Cruise North magazine 2015

CRUISE NORTH

2015 Edition

CEntrE sprEad: CNNS Map & FaCtS

taStE OFNatUREPage 10-15

Slow cruising:COSTa CRUISINgTO NEw PORTSpage 6-7

Interview:MORE gROwTH fOR OUR SMallER PORTSpage 19-21

Spitsbergen:lONgyEaRbyENjOINS fORCESpage 23

FaM-trip:a wINTERTRavElOgUEpage 28-31

PORT OF LEKNES (LOFOTEN)P.O. BOX 203, N-8376 LEKNES [email protected] +47 900 35 379

PORT OF LEKNES - LOFOTENGATEWAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS IN THE WORLD

Fishing villages, fishing trips, hiking, kayaking, Vikings, Northern Lights and Midnight Sun safarisLofoten offers spectacular nature and adventures all year round

DESTINATION LOFOTENwww.lofoten.info

Your First Port of Call North of the Arctic Circle

We are proud to present Bod as a new exciting cruise destination in Northern Norway. We can accommodate virtually all cruise ships and offer a great variety of shore activities for all ages, all group sizes and all activity levels.

Bod is Northern Norways second largest town, with modern Scandinavian shopping and restaurant experiences available. Among shore highlights is the world strongest maelstrom Saltstraumen with a visible presence of an exiting stone age heritage; the Norwegian Aviation Museum; Kjerringy picturesque historic trading post.

Bod also has a major airport with one-stop connections to most gateways in Europe.

CRUISE PORT BOD

bodohavn.no

Foto: Ernst Furuhatt

Foto: Nadia Nordskott Foto: Bjrn Erik Olsen

Photo: Knut Skarsfjord

2 CRUICE NORTH 2015

Meet Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard representatives at Cruise Shipping in Miami, March 17 19, 2015, at Cruise Norways booth # 831. CNNS is an associate member of Cruise Norway, and represents 12 cruise ports. for more details, please visit: cnns.no

CRUICE NORTH 2015 3

4 Editorial: The tourists want to travel via the sea route

6 Costa neoRomantica: A different itinerary

10 Highlights in the North

16 Facts: CNNS Ports & Destinations

19 Northern Norway: Much more than the marquee ports

23 Svalbard Update: Bypassing the ban on heavy fuel oils

25 Harstad expands port and shorex offers

26 Northern Norway more than beautiful scenery: Events in the North

28 Cruising in search of the Northern Lights

Editor: Erik Joachimsen (Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard), [email protected] Layout: Krysspress AS, Troms, NorwayEnglish translation and proofreading: Gavin Tanguay Oversetting og sprkvasking, Troms, NorwayPrint run: 1.000Printing: Skipnes, Trondheim, Norway

Paper quality: Multiart Silk, 130 grE-publish edition: cnns.no/download/Ecolabel: The SwanCopyright: Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard SA (cnns.no)Cover photo: Polar ParkPhoto credits: Nadia Nordskott / Spitsbergen Travel / Port of Alta / Erik Joachimsen

Contents

4 CRUICE NORTH 2015

More arriving by seaIts still the case that just one percent of the worlds cruise traffic makes it to Northern Norway and Spitsbergen/Svalbard. that means there are still many people who are yet to visit our beautiful coast and the worlds northernmost cruise ports.

Lets start with a few statistics. When Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard was established in 2011, there were 318 calls to our 14 cruise ports with a total of 270,000 arriving passengers. In four years, the number of calls and arriving passengers has increased by 50%. In 2014 a total of 413,000 cruise passengers arrived our ports, and in 2015 we expect a further increase of 5%.

North Cape is our northernmost port on the Norwegian mainland. Checking the statistics from 1995 up to the present day confirms that arriving at the North Cape via the sea route has increased dramatically. Twenty years ago one in five arrived by ship, but the proportion is now two out of three. Cruise traffic has scored a knockout against all other forms of traffic to the worlds north-ernmost mainland point, including the domestic coastal steamer Hurtigruten.

Spitsbergen is facing new challenges in 2015 following the introduction of a ban on heavy fuel oils for a major proportion of this Arctic archipelago.

Tourism at latitude 78 N is not allowing itself to be wiped up by such apparent limitations and is instead meeting this challenge head on. Shore excursions are now being developed in Isfjorden, which is close to the capital of the archipelago, Longyearbyen, the worlds northern most cruise port. We can guarantee cruise lines that still wish to call at Spitsbergen that passengers will receive magical Arctic adventures that are at least as good as before.

More good news in 2015 is that Costa, which has traditionally called at the four main destinations in the north, will this year sail its smallest ship to completely new destinations. Costa neoRomantica will call at Bod, Narvik, Sortland and Lofoten a full seven times from May to September. This just goes to prove that there are great opportunities for new, alternative itineraries in the Arctic region.

