Hurtigruten

Expedition Cruises

Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego)

Vancouver

Punta Arenas

Santiago (Valparaiso)

Reykjavik

Tromso

Oslo

Colon (Cristobal)

Hamburg

Antarctica

South America

Falklands

Alaska

Argentina

Chile

Bahamas

Caribbean - All

Arctic

Columbia River

Europe - All

Baltic Sea

Spain

Panama Canal & Central America

Canada & New England

U.S.A.

Iceland

Norway

Transatlantic

Norwegian Fjords

Trans-Ocean

Germany

Panama

Excellent

Very Good

Average

Terrible

Poor

Maud

Roald Amundsen

Fram

Otto Sverdrup

Richard With

Trollfjord

Polarlys

Nordlys

Nordkapp

Nordnorge

Spitsbergen

Lofoten

Kong Harald

Vesteralen

Fridtjof Nansen

Santa Cruz II

Nordstjernen

Antarctic doesn't fail to satisfy!

Having been on three previous Hurtigruten cruises we know that the ship size (small), the provision of interesting lectures instead of Abba tribute bands or similar and the unusual itineraries would suit our interests. 

After flying to Vancouver for one night the plan was then to be flown to Nome in Alaska and cruise down the Bering Sea and then along the Aleutian Islands and the Inside Passage back to Vancouver. The scenery promised to be spectacular and the numerous opportunities to see the local wildlife would, it seemed, be unmatched anywhere else. It didn't quite work out that way.

First there was a 5 hour delay on out Air Canada flight from Heathrow. Not Hurtigruten's fault but it wiped out the scheduled evening out in Vancouver as we arrived at our hotel very late in the evening. Nevertheless we were told to put our luggage in reception before 05.30 the next morning for our flight to Nome. 

It seemed to take an age to load everything and everyone onto the bus to the airport where we then waited for the flight.

Despite the itinerary telling us about the interesting old mining town of Nome with its long-abandoned gold mines we were then bussed from the airport straight to the ship. So, no Vancouver and no Nome.  There seemed to be no reason for this as the ship didn't sail for another 2 - 3 hours and anyway it spent most of the voyage at half speed so a couple of hours in Nome could easily have been managed.

Our first two islands were St Matthew's and St Paul's and at both the publicity blurb told of the interesting old, now abandoned, native houses that we would see apart from seals and seabirds etc. At neither of these islands did we see any such signs of previous settlement, no organised tours were offered and the 'expedition crew', when they could be found  knew very little about the islands. After the third time that I asked one of them about some aspect of the places we were visiting and got the answer "Oh, I don't know. I'll have to look that up for you" I gave up asking. This happened on 3 different islands and they never did get back to me. They seemed to be as new to the places we were visiting as the passengers. 

We then sailed along the Aleutians visiting various places where, according to the publicity material, we would have numerous opportunities to see many different types of wildlife. Without exception these 'opportunites' were massively over-hyped. In fact, apart from seabirds, which were not about in huge numbers compared to many places in the UK, we saw one sea-otter, three bears but quite a lot of bald eagles, oh! almost forgot, I did see a squirrel at one point.

Whales were also seen from the ship fairly often but almost always some considerable distance away. 

The 'Bears of Annan' tour which did promise good chances of seeing bears turned out to only have 30 places available to the entire ship due to restrictions put on visitors and we had to enter a lottery to try for this trip. Unsurprisingly we didn't win. 

So, from a wildlife viewing point of view the cruise hugely under-delivered and as that had been one of the main reasons for booking it we ended up wishing we had made other arrangements instead of booking with Hurtigruten. We realise, of course, that wildlife is unpredictable but reading the itinerary which reads time after time that 'opportunities' will occur to see the local fauna the impression is given that many of these opportunities will be successful.. Also we have two sets of friends who have been to Alaska, separately (not with Hurtigruten) and they can't understand how we saw so little.

I have twice raised these complaints with Hurtigruten since our return and have, so far, a month later received no reply but then they have always had a terrible reputation for handling customer complaints from what I've read elsewhere.

On the plus side the ship is lovely, our cabin was roomy and comfortable and the 'hotel crew' were unfailingly friendly and helpful. The food was good and we tried all three of the restaurants more than once each. The expedition crew however, other than delivering some very interesting lectures on their specialist subjects seemed in the main to know little about our cruising ground and when we went ashore were generally no-where to be found. 

