HURTIGRUTEN GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE TERM 'POLAR BEAR CLUB'

-- OFFERING POLAR WATER DIPS AT BOTH POLES FOR ALL INTERESTED GUESTS

New York, NY, December 2009 -- You don't have to be a member of a polar bear club - those hardy groups of cold water plungers - to take advantage of Hurtigruten's offers to enjoy a dip in the world's coldest waters, whether in Antarctica, the Arctic's Spitsbergen, Greenland, or Norway's Vardø on the Barents Sea.  “As far as sea conditions allow, our expedition team will ensure that the bravest of our guests are able to satisfy their thirst for adventure in the water," states Hurtigruten product coordinator Jørn Henriksen.  Ideal for those travelers who prefer to bring home more than t-shirts and tans, the dip in the polar waters is something that truly stands out when it comes to bragging - and the Polar Dip Certificate awarded to each participant provides needed verification. 

During Antarctica's summer months, guests aboard Hurtigruten's deluxe expedition ship, MV Fram, can enjoy the remarkably refreshing icy waters of one of the largest natural harbours in the world -- off the volcanic Deception Island.  The average temperature of this natural ocean pool is a bracing zero degrees Celsius. However, geothermic activity does mean that bathers can occasionally feel a 'comfortable' current of water above freezing.  During the North Pole's summer, guests aboard the same ship can entertain a quick jump into the waters of Spitsbergen's Magdelenefjord, avoiding the icebergs, of course; or for those spending 8 to 15 days exploring Greenland, a brief splash in the sea around Uummannaq, a small town 360 miles north of the polar circle and site of the annual Ice Golf World Championship.www.hurtigruten.us; (800) 323-7436; fax (888)-524-2145; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day.

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