We can already see the outlines of the future. The passengers are becoming increasingly younger

CRUICE NORTH 2015 5

Harriet WillassenChair of the BoardCruise Northern Norway & Svalbard

Erik JoachimsenManaging DirectorCruise Northern Norway & Svalbard

and hence more active. And the older ones are becoming more active. This places completely different demands on the providers of adventures for these guests. The passengers want to get out and really experience the nature and have memorable encounters with the local people and culture. A good example of this is the ascent of the North Cape by boat and hike from Hornvika. Norway is literally Powered by Nature!

Regardless of the mode of travel, the trend is that people are taking shorter but more frequent holidays. This is also reflected by the fact that the most popular cruises last less than one week. A cruise to Northern Norway and Svalbard takes between 11 and 14 days. In order to experience our region in a week, we recommend turnaround operations in the north. This also provides opportunities for butterfly cruises to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Spitsbergen.

Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard is now close to reaching the targets that we sat ourselves when we established our cruise network four years ago. The smaller ports are receiving more traffic and more turnaround operations are now being performed in Northern Norway. In addition, the cruise destinations have made a real effort to develop innovative shore

excursions that have been specially adapted to follow market trends.

We think this is only the start the tourist of the future wants to experience Northern Norway just like the very first tourists experienced our beautiful region in the 19th century. By sea!

All photo: nordnorge.com

6 CRUICE NORTH 2015

COSta NEOROMaNtICa CaLLS at NEW dEStINatIONS:

CRUISINg NEW ROUtESIn the summer of 2015 Costa neoRomantica will call at completely new destinations in the north, all of which are located within a small radius. a total of eight itineraries will call at Bod, Narvik, Vesterlen and Lofoten. thats exactly how we hope the cruise ships will make use of Northern Norway in the future, says the Managing director of CNNS, Erik Joachimsen.

CRUISE NORTH MAGAZINE

The first of the eight voyages is in March, while the last is in September. Costa neoRomantica has a capacity of 1670 passengers, which normally includes guests from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. Coast has not called at three of the ports Bod, Narvik and Vesterlen in recent years so this will be a new experience for the cruise line and the cruise destinations. The longest sailing distance is between Bod and Narvik, and is only 115 nautical miles.

Another new development is that Costa has changed its shorex agent in 2015. It will now use Nordic Gateway, which was recently established in Norway. That in itself is a challenge, but something that the CNNS destinations can deal with at the drop of a hat.

Grethe Parker, the Cruise Manager in

Narvik, is positive about the challenges that all parties are facing. This itinerary is Northern Norway in a nutshell. The four ports involved complement each other in a perfect way, she says. This itinerary also enables the cruise line to perform slow cruising. In this way, the cruise line will save on fuel costs while the passengers get to experience the beautiful scenery in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.

Parker says that 1670 passengers is a manageable number for Narvik as a cruise port, and that this fits well with the destinations strategy to develop capacity for shorex in line with the increased size of the ships. We will experience some challenges when it comes guide languages, but even that is something we will cope fine with, she says. Narvik cooperates closely with nearest cruise port, Harstad (page 27). Both destina-tions are now making a concerted effort

to train new guides that can guide in both destinations and can speak several languages. Establishing a common guide pool means we will be able to handle large calls in several places, so this is definitely something we are going to focus on in the future, says an optimistic Parker.

Bod CrUisE nEtWorKBod, the southernmost of the four destinations, is in the process of establishing its own cruise network so it will be more united for the Costa calls as well as other calls in the future. Northern Norways second largest city had modest 4300 arriving passengers in 2014. However, this will almost quadruple in 2015 to more than 15,500 passengers. Costa neoRomantica alone accounts for around 13,000 of these.

Were developing a good structure with clear distribution of responsibilities, says the Director of Development and Communications at the Port of Bod, Erlend A. Willumsen. Good cooperation between all the parties involved the agent, the shorex providers, the guides and the bus companies is a virtue of necessity in order to have time for this to work, says Willumsen.

In the longer-term, Bod has major plans to attract larger and more cruise ships. Within a two-year period, he hopes a project to dredge the seabed and remove underwater rock forma-tions will be completed. This will enable us to receive even larger ships and, in doing so, increase the volume of arriving passengers. We have good capacity to achieve this, says Willumsen.

Stig Johansen from Polar Tours is

CRUICE NORTH 2015 7

new to the cruise game. He has taken responsibility for coordinating the shorex offers and creating attractive packages for the Costa guests in Bod. We have a dedicated guide company that can supply the guides we need. We are also in the process of developing a series of combinations that will make visiting Bod even more attractive. To give one example, guests will be able to take a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RiB) to Saltraumen, the worlds strongest maelstrom, and then return to Bod by bus.

Johansen adds that they are also working to develop niche products based on local food traditions and culture. We are currently developing a culinary course, which we believe will be to the guests taste literally, he says. Working in a larger network as we do in Bod makes everything so much easier when youre going to handle a large number of passengers within a short space of time, says Johansen, who has no desire for local providers to sell their products at the quayside in Bod.

oVErLand toUrsThe Lofoten Islands is by far the most experienced cruise destination of the four ports that Costa will call at on these somewhat special cruises. However, Ole Martin Hammer from the Lofoten Cruise Network, which represents virtually all the providers in Lofoten, is aware that these cruises represent a new challenge for Lofoten. This gives us new opportunities,

This map shows the four ports, all of which are located within a compact sailing area. The longest distance between two ports is approx. 115 nautical miles (Bod to Narvik).

