No. 5 - 2009

Norway - the ultimate natural cruise experience - is rated as the safest country in the world 

In Cruise Norway News number 5 2009, you can read more about:

• News from Cruise Norway
• News from Oslo
• News from Bergen
• News from Trondheim
• News from Hardanger
• News from Vik in Sognefjord
• News from Skjolden in Sognefjord
• News from North Cape
• News from Molde & Åndalsnes
• News from Cruise Port Barents

News from Cruise Norway

Cruise Norway reports that the cruise season 2009 in Norway has been the best ever. Norway is the leading cruise destination in Northern Europe with more than 35 cruise ports along our 1300 nautical mile-long coast line.

A total of more than 1.7 million international cruise tourists visited the Norwegian cruise ports this season, representing growth of 15.7% from 2008 to 2009. Average growth in Europe is about 10%.

The number of calls fell from 1634 in 2008 to 1562 in 2009.

The forecast for 2010 looks fairly good with 1444 international cruise calls (Sept. 2009).

Cruise to Norway - The Winter Wonderland

Our new brochure which focuses on Norway as a winter cruise destination will be distributed to all the cruise lines this year. 

We are very much looking forward to welcoming both Saga and Cruise & Maritime on their winter cruises to Norway in March 2010; winter cruises - in the search of the Northern Lights.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

World's Iconic Destinations rating put Norway's Fjords at the very top

WASHINGTON (Oct. 21, 2009) In conjunction with National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations, National Geographic Traveler has devoted its sixth annual "Places Rated" Destination Stewardship survey to the world's most celebrated and iconic travel destinations and how well they have weathered the pressures of mass tourism and other threats.

Like the first Destination Rated survey in 2004, Norway's fjords region has again taken top honors, with a score of 85 points. Judges noted the gorgeous scenery and well-preserved rural life that are vigorously protected.

OSLO - CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND NATURE

"From King to Obama" at the Nobel Peace Center

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

At the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo (at walking distance from the main cruise ship pier), the exhibit "From King to Obama" portrays the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s - the groundswell that paved the way for Barack Obama's historic election. The Exhibition has become all the more relevant with the award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama. More information at: www.nobelpeacecenter.org.

Icebar opens in November

ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL launches its third Icebar, and the largest yet, in Oslo in November 2009. ICEBAR Oslo will offer a unique experience of Nordic winter and nature in spectacular ice surroundings - all year round.

ICEBAR Oslo will be located in Christian IVs Street in downtown Oslo. Everything inside the bar is made of this ice: walls, furniture, bar, artwork, glasses and plates. The temperature in the bar will be -5 °C, but guests will be given an overcoat to stay warm.

BERGEN - THE GATEWAY TO THE FJORDS OF NORWAY

New product  2010 - a new experience!

From June 14th  until  August 15th you can take part in a guided walk on Mount Fløyen.  The walk lasts for approx. 1 ½ hours and starts from Fløibanen Funicular's top station at 3 pm every day. On the walk, you learn about the local history, the trolls, the Norwegian fairytales and the Norwegians' love of walking.

The tour is a soft adventure experience which is suitable for almost everyone. During the walk, the guide takes you through mountain woods with small lakes and viewpoints, all the time along well marked paths and tracks. You will hear about your surroundings and the history of the mountain area, and get glimpses from Norwegian fairytales and the story of the Norwegian trolls. After the walk, everyone gathers for a typical, light Norwegian meal and coffee by the fire in the forest.

TRONDHEIM - NORWAY`S HISTORICAL CAPITAL

Cruise network underway

The region of Trøndelag is combining its forces to launch a joint effort aimed at the cruise market. Working within the network, known as Trondheim Cruise Network Mid-Norway, the participants will coordinate their activities to create a greater awareness of Trondheim and Trøndelag as an attractive cruise destination. The network will also deal with marketing and product development. Representatives from port authorities, transport, the tourism industry and attractions have come together to form the network.

