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Norwegian Christmas Cruise, Northbound - 8 days

Scandinavian Cruises, start in Bergen
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Tour details

December 22, 2012: Embark on a Norwegian Christmas Cruise with Hurtigruten from Bergen to Kirkenes in Northern Norway. The cruise with M/S Finnmarken will bring you along the coast of Norway to the Land of the Northern Lights. Possibility to combine with a stay at Kirkenes Ice Hotel. Unspecified inside/outside cabin, breakfast buffet and dinner during the entire cruise.
The selected tour can commence in Bergen.

Day 01: Dec 22 - Bergen, evening cruise departure

Arrival in Bergen according to your own itinerary. Your cruise with Hurtigruten/The Norwegian Coastal Voyage begins in the late evening from Bergen, heading north along the western coastline of Norway to Kirkenes. During the cruise you will experience everyday life along the coast, and the mix of tourists, local travelers and transported goods make this a unique experience. This particular cruise will also give you the opportunity to take part in traditional Norwegian Christmas Celebrations; make Christmas decorations, learn about Norwegian Christmas traditions, enjoy the delicious food and much more. Breakfast and dinner is included during the entire cruise, as well as accommodation in an unspecified cabin category. In addition you can choose between several optional shore excursions, which can be booked in advance or onboard the ship (please see Add-ons for further information and prices).

Day 02: Dec 23 - Cruise arrival in Ålesund, Norway’s Art Nouveau city

Morning cruise arrival in the city of Ålesund, where you will have three hours at leisure. Ålesund burnt down in 1904 and was completely rebuilt in Art Nouveau style. Most of these buildings are well preserved and make Ålesund unique in terms of architecture. Possibility to join a sightseeing tour before your cruise continues to the heart of Romsdalen with it’s dramatic Romsdal Alps.

Day 03: Dec 24 - Norwegian Christmas Celebration, Trondheim

Today you will arrive in Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city, where the ship will dock for 24 hours. The city of Trondheim was founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997 BC, and occupies a special place in Norwegian culture and history. Trondheim was Norway’s first capital and continues to be the coronation city where Norway's Kings from Harald Hårfagre (10th century BC) to King Harald V (1991 -) have been crowned and blessed. This evening you will celebrate Christmas - In Norway we always celebrate Christmas on December 24th, and while the ship is docked everyone onboard can join the celebrations. Feel the Christmas spirit and enjoy a traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner.

Day 04: Dec 25 - Cruise departure from Trondheim

Morning at leisure before the cruise continues it's northbound journey at noon. Today's cruise passes by numerous islands and skerries, including Munkholmen Island just outside Trondheim. Other highlights include the Kjeunskjær lighthouse and the narrow Stokksundet sounds.

Day 05: Dec 26 - Cruise across the Arctic Circle to Lofoten Islands

Early in the morning you will cross the Arctic Circle, entering the Land of the Northern Light. In Bodø you will have 3,5 hours at leisure before the journey continues across the Vestfjord to the Lofoten Islands. Lofoten stretches like a wall of mountains to the southwest in the sea. The archipelago consists of mountains and peaks, wide open ocean, sheltered inlets, stretches of seashore and large virgin areas. For centuries, catching cod and drying them has been a way of life and Lofoten’s largest industry. Two of the most recognizable sights are therefore the fishermen’s cabins and the Stockfish which is cod that has been hung to dry on a wooden frame. This evening you have the opportunity to join a Viking Feast on the Lofoten Islands (see add-ons).

Day 06: Dec 27 - Cruise via Vesterålen Islands to Tromsø

Your cruise will continue during the night and morning, passing Vesterålen Islands before arriving in Tromsø at 14:30 hrs. In Tromsø you will have four hours at leisure, or you can join one of the shore excursions; dog sledding or sightseeing in Tromsø (see add-ons). The arctic city of Tromsø is the world’s most northern university town and the largest city in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic Circle. The city lies between the sharp craggy peaks of the Lyngen Alps, and combines wild scenery with urban life. Due to Tromsø's location right in the middle of the planet’s Northern Light’s belt, the city offers the world’s best chances of spotting the Northern Lights. Sights of interest in Tromsø include the Polar Museum, Northern Light Planetarium and Tromsø Museum. Evening cruise departure from Tromsø.

Day 07: Dec 28 - Cruise to Honningsvåg/Optional North Cape Excursion

This morning you will spend at sea before arriving in Honningsvåg around noon. Excursion possibility to the North Cape Plateau where you can admire the panoramic view of the open wide expanse of the Arctic Ocean. Entrance to the North Cape Hall with viewing platform, souvenir shops, cinema, cafeteria and restaurant, is included in the excursion. The cruise continues in the afternoon towards Kirkenes.