Costa neoRomantica: Owned by Costa Crociere, completed in 1993 as a sister ship to Costa neoClassica and refurbished in 2003. Her public rooms are decorated with rare woods, Carrara marble, and millions of dollars worth of original works of art. In November 2011, Costa Romantica underwent a 90 million refurbishment. Two new half decks were added as a part of the refurbishment. This increased the gross tonnage of the ship from 53,000 to 56,769 tonnes. Following the major refurbishment, the cruise ship was renamed neoRomantica and set sail on her first voyage with the new name on March 2012.

Leknes

Sortland

in part because the distances between the ports are so short. Consequently, we will be offering overland trips with the possibility to stay overnight in an authentic rorbu (fishermens cottage), participate in attractive adventures and enjoy local culinary traditions. Such offers are not available for regular cruise calls that only last for up to eight hours. This provides us an opportunity to cooperate more closely with other ports,

and thats always informative and good for the business, says Hammer.

In Vesterlen too, where Sortland is the cruise port, a wide variety of shore and sea-based offers will be available. Sortland is known as the blue town, with all the houses painted the same pronounced shade of blue. Not far from downtown Sortland, the cruise passengers can experience an authentic siida, a Sami settlement, where Inga and her family are reindeer herders. The famous fishing village of Nyksund, which was abandoned but has now been resettled, is just an hours drive from the port and a visit there is a wonderful experience. Another great experience here is going on a whale watching safari just off the coast of Vesterlen in the heart of the whales feeding grounds. If you go on one of the organised safaris, whale sightings are virtually guaranteed.

MorE to FoLLoW?Harriet Willassen, the Chair of the Board of Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard, is extremely satisfied with Costas focus on compact cruises and hopes that the cruise line and providers succeed right from the start. We hope that in time more cruise lines will do the same and that more of our smaller ports will be added to the itineraries of the larger cruise lines. One of the goals we set when we established our regional cruise network was that the smaller cruise destinations would get more traffic, and it looks like this is now about to happen. Nothing pleases us more than that, says a proud Chair of the Board.

Bod

Narvik

2014 WINNER!Certi cate of ExcellenceLofotr Viking Museum

USEFUL FACTS: Recommended time use: 60 100 min (calculate extra time to row the Viking ship and participate in activities). Audio guide system in exhi-bition halls. Live guides in the Viking Chieftains house. Short guided tours. Ample parking space. Drop off zone for buses, nearby entrance. Museum gift shop with a wide range of quality gifts. Caf (June August). Capasity: 3 buses/ca 130 persons pr 15 min. Open: all year! BOOKING: [email protected] Tel + 47 76 08 49 00

NORWEGIAN FISHING VILLAGE MUSEUMUSEFUL FACTS: 30 - 60 min, walk on your own or with local guide (5 - 6 languages). Museum gift shop; wide selection of quality gifts. Stone oven bakery, open June 1 - Aug 31. High capacity (many buses pr hour)Open all year.

NORWEGIAN FISHING VILLAGE MUSEUMBOOKING: + 47 76 09 14 88epost: [email protected]/ skevaersmuseum

Lofotens most important income and export article was always sh. At the very end of the road, in in Lofoten, you can explore one of Norways best preserved shing villages. Cod liver oil factory, stone oven bakery (the most delicious cinnamon rolls!!), smithy and other important buildings.

museumnord.no

Let yourself become enthralled and amazed. The stories are waiting for you!

The largest Viking longhouse in the world was found at Borg in Lofoten. The recon-struction is in full size, 83 m. Beautiful decorations and exhibitions ll the house. The Vikings are demonstrating handcrafts and sharing their knowledge on the Viking Age

with the visitors. The smell of tar and smoke, delicious Viking style food (on request), the craftsmanship - it all takes you back, more than 1000 years.

By the sea, the Viking ship is moored. When weather permits, guests may join for short rowing- and sailing trips.

Archery and axe-throwing are other popular activities (15.06 15.08). In modern exhibition halls (audio guides, 6 languages), unique archeological artifacts are at display. The 12 minutes long lm is worth seeing.

Every August, the 5-day Viking festival is arranged. Market, games, competitions, theatre performances, concerts, work-shops and even more the festival is lled with fun for all ages and nationalities.

MEET THE VIKINGS

2014 WINNER!Certi cate of ExcellenceLofotr Viking Museum

USEFUL FACTS: Recommended time use: 60 100 min (calculate extra time to row the Viking ship and participate in activities). Audio guide system in exhi-bition halls. Live guides in the Viking Chieftains house. Short guided tours. Ample parking space. Drop off zone for buses, nearby entrance. Museum gift shop with a wide range of quality gifts. Caf (June August). Capasity: 3 buses/ca 130 persons pr 15 min. Open: all year! BOOKING: [email protected] Tel + 47 76 08 49 00

NORWEGIAN FISHING VILLAGE MUSEUMUSEFUL FACTS: 30 - 60 min, walk on your own or with local guide (5 - 6 languages). Museum gift shop; wide selection of quality gifts. Stone oven bakery, open June 1 - Aug 31. High capacity (many buses pr hour)Open all year.

