Hurtigruten, formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage, is offering North American travelers a convenient way of joining its popular 67-day Longitudinal World Cruise with seven segment departure options from St. John’s, New York and Pt. Canaveral. The company’s 318-passenger MS Fram, the world’s newest and most deluxe expedition ship, travels the east coast of Canada and the U.S. as it makes its way from above the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. Booking a New York and Pt. Canaveral segment departures by July 31, 2008 discounts a companion’s fare by 50%, savings of $4,424 to $18,650. This offer is not valid for inside cabins or MG category suites.
Guests can sail on a 13-day segment between Canada’s St. John’s and Port Canaveral, FL, departing October 6, 2008; depart New York on October 14 on a 22-day journey to Callao, Peru, 29 days to Valparaiso, Chile or 46 days expedition to Ushuaia, Argentina; or sail from Pt. Canaveral on October 18, on 18-, 25- and 42-day segments to the same ports as NY. Fares range from $3,849 to $22,049 per person, double, for cabins and $8,649 to $45,999 for suites. Rates include in-depth exploration lectures, expedition guides and all meals on board.
The World Cruise journey begins in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 23, with the MS Fram plying the coasts of the U.K., Canada, U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama (including a transit of the Panama Canal), Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Additional North American ports of call include Sailor’s Island, Sydney and Halifax in Canada and Bar Harbor, Gloucester, Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, Charleston and Key West in the U.S.
Optional excursions run the gamut – in Maine, guests can hike along Acadia National Park’s Ocean Trail and take in the stately mansions of Newport, R.I. In Central America, they can travel via jungle boat down the flora- and fauna-rich Costa Rican Tortuguero Canals. In South America travelers can take in Costa Rica’s lush tropical landscapes, and a host of Chile’s grand colonial cities, national parks and wine regions. As MS Fram nears Antarctica, expert guides join the cruise to provide lectures about the mysterious and pristine White Continent. Cruising highlights include the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America and Chile’s Cape Horn and Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands, a visit to Half Moon Island, featuring a chinstrap penguin rookery; the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station on King George Island; and Neko Harbour, one of two areas used for ship in Antarctica.
MS Fram was custom-designed for cruising Arctic and Antarctic waters and is the newest and most luxurious ship in the Hurtigruten fleet. It features comfortable and stylish cabins and a variety of suites and junior suites, a restaurant two bars, panoramic lounges, Internet café, conference rooms, fitness room, sauna, two heated outdoor Jacuzzis, and gift shop
