Explorer Voyages to Antarctica, Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland all Included

Seattle, May 2014 – Remote and rarely visited destinations are invariably on most traveler's bucket lists. But the very fact that they are remote makes it harder and often more expensive to experience them and cross them off the list. Hurtigruten, a world leader in these types of sailings, has announced a tremendous savings event for those travelers who plan ahead. Booking any 2015 Antarctica, Greenland, Spitsbergen or Iceland sailing by June 30, 2014 will guarantee a price reduction of 25% - a savings of up to $7,395 per person. After June 30, prices will remain below regular rates but will rise based on space availability. So whether the bucket list focus is on meeting with local Inuit in Greenland; enjoying the genuine Russian atmosphere of Spitsbergen's historic Barentsburg settlement; camping overnight with expert guides on the frozen expanse of Antarctica; or viewing the rich birding sites along Iceland's diverse coast, 2015 is the year to go and booking early is the best way to be assured of the best price and best cabins.

Hurtigruten makes experiential travel - the desire of guests to experience more local and unique interactions and take home knowledge and a greater understanding of where they have been - a primary mission of each of its unique Explorer itineraries. Hurtigruten's new “All Products” 2015 brochure details these amazing places and experiences and is available both in download form and by mail at www.hurtigruten.us. 

• Antarctica leads the charge when it comes to one of the world's most remote regions – and most sought out. Guests can choose from several once-in-a-lifetime itineraries but perhaps the most unusual is the “Polar Circle Expedition.” This 16-day voyage, with an early booking fare of $10,447 to $17,842 per person, double, features a rarely visited region of the Antarctica Peninsula with shore excursions in truly remote areas to get a close look at penguin colonies and historic sites. Other possibilities include the 14-day “Land of the Penguins” and 20-day “Great Antarctica Expedition.” All itineraries offer what no other cruise company does – overnight camping, complete with pitching tents and bragging rights. There is also kayaking among the icebergs and special hikes.
• New this year for the Greenland sailings are itineraries that allow for easier access to the destination by routing flights through Iceland and including pre- or post-voyage nights in the island's capital, Reykjavik, before taking a charter flight to/from Greenland. Also new is the pre/post Reykjavik “Experience Iceland” tour starting at $563 per person. The 12-day “Glaciers and Ice” itinerary, $7,728 to $11,359 for early bookings, explores the southwestern coast of this ice-encrusted mega-island while the 15- or 16-day “National Park Expedition,” with its six-day exploration of the world's largest and least-visited national park, offers guests experiences a culture that encompasses a 5,000-year-old relationship between man and nature.
• Polar bears out number residents on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen – thus its moniker “Kingdom of the Polar Bear.” Hurtigruten's “Climate Voyage,” priced from $4,252 to $6,475 for bookings made by June 30, offers a wonderful opportunity to see the effects of climate change up close and visit Jan Mayen (weather-permitting), one of the most remote islands in the world. Alternatively, the “Realm of the Polar Bear” does a complete circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, going as far north as the 80th parallel and offering opportunities for kayaking, hikes, and other land-based activities.
• Iceland is used as the anchor for a number of the Explorer Voyages, but its does have its own itinerary aptly named “The Land of Fire and Ice.” The 11-day circumnavigation of the island promises an abundance of exploration opportunities including a diversity of outlying islands, scenic fjords, small villages and the island's renowned hot and cold natural springs. Early-booking prices range from $6,387 to $9,939.

Just as important as the focus on the experience, is Hurtigruten's focus on safety and safeguarding these remote destinations seriously giving the company a true leadership position in the world of sustainable travel.  Hurtigruten belongs to numerous environmental organizations including AECO, IAATO and Clean Up Svalbard, all of which demand that members maintain responsible travel safeguards for future generations. 

Hurtigruten sails to the most remote of destinations as well as year-round along Norway's coast and in Europe. The company's fleet of intimate ships, which each carry 100 to 646 guests, allows travelers to enjoy the scenery and culture of the destination in a relaxed atmosphere.

Additional information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from travel agents or Hurtigruten's visitor-friendly website, www.hurtigruten.us; by phone at 877-301-3117; or fax at 888-524-2145. To order brochures 24 hours a day, call 800-582-0835.

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HTN-16-May 2014