NORWEGIAN FISHING VILLAGE MUSEUMBOOKING: + 47 76 09 14 88epost: [email protected]/ skevaersmuseum

Lofotens most important income and export article was always sh. At the very end of the road, in in Lofoten, you can explore one of Norways best preserved shing villages. Cod liver oil factory, stone oven bakery (the most delicious cinnamon rolls!!), smithy and other important buildings.

museumnord.no

Let yourself become enthralled and amazed. The stories are waiting for you!

The largest Viking longhouse in the world was found at Borg in Lofoten. The recon-struction is in full size, 83 m. Beautiful decorations and exhibitions ll the house. The Vikings are demonstrating handcrafts and sharing their knowledge on the Viking Age

with the visitors. The smell of tar and smoke, delicious Viking style food (on request), the craftsmanship - it all takes you back, more than 1000 years.

By the sea, the Viking ship is moored. When weather permits, guests may join for short rowing- and sailing trips.

Archery and axe-throwing are other popular activities (15.06 15.08). In modern exhibition halls (audio guides, 6 languages), unique archeological artifacts are at display. The 12 minutes long lm is worth seeing.

Every August, the 5-day Viking festival is arranged. Market, games, competitions, theatre performances, concerts, work-shops and even more the festival is lled with fun for all ages and nationalities.

MEET THE VIKINGS

In the old medieval town of Vgar lay Storvgan, founded on the Lofoten Fishery and the stock sh trade. This town gave life to Lofoten in bygone times, and is the perfect place to ex-plore the history connected with the stock sh, the skrei and the Lofoten sheries.

Feel the aura of history in an authentic atmosphere from the 1800s, with the authentic squire`s residence, country store, shermens cabins and tradi-tional Nordland type boats in Lofoten Museum.

Be moved by the artist Kaare Espolin Johnsons powerful expression as he depicts the regions dramatic history and the coastal peoples life and fate. Guest exhibitions, shop, lm Gallery Espolin.

Experience the fascinating underwater world of Lofoten. Different species of sh and ma-rine animals, lms, the exhibition The Art of Co-existence.Feeding of seals and sea otters.

1. NORWEGIAN COAST ICONFor more than 100 years, Hurtig-ruten has been and is an icon to the Norwegian people. Historical tour of the various elds of oper-ation; loading/unloading, safety at sea and more. The darker side: shipwrecks and loss of life. Former Hurtigruten MV Finnmarken is part of the museum.

USEFUL FACTS: Stokmarknes, Vesterlen.Duration: 60 120 min. 3 minutes walk from the seaport. Easy access. Museum gift shop. High capacity (several buses pr hour).

2. SPECTACULAR CONCERTS In a huge, former sh tank, an acoustic experience are served to you: mini concerts, specially com-posed music (10-15 min). Guided tour in the shing indus-

trial history (20-45 min). Serving of appetizers ( sh, of course).

3. THE MANSIONThe story about northern Nor-ways most expansive industrial pioneers. Beautiful art noveau furniture, paintings and decor. Guided tours, 20 min. Meet mrs. Frederiksen (ca 1895 1920)

for an afternoon snack and insight on daily life (20-40 min) USEFUL FACTS: Capasity: 2-4 buses pr hour, in combination with Spectacular concerts and/or guided town walk. Melbu in Vesterlen, nearby ferry site to Lofoten. Capasity: 2-3 buses pr hour. Combine with the Fishing industry museum and/or guided town walk.

1 23BOOKING ALL 3:

[email protected] Tel + 47 76 11 81 90

Stokmarknes, Vesterlen islands.

Hurtigrutemuseet

Sortland Museum

B Museum

Jennestad Handelssted

ksnes Museum

Andymuseet

Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum

Museum Nord Narvik

Norsk Fiskevrsmuseum

Vesterlsmuseet & Norsk Fiskeindustrimuseum

Lofotmuseet,Galleri Espolin & Lofotakvariet

Lofotr Viking Museum

Skaftnes Grd

Norsk Telemuseum

Ballangen MuseumDivtasvuodna/Korsnes

Divtasvuodna/Kjpsvik

www.museumnord.no21 MUSEUMS 1000 STORIES

skreiHigh capacity.

Gift shop and caf. BOOKING:

[email protected] Tel + 47 900 88 336

EXPERIENCE CENTER - STORVGAN - KABELVG

CRUICE NORTH 2015 9

10 CRUICE NORTH 2015

Innovative Shore Excursions:

thE UNIqUE hIStORy OF NORthERN NORWaythe worlds northernmost cruise region Northern Norway and Spitsbergen is characterized by magnificent scenery, rich natural resources and a population that brings to life a region that at corresponding latitude elsewhere on earth would not be populated at all. this is largely due to the warm currents of the gulf Stream, which flow along our coast and all the way up to Spitsbergen.


