Operator will also offer Young Explorer activities, as well as professional expedition teams on most ships
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Expedition travel operator Hurtigruten is to offer a record 100 shore excursions, Young Explorer activities and professional expedition teams on its Norwegian coastal ships in 2018.
Designed to suit all ages and activity preferences, the coastal expedition excursions will include nature-based tours, hikes, gentle strolls, rib boat excursions, and urban exploration opportunities. Highlights will include dogsledding through the mountains of Kristiansund, a midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø, and snowmobile safaris between ports of Mehamn and Kjøllefjord to see the Northern Lights.
“While this coastline is our home, innovation is our tradition,” said Daniel Skjeldam, Hurtigruten CEO. “We have been sailing the Norwegian coast since 1893, yet we are reinventing how guests experience our unique voyages through the introduction of Norwegian coastal expedition teams and even more unique excursions.”
Available on nine of its eleven Norwegian coastal ships, the expedition teams will share their first-hand knowledge about wildlife, natural phenomena, history and landscapes. They will run onboard activities such as lectures, presentations and story-telling, as well as onshore excursions, guided tours and voluntary environmental activities such as beach clean-ups.
“An expedition sailing with Hurtigruten is about exploring, not cruising,” said Skjeldam. “Whether it is under the Midnight Sun or the Northern Lights, we offer a premium floating basecamp that works as a stepping stone to adventurous and educational experiences with Norway’s unparalleled natural sites as the majestic backdrop.”
Children aged 7-13 can take part in Hurtigruten’s Young Explorer programme on select ships, including Finnmarken. They can enjoy daily onboard activities that provides a deeper understanding of local wildlife, food, and famous explorers, such as Norwegians Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen.
“We are always making great efforts to leave the smallest possible environmental footprint and to make positive contributions to all our destinations,” said Skjeldam. “Educating and inspiring new generations of environmental advocates is essential to us.”