Arctic Voyage & SnowHotel 2010
12 days / 10 nights, Bergen - Northbound Arctic Cruise - Kirkenes - Oslo | Set sail from Bergen on a leisurely northbound Arctic tour to the sheltered harbor at Kirkenes. Along the way, discover Arctic Wonders including Europe's most northerly point, the North Cape, and-with luck-revel in the magical Northern Lights. At Kirkenes, visit the Russian border, sample a taste of Sami life, and spend a night at the storied Snow Hotel.
| Price | January - February 2010 From $2,739 inside Stateroom From $2,909 outside Stateroom March 2010 From $3,019 inside Stateroom From $3,159 outside Stateroom |
| Included | Roundtrip Economy Class transatlantic airfare from New York 4 nights hotel accommodation, including breakfast 1 night Kirkenes Snow Hotel, including breakfast Accommodations onboard in select cabin category Meals onboard (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Port charges Transfers as applicable |
| Not Included | Air fuel surcharges, air taxes Add-on airfares for gateways other than New York Luggage handling Excursions Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items $25 Service fee |
| Tour Options | Additional nights in Bergen or Oslo |
Day 1 DEPART THE U.S. Depart the U.S. on your transatlantic flight bound for Bergen, Norway.
Day 2 BERGEN (B) Arrive in Bergen, the charming seaport gateway to Fjord Norway. Transfer to your hotel. Explore Bergen on your own. Enjoy an overnight stay in lovely Bergen.
Day 3 BERGEN - EMBARKATION (B, L, D) Get ready for your Arctic cruise adventure. You will be transferred via shuttle bus to your Hurtigruten ship for embarkation.
Day 4 COASTAL VOYAGE MALOY - KRISTIANSUND (B, L, D) Maloy-Torvik-Alesund-Molde-Kristiansund When you awake, the ship will be crossing the stretch of open sea known as Stadthavet, heading for Torvik. Farther on, you'll stop in the beautiful Art Nouveau town of Alesund. After a call at Molde (its magnificent view of the Romsdal Alps made it a favorite vacation spot of famous Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen) the ship will carefully navigate the Hustadvika, a belt of islets and skerries, before docking at Kristiansund. Optional shore excursions are available.
Day 5 TRONDHEIM - RORVIK (B, L, D) The ship arrives early this morning in historical Trondheim, Norway's first capital. Walk the charming streets; sit by the peaceful harbor or cross the old city bridge to see the restored wooden buildings in Bakklandet and the great Gothic Cathedral of Nidaros, where the kings of ancient Norway once received their official blessings. From Trondheim, the ship sails on to Rorvik, where the southbound and northbound coastal ships meet. Optional shore excursions are available.
Day 6 ORNES - BODO - STAMSUND - SVOLVAER (B, L, D) Today you'll cross the Arctic Circle. Of course, you can't actually see this imaginary cartographic line, but on our portside, a globe on the island of Vikingen serves as a helpful marker. Ahead lie spectacular sights, such as islands and skerries of majestic rock formations, their origins the stuff of legend. After Bodo, the ship heads out to open sea, bound for the Lofoten Islands, with their picturesque cabins on stilts and weathered wooden racks of drying cod. In the evening, we'll navigate the narrow Raftsund Strait, passing the looming crags of the Trollfjord. Optional shore excursions are available.
Day 7 HARSTAD - TROMSO - SKJERVOY (B, L, D) This morning, you'll pass the medieval Trondenes church before calling at Harstad for breakfast. Afterward, you'll sail across the Vagsfjord, past the great island of Senja with its diverse countryside of farmland, pine trees, and plunging peaks. Later you'll stop at the city of Tromso, Norway's "Paris of the North". In the 19th century, Russian, British, Dutch, and German ships called here before heading off on Arctic expeditions for hunting whales, walruses, and seals. Optional shore excursions are available.
Day 8 HAMMERFEST - HAVOYSUND - HONNINGSVAG - KIRKENES (B, L, D) Finnmark's landscape, austere in its beauty, teems with wildlife. Watch for rookeries of puffins and gannets along the cliffs, and pods of orca, or Killer whales, hunting for herring. After calling at Honningsvag, the capital of the North Cape, the ship heads east toward the pretty fishing villages of Kjollefjord, Mehamn, and Berlevag. On the seventh day, you'll arrive at Kirkenes, the journey's northern terminus and turning point. Optional shore excursions are available for both days.
Day 9 KIRKENES (B) Arrive in Kirkenes. Disembark and transfer by taxi or bus (not included) to your hotel where you will spend the night.
Day 10 KIRKENES - SNOWHOTEL (B, D) Transfer to the iconic Kirkenes Snow Hotel. Curl up in a Snow Suite chilled to between 21 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit and decorated in beautiful artwork made from snow. Enjoy a unique overnight stay. (We promise you'll be warm!)
Day 11 KIRKENES - OSLO (B) Transfer back to downtown Kirkenes. Taxi or bus transfer (not included) to the airport for your flight to Oslo where you will stay overnight. Oslo, Norway's cosmopolitan capital city will enchant you. Get a real taste for this exciting cities culture through engaging sights such as Oslo City Hall, Akershus Fortress, or the Nobel Peace Center. Want to enjoy a night at the opera? You can choose to attend a performance at the new, ultra-modern harbor-side national opera house.
Day 12 OSLO DEPARTURE (B) Transfer to airport. Departure flight to the U.S.