Interestingly the ship's passenger capacity was 500 but there were only 197 passengers aboard which was good from our point of view (even more room) but possibly speaks volumes about the reputation of the cruise vis-a-vis the price charged. Although we have been very pleased with Hurtigruten in the past we will certainly not be booking with them again.

A nice ship, an interesting area but massively over-promised on wild-life sightings

Brisbane

I chose this cruise after researching small ship cruising that offered opportunities to visit small less visited towns and the areas that the big ships don’t have access to. The cruise has a big emphasis on science with an expedition team led by enthusiastic knowledgeable crew who give passengers the ability and encouragement to submit data, photographs, sightings etc to websites tracking the movement of wildlife around the planet contributing to citizen science.

The ship I sailed on is extremely beautiful and gives the impression that it can cope with anything and does having prior to my trip sailed up from Antarctica. The decor inside is neutral and tasteful with the use of lots of wood and art chosen by the Queen of Norway herself.

My cabin was on the fourth deck without a balcony but had a large window and to be honest I spent most of the time out on deck looking at the most amazing scenery and wildlife passing by. It was very spacious with a comfortable double bed that can be configured to two singles if required and had a good sized bathroom with a heated floor handy for drying damp clothes.

All restaurants and main areas like reception and the science centre are located on deck six. There are three restaurants, Aune for buffet style breakfast and lunch and a la carte evening meal, Fredheim more relaxed serving great fast food and delicious milk shakes and Lindstrom more refined and included for suite passengers. For €25 anybody else could dine there but the food in Aune was delicious and plentiful every day so no need to experience it.

On deck ten can be found the Explorer lounge, a comfortable seating area with lounge chairs under the windows for that quieter less weather reliant view of the world. Here there is also a bar and each day provided cocktail of the day created by the resident mixologist.

Outside on deck ten can be found two jacuzzi’s and an infinity pool with an outside bar and a unique way to view the snow capped mountains passing by.

There were a number of included excursions available to book. I actually booked mine in advance when I booked my holiday although once on board it didn’t seem like there was any issue with over subscribing. There are also several extra excursions available to book. Some of these only became available to book about a month before I travelled but again there was no problem booking once onboard. Most seem to be based around wildlife encounters either on water or on land and a number were culture based but something to suit everyone and also mixed abilities.

Zodiac excursions were launched from deck three and were extremely well coordinated so that each time we went out the groups were rotated so we all got a turn first, middle or last. Safety is an absolute priority and we were all provided with a life vest and given precise instructions about what we could and couldn’t do getting in and out of the boat and whilst in it.

From start to finish my cruise to Alaska was more than I ever expected and all my arrangements including flights were done by Hurtigruten and everything ran like clockwork. They are definitely a company that I will travel again with in the future - just need to decide where!

 Northbound from Vancouver to Anchorage 

We really enjoyed the staff and meals, and the extra help the crew supplied due to my sister-in-laws limited mobility.  Everyone was friendly and efficient, and the excitement of the expedition team (especially when they were discussing their areas of expertise) was wonderful to watch.  The cabins were comfy and well designed, and the ship was new and nice.  We appreciated the emphasis on ‘green’ cruising by minimizing waste and the hybrid drives.  In addition, the guides for the extra-curricular shore activities were knowledgeable and welcoming.

Our only comments for improvement were about the long waits for the excursions and the short timeframe out on the Zodiacs and on shore. In addition, we did spend a large amount of the trip cruising (albeit through gorgeous scenery) and little time doing.  Great for relaxing but difficult for active travelers.  We also encountered quite some confusion among their shore support staff after disembarking and arrival at the hotel in Anchorage.  No rooms were ready, and they had limited space for waiting.  There was a long queue to get our rooms and, as we were all tired, there was a lot of complaining.

But, all in all, a very enjoyable cruise experience and opportunity to meet many interesting people.

Great service and interesting excursions

This was a trip to celebrate my wife's retirement. We had seen the "Mighty Cruise Ships" documentary on the Roald Amundsen and booked within days of watching. We were sailing to Antarctica and returning via the Falkland Islands. When we were due to pay the balance of the holiday, I read a lot of negative reviews of this trip and contacted my travel agent (Trailfinders) to see what feedback they had had. They reassured me and we went ahead - thank goodness! 

