Hurtigruten Expeditions announced it is adding another new region to its growing list of destinations: Arctic Russia, and particularly the White Sea in the country’s far north.
The itinerary follows the additions of expedition voyages to the Galapagos Islands Ecuador, Bissagos Islands (Guinea-Bissau) and Cape Verde Western Africa, as well as the Canary Islands and Madeira Islands, which are all due to launch in 2022.
Hurtigruten's new 17-day "White Sea - Norway & Russia Adventure" itinerary is scheduled to depart Bergen Norway, on October 6, 2022, and sail north along Norway's coast and include a number of the country’s highlights: Lofoten Islands, fjords, visiting settlements rich in Sami history and fishing traditions, and Nordkapp-North Cape, which is the northernmost point of the European mainland.
7 days in Russia are next in line, traveling to one of the country's least-visited parts. The itinerary combines modern-day cities and historic ports with expedition landings at rarely visited villages on the White Sea shores. The trip includes visiting the Solovetsky Islands (Solovki), one of the iconic sights in Northern Russia. Hurtigruten Expeditions’ expert team will give passengers an insight into the history and culture of the sites they visit.
Among the highlights of the itinerary, guests will soak up Russian culture and history in a couple of its most northern cities. They will see Soviet-era monuments and learn about the maritime and wartime past in Murmansk before taking in the architecture of Arkhangelsk, the historical and cultural capital of Russia’s north.
Passengers will explore Norway and Russia onboard the 180-guest MS Spitsbergen, providing a uniquely intimate setting. The ship also boasts a variety of expedition equipment and Hurtigruten’s state-of-the-art Science Center.
Besides the new White Sea itinerary, MS Spitsbergen will offer a 23-day Grand Expedition voyage from Tromso Norway to Lisbon Portugal. The cruise can be cut to a smaller sailing departing from Dover (England) UK, Hamburg Germany, or Amsterdam Netherlands, to Lisbon. The vessel then continues to sail Western Africa’s waters between November 2022-March 2023.
MS Spitsbergen will operate to the Canary and Madeira Islands, as well as the Bissagos Islands and Cape Verde out of Dakar Senegal.