Latest news with #ArcticCruise
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Travel + Leisure
20-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Holland America Has 3 New 14-day Voyages to the Arctic—With Stops at Quaint Fishing Villages, Waterfalls, and High Odds for Northern Lights
If you've always dreamed of seeing the northern lights in the Arctic from a cruise ship, get ready for three new options to make that a reality. Holland America is launching three new arctic journeys that span 14 days and allow cruisers to spot the northern lights, with ship-wide aurora alerts that let everyone know when the lights are visible. The cruises leave from Rotterdam, Netherlands, with one offering the option to depart a day earlier from Dover, England. The initial cruise departs from Rotterdam, and cruisers can take time before departure to explore the historical city with its idiosyncratic modern architecture and impressive art museums. After two days at sea, the cruise ship will stop in Ålesund, a quaint fishing village in western Norway. Known for its colorful, ornate buildings and stunning fjords, this stop will have opportunities for both cultural exploration and hiking. Tours organized by the cruise ship are available. The ship continues on to Trondheim, Norway, with its easy-to-explore city center and sites that include Nidaros Cathedral and the Trondelag Open-Air Folk Museum. After this stop, the ship will cross over into the Arctic Circle, where the many hours of winter darkness are most conducive to spotting the northern lights. The next stop is Tromso, Norway, the 'Gateway to the Arctic,' followed by two days at Alta on the Alta Fjord in the north of Norway. This is one of the best places to spot the aurora, and there will be shuttles and taxis to take visitors into town to experience the culture of this arctic village. As the trip comes into the home stretch, travelers will go to Leknes on the Norwegian Lofoten archipelago, which serves as a gateway to a series of sheltered fishing hamlets with traditional houses. Next are the waterfalls and natural wonders of Åndalsnes, followed by a stop in Bergen, Norway's second largest city. Then, the cruise detours to Lerwick on the Shetland Islands in the United Kingdom to explore its Norse heritage, before spending a day at sea en route back to Rotterdam. Later cruises also stop at Kristiansund, a charming town on the Norwegian coast. The three itineraries depart in autumn 2027. Fares start at €2,599 (about $3,000) for the voyage from Oct. 3 to Oct. 17, 2027. The second trip, which spans Oct. 16 to Oct. 30, 2027, starts at €2,499 ($2,884), while the option with an earlier departure day in Dover starts at €2,719 ($3,138). The final cruise from Nov. 6 to Nov. 20, 2027, starts at €2,349 ($2,711). All cruises can be booked at
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The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
HX launches rare Arctic cruise expeditions designed with Inuit communities
Under a new programme developed by Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX), passengers visiting the Arctic will be given access to rare cruise excursions designed with Inuit Elders for the first time The expedition cruise brand has launched a new excursion programme in Arctic Canada with Inuit Elders, local residents, and community-born staff. Launching in summer 2025, the community-led excursions will be offered on HX's 26-day Northwest Passage sailings. These include westbound itineraries from Greenland to Alaska aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, HX's newest hybrid-powered vessel and eastbound from Alaska to Greenland on MS Roald Amundsen, the world's first battery hybrid-powered cruise ship. Each excursion has been created with Inuit hosts to offer passengers a rare opportunity to engage with daily life, culture, and traditions in the Canadian Arctic through the perspective of those living there. The excursions will take place in Gjøa Haven, Pond Inlet, and Cambridge Bay, communities in the eastern Canadian Arctic that can only be visited during a short summer window. Excursion pricing ranges from £29 for a community bingo event to £125 for a four-hour Arctic char fishing tour, capped at eight guests. Other experiences include learning how Inuit communities continue to live off the land, guided hikes and art sessions. HX said it will not take any margin from these excursions in their first phase, with 100 per cent of the revenue going directly to individuals, artists, and local businesses. A key member of the development team for these new experiences is Mariah Erkloo, an HX product planner and Inuk who was born and raised in Pond Inlet. She said: 'This kind of collaboration is exactly what's needed in Arctic tourism. It's encouraging to see it begin in a way that centres Inuit voices and priorities. 'From the community side, if this model continues to grow with care, it will strengthen the experience for both locals and visitors. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and the lasting positive impact it will have for our communities and the people who travel through them.' Each experience will be limited to an average of 10 to 12 guests Alex McNeil, chief expedition officer for HX, said: 'These intimate excursions are an opportunity for travellers to create meaningful personal connections with local residents and experience the beauty of Inuit hospitality like never before. 'HX worked hand-in-hand with Inuit to create experiences that invite guests to share in the day-to-day life of those who call these shores home. It's redefining what's possible in Arctic travel.'
