Christmas and New Year's voyages through the Norwegian winter wonderland

If you want to spend this year's Christmas and New Year period away from the festive hustle and bustle at home, let yourself be enchanted by a Hurtigruten voyage through the Norwegian winter wonderland. This season's highlight: the sister ships MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol will see in the New Year together in Tromsø.

For MS Midnatsol and MS Trollfjord, the 2012/13 New Year celebrations promise to be truly special: accompanied by a colourful fireworks display, these sister ships and their guests are set to celebrate the turn of the year together in Tromsø. The Christmas holidays aboard Hurtigruten are also packed with many highlights. In full Norwegian tradition, guests can look forward to a multitude of festive and joyous activities on board. Wintery shore excursions and a new multi-vision show about the fascinating Northern Lights round off the programme.

Festive activities on board
Christmas in Norway is primarily a social experience – and this is no different aboard Hurtigruten. The crew and guests jointly decorate the vessel and Christmas tree with Christmas decorations made on board, and learn Norwegian Christmas songs together. Norwegian festive treats such as "Julekake", a sweet Christmas bread with raisins, candied lemon peel, nuts and cardamom should not be missed. On 24 December, all Hurtigruten ships will moor in their respective destination ports for approximately 24 hours. In each location, the Hurtigruten guests are cordially invited to attend Christmas mass at the local churches. Christmas Eve is then celebrated on board with the crew and guests, where Julenissen, the Norwegian Father Christmas, pays the ships a visit. All guests then come together to ring in the New Year in the harbour, lit up by fireworks (in Tromsø), with dance and a champagne toast

Winter adventure – the Hurtigruten shore excursion programme
Guests who not only want to enjoy the festive atmosphere on board but also experience the Norwegian Winter's Tale on shore should not miss an extraordinary outdoor event on the agenda: the excursion to Camp Tamok lets participants experience "pure winter". Equipped with warm winter clothes, participants are introduced to three methods of winter locomotion: take off for a winter safari through the Arctic from Finnsnes to Tromsø on dog sledges, snowmobiles and reindeer sledges. Hurtigruten's winter concept "Hunting the Light" lays on further exciting and varied excursions.

New Northern Lights multi-vision show
When winter comes, the polar lights return to the arctic skies. This season, the chances of seeing the aurora borealis are once again extremely high, with solar activity still at a maximum. As well as a fair prospect of enjoying the aurora borealis, those who join Hurtigruten on the trail of the fascinating polar lights can also enjoy the captivating multi-vision show of the Norwegian solar scientist Pål Brekke onboard each ship for the first time this winter. This impressive show is also part of the winter programme, "Hunting the Light".

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising and is represented in Australia by Discover the World Marketing.

For more information or to make a booking, contact Discover the World Marketing on 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267) or email hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au