| Antarctic Voyage Offers Adventurers the Travel Opportunity of a Lifetime Hurtigruten’s Ambitious 2015 Voyage Immerse Guests in a Region Few People Ever Experience Seattle, April 2015 â€" Some travel is best classified as a trip or vacation; other travel, such as Hurtigruten’s Antarctica voyages, is better described as an event that offers lifetime memories and epiphinal moments. And if Hurtigruten’s 2014 record sales growth was an indicator of demand for such memories and moments, 2015 is shaping up to be a year that says ‘don’t wait any longer.’ From Hurtigruten, one of the foremost global authorities on arctic and Antarctic travel, comes a unique opportunity to experience the coldest, driest, highest and cleanest continent on Earth. The “Great Antarctica Expedition,†departing Nov. 29, 2015, is a 20-day adventure that offers voyagers a once-in-a-lifetime quest to the bottom of the world, beckoning them to become entrenched in the wonders of the almost surreal beauty of Antarctica. Passage on this trip of a lifetime ranges from $11,783 to $21,579 per person, double. The same itinerary is available for Nov. 27, 2016. “For years Antarctica was perceived as an extreme, inaccessible and expensive destination and was only on the most ardent traveler’s bucket list,†states Gordon Dirker, managing director for Hurtigruten USA. Dirker continues, “Over those same years, Hurtigruten has worked hard to make it easier and more affordable and in so doing, has made it an achievable bucket list possibility for the average traveler. Coming home from an Antarctica vacation with photos of penguins and whales and icebergs the size of buildings, and memories that you will share for years, is an incredible experience.†Departing Buenos Aires, “The Great Antarctic Expedition†is one of the most comprehensive ways in which to explore Antarctica and the surrounding region. Hurtigruten’s deluxe expedition ship, MS Fram, winds its way through the isolated Falkland Islands, stunning South Georgia, and the wild South Orkneys before exploring the great “white continent†during early Austral summer, one of the most advantageous times of year to witness the natural splendor and enchanting wildlife of Antarctica. Many of these lower latitudes are almost entirely iced over most of the year and are only navigable during a select few weeks. South Georgia and the Falklands place guests in the unique position of being within the Antarctic Circle yet outside of the formation of sea ice. This allows for an environment teeming with wildlife and serving as home to tens of millions of breeding penguins, seals and seabirds. Guests will then join a small club of travelers who get to step foot on the majestic white continent. Polarcirkel landings, ranging from the volcanic Deception Island to the spectacularly photogenic Half Moon Island, provide opportunities for snowshoe hikes, whale watching , overnight camping, kayaking and viewing the phenomenon known as ice calving, as the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic continent turn into mile-long tabular icebergs in the strong currents of the Waddell Sea. Expedition guides are on board to lead the guests through the many penguin colonies and educate them on the history, geology, wildlife and marine elements of the region. Hurtigruten takes safety for its guests and the preservation of the fragile Antarctic environment really seriously. When it comes to exploring polar waters, there is no parallel to Hurtigruten’s captains, who as this generation’s experts in polar exploration, immerse themselves in the philosophies and traditions of this region and the intricacies of traversing it with care and skill. MS Fram draws its inspiration from the original Fram, the only wooden ship to explore both poles, utilizing advanced technology to create a purpose-built expedition ship that focuses on guest comfort and safety. It boasts only 127 cabins, many of which are named for polar pioneers and heroes. The front of the ship is specially designed so guests can observe the marine wildlife and natural phenomena that are in abundance on these voyages. As always, guests aboard a Hurtigruten voyage are reminded that they are “Antarctic opportunists,†keeping open minds about adjusting plans as the weather dictates in these wild and unpredictable climates. Hurtigruten is a world leader in exploration travel, sailing to the most remote of destinations as well as year-round along Norway's coast. The company’s fleet of intimate ships, which each carry 100 to 646 guests, allows travelers to enjoy the scenery and culture of the destination in a relaxed atmosphere.
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