HURTIGRUTEN MAKES BOOKING 'WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL VOYAGE' EVEN EASIER –

PACKAGING AIR, HOTELS AND TRANSFERS WITH THE 6-, 7- AND 11-NIGHT NORWAY CRUISES

New York, NY, April 2009 – Hurtigruten, an industry leader in expedition cruising, has announced an all-inclusive option that makes booking a vacation on their most popular voyage route even easier.  The company is now offering a value package for peak season departures of its Norwegian Coastal Voyage – combining the six-, seven- and 12-day cruises with airfare, hotel and transfers – for select cabins on an itinerary described by Lonely Planet as "the world's most beautiful voyage."  These packages add one night in Bergen and Oslo or one in either, extending the trips to nine and 14 days, and are valid for new bookings made by June 30 on most departures between May 1 and September 30.  Prices based on double occupancy run from $2,359 to $4,129, depending on departure date and cabin choice.  Airfare is from New York/New Jersey with add-ons from dozens of North American gateways priced from $100 to $360.  Air fuel surcharges, air and cruise taxes and ticketing fees are included.

The six-, seven- and 12-day voyages, aboard a modern Hurtigruten ship, take in Norway’s spectacular fjord-filled, 1,250-mile west coast between the charming Hanseatic port of Bergen and Kirkenes, close to the Russian border.  The scenery changes from moment to moment as the ships make 34 port calls on the route, ranging from fishing villages in the rugged Lofoten Islands to Art Nouveau Alesund and bustling cities like Tromso and Trondheim.  Optional shore excursions range from a get acquainted tour of Tromso and taking in the scenery of the North Cape in Honningsvag to a riverboat safari in Kirkenes, a taste of Lapland, and a Lofotr Viking Feast; excursions can be booked before departure.  The day in Bergen can be spent amongst an array of attractions and entertainment, from the Bergen Art Museum, with more than 9,000 works of art, and St. Mary’s Church – the oldest building in Bergen and one of the greatest examples of Romanesque architecture – to fine dining at leading gourmet restaurant Finnegaardstuene.  While in Oslo, sights include a dozen quirky museums, one of the most popular being the Viking Ship Museum, plays at the National Theatre – many of which are presented in English – and many small shops selling unique Norwegian jewelry and other treasures.

Offer is capacity controlled and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion except the Lay-Away Plan.  Passengers wishing to extend their stay may do so with 2009 Coastal Cruises land add-ons.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen.  For more information about the cruise, pre- and post-cruise explorations and optional excursions, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Hurtigruten Inc., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us.

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