Norwegian operator to be the first to offer expedition cruises from UK since Covid-19 lockdown in March
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Hurtigruten is to be the first cruise operator to offer short expedition cruises around the British Isles since the country entered a Covid-19-related lockdown in March 2020.
This September, the Norwegian operator will begin a series of four cruises onboard Roald Amundsen, the world’s first hybrid expedition cruise ship. The series will include the ‘Enchanting islands and coastal towns’ itinerary, which departs Portsmouth on 2 September; the ‘Isle of Man, Isle of Skye and magnificent Scottish Highlands’ cruise, which sets off from Liverpool on 7 September; the ‘Natural Habitats, Wild Nature and Fascinating History’ trip, which leaves from Glasgow on 12 September; and the ’Magnificent gardens, unspoilt islands and rich history’ itinerary, which will start from Liverpool on 17 September.
Guests will be able to visit destinations such as the Isles of Scilly, Fowey, Rathlin Island, Fort William, Oban, Fishguard, Waterford and St Kilda, the UK’s only dual Unesco World Heritage Site, which is home to almost one million seabirds.
“We are delighted to offer guests the short break expedition cruises to experience the British coastline onboard our pioneering hybrid ship, Roald Amundsen,” said Anthony Daniels, general manager for the UK at Hurtigruten. “We will take guests to lesser-visited parts of the British Isles, and take them up close to nature, and conservation projects. This is a great opportunity for those looking to try expedition cruising for the first time, but from closer to home. Having operated in Norway throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and having recently restarting regular operations in Norway, our robust health and safety procedures on and off board mean guests can relax and enjoy their UK short break.”
Hurtigruten, which successfully resumed sailing in Norway on 16 June and international expedition cruises from Germany from 26 June, has introduced new health and safety procedures to protect guests and crew against Covid-19 in accordance with guidelines recommended by both the Norwegian Government and the local governments of the destinations its sails to. The brand currently has five ships in operation and aims to have 14 of its 16 ships sailing by September.
“We are seeing a strong demand across all markets and all destinations, including the Norwegian coast, the Arctic and Antarctica,” said Daniel Skjeldam, Hurtigruten CEO. “The demand reflects our predictions that small-ship cruising, with all our advantages such as more flexibility and fewer guests, will prove even more popular post-Covid-19.”