For Antarctic trips, the Roald Amundsen has a max capacity of 500. On our voyage, there was 320 passengers. On the journeys out and back over Drake's Passage, we experienced "moderate" conditions - 6m waves. The ship dealt with this easily. (Always go for a midships berth on a low deck to minimise the risk of seasickness). My wife did experience seasickness on the first day as medication bought at home had no effect. We bought alternative tablets from the ship's doctor and she was fine from day 2 onward.

Waking up for the first morning in Antarctica is an experience that neither of us could have imagined properly. It is just a stunning place. The crew were fantastic. Not one of them was less than incredibly helpful and cheery. I really did believe them when I asked on a few occasions and they replied that they really enjoyed their jobs. Hurtigruten should be proud of how the captain runs the ship. The impression that I got was that he was effectively running a small business and his ethos was clearly seen in all the crew. We had a passenger who was in a wheelchair and the expedition team dealt with her really well. There was no mollycoddling of any passenger. Everyone was helped to do as much as they could - and then some. Some companies have an approach that they claim publicly that they are "the best" e.g. British Airways - "The worlds favorite airline" (I think not). Other companies like our experience with Hurtigruten just get on with the job and let you come to that conclusion yourself after they have proven their case. That is all down to the superb staff on the ship.

The frequent lectures were great and provided by staff who were well qualified to talk on the subject which could range from exploration history, geology, wildlife etc.

Unfortunately, one passenger had a slip and had to return back to Argentina not long after we reached Antarctica. The medics on the ship dealt with all of that and a rendezvous with another ship that was about to head back was arranged. The passenger and his wife were transported to the other ship on a Zodiac and we were told some days later that he was well and about to head back to the UK.

The wildlife we saw just can't be adequately described by me. I am now working my way through 2,500 photos and my wife has the same number to deal with. The trips onto land were really well organised and we landed every day that we were there. Unfortunately, due to the lost time making the medical rendezvous, we didn't get onto any of the optional extra excursions but, genuinely, I don't think that impacted our holiday at all. Some folk were kayaking through the ice and that looked great but, other than that, we were happy with the included landings.

The Falklands were an eye opener. I had imagined a place with grey skies, lots of wind and cold temperatures. I was totally wrong. We had lovely weather, a bit of wind on one day. They were terrific to visit. The Hurtigruten excursion to Volunteer Point was instantly oversubscribed. So we jumped onto the internet and booked the same trip privately from the ship. The ship has free WiFi throughout the voyage which worked flawlessly. 

There are two restaurants that all passengers can access with a third reserved for those in the suites which can be accessed by other passengers for $25 a head. We didn't do that. I would say that the food ranged from very good to excellent. There was plenty of choice with a buffet at breakfast and lunch times and a la carte for dinner. Drinks including wine & beer were free with the meals. There was a bar on the 6th deck which had a full selection of (payable) drinks.

Our cabin was on the 5th deck and was absolutely fine. The bed was comfortable and the space available was more than adequate if maybe a little narrow and long. The en-suite worked well with a good shower. This high-tech ship is incredibly quiet even when the diesel engines are operating.

Getting to and from Ushuaia seemed to be interesting for many passengers. Scheduled flights being delayed, transfers to/from hotels not working out etc. But that is out of Hurtigruten's direct control and was of minor consequence given the fantastic experience that we all had.

We are almost home a week now and I am still waking up with images of Antarctica in my brain. I cant say much more than that! I have no connection whatsoever with Hurtigruten other than being a really happy customer.

Cannot recommend this trip or ship highly enough.

I wanted to visit Antarctica for many years but money and time (work commitments) prevented it but I decided to finally get around to doing it as an early retirement present to myself.  I didnt want to do one of those "sail past it" cruises on one of the large cruise lines but wanted to get a close up view and set foot on the continent. Travelled with a friend.

