| Hurtigruten Guests Explore the World of the Vikings on Special Autumn Tour Seattle, February 2015 â€" Depending on which pop culture depiction one chooses to believe, the Vikings were a group of barbarians who took raiding and pillaging to a whole new level, or they were a forward-thinking group of explorers and tradesmen who put Scandinavia on the map. Or perhaps they were a little of both. History lovers who are eager to learn the truth behind this storied group will get an earful on Hurtigruten’s 12-day Voyage of the Vikings itinerary, which sets sail on September 14 with fares starting at $2,989 per person, double occupancy. This themed itinerary has proven to be especially popular in recent years, as guests participate in an adaptation of Hurtigruten’s famed Classic Round Voyage along the coast of Norway, beginning and ending in the southern city of Bergen, sailing to the northern town of Kirkenes on the Russian border, and visiting a total of 34 ports in each direction. Viking expert Gareth Williams of the British Museum is the group’s guest host, giving lectures on board and leading tours and excursions on land. Williams, who studied history at universities in St. Andrews, Scotland, and in Bergen, has been a curator at the British Museum in London for nearly 20 years and served as lead curator for the museum’s special Viking exhibition last year. He’s the author of several books about the Vikings and is a regular guest expert on television and radio programs. Williams’ on-board lectures will delve into the stories of the Vikings, including a socio-economic look at the group; their various achievements; their drive for wealth; their tendencies to explore and discover; and the history of a chieftain named Ottar, who documented accounts of some of his adventures. A highlight of the voyage is a stop in the old Viking capital of Trondheim that includes a tour of the famed Nidaros Cathedral, where Viking King Olav Tryggason, Norway’s patron saint, was laid to rest. Guests also have the option to participate in a Viking Feast excursion, traveling back in time and visiting a Viking chieftain and his family in a reconstructed longhouse as they settle in for an evening of food and entertainment. Guests who want to extend their stay to visit Norway’s modern capital, Oslo, can enjoy a visit to that city’s Viking Museum, which is home to a full-size longboat and an array of Viking relics. Hurtigruten is as much a part of Norwegian culture as the Vikings, serving as a means of transportation and tourism for more than 120 years. The company is the undeniable expert at exploring the Arctic waters, and its 11 ships that ply the coast of Norway offer the best way to see the fjords for which the country is justly famous. The ship’s huge windows offer a panoramic view of the beauty of Norway, allowing guests to experience some of the same glory that Viking chieftains may have felt as they captained their longboats along these same waters many centuries ago.
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