Hurtigruten Expeditions adds Russia as its latest cruise destination

(August 25, 2021) – The world’s leading expedition cruise line, Hurtigruten Expeditions, is adding another new region to its ever-growing list of destinations: Russia, and particularly the White Sea in Russia’s far north. This unique itinerary follows the recent additions of expedition cruises to the Galapagos Islands, the Bissagos Islands and Cape Verde in Western Africa, and the Canary Islands and Madeira Islands, which will all launch in 2022.

“After a very challenging year for the entire travel industry, we are thrilled to finally return to cruising. 2022 is set to be our most exciting year ever, introducing a number of new exciting itineraries in three different continents. We see a huge pent-up demand for adventure travel, and much more to come still,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen.

Hurtigruten Expeditions founded expedition cruising in 1896, and did the first expedition cruises the Russian Arctic more than 100 years ago.

Hurtigruten Expeditions’ new 17-day Expedition Cruise to the White Sea – Norway and Russia Adventure itinerary will depart Bergen, Norway, on October 6, 2022, and sail north along the Norwegian coast and include several of the country’s highlights: stunning fjords, the mesmerizing Lofoten Islands, visiting settlements rich in fishing traditions and Sami history, and the North Cape, the northernmost point of the European mainland.

Then follows seven days in Russia, traveling to one of the least visited parts of the country. The itinerary combines modern-day Russian cities and historic ports with expedition landings, coming ashore at rarely visited and isolated villages on the shores of the White Sea. The trip also includes visiting the fascinating Solovetsky Islands, one of Northern Russia’s iconic sights. As always, Hurtigruten Expeditions’ onboard expert team will give guests an insight into the history and culture of the places they visit.

“Russia’s White Sea is another dream destination our patrons have asked for when surveying our previous guests, just like the Galapagos and Western Africa. Finally, guests will now be able to go to Russia’s best-kept secret, the White Sea, which very few travelers ever get to experience. And considering we carried out our first expedition cruise to Russia more than 100 years ago, we’re extremely excited to have Russia as a destination again finally,” said Lassesen. 

Among the many highlights of this new itinerary, guests will be able to soak up Russian culture and history in two of its most northern cities. They will see old Soviet-era monuments and learn about the wartime and maritime past in Murmansk before taking in the beautifully preserved architecture of Arkhangelsk, the cultural and historical capital of Russia’s north.

Guests will explore Norway and Russia on board the popular MS Spitsbergen, which was named Best small cruise ship in Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice awards 2018. With only 180 guests on board, she provides a uniquely intimate and exclusive setting onboard. MS Spitsbergen also features a variety of expedition equipment, as we all as Hurtigruten Expedition’s signature state-of-the-art Science Center. The industry-leading Science Program includes a wide range of Citizen Science research projects that guests are encouraged to participate in during their trip.

Besides the new itinerary for Russia’s White Sea, MS Spitsbergen will also offer a 23-day Grand Expedition cruise from Tromsø, Norway, to Lisbon, Portugal. The journey can be cut to a smaller trip departing from Hamburg, Germany, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or Dover, the United Kingdom, to Lisbon. The ship then continues to serve Western Africa’s waters from November of 2022 to March of 2023. It will operate sailings to the Canary Islands and Madeira Islands, and the Bissagos Islands and Cape Verde from Dakar, Senegal.

To book, please visit Hurtigruten.com, call 866.552.0371 or contact your preferred travel agent. 

For more information, please contact: Anders Lindström Head of PR & Communications, the Americas 646.944.9029 [email protected] 

Images and information specifically relating to the new Russian cruises can be found in this Dropbox folder. Please visit Hurtigruten’s online media center here, where you can download high-res images, videos and see our press release archive.                                                                                                 ###

About Hurtigruten Expeditions – the world leader in exploration travel

Hurtigruten Expeditions is the world’s largest and leading expedition cruise line. With sustainability and exploration at core, we offer big adventures on small ships – taking you to some of the most spectacular areas of our planet.

Tracing our roots back to the great explorers and golden age of exploration, the curiosity, sense of adventure, love for our planet, and the art of exploration is deeply embedded in our DNA.

With Hurtigruten Expeditions, you can join fellow explorers on adventures to 30+ countries and more than 250 destinations, including Antarctica, Alaska, Northwest Passage, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Norway, British Isles, South America, Caribbean, and more.

Hurtigruten Expedition’s fleet of seven small-size custom-built ships includes the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ships – and a variety of green technology enabling to explore more sustainably.

Onboard, you will join our team of experts. Hand-picked for your adventure, they will join you as you explore wildlife, nature, local communities and more, taking full advantage of our onboard Science Center and abundance of expedition equipment - making sure we can take you where the big ships can’t.

As generations of explorers have done before us, we are always looking for new adventures and new areas to explore, and new adventures to embark on. Join us – and explore more!