Our region is waiting to share its unique and exciting history and many of those who travel here probably do so without realising just how many attractions, activities and experiences await them.

In order to get a true understanding of the History of Northern Norway, a couple of years ago the CNNS cruise network initiated a project designed to develop new shore excursions based on the regions history, landscape, natural resources and people. Every cruise port in our network was gathered around the table and asked the following question: What is unique about your destination? After a round of self-examination, we arrived at a unified overview and Unique Selling Points were defined for each destination (see the overview on page 17). This would enable the region to emerge as differentiated and attractive, so that no client could ever rightly claim that all the ports offer the same. This has been an exciting exercise for CNNS. It proved to be a positive process that contributed to everyone gaining a better understanding of what each other could offer, while at the same time being able to work tirelessly on their own niche within an attractive entirety.

Access to good buses and qualified guides is a virtue of necessity for every destination, but its also pretty basic. A far greater challenge is the ability to develop attractive packages that are adapted to suit the market and may

fOUR qUESTIONS abOUT CRUISE:Cruise north magazine has chatted with contacts at all the cruise destinations in Cnns in order to present local recommendations. We asked the following questions:

n If you were an overseas cruise passenger visiting your destination, what would you have done during your visit?

n What are the Unique Selling Points (USP) for your destination?

n What is important in order for the cruise passengers to have a successful visit to your destination?

n What are you going to do to improve the future experience for the cruise line and passengers?

be offered at an acceptable price. But CNNSs members wanted to go further than that. We wanted to be innovative and took advantage of special expertise in this area, says the Managing Director of CNNS, Erik Joachimsen. The whole point of our signature project is to generate creativity and also to offer the cruise passengers physically active, exotic shore excursions based on Norways slogan Powered by Nature. We believe this will provide us with success in the future, says an optimistic manager of CNNS.

On the following pages, we have invited our local cruise heroes to express their favourite shore excursions at their own

destination as well as their thoughts about the future. You will also find an overview of innovative shore excursions, which will be available from the 2015 season for agents and cruise lines to sell to passengers on board the cruise ships. Please feel free to contact your cruise agent or the specific destination for a more detailed description of the unique opportunities on offer.

We will also take this opportunity to recommend our readers to visit our shorex database at cnns.no/shorex-store.

Enjoy!

CRUICE NORTH 2015 11

dEStINatION: port oF LonGYEaBYEnContact: Ronny brunvoll, ronny@ visitsvalbard.comNo. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 41 (26) / 38,200 (27,000)

Shorex: An organised tour to the new visitors centre at Mine 3, a coal mine which was closed down in 1996, is highly recommended. A visit here enables you to feel a sense of the tough work in the pitch black mines through storytelling as well physically exploring the mine. Mine 3 is located 2.5 km from the port. Its worth stopping en route at the Global seed vault, where spare copies of seeds from around the world are kept as a backup to the national gene banks. After visiting Mine 3, its worth heading to Longyearbyen, where brewery visits, museums, shopping and caf visits can add an extra dimension to the High Arctic experience.

USp: Svalbard is in the High Arctic and offers truly unique experiences through nature and wildlife you wont find anywhere else so far north. Everything you visit here is the worlds northernmost, from the kindergarten to the brewery!

Successful visit: Longyearbyen is a small settlement that offers big experiences. In order to have a successful visit its important to become acquainted with the local history as well as the special challenges that prevail, like the danger of polar bears. The King of the Arctic slinks around in the terrain so you should always have an armed guided when you venture outside the built up area. Book an organised excursion in advance.Improvements: There are plans for a new and substantially larger port in Longyearbyen which, when completed, will provide far better facilities at the port and on land. Moreover, we are working to develop Isfjorden as a destination for slow cruising, where among other things we will put in place recommended itineraries, developed landing sites, infor-mation and provisions for guiding.

dEStINatION: CrUisE dEstination nortH CapE (HonninGsVG)Contact: se lill [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 104 (97) / 121,800 (116,600)

Shorex: I would have taken the tour Hornvika the North Cape Classic, a new shore excursion where you experience the North Cape in the classical way. You ascend the top of Europe like adventurers and royalty did before the road was opened in 1956. This tour offers nature-based experiences, storytelling and tasting of local ingredients.

USp: Our Unique Selling Point is of course the North Cape located at the top of Europe. In addition we have Northern Europes largest bird cliff, and going on a safari there is a wonderful experience. It is home to millions of birds and each colony has its own story. Our proximity to the sea provides the basis for memorable adventures like fishing trips and king crab safaris. Last, but by no means least, we have a rich cultural life. North Cape Caf Theatre conveys the story of why we live at 71 N.

Successful visit: Putting quality before quantity is incredibly important for us. Our guests should travel home with a rich array of impressions and tell their family and friends about the great experiences they had. After visiting our port, they should leave with great memories and a desire to return to our region.

