Hurtigruten Birds of the Nordic Coast Cruise on May 20

April 24, 2011 on 3:11 am | In Cruise Boats, Iceland, Norway, Sweden | Comments Off

Hurtigruten unveiled plans for a Birds of the Nordic Coast theme cruise, which is scheduled to depart on the heels of Lundkommardagen (Puffins Day), when a black cloud of puffins descends on their spring breeding grounds on Lovund. The cruise departs Kirkenes on May 20 and heads south to Bergen.

Among the highlights are a Bird Watching Safari in the North Cape, learning to photograph birds near Tromsø, a Sea Eagle Safari near Svolvœr, and a visit to the UNESCO-listed Vega Archipelago, home to 228 species of birds. The six-day route follows the traditional fjord-indented Norwegian Coastal Voyage, stopping at 34 ports along the way. Prices range from $1,683 to $4,417 per person double.

The cruise will feature bird-watching opportunities, where passengers will have the opportunity to see many species, including puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, Arctic skuas, northern fulmars, Northern gannets and sea eagles. Guests have the opportunity to view 30,000 nesting pairs of puffins, known for their orange bills and feet, on the island of Lovund, while in Honningsvåg, an optional excursion heads of to the North Cape to see gannets and other birds.

An optional Midnight Sun trip in Tromsø takes guests to Prestvannet, a small lake that serves as home to an assortment of birds, including the red-throated loon. A visit to the historic Viking grounds of Lake Laugen offers a look at the colorful Slavonian Grebe and Velvet scoter. And, while en route to Trollfjord, an optional side trip allows for close-up views of white-tailed sea eagles as they swoop in to catch fish thrown to them by the crew. Onboard lectures by experts are designed to provide a better understanding of the birds and the history of their migration. For more information, call 877-301-3117 or visit www.hurtigruten.us

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