Industry Insider: Meet the direct Hurtigruten specialists
If you have booked Hurtigruten, the daily passenger and freight shipping service along Norway’s western and northern coast between Bergen and Kirkenes, chances are you have spoken to Eliza Gale, Sarah Field (Hurtigruten Team Leader) or Joshua Hore.
They are part of the specialist and dedicated Hurtigruten team. Get to know these specialists a bit further and discover their insider tips, best travel experience and what they love about Hurtigruten.
What is your best travel experience?
Chasing the midnight sun and witnessing the Northern Lights are the two iconic things you hear when people talk about Hurtigruten and Scandinavia as a destination. Therefore it was no surprise this came up when asking the specialists their best travel experience.
Eliza had previously been on the Hurtigruten voyage to Svalbard Circumnavigating the Realm of the Polar Bear. Eliza described her experience as “everything she could have ever imagined”. Travelling in July allowed Eliza to follow the Midnight Sun and also see Polar Bears. ”The scenery and glaciers look amazing. Being able to see the polar bears in their natural habitat was a bucket list experience” described Eliza.
The ever popular Norway also got a mention with Josh. “Visiting the North Cape in Finnmark, Norway, has been my best travel experience. On our way there I got up early to see the Northern Lights dancing above us” described Josh. “I walked all the way to the northern tip of continental Europe and felt like I was looking off the edge of the world, as a low cloud bank covered the sea below us. I’ve never since felt such a strong sense of adventure”.
Most interesting enquiry?
“Hire an entire ship” Sarah instantly declared when this question was asked. “I was asked the cost to hire out one of the Hurtigruten vessels for an entire week in 2017”. “Any last minute Antarctica enquiries. The thought of going to the end of the world on a whim would be amazing!” Eliza said. With such incredible expedition voyages it would be an amazing destination to visit.
Josh described he had a client who was 22 years old and looking to celebrate finishing university by travelling all over Russia, Scandinavia and Iceland over the course of eight weeks. She explored all the far off corners that don’t get many visitors, from Finnish Lapland, to Arctic Sweden, and the northern coast of Iceland. “She was a real explorer” he said.
Best destination?
“The Faroe Islands” Eliza said. The Faroe Islands consist of 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean. “The puffins are so cute” Eliza says, describing the iconic bird that you can visit in this remote destination. “I think our best destination is the south of Norway. In the summer you can take hikes to places like Trolltunga, Kjerag and Pulpit Rock, for some unbeatable views from rock formations jutting out 800m above the fjords below” describes Josh.
The hot destination of the moment was also discussed by the team leader. “My favourite destination is Iceland, also known as the land of fire and ice. I have never seen such contrasting environments in the same amount of space, Iceland has so much to offer for everyone” said Sarah.
Top tip for travellers?
Sarah suggests travellers “take one of Hurtigruten’s photography classes when you get on board”. It will make your photos stand out even more when you describe your epic adventure to friends and family when you get home. Josh encourages travellers to get off the beaten track! “There are some amazing places you can stay” said Josh. When booking Hurtigruten voyages Eliza tells you to, “book your Hurtigruten cabin on the Starboard side of the vessel, when travelling north from Bergen to Kirkenes. That way you will be able to look at the entire coast of Norway and all the scenery it has to offer whilst out at sea”.
Favourite Hurtigruten trip?
“My favourite trip that we operate is the Tri-Arctic National Park Expedition” says Josh. “It’s the best trip we offer for seeing arctic wildlife, there are opportunities you can’t get anywhere else in the world. This trip offers the best chance of any tour I’ve ever seen for seeing polar bears, and in addition you can also expect to see Musk Oxen, Arctic foxes and wolves, Greenland falcons and snowy owls, and countless seabirds. All this in combination with the untouched reaches of the world makes for an unbeatable trip.”
Sarah explained Christmas is her favourite time of the year so her favourite trip would have to be White Christmas in Antarctica. “Christmas is such a magical time of the year, but imagine being surrounded by ice, snow and the most beautiful scenery, and you can’t have a much better Christmas adventure. Even though you are sailing through untouched beauty, on board there are still the normal Christmas festivities that make you feel right at home. This is definitely a bucket list wish of mine, and one which I will do someday.”
For live availability, instant confirmation and best available rates contact our Hurtigruten team direct on 1800 487 844 or hurtigruten@bentours.com.au
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
cruise holiday hurtigruten norway ship travel voyageLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.