Improvements: The providers at North Cape have agreed to cooperate to achieve a common goal: the focus is on the customer and their experiences. The aim of this initiative, which is rooted in the tourism industrys own master plan, is to create a better development culture at North Cape so we can create more

Photo: Erik Joachimsen / CNNS


customized and individualized services in which the entire focus is on the needs of the guests throughout their entire trip.

dEStINatION: port oF HaMMErFEstContact: Knut-arne Iversen, Hammerfest [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 20 (16) / 18,700 (17,600)

Shorex: I would have visited the Polar Bear Society and the Museum of Reconstruction for Finnmark and Northern Troms or perhaps rented an e-bike and explored Hammerfest on my own.

USp: The worlds northernmost town, from Pomorian trade to energy town (five energy sources) and meridian and land surveying history. Our history is based on Northern Norways oldest town, polar history, the history of energy and war history.

Successful visit: Good information, signs, map, open shops, good activities and attractions.

Improvements: Even better reception at the quayside, good guides, exciting activities and attractions an open town.

dEStINatION: port oF aLtaContact: Henriette bismo Eilertsen, [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 29 (27) / 29,300 (32,200)

Shorex: In summer I would have chosen the Alta Museum with its world famous rock art, as well as the Northern Lights Cathedral and the Alta Canyon. If I came in winter I would have gone to the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, the Northern Lights Cathedral and chased the Northern Lights.

USp: The Northern Lights in autumn and winter. In summer, its without doubt the famous rock art, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Successful visit: Alta is a small destination so the main things are that they have good guides and that every-thing is arranged before they arrive.

Improvements: Alta wishes to develop a better tourist information office, which can really help the guests to get the most out of their stay. We also want there to be better offers for the crew on board

the cruise ships. We also want to be able to offer Northern Lights-related experi-ences all year round even though in reality its only possible to see it during the autumn and winter.

dEStINatION: port oF troMsContact: Harriet willassen, Port of Troms, [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 109 (102) / 111,700 (119,200)

Shorex: I would have gone to the Troms Villmarksenter (wilderness centre). Imagine driving just 25 minutes out of the city and enjoying an authentic wilderness experience with Tove and her family! Seeing a film of Tove competing in sled dog races, drinking coffee brewed on the fire, visiting the dog yard with around 300 Alaskan huskies and having close up contact with the puppies is something youll remember for life. This is a great experience for guests of all ages.

Afterwards, I would have taken the cable car up to Mt Storsteinen for a panoramic view of Troms and the surrounding mountains. And I would have rounded off the day with a concert at the Arctic Cathedral or a cappuccino and some local food at one of the citys pleasant cafs or restaurants. Its no coincidence that the city is called the Paris of the North!

USp: The Urban Arctic. Few other places enable you to experience the big city urban services while at the same time being in the heart of the wild North Norwegian nature.

Successful visit: Its important that the cruise ship / cruise line plans the stay so that the passengers have enough time ashore to experience the city and its attractions. Its also important that the cruise ships have correct and good information available on board that is distributed to the passengers so that they can plan their stay and get the most out of it. Polar Park


Improvements: We want to focus on how we as a destination receive our guests and how we arrange everything so they can have the best possible experience while they are here. This also means that the cruise lines, agents and destinations need to work closer together to give the guests unique and good experiences.

dEStINatION: port oF narViKContact: grethe Parker, [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 12 (14) / 8600 (15,200)

Shorex: I would have chosen to go on an excursion to experience something thats not possible to experience where I come from something unique. In Narvik, that would without doubt be Polar Park and visiting the wolves at the Wolf Camp. You can have a close-up encounter with socialized wolves (see cover photo)!

USp: In Narvik Polar Park and the Ofoten Line railway are the completely unique experiences, but the cable car and World War II history are also important for our destination.

Successful visit: That the guests are well received in our town, that they have a variety of options and not least the oppor-tunity to experience something unique.

Improvements: We are working continuously to improve the experience at the port area where the ship docks. We have a tourist office and sales stands on the quayside and we are working to be able to offer free Wi-Fi.

dEStINatION: port oF HarstadContact: gro Dagsvold, [email protected] No. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 3 (2) / 2300 (1000)

Shorex: Experienced the worlds most beautiful archipelago by boat! Harstad has a unique history that spans several era and historic events. The Trondenes Peninsula has three wonderful attractions worth visiting. I would have also joined a fantastic Northern Lights chase and nature-based experiences in a class of their own or snow fun!

USp: The cruise ships can dock right in the centre of the city and travel out in

the worlds most beautiful archipelago. On land, we can offer wonderful nature-based experiences and a rich history and culture. There are also opportu-nities for turnaround operations with Evenes Airport just a short distance from Harstad.

Successful visit: Good information about the city and what we can offer prior to calling in Harstad, flexible and efficient logistics for both vessel and passengers on arrival and on land and, of course, smiling and good hosting at every level.

