Rising demand has led to Abercrombie & Kent’s 2013 Arctic cruise selling out more than a year in advance. Fueled by increased interest Abercrombie & Kent introduces two new Arctic cruising expeditions in 2014, each revealing the best of this stunning polar region at the top of the world from aboard the all-balcony 'Le Boreal.'
Two polar adventure cruises are available to this destination:
Arctic Cruise Norway: Polar Bears & Midnight Sun (Jul 29 – Aug 9, 2014)
Home to the polar bear, walrus and reindeer, the Arctic also reveals phenomena such as the midnight sun, occurring only in summer. Seek out these wonders on a journey from the northern shores of Norway to the Svalbard Archipelago and Spitsbergen, setting foot on the coastal city of Tromsø and the polar bear stomping grounds of Nordaustlandet. 12 days from $8,995 (when booked by Sept. 30, 2013)
Arctic Cruise Adventure: Norway, Greenland & Iceland (Aug 7-21, 2014)
This Arctic voyage from Norway and Spitsbergen allows voyages to experience polar bears in their natural habitat on the Svalbard archipelago; witness Kejser Franz Joseph Fjords and Scoresby Sound in Greenland; and explore one of Iceland's first villages (Grundarfjördur) followed by views of its extinct Snaefellsjokull volcano, the setting of Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. 15 days from $11,995 (when booked by Sept. 30, 2013).
Educational shore excursions in the high Arctic include a carefully-selected team of leading naturalists, geologists, historians, marine biologists, ornithologists and photographers -- experts who give lectures and provide hands-on guidance both on board and on shore, ranging from the practical (how to use your digital camera) to the personal. With a guide-to-passenger ratio of 1:12, A&K guests can expect personalized attention. Each A&K Zodiac driver is a certified field naturalist who provides knowledgeable commentary on twice-daily excursions into the heart of this once-in-a-lifetime destination.
A&K also delivers personalized service including, for the first time, a personal butler for cabin categories 6-8. By exclusively chartering ‘Le Boreal,’ A&K limits the number of guests to no more than 199, guaranteeing each stateroom and suite has a private balcony.
MV ‘Le Boreal’ has technology that includes a waste water system, recycling facilities and other measures designed to ensure that the ship operates with minimal impact on the environment. Zodiac boats are equipped with fuel efficient 4-stroke engines that meet the strictest environmental standards. The ship has been “Cleanship” certified by the Bureau Veritas. This label is given to ships whose design and equipment are utilized to control and limit the emission of polluting substances in water and air, and who go beyond the MARPOL convention for waste treatment, antifouling or propulsion systems.
A technologically-advanced stabilizing system minimizes the effect of rough seas. MV 'Le Boreal' has an ice rating which exceeds that required for these demanding conditions and is equipped with the latest navigation, communications and safety equipment, including a GMDSS emergency communication system and a satellite weather system that receives real-time images of weather and ice conditions.
For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com.