Hurtigruten boosts theme-voyage programme

Hamburg - Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten is expanding its programme of "themed" trips along the country's maritime coastal post route in addition to its established "Polar Lights Cruise" and the "Sperm Whale Cruise".

One themed voyage will be the "Norwegian Cuisine Trip" where star chef Holger Stromberg will be on board.

Another trip will have a literary theme will readings from Scandinavian works.

Hurtigruten had announced in June that it intended increasing its ticket prices by between 5 and 6 per cent for the 2009/2010 season.

The company also introduced a new early-bird booking discount where up to the end of September passengers could earn as much as 30 per cent discount on voyages for next year.

Hurtigruten has now decided to extend that offer until the end of 2008 but has cut the maximum possible discount to 25 per cent.

Along with its main brochure "Norwegian Explorer", Hurtigruten is also bringing out a new catalogue with details of a 17-day voyage in autumn 2009 from Greenland to Newfoundland and then onwards to New York.

Hurtigruten also sail to Spitzbergen, to the Antarctic during the European winter as well as the Arctic. (dpa)