Hurtigruten Unveils Distinct Antarctica Itineraries, Early Booking Discounts Of Up To 20%

Stunning glaciers, mammoth icebergs, breathtaking tundra and up-close experiences with penguin colonies are par for the course on Hurtigruten's seven Antarctica itineraries; and for guests booking by March 31, 2011, prices for these cruises are discounted up to 20% – a savings of up to $3,421 per person.  The 12- to 20-day itineraries, priced after the discount at $5,858 to $13,684 per person, double, include a night in Buenos Aires before and after the cruise, all meals onboard, the services of expert guides, lectures and PolarCirkel boat landings. These once-in-a-lifetime voyages explore the vast and mysterious wilderness of the White Continent, the coldest, driest and windiest destination on earth, replete with gleaming icebergs, blue whales and orcas feeding mere feet from the ships, and penguin populations whose individual rookeries number in the tens of thousands.

Although all of the itineraries give passengers a rare glimpse of this breathtaking continent, each cruise adventure provides a unique experience.  The 20-day "Shackleton's Antarctica" follows the same path as Shackleton's original Endurance Expedition of 1914, navigating the western-most outposts of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island before heading to Antarctica.  The 19-day "Shackleton's Christmas" follows much the same route, but with traditional carols, festive meals, Santa Claus visits and a New Year's gala added in celebration of the holidays.  A 15-day "Chilean Fjords & Antarctica" spends nearly six days in the White Continent and four days along the stunningly scenic Tierra del Fuego and Chilean Fjords, while the 12-day "Antarctic Discovery" focuses solely on the White Continent, sailing through the Drake Passage and down into the southern ocean during Antarctica's gorgeous summer.  Two 15-day options also center on Antarctica: the "Weddell Sea Adventure," following the path forged by the Swedish Antarctica Expedition of 1901-04, and "Polar Circle Quest," which heads to the rarely visited Marguerite Bay – home to a colony of rarely-seen emperor penguins.

Hurtigruten's deluxe expedition ship, MS Fram, accommodates 318 guests in suites and staterooms and features a restaurant, two bars, panoramic lounges library, and Internet café and conference rooms.   The early-booking savings can be combined with discounts available in the 1893 Ambassador Program, which includes 5% off Explorer Voyages to Antarctica in addition to exclusive discounts and recognition benefits for members.
 
Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic's Spitsbergen as well as year round along Norway's coast and Europe in the spring.  Additional information on all of these adventures, as well as brochures and reservations, can be obtained from travel agents or Hurtigruten's visitor-friendly web site, www.hurtigruten.us; or by phone: (800) 323-7436; fax (888)-524-2145; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day.