I did my research and looked at the top providers of expedition cruises to Antarctica - a lot of excellent providers out there with great reputations but many I discounted due to the cost. Antarctica expedition cruises are expensive but I wanted to get a good balance of cost, ship size, facilities, route and activities. I narrowed the choice down to Hurtigruten Expeditions as 1) my prior experience with the company on the Norwegian Coastal Route had been good 2) The ship was impressive 3) The route and itinerary suited my wishlist.  The route chosen was the Antarctic Circle expedition as one of the key points on my wishlist was to experience crossing into and sailing within the circle.

MS Roald Amundsen is a strikingly beautiful ship, very well equipped and dealt easily with the often rough waters of the Drake passage and in the ice laden seas particularly around Breakspear Island.  On this particular voyage there was 294 passengers so very comfortably below the Antarctic maximum of 500.  We had landings or zodiac cruising each day and there were also optional activities such as photo cruising, kayaking, camping and snow shoeing. The optional activities were at extra cost and done by lottery but everyone who wanted to kayak got the opportunity as did the snow shoeing.  The captain set the itinerary based on the weather conditions and we got to see a range of landings - some in places never done before, giving a true feeling of expedition. We sailed through The Gullett down to  Red Rock Ridge, Stonington Island, Horseshoe Island, circumnavigated Breakspear Island (first passenger ship to do so apparently! - the sea ice was stunning around there and it felt like being on a completely different world - the skill of the captain and the officers was evident in the way we carefully and successfully navigated through an area I though "what? no way are we getting through there!", Blind Bay, the millpond smooth sea and amazing blue skies and sun around the Fish Islands, Port Charcot, Damoy , Neko Bay all on the Western side of the Antarctic Peninsula then over to the Eastern side to Hope Bay, through the Weddell sea through an area teeming with hundreds of whales down to Robertson Island/Christensen Nanatak and finally Cockburn Island before heading back to Ushaia through a calm "Drake Lake" . The wildlife was plentiful  Adelie, Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, to Weddell and Leopard Seals as well as the plentiful Humpback and Orca. Some lucky passengers got close up to a couple of Orcas hunting a seal on an ice floe - now thats a sight not many get close to everyday!

The crew handled the boarding and unloading of the zodiacs very well - it always felt safe - and the expedition team set up the landing sites to enable passengers to safely get on and off. The onboard expedition team were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subjects coming up with many entertaining and informative lectures - they were all consistently good but big shout outs to Brendan, Rachel and Jonathan.

It was in total an absolutely stunning experience that I'm very happy to have done - the scenery, the wildlife, the professionalism of all the crew made the time truly memorable - and I have around 1500 photographs to show for it.  I felt we got a really good deal which has worth every single penny spent. Highly recommend.

True Bucket List Trip - Amazing

I was originally planning on booking a high end inclusive smaller ship, but was convinced that this was a better option by a (now that I look at it somewhat biased) travel agent. After booking I got cold feet. My worries were:  

1. What if the food is terrible? 

2. What if I feel like a soda or beer in between meals? 

3. Laundry’s not included and I’m gone 18 days? 

4. What if everyone is geriatric? 

5. I can only bring 50lbs of luggage? 

6. There are so many cabins will I even get to get off the ship? 

For starters the food wasn’t terrible and some nights it was rather amazing? As a solo passenger one of the nicest parts of mealtime was that it was casual dress in an upscale, comfortable, dining room. A black tie dinner on a solo trip to Antarctica would have been too quirky for my tastes. 

I had some cruise credits from my booking which covered my cost of kayaking and all of my beverages outside of meal times. 

I would have loved to have a laundry room, but since it is a casual cruise I was able to pack enough T-shirt’s and jeans to get me most way through the cruise and I used the valet laundry a couple of times which was also covered by my onboard credit. 

My fears of being on a floating senior center were completely unfounded. There were people of every age and everyone mixed well; which made the experience even better. 

The 50lbs of luggage is a crazy policy; it was fine for me, but I do think it’s something Hurtigruten should revisit. Not everyone can pack for an 18 day trip in under 50lbs. 

Hurtigruten was very accommodating when it came to getting everyone on land at each stop. The weather wasn’t always cooperating, but the crew made sure that we all had a true Antarctic experience.

A first class Antarctica expedition that’s not a black tie affair. 

This was not just a cruise.  It was an experience, and it met or exceeded our expectations.

