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Booking a cruise with Hurtigruten guarantees a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience where nature, fresh air and the sound of silence are the USPs.
The Middle East's outbound cruise market is still in its infancy, yet interest in this style of holiday - or meeting/incentive - is becoming increasingly popular. However, most cruisers tend to opt for big ships with big facilities - a product that the region's travel agents are just getting to grips with in terms of 'how to sell'.
Yet not all clients are looking for this type of cruise experience.
Experienced cruisers, top-end clients and adventurous travellers are seeking unique ‘at sea' experiences and there are a handful of cruise companies that come up trumps when it comes to serving this niche market.
One such cruise line is Hurtigruten - a Norwegian company established more than 100 years ago that specialises in cruises in Scandinavia, Greenland and Antarctica.
The Hurtigruten fleet comprises 13 ships with 11 operating along the coast of Norway all year round while MS Fram operates in Antarctica, Greenland and Spitsbergen.
Every day of the year, the Hurtigruten journey begins in Bergen, Norway, and travels north across the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes - an outpost near the Russian border.
Passengers stop at 34 ports in total ranging from remote fishing villages to bustling cities and itineraries are flexible including five-, six- or 11-day trips.
Few consumers or travel agents in this region have experienced what Norway has to offer, but Sonia Rashid, executive director of Scandinavian Connections, which represents Hurtigruten in the UAE, says the Norwegian Coastal Voyage really brings Norway to life as passengers are party to scattered settlements, dramatic scenery and a very large breath of fresh air.
This itinerary, she says, is suitable for "experienced travellers" who seek "an experience like no other", taking in "one of the most dramatic coastlines in the world".
"It's for those seeking a journey with nature and blissful relaxation as well as voyagers who like to discover both Arctic and Antarctic regions," she explains.
"This is a voyage of a lifetime and the perfect way to get to know Norway intensely." Unlike conventional cruise ships, there is no entertainment programme on board - a deliberate measure to ensure guests enjoy the "fascinating nature" characterised by hills, islands, fjords, waterfalls and much more.
Hurtigruten Germany managing director Bernd Stolzenberg, who addressed delegates at the official launch of Hurtigruten in the UAE, which took place at the Burj Al Arab on Thursday October 30, describes the cruise experience as "a niche that not many people know about".
"It's a chance to sample pure scenery, pure food and pure water," he says. "It's mystic - like experiencing a fairy tale."
One of the key selling points, he notes, is that there is no noise.
"You are selling peace and quiet," he says.
There are two unique experiences worth mentioning to clients: firstly, during the summer, there is daylight 24 hours per day, hence the phrase, ‘the land of the midnight sun'. In addition, there's the chance to witness the Northern Lights - the name of a light phenomenon often seen in the northern regions, which have been in existence since Earth formed an atmosphere.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) now flies three times weekly from Dubai to Copenhagen, the Danish capital. From here passengers can take onward flights to many of the ports served by Hurtigruten including Bergen, Tromso, Trondheim, Kirkenes and Longerbyen.
The airline operates three daily flights from Copenhagen via Oslo to Bergen. The Dubai-Copenhagen flight departs Dubai at 9.05am on Mondays, Thursday and Fridays.
The route is served by an Airbus 340 configured with 46 seats in Business Class (featuring the new SAS Business Sleepers), 28 in Economy Extra and 171 in Economy Class.
Travel agents should log onto www.sassalesinfo.com for more information.