Improvements: Development of the quay, so its longer and better suited for capacity and receiving larger and more cruise ships at the same time. We need to educate more and ever better guides, with more languages available. Work is also underway to develop unique packages from our region in both winter and summer. Harstad will become a very good cruise destination!

dEStINatION: port oF sortLand / VEstErLEnContact: Ssemjon gerlitz, [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 6 (11) / 4800 (12,400)

Shorex: Above all I would have gone to Sortland Church, which is close to the port. I would then have walked through the town and had a coffee at one of the various cafs. Afterwards I would have visited Sortland Kulturhus (cultural centre) with museum exhibitions just 100 m from the quay. Sortland is the blue town!

USp: Thats pretty clear: Inga Sami Siida, where a Sami family demonstrates its culture. That is followed by Nyksund, a previously abandoned fishing village with an exciting history and unique architecture. Now theres new life in the fishing village.

Sortland: The blue town.


Successful visit: They should be prepared for all types of weather regardless of the season!

Improvements: We want to get more activity in town when a cruise ship calls in Sortland. Vesterlen has several small companies producing art and articles for daily use. We want to create a market when cruise ships come. We are happy to receive suggestions from the cruise lines about what their clients want.

dEStINatION: ports oF LoFotEn (LEKnEs and sVoLVr)Contact: Sissel Hansen, [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 76 (63) / 66,200 (74,000)

Shorex: I would buy an organised excursion so that I would be guaranteed of seeing the unique selling points within the programme. Perhaps a half day trip from the Leknes Cruise Port with the first stop at Lofotr Viking Museum, the site of the ancient Viking farm that was discovered by a farmer ploughing his land in the early 1980s. Today it has been reconstructed and is considered to be an archaeological sensation. Afterwards you go to Nusfjord, which is one of the most idyllic and best preserved fishing villages in Lofoten. If you have the whole day and time to be active, stop for a stand-up-paddle course with Lofoten Adventure Company by the idyllic beach of Ramberg before you head to to visit the Lofoten Stockfish Museum.

USp: I must say its the legendary Lofoten fishery for the Skrei (winter cod) and the dramatic landscape, which was voted by National Geographic as the most beautiful islands in the world. The picturesque villages of Henningsvr, Nusfjord and Reine are among the places you can experience this at its best. Not to forget the amazing Northern Lights during winter and Midnight Sun during the summer, mesmerizing both tourists and

locals every year. Our cultural traditions from fishing and the Viking era are also very unique selling point for the Lofoten islands.

Successful visit: Its very important for us that cruise passengers visiting the Lofoten islands are met by availability, hospitality and well organised excursions.

Improvements: In the future, we will work on improving high quality from the first meeting until we wave goodbye. The aim is that the guests want to return giving continuous business to the Lofoten islands and also the cruise lines.

dEStINatION: port oF BodContact: Erlend a. willumsen, Port of bod, [email protected] No. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 9 (11) / 4400 (15,300)

Shorex: On a day-trip to Bod, I would have prioritized seeing the fantastic Saltstraumen, the worlds strongest maelstrom, which has an idyllic location just outside Bod. If I had time before the ship departed, I would have stopped at one of the shrimp boats docked in the city centre and bought a bag of fresh shrimps, which I would have eaten at the marina with my legs dangling over the side of the wharf.

USp: Bod by light Midnight Sun, Polar Night and Northern Lights. And we have a unique history to share from the Cold War.

Successful visit: I recommend the cruise passengers to use visitbodo.no to prepare for their visit. You will find an overview of all the available options and there are many!

Improvements: A cruise network is in the process of being established in Bod, which will ensure quality assurance and product development, which will please the cruise lines and passengers alike.

Improvements are also being made at the port so large ships can call.

dEStINatION: port oF BrnnYsUnd Contact: Marita ahonen [email protected]. of calls/passengers 2014 / (Est. 2015): 12 (6) / 5300 (1100)

Shorex: I would have taken a stroll along the quayside from the town centre to Srbyen in the oldest part of town. On this route you pass the guest marina and can experience the small boats in the coastal town in the middle of Norway. In historic Srbyen you will find old wooden buildings and narrow streets that create a great atmosphere. I would also have wandered up on the Brnny Bridge for fantastic views to both the north and south. From there you also get a wonderful overview of the archipelago containing the Vega Islands, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Naturally, its also well worth a visit!

USp: Brnnysund is the first port when you come to Northern Norway. Here you find the legendary mountain Torghatten with a hole right through it and were proud that the Vega Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Successful visit: Have a chat with the staff at the tourist information office. They can recommend walking routes and things to see. You need good footwear and clothes to suit the weather. Were still in Northern Norway although we are the southernmost town.

Improvements: Brnnysund is continuing the work to develop and quality assure existing excursions as well as new ones. We are cooperating across various industries in order to provide the best possible experience for visitors to Brnnysund.


ShOREX 2014: INNOVatIVE pROdUCt dEVELOpMENtCNNS has worked in a targeted manner to develop a new menu of Shorex offers for the cruise market. The following list shows some of the offers the various destinations can present. Feel free to contact the specific destination for details and quotes and to visit Northern Norway and Spitsbergen to experience it first-hand!

