Edvard Greig’s former home at Troldhaugen. After exploring the old town,

it's back on to the ship for a leisurely drink in the bar as Saga Sapphire sets sail out of the lovely harbour.

Passengers will then be able to fully enjoy the Music Festival and the local natural beauty, just at the time the fruit orchards are in bloom. But you can’t come to Norway without seeing the fjords and this cruise takes in one of the finest, with the classic vista of precipitous cliffs and waterfalls, plus the small settlement of Eidfjord, as the gateway to Norway’s largest National Park. Here, the clear blue sky sets the off the snow-capped mountains perfectly and it is a wonderful place to disembark and just wander the fabulous pathways.

The colossus of Hardangerfjord also gives rise to the lesser-visited Sorfjord (below) at one end, with the traditional town of Odda set at the foot of the mountains. Here, guests can view the beautiful waterfalls of the Odda Valley on a panoramic drive or perhaps take in the interesting Tyssedal Hydropower Museum.

Saga's 7-night Fjordland Memories cruise costs from £909 and departs Dover on June 2,

calling at Bergen, Ulvik, Eidfjord and Odda.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

For a fuller version of this feature, see our website on this link.

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More Norway From Hurtigruten

Norway continues to be a popular and highly aspirational cruise region for British holidaymakers (hence our big feature on Norwegian cruises in the current issue of World of Cruising).

And those looking for more options should definitely check out Hurtigruten’s new preview brochure for 2015/16 that showcases key Norwegian and Explorer voyages and includes more direct flight charters as well as a new coastal itinerary and ex-UK ‘Fjord Highlights’ Explorer Voyage.

Discounts of up to 25% are available on selected Coastal Voyage bookings made by September 30 and Explorer Voyages made by June 30.

Coastal Voyages

Voyage-only prices start from just £819 per person for the six-day Classic Voyage South for departures from January to March 2015, on a full board basis.  

A number of new regional flying options have been added to the programme, with direct charters to Norway now offered from five new regional airports: East Midlands, Cardiff, Newcastle, Dublin and Jersey. Additional charters have also been included from existing regional departure airports, with 69 planned in total for 2015.

Explorer Voyages

A one-off ‘Fjords Highlights’ has been added to the programme, departing from Dover on May 1, 2015. The unique 10-day trip on MS Fram sails over to Norway visiting some of the most beautiful fjords, including Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord, before returning to Dover. Prices start from £1,949 per person on a full board basis.

More info: call 020 3582 6642 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Hurtigruten’s Big 2015 Preview

Working on the theory it is never too soon to start thinking of a cruise in 2015, we have a fabulous early look at Hurtigruten’s advance programme, showcasing their key Norwegian and Explorer voyages with more direct flight charters as well as a new coastal itinerary and an ex-UK ‘Fjord Highlights’ Explorer Voyage. 

 

More importantly, for early bookers there are discounts of up to 25% available on selected Coastal Voyage bookings made by September 30 and Explorer Voyages made by June 30. Here are some of the highlights:

Coastal Voyages
Cruise-only prices start from just £819 per person for the six-day Classic Voyage South for departures from January to March 2015 on full board basis. 

A number of new regional flying options have been added to the programme, with direct charters to Norway now offered from five new regional airports - East Midlands, Cardiff, Newcastle, Dublin and Jersey. Additional charters have also been included from existing regional departure airports, with 69 planned in total for 2015.

The new eight-day ‘Arctic Explorer’ itinerary is ideal for those who want to spend as much time as possible within the Arctic Circle. The trip includes direct flights to Bodo from Gatwick or Manchester, a northbound coastal voyage from Bodo up to Kirkenes and then southbound back to Svolvær, where guests will spend two nights before transferring back to Bodo for the flight home.

The ‘Arctic Explorer’ costs from £1,579 per person for the eight-day trip on full board basis including voyage and two nights accommodation in a hotel, as well as a full day Lofoten sightseeing tour and entrance into the Bodo Air Force Museum.

Explorer Voyages
A one-off ‘Fjords Highlights’ has been added to the programme, departing from Dover on May 1, 2015. The 10-day trip on MS Fram sails over to Norway visiting some of the most beautiful fjords, including Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord before returning to Dover. Prices start from £1,949 per person on full board basis.

More info: call 020 3582 6642 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk.

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Day 6 to Norway with Fred Olsen

World of Cruising's arch blogger Steve Newman continues his trip with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines from Liverpool to Norway and back...

You can’t come to Norway without seeing the fjords and this cruise takes in some of the finest. Today, we sailed up the Hardangerfjord with waterfalls tumbling some 1,000ft down until we came to the small settlement of Eidfjord, the gateway to Norway’s largest National Park. 

After disembarking, we took a ferry/pleasure-boat back up the fjord to explore one of the deep side inlets to reach Ulvik, 'The Pearl of Hardanger.'

Famous for its fruit-blossoms in May, the temperature in the village was in the 20s celsius and the clear blue sky set the off the snow-capped mountains perfectly. For a taste of Norway we went to the village’s famous cider factory where we were abe to sample raw cider, apple juice, Apple Brandy and sweet and dry ciders with our meal.

We returned to the ship by a small ferry - an experience in itself as a flock of sheep kept us company on the short trip across! Not due to sail for a couple of hours as we neared the ship, I could swear I heard the Jacuzzis on the outside deck bubbling!

See you tomorrow... 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK’s cruise-agent specialists.



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Hebridean's Norwegian Return

Hebridean Island Cruises, operator of the world’s smallest luxury cruise ship, Hebridean Princess, will be returning to Norway in 2014 for the first time in five years.

They will offer a total of three different itineraries in August next year, sailing to some of Norway’s best known fjords, including Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord, Ulvikfjord and Raunefjord. The decision follows a survey conducted amongst loyal guests asking for suggestions on cruising areas.

Hebridean will also extend its popular Footloose walking programme to include Footloose in the Fjords, featuring a variety of walks in Balestrand, Laerdral, Fjaerland, as well as the unique opportunity to join a glacier walk in Sogndal.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists. 

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Holland America's No-Fly Fjord Special

Plus, upgrade to an ocean view room from £599 and receive free parking!

Holland America Line is offering a seven-night luxury no-fly Norwegian Fjords cruise from just £499 per person this summer. Departing from Dover on May 4, this price includes seven nights’ full board accommodation on MS Ryndam in an inside stateroom, with ocean view staterooms  available from £599, including free parking in Dover. 

This round trip takes in some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery and fascinating ports. From Dover, sail to the maritime town of Bergen, before heading to Flåm, deep in the heart of Aurlandsfjord. From there, visit Ålesund and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding archipelago, before continuing to the hiking paradise of Eidfjord and cruising through the scenic Hardangerfjord.

Whilst at sea, guests can take advantage of the Culinary Arts Centre, which features cookery demonstrations, as well as sampling the Ryndam’s choice of elegant restaurants and lounges and being pampered at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon.

This offer is based on two sharing an inside stateroom on Holland America’s 'Norse Legends' cruise, departing Dover on May 4. 

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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.

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