Take an ‘Arctic Adventure & Exploration’ on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Boudicca in summer 2015

The Arctic is one of the most magnificent and hard-to-reach regions in the world, but, in 2015, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering guests the chance to experience this unspoiled destination on a 27-night ‘Arctic Adventure & Exploration’ voyage. Departing from Newcastle on 2nd August 2015, this cruise, on smaller, more intimate Boudicca, will allow guests to cross the Arctic Circle, witness the majestic fjords of Norway, take in the peaks and pinnacles of Iceland and Greenland, and maybe spot some of the world’s most elusive wildlife – Whales, Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Huskies and possibly even a Polar Bear.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“This dramatic cruise is bound to appeal to even the most seasoned traveller! Firstly, it is one of the most unusual and cultural itineraries that we have ever offered to our guests, with visits to Greenland and Spitsbergen – both of which are extremely difficult to reach by air; secondly, it offers wildlife and photography enthusiasts the chance to capture some incredible moments; and thirdly, guests will have the chance to enjoy some of the best scenic cruising available, anywhere in the cruise industry.

This intrepid ‘Arctic Adventure & Exploration’ cruise will call first at the bustling city of Ålesund (Norway), which is shaped like a fish hook and home to the largest and most beautiful cod fishing fleet in Norway.

Boudicca will then glide onwards to Trondheim, a unique city in Norway, offering modern amenities, with the cosy appeal of small-town friendliness.

Next, guests will need to find themselves a great position out on deck ready for some fantastic scenic cruising. Passing Rørvik, Torghatten, Seven Sisters Mountain Range – where Boudicca will ‘Cross the Arctic Circle’ – The Black Glacier and Lødingen, there will be ample opportunity to take some stunning photographs.

Boudicca then makes a stop at Tromsø – where guests can visit the oldest wooden house in Norway, built in 1789 – and the Arctic Cathedral, a modern church and one of the most famous landmarks in Tromsø.

The cruise then continues to Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in Norway, framed by rugged mountains and the icy Arctic Ocean.

Boudicca then cruises the scenic North Cape, weaving around Bear Island and onto desolate and wild Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen (Svalbard), for an overnight stay. The beauty of this town is its quiet and serene atmosphere, bypassed by civilisation and overwhelmed by ‘Mother Nature’ – guests are recommended to try the famous Husky dog-sledding. Experience the natural phenomenon of the ‘Midnight Sun’, where the sun is visible 24 hours a day during the Norwegian Summer Season.

A cruise around the impressive Jan Mayen Island is next; this volcanic outcrop sits in the Arctic Ocean, and has just one small settlement, called ‘Olonkinbyen’.

Next stop is Akureyri (Iceland), where ‘culture vultures’ should visit the ‘Street of Arts’, before cruising through Iceland’s longest fjord, the Eyjafjörđur, as well as Drangaskörđ, Hælavikurbjarg and Latrabjarg, en route to Iceland’s breathtaking capital city, Reykjavik. Here, guests can bask in the ambience of the Blue Lagoon, the ultimate relaxation in one of the world’s natural springs. Feel the piercing chill of the Icelandic winds combined with the steamy warmth of the lagoon’s waters. With a stopover in this thrilling capital, guests will have plenty of time to explore and maybe sample the Thingvellir National Park and the Gullfoss and Seljalandfoss waterfalls.

Boudicca will then set sail for Greenland – the last year that Fred. Olsen will be visiting this little-known natural masterpiece. As no direct flights operate out of the UK to this stunning location, visiting on a cruise ship is one of the best ways to reach this far-flung destination and, because Boudicca is a smaller ship, she is able to take guests even closer to the heart of the destination.

The landscape is unspoiled and picturesque and in the first Greenland port, Nanortalik, guests will be welcomed by an abundance of delicate purple and lilac flowers creeping through the cracks in the mountains surface. There is much to explore on this overnight stopover, from the thrill of kayaking, to fascinating museums, which feature exhibitions on the Inuit culture that superseded the Norsemen, who settled before them around 1,000 years ago.

Next port of call is Narsaq, also found on the South coast of Greenland, for another overnight stay, home to icebergs and glaciers all-year-round. The shores are dotted with wood-slatted homes in rainbow hues and an array of fishing boats, which bob up and down on the liquorice-black waters.

Boudicca will make a call at Qaqortoq, the most populous town in South Greenland, for another overnight stop. With a pleasant town centre, a small square and Greenland's oldest fountain, there is plenty for guests to see. There are also strikingly beautiful colonial buildings, dating from the establishment of the town in 1775.

Boudicca then makes her final stop at Tórshavn in the famous Faroe Islands (Denmark). This town is the most urban and developed of all the destinations on this Arctic adventure. Be sure to visit the Listasavn Føroya art museum and the epitome of Nordic architecture – The Nordic House, opened in 1983. Boudicca then returns to Newcastle.

Prices for this amazing ‘Arctic Adventure & Exploration’ cruise start from just £2,699 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin, ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.