Day 08: Dec 29 - Cruise arrival in Kirkenes, by Russian boarder

While you sleep, the ship continues sailing east along the Varanger peninsula, past Båtsfjord and Vardø. At breakfast time, you will pass by Vadsø, the administrative centre of Finnmark. It was from here that the Arctic explorers Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth began their flights over the North Pole in the airship, Norge. At 10 am you will arrive in Kirkenes, the last stop on the northbound journey with Hurtigruten. Here you will disembark, but before leaving Kirkenes you have the opportunity to choose between several shore excursions. Or perhaps you would like to combine your winter cruise with our Kirkenes Ice Hotel Break? Spending New Year's at the Ice Hotel is a unique experience. Departure from Kirkenes according to your own itinerary.

Terms & Conditions

Booking conditions
All bookings, changes, alternations and cancellations must be made in writing. All rates are quoted in euro (EUR) per person and include taxes and VAT. Authentic Scandinavia guarantees no changes in the prices of confirmed tours. A detailed list of all services included in the tour price will be specified under each tour (please see Price Details). Any extra expenses incurred by the client during the tour, for example use of telephone, hotel mini-bars, etc. must be paid directly by the client to the hotel or other provider of such services, prior to departure.

Amendments to confirmed reservations
Changes to confirmed tours will incur a EUR 50 amendment fee. This fee will apply to each amendment made for the tour.

Refunds and unused services
Travel arrangements cancelled or amended within 24 hours of your departure or once travel has commenced will not qualify for any refunds, nor can services be substituted for alternative arrangements. Unused services are non-refundable.

Cancellation
All cancellations must be made in writing to info@authentic-scandinavia.com.

The date of the cancellation shall be when Authentic Scandinavia receives it in writing (our office hours are Monday-Friday 09:00 – 17:00 hrs, CET).

The following cancellation fees apply on Independent- and Escorted Tours:
Over 30 days prior to departure - Loss of full deposit
Between 30-15 days prior to departure - 50% of total payment
Between 14-0 days prior to departure - 100% of total payment

The following cancellation fees apply on tours including Hurtigruten & Göta Canal:
Over 60 days prior to departure - Loss of full deposit
Between 60-42 days prior to departure - 30% of total payment
Between 41-28 days prior to departure - 60% of total payment
Between 27-0 days prior to departure - 100% of total payment

Passport, visas, customs, currency and health regulations
Every participant is responsible for providing his/her own travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, vaccination certificates etc). We recommend a careful examination of the customs/duty regulations and currency regulations for the respective destination(s). Please note that your passport details are required for all bookings including cruises (overnight cruises, as well as all cruises with Hurtigruten).

Travel insurance
Authentic Scandinavia recommends that each customer has adequate travel insurance, also to include cancellation cover.

Authentic Scandinavia can not be held responsible for loss of luggage, or other personal possessions, for personal injury, accident or illness. In the event of personal injury, accident or illness, Authentic Scandinavia cannot be required to make any refunds should the tour be partially cancelled or cancelled.

Cancellation by Authentic Scandinavia
Due to reasons of higher power and reasons beyond our control, Authentic Scandinavia reserves the right to cancel the tour. Monies paid for services will be refunded, but Authentic Scandinavia will not be liable for any further claims.

Liability by Authentic Scandinavia
Authentic Scandinavia has the obligation to choose all services carefully, and to prepare the tour in the best way possible. In the unlikely event that services are not fully carried out due to an error through Authentic Scandinavia, we reserve the right to provide equivalent services in compensation. In this case, further damage claims will not be accepted. Subject to this settlement, in case a breach of contract is committed the direct liability of Authentic Scandinavia for immediate loss or injury to the client subsists, provided that the breach was not caused by Force Majeure or the behavior of the client or a tour participant, and that it is a question of the non-performance of a promised service or an alteration of services which has less value than the service agreed upon in the original agreement. The amount of this liability is restricted by the sum of the agreed cost of the tour.

Furthermore the providers of the various services are basically personally liable to the client, in case the services are not being carried out in a satisfying way or to their full extent, contrary to the expectations.

The liability of the individual coach, taxi, shipping and other transport companies contracted by Authentic Scandinavia for the purpose of organizing a tour, depends on the appropriate laws of the general conditions of business, on the contracts obligations and on common usage.

Any arising complaints must be directed to Authentic Scandinavia immediately and confirmed in writing. In case complaints cannot be solved on the spot, they have to be directed to Authentic Scandinavia in writing within 30 days after the termination of the tour. Later claims cannot be taken into consideration.

Activities
Some of our tour packages include activities such as dog sledding, and optional activities such as glacier walks, snowmobile safaris, ice fishing and similar. In this relation Authentic Scandinavia acts as an agent only for the activity providers, thus Authentic Scandinavia shall not under any circumstances be held liable for injury, damage, loss or accident caused by participation in or in connection with such activities.