We have taken cruises before and always enjoyed them.  Although we enjoyed this cruise too, it was more about seeing and exploring the wonders of the White Continent.  The word "expedition" feels accurate.  It was more adventurous than other cruises, and in that respect, it certainly met our expectations.  

We took this cruise to see a bit of remote Antarctica, and it did not disappoint. After a relatively smooth Drake's Passage (2-3 meter seas), we spent five days visiting different places along the west coast of the Antarctic peninsula, where we often encountered whales, penguins, seals, glaciers, and icebergs.  And we saw them up close with the help of the ship's amazing expedition crew, which included activity guides, biologists, ornithologists, and marine scientists, who were passionate to share their knowledge of Antarctica.  We also enjoyed the outstanding educational presentations provided by the Expedition crew during the sea days before and after our excursions.  If you want a memorable and worthwhile adventure to Antarctica, we would highly recommend Hurtigruten.

Travel to Ushuaia.

We arranged our own airfare from the US to Buenos Aires, where Hurtigruten put us up at the Emperador Hotel.  Since we arrived in Buenos Aires after an overnight flight very early in the morning on the day before the scheduled charter flight to Ushuaia, we paid for an additional night's stay at the hotel.  If you are arriving in Buenos Aires early, and can afford to do so, we would recommend you also consider doing this.  We checked in at about 6 AM on January 2 and had several hours to take a nap before checking in with the Hurtigruten hospitality desk, taking the required COVID test, and exploring some of Buenos Aires.  On January 3 we had to wake up very early to take the 4:30 am bus arranged by Hurtigruten to the airport, for the 3 hour charter flight to Ushuaia.

A brief Visit to Ushuaia, First Impressions of Roald Amundsen, and the Drake Passage.

Ushuaia is picturesque, with a backdrop of mountains.  It is a very walkable town and there are many shops and restaurants to visit.  We had about three hours before we were able to board the ship, and were able to buy some souvenirs.  The process of boarding was easy and quick.  Once on board, we were happy with our cabin, located on the seventh deck. After checking in we explored the ship, which is very comfortable.  Stopping by the reception desk, we learned that about 350 passengers were on board.  Of that number maybe 160 were from the USA, and the next largest numbers were from Germany and Australia.  Announcements were made in English and German.  Passengers were younger than in many mainstream cruises, with a wide age distribution generally from about 20 (with a few younger) to about 70 (with a few older).  The ship is spotless and comfortable.  A focal point is the Explorer Lounge on the 10th deck, which features many comfortable spots with a view to relax.  There is also a spa, sauna, and gym.  The sauna has an amazing view outside the ship, but the gym does not have windows to the outside landscape.

Dining.

Three restaurants are described well in other reviews.  We split our time between the main dining room (Aune) and the more informal Fredheim.  The food was of good quality, but more European than American.  There were many vegetarian options.  In Aune, breakfast and lunch were buffet style, but dinner sometimes a la carte.  Service was good and friendly but not as attentive as in some ships,  Small signs were generally posted to indicate allergen information for items, and this information was also available in the app that could be downloaded to see menu information in advance, to make dining reservations, and also to learn about planned excursions.  The Fredheim, which was open from about 12:00 to about 8:30, had hamburgers, quesadillas, grilled chicken, steak and salmon, as well as wonderful milkshakes that are not to be missed.  We wished that the hours were extended later than 8:30 as there were no options for food on board after that time, and occasionally excursions  returned from the ship around that time (it was always daylight while in the Antarctic summer). 

Activities.

Where the Roald Amundsen really shines is with the expedition excursions.  When in port, several options are provided, but it is necessary to enter a lottery for some of them.  The amazing staff provides lectures that help passengers understand what they are seeing, and the staff also lead the excursions.  The excursions include: (1) landings by zodiac (no lottery needed for this - everyone has an opportunity to make landings depending on the weather/ice conditions; (2) zodiac cruising (sometimes landing are not possible or there are optional opportunities to explore the area in a harbor around the ship, by zodiac) - no lottery is needed for this; (3) snow show expeditions  (a lottery was needed, but I think everyone who wanted to do this was able to); (4) kayaking (a lottery was needed, and not everyone who wanted to kayak was able to); and (5) an opportunity to camp overnight.  We were fortunate enough to be able to do all of our hoped-for excursions - which included all of the excursions except the overnight camping.  The excursions we went on were about one to two hours in length.  Before the cruise, we were thinking that might not be enough, but as it turned out, it felt perfect.  The weather was very changeable, and when in wind, snow, rain, and water spray from he sea when in the zodiac, we were tired out by the time we returned to the ship.  

