Why you should choose Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten Cruises is probably not a name you recognise but in fact they have been around since 1893! They know Norway like no other, and for me this is a great place to start for the novice expedition cruiser. The Norwegian coast sits up there with some of the great wonders of the world and for this reason is known as “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage”. You can choose to travel in the summer and live under the midnight sun, or from October through to March you will have a perfect chance to see the Spectacular Northern Lights. As you are out at sea with no light pollution, the opportunity will never be greater. Even if you have gone to bed and the lights come out, the crew will sound an alarm to let you know the lights have appeared, and all you have to do is wrap yourself In your duvet and hurry up on deck. Where else are you going to get this opportunity? The Norwegian fjords, unlike Iceland, are also in the Arctic Circle, and it is here you have the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis. They are so confident you will see them that they even offer up a free cruise if they don’t appear!
If you are feeling more adventurous then why not visit the two extremes of the globe, The Arctic and The Antarctic. Whether its polar bears or penguins that float your boat, Hurtigrutens’ intimately-scaled expedition ships will get you there, up close and personal. On board each vessel is an expert Expedition Team who will be your hosts for the duration, both onboard and off. They will provide lectures in subjects such as geography, history, geology and wildlife, making these excursion educational for all the family. They also run a Young Explorers Programme for children aged 7-13 free of charge where the children will get a deeper understanding of nature, climate and culture and introduced to topics like wildlife, local food, environmental protection and famous explorers!
This is not a ‘normal’ cruise line, when you sail with Hurtigruten you will be travelling with other like-minded adventurers who value personal growth and exploring over luxury. You won’t find waterslides and casinos’, however, you will find a casual, relaxed atmosphere with great, locally sourced food set amongst stunning surroundings.
To top this all off, in an age where we are all having to consider our earth and its sustainability, Hurtigruten are leading the way, and are constantly striving to reduce their environmental footprint. Everything on board that can be recycled is, and they even reuse heat from the engines’ cooling water and exhaust to warm up the hot water tanks on board. All engines have also been optimised to reduce CO2 emissions, and itineraries amended to achieve the most efficient operation of the ships. All vessels also operate a ‘plastic free’ environment and you also have the opportunity to partake in a beach clean on your voyage during summer months.
With very competitive prices for a full board cruise, Hurtigruten are for me the perfect introduction to Expedition Cruising. If you would be interested in finding out more, please do get in touch.