Acceptance
By paying the deposit/final amount the customer has accepted the general terms and conditions listed in this document, as a part of the agreement between Authentic Scandinavia and the customer.

Privacy policy
We ask for personal information in the booking request section. This information is necessary to ensure that we are able to make and confirm your booking. This information will not be used for any other purpose, and will not be shared with any other outside parties except for necessary information given to our suppliers involved in your reservation (hotels etc.).

The personal information will not be sold or shared, and your e-mail address will not be forwarded to outside parties.

Booking & Payment Procedure

1) Reservations
All reservations will be on request; you will not receive an immediate online confirmation.

2) Confirmation of services
You will receive a confirmation by e-mail as soon as all services (hotels, trains etc.) included in the selected package tour are confirmed. The confirmation will be sent to you between 24- 48 hours after the reservation has been made (Monday-Friday).

3) Payment
Information about payment procedures will be sent to you by e-mail simultaneously with the confirmation of all services. We offer the following methods of payment:

  • Secure online payment by credit card
  • By credit card through our office terminal (credit card details must be sent by fax)
  • Bank transfer
The following credit cards are accepted: VISA and MasterCard

4) Deposit
A deposit of EUR 100 per person is due within 10 days of receiving our confirmation. For package tours including Göta Canal and longer voyages with Hurtigruten, as well as for Escorted Coach Tours and Partly Escorted tours, a deposit of 10% of the total booking price is due within 10 days of receiving our confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable. By longer cruises with Hurtigruten we refer to cruises of 3 nights and more.

5) Additional add-ons
Once we have received your deposit you can book additional add-ons, including sightseeing, city cards etc. Further information will be sent in a separate e-mail as soon as we have received your deposit. Should any of the additional add-ons be essential for your to commit to the reservation, please kindly specify the required add-ons in the remarks field when submitting your reservation (step 3 in the booking process). Examples of such add-ons may be dog-sledding, overnight at ice hotel etc.

6) Final payment
Final payment is due 45 days prior to travel. For package tours including Hurtigruten and Göta Canal the final payment is due 65 days prior to travel.

7) Last minute bookings
Bookings made less than 45 days prior to travel must be paid in full as soon as you receive our written confirmation.

8) Failure to complete payment
Automatic cancellation of your booking will occur if payment has not been received by the specified date.

9) Travel Documents
The travel documents will be sent to you by e-mail after we have received your final payment. The documents will be sent no later than 2 weeks before the start of your tour.

About the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

If you are outdoors one evening during wintertime you might catch a glimpse of some flickering curtains of lights, apparently dancing across the dark sky. This is Northern Lights - Nature's own firework.

Facts about Northern Lights:

  • The Northern Lights are particles that are hurled into space after storms on the sun’s surface. They are attracted by the magnetic North Pole (and South Pole) and enter the atmosphere in a ring-like zone around the poles.
  • The best places to see the Northern Lights are above the arctic circle, making Northern Scandinavia ideal for Northern Lights observations.
  • The Northern Lights are visible between November and March when the sky is dark and clear, depending on the Northern Lights activity.
  • The best chances of spotting the Northern Lights are away from the lights of the city centres.
  • The greatest frequency is between 6 pm and 2 am.
  • Patience and dedication will pay off. The Northern Lights may be visible for a couple of minutes or most of the evening.
  • Most of the Northern Lights outbursts visible in Northern Scandinavia are green, but large outbursts can also include other colors.
  • Northern Lights observations are never guaranteed.

How to increase your chances of experiencing the Northern Lights:

  • Go on a Northern Lights visit to a dark place away from the city lights. Our Northern Lights hosts provide a lavvo (traditional Saami tent) with an open fire, a hot drink and a slice of cake while you are waiting for the Northern Lights to appear.
  • Participate in an evening activity like dog sledding, a sleigh ride, a trip with reindeer and sled, snowshoeing or a cross-country skiing course. This way, you can enjoy a fun winter activity whilst at the same time wait for the Northern Lights to appear.
  • When in Tromsø take bus 37 to Tromsø Museum and take a long stroll along Tromsø Island’s dark western side. Use a couple of hours strolling to the bus terminal at Giæverbukta, from where there are frequent departures to the city centre right up until 11:30pm.
  • Hire cross-country skis at Sportshuset in Tromsø. Go on a long ski trip in the floodlit ski tracks above the city. Good exercise, fresh air, great views and maybe the appearance of the Northern Lights as well. There are also good floodlit ski tracks across the bridge in Tromsdalen.
  • Go on the popular excursion, departing Tromsø by bus at 4pm and arriving in Skjervøy in time to return to Tromsø on the Costal Express Steamer (Hurtigruten). The ship travels through utter darkness and has excellent viewing lounges, which makes it possible to sit inside without missing out on the possibility to see the Northern Lights. It is possible to check the weather forecast and book this tour at the Visitors’ Centre right up until an hour before departure.