Luxury specialist Crystal Cruises is taking guests to the end of the world on its only 2009 North Cape itinerary, where only the Norwegian Svalbard Islands stand between them and the North Pole. The July 11 “Arctic Expedition” itinerary aboard Crystal Symphony departs Copenhagen for Stockholm, stopping in several charming Norwegian ports, including Honningsvag, the country’s northern most fishing village, then to the Polar Ice Cap in search of the Ice Barrier. Featuring Norway’s spectacular fjords, dramatic mountains and endless miles of drift ice, the voyage offers guests an array of adventures amidst some of the world’s most breathtaking terrain. Other highlights include Molde, Longyearbyen, Geiranger/Hellesylt, Bergen and Ålesund, Norway, and transits along Bear Island and the Barents, North and Norwegian Seas.

“These ports may not be household names, but Crystal guests are savvy travelers who are culturally curious and ready for adventurous experiences that create lifetime memories,” says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales and marketing. “The North Cape cruise has been very popular with guests who have explored traditional European routes, who seek alternatives to Alaska cruises and want to escape the summer heat and humidity. This sailing allows guests to appreciate some of the still untouched beauty of the region in a way not possible by land.”

Crystal Adventures run the gamut by land, air and sea. Travelers can trek the ice fields of Longyearbyen Glacier, fly over the fjords of Bergen, hike to the village of Trollkirka for some cave exploration, or quest for king crab in the North Cape.

Fares for the 14-day North Cape cruise start at $6,550 per person, double occupancy. With Crystal’s Save Now, Save Later program, guests who book this cruise by March 31 can save 20 percent on most 2010 cruises.