20 November 2008

Capacity raised on polar bear watching cruises

Hurtigruten is to deploy an additional ship due to demand for voyages to view polar bears in Spitsbergen in the Artic for 2009.

The Norwegian cruise line has brought in the 58-cabin MS Expedition to run 13 new departures between June and August.

The vessel, built in 1972, is undergoing modernisation work and will have a panorama lounge, an expedition lounge, restaurant, library, bar, fitness room and sauna.

All cabins will be outside with a window or porthole and private facilities.

The ship will have an ice class of 1B and stabilisers ensure a smooth journey, plus carry a fleet of ten Zodiacs which will be available for landings and excursions.

The itinerary offered is identical to that operated by MV Polar Star, a nine-day Ã¢â¬ËœKingdom of the Polar BearÃ¢â¬â¢ voyage starting and ending in Longyearbyen with the aim to circumnavigate Spitsbergen, weather permitting.

Prices start at Ã&#pound;3,456 per person including eight days full board on the ship, one nightÃ¢â¬â¢s accommodation in Longyearbyen, sightseeing of Longyearbyen, transfers and taxes. Flights are extra and lead-in at Ã&#pound;655pp.

Head of commercial Kathryn Beadle said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœAgents have plenty of time to promote this new ship and can now confidently sell these departures to see the Polar Bears in their natural habitat.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœOur main nine day Spitsbergen voyage is already close to being sold out for 2009 and we still have more than six months selling time.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœHurtigruten therefore took the decision globally to add extra capacity with this new ship. The UK office was the first to make a booking on this new ship and this was before we had even loaded it onto the system. It just shows the level of demand."

by Phil Davies