Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines makes return to homeland Norway as new ship Borealis sets sail to seek out Northern Lights

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is making a return to its homeland of Norway today as new ship Borealis sets sail in search of the Northern Lights, the natural phenomenon after which she is named.

Since the line resumed sailing in the summer, Fred. Olsen’s first cruise to Norway marks the start of a hand-crafted programme of cruising to the region, with 22 sailings across all four seasons in 2022.

Fred. Olsen’s Journey Planners have crafted the Norwegian sailings to maximise the benefits of their smaller ships, which allow them to sail size restricted waters such as Lysefjord, Åkrafjord and Fjaerlandsfjord, leading to secluded waterfalls and scenic fjord sailing.

Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experience at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“At Fred. Olsen, we are proud to sail our own course, and our homeland of Norway is somewhere this really shines through.

“This is especially true in the fjords, where we frequently travel away from the well-sailed route. Here we can offer exceptional experiences for our guests, such as sailing Maurangerfjord to show our guests the sprawling Fureberg Waterfall.

“The smaller size of our ships opens up so many possibilities for us. We can sail the size-restricted Lysefjord so guests can look up at the famous Pulpit Rock or cruise Åkrafjord to the tall and tumbling Langfoss Waterfall, often regarded as the best waterfall in Norway, offering views of spectacular scenery direct from the ship.

“This first cruise back to Norway will be extra special, as not only will we be visiting Alta, renowned for being one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights, but it will also see Borealis going in search of the phenomena from which she takes her name. We can’t wait to share this experience with our guests.”

Some highlights of Fred. Olsen’s sailings to Norway in 2022 include:

Bolette’s 14-night T2202A ‘In Search of the Northern Lights cruise, departing from Southampton on 30th January 2022. Prices start from £1,399 per person.
Itinerary: Southampton, England – Trondheim, Norway – Alta, Norway (overnight stay) – Tromsø, Norway (overnight stay) – Bodø, Norway – Ålesund, Norway – Southampton, England
For more details: Visit T2202A ‘In Search of the Northern Lights

Borealis’ eight-night S2208 ‘Classic Norwegian Fjords’ cruise, departing from Liverpool on 6th April 2022. Prices start from £999 per person.
Itinerary: Liverpool, England – Cruising Lysefjord, Norway – Cruising Hardangerfjord, Norway – Eidfjord, Norway – Cruising Maurangerfjord and Furebergfossen, Norway – Flåm, Norway – Cruising Nærøyfjord, Norway – Bergen, Norway – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands – Liverpool, England
For more details: Visit S2208′ Classic Norwegian Fjords.’

Balmoral’s 15-night L2217′ Rugged and Remote Spitsbergen’ cruise, departing from Newcastle on 22nd June 2022. Prices start from £2,599 per person.
Itinerary: Newcastle, England – Olden, Norway (overnight stay) – Cruising Nordfjord, Norway – Maloy, Norway – Cruising Nærøyfjord, Norway – Cruising Torghatten, Norway – Cruising Seven Sisters Mountain Range, Norway – Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway – Cruising Trollfjord, Norway – Cruising by Djevelen Tanngard, Norway – Honningsvåg, Norway – Cruising North Cape, Norway – Pyramiden, Norway – Cruising by Nordenskiöldbreen, Norway – Cruising by Templefjorden, Norway – Longyearbyen, Norway – Tromsø, Norway – Cruising by Black Glacier, Norway – Cruising Nordfjorden, Meloy, Norway – Åndalsnes, Norway – Cruising Romsdalfjorden and Isfjorden, Norway – Newcastle, England
For more details: Visit L2217′ Rugged and Remote Spitsbergen’

Braemar’s five-night M2222′ Summertime Fjords in Five Nights’ cruise, departing from Edinburgh (Rosyth) on 29th July 2022. Prices start from £799 per person.
Itinerary: Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland – Olden, Norway – Cruising Nordfjord, Norway – Cruising by Hornelen, Norway – Ålesund, Norway – Cruising Hjørundfjord, Norway – Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
For more details: Visit M2222′ Summertime Fjords in Five Nights’

fredolsencruises.com

Heritage Expeditions Announces New Voyage Inspired by the World’s First Transit of the Northern Sea Route

Pioneering small ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions is proud to release an exciting new voyage In the Footsteps of Nordenskiöld, inspired by Swedish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld’s famed Vega Expedition of 1878 – 1880.

Heritage Expeditions Commercial Director and Expedition Leader Aaron Russ said the 19-day addition to their 2021 Russian Far East season was aimed at true adventurers with an interest in the remarkable history, geography and wildlife of the uncompromising Northern Sea Route.

“This is an authentic expedition in every sense,” said Russ.“  In the Footsteps of Nordenskiöld recreates one of the world’s great explorations visiting the many islands and locations Nordenskiöld himself discovered and described during his history-changing expedition.”

Retracing the first ever transit of the Northern Sea Route, and created in consultation with Heritage Expeditions’ Russian history experts, the expedition offers intrepid travellers the opportunity to explore some of the least known and seldom visited shores on the planet including the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago, the New Siberian Islands, Novaya Zemlya (New Land), Cape Chelyuskin, De Long Islands and the Nordenskiöld Archipelago.

Those seeking wildlife will not be disappointed with much of the region’s abundant wildlife likely encountered including polar bears, walrus, whales and birdlife with twitcher favourite the ivory gull, among them.

Travel is aboard Heritage Expeditions’ ice-strengthened Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy, herself no stranger to the region having participated in Soviet convoys during the late 1980s and completing a double transit of the Northern Sea Route with the company in 2017.

The new voyage follows minor amendments to Heritage Expeditions’ Russian Far East 2021 schedule which also sees the company’s popular Sea of Okhotsk expedition  now starting and ending in Magadan, allowing guests to enjoy an extended period of time exploring the wildlife-rich waters within the region. Guests joining this departure also have the option to stay on board for a complimentary ocean voyage as Akademik Shokalskiy is transferred from Magadan to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy at the completion of the voyage – an extra three nights aboard free! These will be sea days, with a minimal expedition programme, giving guests a chance to unwind in the library, bar and on the bridge.

In the Footsteps of Nordenskiöld departs Murmansk on 12 September 2021, arriving in Pevek on 30 September 2021. Prices start from US$13,900 for a Main Deck, twin share berth.

Sea of Okhotsk, Magadan return, departs 17 June 2021 and arrives 27 June 2021, or 30 June 2021 for guests disembarking in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. Prices start from US$7,100 for a Main Deck, twin share berth.

heritage-expeditions.com