Hurtigruten announces first London departure
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Hurtigruten has offered its first departures from London in its newly-released 2013/14 Explorer Voyages brochure.
Passengers will be able to finish a cruise at Greenwich after visiting Norway and Scotland, or depart from the London port on an itinerary that explores the UK before heading to Hamburg. Three new European voyages have been added in total, including one that spends Christmas Day in South Georgia, alongside its cruises to Spitsbergen, Greenland and Antarctica.
Kathryn Beadle, managing director at Hurtigruten UK said the programme has been launched earlier to allow agents more time to sell. She said an increased interest in expedition cruises had led to the programme expansion.
“Expedition cruises are becoming more and more popular as customers are not only seeking the more unusual and exciting destinations but they are also wanting to be educated on the areas that they are visiting,” explained Beadle. “Our customers are well travelled and looking for new experiences and our Explorer programme fulfills this requirement. Nature programmes on the television focusing around colder climes such as the Frozen Planet and Prince Harry’s trek in Spitsbergen have put a focus on these areas, which in turn is driving demand. As our ships are smaller, agents really do need to ensure they are working hard to get customers to book early to avoid disappointment”.
In Antarctic, the line will offer its first voyage to the Falklands on a 19-day ‘The Great Antarctic Expedition’ from Ushuaia, Argentina. The company is also offering a ‘South Georgia Anniversary Voyage’ over Christmas and due to popularity a second Antarctica Peninsular- polar Circle Expedition has been added in January and February 2013.
In Europe, aside from the voyages into and of Greenwich the company will offer a Southern Europe –Easter voyage from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to Lisbon, Portugal on 28 March 2013.
Greenland will see an additional departure added for the ‘Southern Fjords and Disko Bay- Glacier and Ice’ itinerary whilst a further one departure added on the Spitsbergen cruises on the ‘In the realm of the Polar Bear’ itinerary.
The company is offering a 20% early booking discount, which runs out when the allotment of cabin has run out, another reason to book early.
