If you’re looking to do a once in a lifetime trip, that is a little off-the-beaten-path, then Hurtigruten may be a good fit for you. And your timing couldn’t be better. We got an exclusive Buy-One, Get-One offer that is NOT available on direct bookings… but more on that in a minute.
Hurtigruten is a Norwegian company that has two divisions:
- Hurtigruten Expeditions – Most people know them because of their Antarctica product, but they do many other destinations too. There’s lots more information below about this.
- Norwegian Coastal – If you want to really immerse yourself in northern, remote communities on the Norwegian Coast, then this is really the only product of its kind.
What Does “Expedition” Actually Mean, Anyway?
I should start by defining “expedition” because the word conjures up images of hyper-fit, daring adventurers risking life and limb in remote parts of the planet. In reality, most expedition cruise clients are 55 – 75 years old, and just really like getting outside. Expedition clients don’t typically have significant mobility challenges, but the fitness requirements are quite moderate:
- Can you climb two flights of stairs?
- Can you get in and out of a bathtub by yourself? (Surprisingly similar to getting in and out of kayak or zodiac boat).
- Can you walk for 45 minutes at a moderate pace?
Hurtigruten has been going to Antarctica for over 100 years, and is probably what our clients know them best for. I had the opportunity to travel with them a few years ago, so if Antarctica is on your bucket list, here’s the video from that trip: https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls. This is the MOST viewed video on our YouTube Channel with over 58,000 views!
The Antarctica season only runs from November through March, so those same ships migrate northwards for the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. Here’s a quick look at Hurtigruten’s destinations:
- Alaska – if you want to get into the remote parts of the 49th State, away from the souvenir stands in Juneau and Ketchikan, this is a great way to do it.
- West Africa – this part of the world is difficult to travel, so a cruise ship is a great way to see it.
- Galapagos Islands – travel on a small vessel with expert local guides, and take an optional extension into Machu Picchu.
- NorthWest Passage – go where few have previously travelled, sailing up the Bering Strait, through the Canadian Arctic, and down the Atlantic Coast.
- Greenland – Glaciers, icebergs, white sandy beaches, glittering fjords, unique communities… it’s all here waiting to be discovered.
- Iceland – Come to see the volcanoes and hot springs, or maybe visit the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet.
- South America – When the ships migrate to and from Antarctica, you can visit coastal South America, Patagonia, and/or the Amazon.
- Repositioning — (because polar cruises are their specialty, but poles are long way apart) UK, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico
- Norway Coastal – Oslo (in southern Norway) is slightly further south than Anchorage, and you go NORTH from there up to North Cape (latitude: 71 degrees)… so you travel well north of the Arctic Circle. No Alaskan cruise even comes close to getting this far North, and the things you see up there (including the Northern Lights) are incredible.
Here’s a few other features available on Hurtigruten:
- Northern Lights Guarantee – If the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, then Hurtigruten promises you’ll see them on specific voyages in Norway. If you don’t, they’ll give you another cruise.
- Hybrid Powered Cruise Ships – Hurtigruten takes environmental stewardship very seriously, and were the first to launch hybrid-electric cruise ships (the Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen). Imagine sailing in a remote part of the world, without the hum (and exhaust) of a diesel engine. See our Ship Tour video of Roald Amundsen: https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0
- Onboard enrichment and research – Those looking for Broadway shows don’t end up on Hurtigruten. Instead, each cruise features an impressive line up of scientists and other experts who provide enrichment lectures and demonstrations about the animals, sea life, ecology, and environment through which you are travelling.
A Hurtigruten cruise is quite different from taking a vacation on a big cruise ship. If you’re looking to explore remote parts of the world in some detail, on a small ship with some luxury touches, the Hurtigruten could be a good choice for you.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
We have an exclusive Buy-One, Get-One offer with Hurtigruten, that is NOT available if you book directly with them, or their website. The offer applies to select voyages only, and there is some fine print (most notably, the BOGO price applies to the cruise only – not taxes, hotels, flights and other add-ons), but it still represents a great opportunity, if a small ship cruise to a more remote part of the world is on your radar.
Here are some examples. Please note that pricing shown below is the full price for one passenger, and due to the fine print I mention above, it’s not quite as simple as dividing by two. The second passenger will have to pay tax, and if there are hotels or air flights included in the package then that portion is not discounted.
Confused? Yeah… me too. Call us and we’ll get you a price.
Antarctica
If you’ve only got one continent left on your bucket list, then here’s your opportunity to tick it off:
- 12-days round trip from Buenos Aires departing November 2023 through March 2024.
- Includes transfers, one-night pre-cruise accommodation in Buenos Aires, and return flights between there and Ushuaia (where you board the ship).
- All boots and expedition gear is provided, as well as a jacket you get to keep.
- Prices from $11,269 for one. The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in BA, and the flight to Ushuaia.
Galapagos Islands
- 7-days round trip from Quito.
- Departures between May and December 2023
- Includes 2-nights in Quito, return flight to Galapagos (Baltra), NP Admission fee, all meals, beer/wine, wifi on the ship.
- See turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, flamingos, Nazca and Red-footed Boobies, and iconic Darwin’s Finches.
- On board equipment you will have access to: dinghies, kayaks, snorkeling gear, paddle boards, and a glass bottomed boat.
- Prices from $8447 for one. The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in Quito, and flights to/from Baltra
West Africa: Cape Verde & Bissagos Islands
This part of Africa is the least visited by tourists, and has plenty of remarkable natural beauty.
- 14-days round trip from Dakar departing between November 2023 and January 2024.
- Your adventures begins in the colorful streets of Dakar. Next you’ll travel to two island archipelagos filled with historic sites, contrasting cultures, and varied landscapes. The final stop is Banjul – Africa’s smallest capital city.
- Explore the volcanic landscapes of Cape Verde. Watch hundreds of bird species, as well as saltwater hippos, manatees in the Bissagos Biosphere Reserve.
- Participate in scientific research projects
- Prices from $8626 for one. The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for the hotel in Dakar (pre-cruise), and for taxes.
Circumnavigating Iceland
- 11-days round-trip from Reykjavik departing in July or August 2023.
- Visit the restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and museums in Reykjavik, and also visit remote coastal fishing villages. See active volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls. Go whale watching and bird watching.
- Prices from $7589 for one. The second guest in the cabin gets the cruise free, but there will be additional charges for taxes.
Inclusions on all Hurtigruten voyages:
- Beer/wine with meals
- Wifi on the ship
- Lectures and enrichment activities
- Access to science center where you can participate in research
- Assistance of professional photographers to help you with your pictures.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
