SPECIAL!!! *

HALF BOARD & UNSPECIFIED CABIN OFFER - LOWEST RATES IN AUG, SEP & OCT 2012

• Combine an unspecified ocean view or inside cabin offer with half board rates and sail through the Spectacular Norwegian fjords in August, September & October at fantastic rates. . Ask for this special offer and pay less than your cruise companions! Cabin numbers are allocated at the time of boarding. Offer is valid for select departures. Half Board offer allows you to enjoy lunch on your own at the various ports of call every day. Indulge in the sumptuous breakfast & Dinner onboard which is included in your cruise cost. Book by Sep 30th 2012.
  
  THESE OFFERS ARE CAPACITY CONTROLLED AND CAN BE WITHDRAWN ANYTIME BY HURTIGRUTEN.

NORTHBOUND VOYAGE - ITINERARY

 "the world's most beautiful coastal voyage"

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DAY 1 Embarkation in Bergen
Ports visited today: Bergen
Before you check in, explore the charming port and Hanseatic city of Bergen. Stroll through the narrow medieval streets of the UNESCO-listed Bryggen quarter, visit the Hanseatic Museum or stroll among the stalls at the fish market. Take the funicular railway 320m up Mount Fløyen, located just outside the city, and you’ll enjoy the best view of Bergen and its fjords. In the evening your Hurtigruten voyage sets off through the Hjeltefjord, following in the wake of the Vikings who sailed from here to the Shetland Islands and beyond.

Day 2 Ålesund & Geirangerfjord
Ports visited today: Florø, Måløy, Torvik, Ålesund, Molde.
Your ship navigates the skerries and islands further north before reaching Ålesund. Marvel at the inspiring architecture in the Apotekergate and Kongensgate pedestrian precinct, perfect examples of the Art Nouveau style. Don’t miss out on the view from Mount Aksla but beware, there are 418 steps to the top! In the summer months, the next destination will be the spectacular UNE SCO-listed Geirangerfjord. Enroute to the end of this beautiful fjord you pass sheer, 800m cliffs and impressive waterfalls.

Available excursions
2A Geiranger panorama 1
2B Geiranger panorama 2
2C Art Nouveau tour, Ålesund
2D Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Mount Aksla

Day 3 The Royal City of Trondheim
Ports visited today: Kristiansund, Trondheim, Rørvik.
When visiting the old royal city of Trondheim, be sure to get a good view from the Gamle Bybrua (“Old Town Bridge”). Dating from 1861, this neo-gothic wooden bridge used to be the only way into the town centre. Nidaros Cathedral, built between1070 and 1300, is Norway’s largest Gothic religious edifice. In the neighbouring Archbishop’s Palace, the Norwegian Crown Jewels are kept.

In Trondheim itself, the Hanseatic, waterside storehouses built on wooden stilts are just as charming as the Rococo-style Stiftsgården, the largest wooden building in Norway and residence for the Royal Family when visiting Trondheim. You then set a course for the northwest, past the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and thousands of little islands and picturesque rocky outcrops. After passing through Stokksund, the ship will arrive at Rørvik.

Available excursions
3A Nidaros Cathedral & Ringve
3B/11A Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral
3C/11B Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum
3D/11D Trondheim City Walk

DAY 4 Arctic Circle and Lofoten Islands
Ports visited today: Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær.

This morning, between Nesna and Ørnes, you pass a globe on a small islet which heralds your crossing of the Arctic Circle. Passengers sailing in Arctic waters for the first time are given an Arctic Circle baptism by Njord, the ruler of the Seven Seas. This comes in the form of an ice cube down your front or back, but is entirely optional. In the evening you reach Svolvær, the main settlement on the Lofoten Islands. These islands are renowned for their small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian atmosphere surrounded by majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. Complete your visit with a stroll between the stockfish racks and ‘rorbuer’, the traditional, red fishermen’s residences. The Lofoten Islands are a truly extraordinary experience.

Available excursions
4A Glacier Adventure Svartisen
4D RIB Safari, Saltstraumen
4E Lofotr Viking Feast
4F Lofotr Viking Feast Summer

DAY 5 Tromsø Gate way to the Arctic
Ports visited today: Stokmarknes, Sortland, Risøyhamn, Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø ,Skjervøy.

During the night the ship navigates the narrow Raftsund strait. After a stop in Harstad, situated on the largest island of Norway, Hinnøya, you continue via Finnsnes to Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Many of the epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point; the famous explorer Roald Amundsen sourced both crew and supplies here. With the presence of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the city has cemented its position as the Polar Capital of Norway. Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic Cathedral, is the most famous landmark with its modern design and extraordinary stained glass window. Tromsø is also home to the world’s northernmost university and the large number of people arriving here has created a vibrant cultural scene with numerous restaurants and cafes constantly teeming with life.

Available excursions
5A The Arctic Capital Tromsø
5B Dog Sledging
5C Scenery & Huskies
5D Polar History Walk

DAY 6 Honningsvåg and the North Cape
Ports visited today: Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg, Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, Berlevåg. Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg. This small port is the gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape which rises 300m from the ocean, and at 71° 10’ 21” north it puts you a mere 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole. Standing atop
the North Cape Plateau you’ll get the eerie feeling of being at the end of the world.

The area is also known for its birdlife, and Gjesværstappan, a bird sanctuary with up to 250,000 seabirds is home to some High Arctic species that can only be observed here on the Norwegian mainland. This evening, as you approach Kjøllefjord, you pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sámi people, Finnkjerka.

Available excursions
6A The North Cape
6B Bird-watching Safari
6C A Taste of Lapland
6D Snowmobile Trip in Lapland

DAY 7 Kirkenes, the Voyage turning point
Ports visited today: Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø, Kirkenes.

The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes. And at longitude 30 east, you
are actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. The well-policed Russian border and the Kola peninsula are close by which explains why the road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian.

Being at the north-easterly terminus of Hurtigruten, the only choice from here is to set south again but spending a few days in Kirkenes offers you the opportunity to take part in some of the adventurous Arctic activities available nearby.

Available excursions
7A The Russian Border
7B Riverboat Safari
7C Snowmobile Safari
7D Kirkenes Snow Hotel
7E AT V/Quad-Safari to the Russian Border
7F Husky Adventure