HARDANGER - THE FJORD AND MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

The ports of Hardangerfjord have a bright future - at least next year! For instance, so far Eidfjord can report a 40% increase in calls and an 80% increase in passengers; up from 33 vessels and 32 000 passengers this year to 47 vessels and 59 000 passengers next year.  It's the same story at Ulvik where bookings are up from 9 vessels with 7 000 passengers this year to 21 vessels carrying 33 000 passengers in 2010.

Helge Møller, the project manager of Cruise Destination Hardangerfjord, says that this development is partly due to all the new shorex products that have been introduced lately, but it also reflects the  marketing activities carried out in the last year. The newly constructed crew service center at the pier in Eidfjord is an additional attractive facility for news-hungry foreigners on board. Added to all this, Helge Møller points out, is the fact that cruising in Hardangerfjord means a more relaxed journey with no fuss or congestion.

VIK - AT THE HEART OF THE SOGNEFJORD

Vik in Sognefjord, a small cruise port in Sognefjord with 17 cruise calls in 2009, is a well known starting point for excursions across beautiful Vikafjell to Voss and Flåm.

Hopperstad Stave Church in new-found glory

One of Norway's oldest stave churches (built around 1140) presents itself in new glory, following the completion of restoration work on the outer church in spring 2009.

SKJOLDEN - SOGNEFJORD - THE HEART OF NORWAY

Cruise pier ready well ahead of schedule

Construction work at the new pier at Cruise Destination Skjolden - Sognefjord is well ahead of  schedule and will be ready as planned in time for next summer's cruise season. Port director, Iren Vatne, also says that the pier was originally planned to take ships of up to 340 metres, but it has now been lengthened and reinforced to take ships of any size. A major event will be the opening of the new pier in May 2010.

PORT OF NORTH CAPE - THE NORTHERNMOST POINT

New champagne bar at North Cape

Champagne, Caviar and Certificate have always been a successful tradition at North Cape. It started years ago with a German tour leader who wanted to celebrate the arrival at the northernmost point of Europe with champagne - which he had brought himself, all the way! 

We are now continuing the tradition with a new champagne bar called Aurora Borealis, in the Panoramic Hall, with a fantastic view of the Globe and the spectacular horizon. 

BirdSafari

There are three good reasons why the BirdSafari is the best way to observe many different European seabirds in large numbers:

- The ocean currents and the water temperature make Finnmark a good place for fry, capelin and other small fish. It is therefore a great place for the birds to find food for their chicks.
- The Midnight Sun, north of the Arctic circle, means that the birds can feed their chicks 24 hours a  day. The quicker the offspring are able to defend themselves, the better.
- The bird rocks are only 5-10 minutes from the small fishing village of Gjesvær.

BirdSafari a/s has been making the nature reserve available to visitors - rain or shine - since 1992.

MOLDE & ÅNDALSNES

Trollstigen and the Atlantic road - Norway`s most fantastic scenic road

The area on top of the famous Trollstigen have been undergoing  extensive upgrades for the last three years, and will be totally completed for the summer 2010. The work has involved changing the path of the road and the river, and building new premises for cafeteria and toilet facilities. In July this year we pre-opened the new viewpoint which gives you the most spectacular view of the waterfall and down along the road and valley. The project will cost NOK 160 million when it is completed. Every year Trollstigen has 800 000 visitors, making it the most visited nature-based tourist attraction in Norway. Trollstigen is open during the summer months, approximately from June 1st to September 30th.

The viewpoint at Gudbrandsjuvet has also undergone a major upgrade and was completed for summer 2009. It is in the same style as the viewpoint at Trollstigen.

Both viewpoints are within distance of the ports in Molde and Åndalsnes.

Welcome to Cruise Destination Molde & Åndalsnes!

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BARENTS  -  LAND OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AND THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Riverboat tours to the Russian border

Visit Boris Gleb - the icon of Norwegian-Russian border history. You will learn about the rich, varied and interesting cultural history associated with the part of Norway that borders Russia. We look forward to serving you a meal of tasty, marinated, grilled salmon with salads, white wine, cloudberries and cream, coffee/tea. We are fully licensed. Local souvenirs are available.

Warm, windproof and waterproof clothing is included, when necessary.