Notes from Onboard Activities and Our Excursions.

The following summarizes our experience only.  Others on the cruise had differing experiences:

January 4: Sea day.  Viewed live-streamed presentations from our cabin, for example about penguins;  collected boots that will be used on excursions; vacuumed clothes that will be worn when going ashore; visited the well stocked store (if you forget any item needed for excursions, like gloves, you can buy them at the store... it is a good idea to bring two pairs of gloves as one pair might get wet during a zodiac ride).

January 5: Second sea day.  Saw our first whales.  Learned that it is a good idea to always have a camera with a good telephoto or zoom lens available (my 100-400 mm zoom lens was sufficient for most wildlife photography needs from the ship, and the 18-150 mm zoom lens or smartphone camera was fine for landscapes).  We watched more presentations, including about citizen science programs, birds, and whales.  In the afternoon, we arrived at Damoy Point.

January 6: The weather started off snowy, but moderated.  In the afternoon, we were able to go ashore for the first time in Antarctica as part of a snow shoe expedition.  It was difficult to get the snowshoes on, but the expedition staff was very helpful and we all managed.  Deep snow and many penguins!  They were not afraid of people so easy to take photos of.  An amazing experience, and we would recommend snow shoeing if possible.  It allows you to get further away from the landing area.

January 7.  Changeable weather and ice conditions required flexibility of all.  Plans A, B, C, and D were jettisoned, and eventually Plan E chosen, which was Brown Station in Paradise Harbor, which we did not start with until the afternoon.  Not as nice as the first day, there were many penguins in a very smelly small area, next to an abandoned Argentinian research base.  Still, it was interesting and worth going ashore.  We went ashore and walked around for about an hour before returning to the ship around 8:00 pm.

January 8.  This was the best day of the cruise for us.  In the morning, we did a zodiac boat excursion at Danco Island.  The ride featured seals and glaciers.  We learned from Oscar, the ship's photographer, how to use exposure compensation to ensure that the snow is white in photographs, and not gray.  In the afternoon, we were in the group selected by lottery to go kayaking.  The seas were calm, the sun came out for a while, and we were surrounded by whales and penguins.  It was amazing to be maybe 25 yards from the whales.

January 9.  Port Charcot.  Some people did a polar plunge here from the shore.  Not for us, however (although it looked like fun).  We took a zodiac ashore and enjoyed a very nice walk where there were many opportunities to take photos of the scenery, penguins, and birds.  We saw our first chinstrap penguin (otherwise we saw Gentoo penguins). 

January 10.  The weather again interfered with the ship's plans.  "Plan C" was ultimately chosen, which was Girard Harbour and scenic cruising in the zodiacs.  This was a very wet and cold experience, which was made enjoyable by memorable ice in the waters around us and the hot chocolate that was distributed to all while in the boats.

January 11 and 12.  Drake Passage back to Ushuaia.  Among the activities on board - a visit to the high-tech bridge where we met the captain.  Also an activity to create our own clay penguins.

January 13.  Charter flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.  We then chose to do our own independent post-cruise extension to Iguazu Falls, which was fantastic.  If you choose to do similar, staying at the Belmond hotel on the Brazilian side is worth it!

Five Days in Antarctica: whales, penguins and seals, oh my!

After doing much research, I chose Hurtigruten for our expedition cruise to Antarctica for two main reasons: I am impressed by their commitment to sustainability AND for such a strong emphasis on science. I heard about Hurtigruten when the famous biologist, Jerry Coyne wrote of his experience on the Amundsen lecturing on biology! 

From booking to disembarking, everyone who works for Hurtigruten was professional, friendly, and accommodating. The operation ran so smoothly I was incredibly happy with it all. Kudos in particular to the Expedition Team who showed real enthusiasm for their work, and the evident passion exhibited by the science crew. Our excursions, from the included landings to the optional kayaking and science boats were all spectacular!

