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Watching the night sky light up with dancing flickers of green and purple is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has always been intrigued by this "weather from outer space", and will be joining readers on an exclusive 12-day voyage beyond the Arctic Circle to see the aurora.
As you sail around the stunning Norwegian coastline she will give an exclusive talk and Q&A about the incredible natural phenomenon, as well as her TV career and time on Strictly Come Dancing. Carol will also join you on Hurtigruten's 'A Taste of Vesterålen' excursion, where you'll explore Herstad, and sail across a magnificent fjord with her, enjoying delicious freshly baked cakes along the way.
Your ship, the MS Nordlys, is an elegant, modern vessel that combines Scandinavian style with excellent facilities. You'll discover the magnificent coastline from the UNESCO World Heritage port of Bergen up through the city of Tromsø to the remote and beautiful Lofoten Islands and North Cape, Europe's most northerly point, before sailing back via the ancient Viking trading post of Trondheim. En route, you'll have to option to go on additional Arctic excursions including snowmobiling, husky dog sledding, sea eagle spotting and taking part in a traditional Viking feast.**
This is an unmissable opportunity to journey along the Norwegian coast and gaze at the star-filled Arctic skies and ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights with one of our most popular weather presenters.
"As a meteorologist, I'm fascinated by the huge range of natural phenomena that weather systems can throw up, from the extraordinarily beautiful to the truly violent. The aurora borealis are among the most stunning displays that can ever be viewed in our skies and I'm thrilled to be returning to see one of the wonders of the natural world."
Carol Kirkwood
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Scottish weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, who trained with the Met Office, has been presenting the weather for more than 20 years and famously danced with Pasha Kovalev in the 13th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
*** Occurrences of the Northern Lights, which can last from between a few minutes to several hours, will be logged by the ship's officers and announced to all passengers on board. Click here for more details on Hurtigruten's Northern Lights promise.
Fly to Bergen, Norway's historic port town, also known as 'the gateway to the fjords'. Here you'll board your fantastic ship, MS Nordlys, and be welcomed with a tasty dinner buffet made from fresh coastal produce and a talk from Hurtigruten's expert guides.
Discover art-deco Ålesund, the Norwegian city made up of seven islands. Crusising towards the Unesco-listed Geirangerfjord, you'll pass spectacular waterfalls and 800-metre cliffs.
Spend the afternoon admiring Ålesund's famous architecture and taking part in a range of optional excursions.
Journey north and visit the royal city of Trondheim, Norway's first capital, which originally established itself as a Viking trading post.
Crossing the Arctic Circle, you'll be surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Tonight, learn about the legends and the science behind the dancing northern lights.
Explore the attraction town of Tromsø, one of the best places from which to spot the northern lights. Here there are a range of optional activities on offer, such as husky sledding and sea-kayaking.
Today you'll visit the North Cape, getting to know the real Arctic, the most northerly point of Europe. Enjoy a talk and Q&A tonight with meteorologist and Strictly contestant, Carol Kirkwood.
Explore Kirkenes independently today, taking part in optional activities such as husky sledding should you wish!
Today's highlights will include the pretty waterfront buildings of colourful Hammerfest and a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy.
Optional excursions: a midnight concert in Tromso's Arctic Cathedral.
Today you arrive in Harstad, where Carol will join you on the excursion A taste of Vesterålen.
You'll also explore the wild, natural beauty of the Lofoten Islands today, spotting wildlife and visiting deserted Arctic beaches and historic fishing villages.
Sail back across the Arctic Circle, giving yourself another fantastic opportunity to spot the Aurora Borealis dancing in the night sky.
Explore the historic city of Trondheim, soaking up the Viking culture and finding out the myths that may have slipped passed you on your last visit. Tonight you'll enjoy a departing dinner of local delicacies.
Your fantastic journey ends here with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Both the name and the interior design of this modern expedition ship are inspired by the spectacular Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
In May 2019 MS Nordlys was refurbished. All cabins got a makeover, while new cabin grades were added. All staterooms and suites are fully upgraded to match Hurtigruten's new standards. On deck 6, a number of cabins were merged into larger suites, some with large bay windows and spectacular views.
The gym on deck 7 is bigger, the sauna upgraded and two aft-facing outdoor hot tubs are added. Two new lecture halls have been added on deck 4, together with the open Kompass information and shopping area, where guests can enjoy exclusive offers on outdoor clothing and other items.
In addition to a full makeover, the aft-facing Torget main restaurant has large deck-to-ceiling windows. The brand-new Activity Center will act as the on-board headquarter for Hurtigruten's Expedition Team.
Kysten Fine Dining - serving innovative dishes based on high quality, local produce such as ultra-fresh seafood - is slightly different from other Hurtigruten ships, and also be open for a la carte lunch. On deck 7, the informal and hugely popular Hurtigruten venue Multe Bakery is now open- serving freshly baked cakes and pastries, smørbrød (open sandwiches with generous amounts of topping), smoothies, a large assortment of local ice cream with homemade toppings, premium coffee, organic herbal tea, and premium juice. The forward-facing Explorer Lounge and Panorama Bar offers a unique atmosphere and the best views on the ship - with front-row seats for enjoying the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, wildlife and nature as it passes by.
MS Nordlys has her own on-board Expedition Team that serves as a university at sea. Interesting lectures inside as well as out on the sun deck of the ship make this an exciting and educational journey.
Special features:
Founded in 1893, Hurtigruten are the world's leading experts in
cruises along the Norwegian fjords. Hurtigruten is ABTA-bonded and
all trips are ATOL-protected.
TS Tours Ltd specialises in creating bespoke tours, cruises and
rail journeys in the company of experts. Its exclusive trips
combine unique experiences as well as access to inspirational
people. All trips are ATOL-protected and financially bonded.
For information about TS Tours, click
here.
For Hurtigruten's terms and conditions, see
here.
To view TS Tours as agent for Hurtigruten’s supplier’s terms and conditions click here.
* PLEASE NOTE, from price based on two sharing and subject to cabin availability. Single supplement on request. Deposit: 20% of cruise price due when booking. **Supplements apply for optional upgrade activities, which have limited capacities and are booked on a first come, first served basis. ***Occurrences of the Northern Lights will be logged by the ship's officers and announced to all passengers. For more details visit hurtigruten.co.uk/uk-offers/norway-offers/northern-lights-promise. Hurtigruten is ABTA-bonded and this trip is ATOL-protected.