The kitchen and service crew were beyond anything I could have expected, and my 12-year old daughter gave the highest compliment by saying she wishes ALL wait persons were as friendly, fun, and professional! The food was not only delicious, but so varied that there is truly something for everyone. 

Finally, there were so many special "little touches" like an officer going out of his way to bring my daughter some non-alcoholic sparking wine for Christmas dinner, the whole crew caroling us on Christmas Eve, and the team giving the Young Explorers (a wonderful program for kids!) Christmas gifts and all of us receiving some wonderful preserves from Patagonia.

Beyond Expectations!

I have to start this review with a fond farewell to Buenos Aires, as the cruise package started from there. We came in early and were in BA the day Argentina won the World Cup, so there was joyful celebrating throughout the city which kicked off a wonderful next 2 1/2 weeks. However... it meant that, two days later, we had to leave our hotel at 1:30 AM in a vain attempt to avoid airport traffic to the (included) flight to Urshaia, as the national soccer team was flying in. Our bus got stuck in traffic for the next four hours; another of the tour's bus got stuck in similar traffic, but apparently right in front of a terrific fireworks display which they raved about when we caught up to them. Hurtigruten's package included the hotel room, and the flight to the port.

We fortunately booked a cruise over Christmas and New Years; these were some of the few times when all passengers were able to congregate (and celebrate). It also meant that (according to the crew) it was one of the few cruises where many children came on. 

We spent the next two weeks exploring Antarctica, setting boot on the continent once and several times on various islands. Plenty of opportunities to see penguins, seals and birds. Only a few whales showed up (might have been a little early in the season for them). Fortunately the Drake passage to Antarctica and back was mostly mild; the heaviest weather and big waves actually came the days after we left the Falkland Islands, returning to Urshaia. 

The team of 20+ in the excursion crew took the passengers out on Zodiac inflatable boats, Their attention to detail, friendliness, enthusiasm and insistence on safety was both inspiring and reassuring. You were able to volunteer to participate in some of the science experiments and research they conduct onboard, with follow-up meetings. There were some arts-and-crafts type activities for both adults and children..

There are a few optional activites, some at extra charge, and some available by lottery - the polar plunge open to all at no extra charge..., kayaking, snowshoeing and overnighting in a tent. The food in their main restaurant was very good and varied at every lunch and dinner with several options including vegetarian.  The casual restaurant was terrific for their milkshakes with pretty good fast food type items. Wine and beer were complimentary during dinner, while the bar was usually open. Coffee and tea was available throughout the day in the main public areas.

The ship is compact, if you're used to big cruise ships, but it meant that places were easy to find. Small pool and two hot tubs, but no crowded. No big entertainment venue - there is a piano if someone is willing to play - or casino, but the science lectures, presentations and labs kept most passengers interested and busy. Actually two entertainment events - the first was an expedition guide playing Silent Night on his native "piccolo" - doesn't sound like much, but hit the spot as part of the Christmas Eve gathering. The other was our waiter performing magic tricks during dinner service. Silly but lots of laughs. The shipboard wi-fi was good for those updating social media, but not adequate to stream content.

Maybe the only cruise where I didn't hear complaints about the onboard services.

Hurtigruten also followed up with an e-mail to an online log for passengers to download pictures as well as posting a video of the trip on YouTube, about 6 weeks after we returned.

BA to Antarctic to Falklands Experience

Cruise to Antarctica - every day was exceptional, every next day seemed even better.

From embarkation to departure, all the staff were committed to ensuring a positive and enjoyable experience.  The quality of the modern ship, the excellence of the cabin and the food, the facilities available for fitness and relaxation, all superb.

Above and beyond were the incredible expeditions team and their enthusiasm in their expertise and willingness to share it with everyone, in both lectures and expeditions on land.

Visiting Antarctica may be a once in a lifetime opportunity and this cruise made it an outstanding and totally enjoyable realisation of that dream.

Safety consideratons were always evident and clearly explained for all landings on Antarctica, the equipment and resources available for each trip were thorough and appropriate.

The commitment of the company and all staff on board towards environmental considerations of this voyage was evident at all times.

Totally outstanding, a trip of a lifetime.

Outstanding - trip of a lifetime

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