Cruise destination New Shorex offers

Longyearbyen Walks, cableway for coal transport Dog shuttle from port to downtown Longyearbyen Slow cruising in Isfjorden

North Cape North Cape/Hornvika The classical way to enter the North Cape Plateau

North Cape Caf Theatre Living at the North Cape Winter Expedition North Cape

Hammerfest e-bike town sightseeing Fish Camp The history of Adolf Lindstrm

Alta Northern Lights Cathedral Overland trip to Hammerfest Overland trip to Kautokeino

Troms Concert at the Arctic Cathedral Northern Lights photography course Snowshoeing trek

Narvik The iron ore industry World War II history Boat museum, Gratangen / Foldvik

Vesterlen Aquaculture Vesterlen Life in the sea Inga Sami Siida a reindeer herding family Nyksund refurbished fishing village

Harstad Snow Fun activities in the snow The Trondenes Peninsula a wide range of history Culinary culture sailing trip Anna Rogde

Lofoten Full Steam Henningsvr (production of cod liver oil) The Glassblower in Vikten storytelling Aaland Grd farm cheese factory

Bod The Cold War The Spy City RIB safari The blue plate - the importance of herring to Bod

Brnnysund Prestya Lighthouse Traditional flatbread baking Smna Open Air Museum


CRUISE IN thE aRCtIC EUROpE

CRUISE NORTHERN NORway & SvalbaRD:

This map provides an overview of all the cruise destinations associated with our network, Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard (CNNS).

Our cruise network was established to develop new shorex offers, create interest in turnaround operations and promote CNNS in collaboration with Cruise Norway. CNNS is an associate member of Cruise Norway.

If your cruise line or cruise company wants to come on a faM trip to our ports and destinations, please feel free to contact us.

you will find contact details on our website, cnns.no. you will also find all information imaginable about each destination, including port information, shorex database, image gallery, sailing distances, downloads and turnaround opportunities.

Svolvr11Leknes11

Bod12

Brnnysund13

Vesterlen9

Longyearbyen1

1 Svalbard / Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen

Unique Selling points: High arctic nature and wildlife, explorers, adventurers and polar history

quay Bykaia: 300 m/9 m, quay gamlekaia: 90 m/5 m

Shorex contact: Spitsbergen Travel, [email protected]

port contact: Port Manager Kjetil brten, [email protected]

7 troms Unique Selling points: where your

arctic adventure begins, Northern lights, arctic adventures, the arctic capital powered by nature, worlds northernmost university, the Paris of the North and gateway to the arctic Ocean

quay Breivika: 102 m/11 m, 104 m / 11.5 m, 150 m/11.5 m

quay prostneset City Centre: 200 m/8 m and 300 m/9 m

Shorex contact: arctic guide Service, arcticguideservice.no or farout, farout.no

port contact: Marketing Manager Harriet willassen, [email protected]

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harstad

Narvik10

Vesterlen8

hammerfest5

honningsvg / North Cape4

4 honningsvg / North Cape Unique Selling points: North Cape, the ultimate place to see Midnight

Sun and Northern lights, life in the fishing villages, catching the Red King Crab, the Sami life and the reindeer migration and seabirds

quay North: 100 m/12 m quay 1: 150 m/10 m quay 2: 70 m/10 m quay 3: 125 m/10 m quay West: 115 m/10 m quay South: 80 m/10 m quay East: 80 m/10 m

Shorex contact: arctic guide Service, [email protected] and artico Ice bar, [email protected]

port contact: Keth lokke Pettersen, [email protected]

13 Brnnysund Unique Selling points: world Heritage

area, geology, where Northern Norway starts/ends and trade history

quay 1: grdsya: 250 m/25 m quay2: Central Port town centre:

140 m/6.2 m Shorex contact: Charlotte grtheim

Olsen, [email protected] port contact: Port Manager

Slvi H. Kristoffersen, [email protected]

11 Lofoten - Leknes Unique Selling points: The lofoten

seasonal fisheries, spectacular nature and viking history quay 1: 230 m/10 m Shorex contact: arctic guide Service, [email protected] or farout, farout.no port contact: Port Manager ann-Helen Ernstsen, [email protected]

11 Lofoten - Svolvr Unique Selling points: The lofoten

winter fishery, spectacular nature and viking history

East quay: 214 m/6 m West quay: 122 m/10 m Shorex contact: arctic guide Service,

[email protected] or farout, farout.no

port contact: Port Manager Kjell H. Hanssen, [email protected]

12 Bod Unique Selling points: Coastal culture,

trade history, defence history, the spy city, the modern service centre and the Saltstraumen Maelstrom

quay1 + 2: City Centre 150 m/7 m and 200 m/7 m

quay Rnvika: 1: Rnvika 300 m/8 m 2: 150 m/9 m 3: 210 m/8.4 m 4: 200 m/8.5 m

Shorex contact: Magic North, Kirtsen M. Holmen, [email protected]

port contact: Port Manager Ingvar M. Mathisen, [email protected]

9 Vesterlen (Sortland) Unique Selling points: amazing nature

and wildlife, whale safaris year-round, life in and by the sea, the fishing industry (historical and modern) quay: 450 m/7.512 m Shorex contact: Ssemjon gerlitz

[email protected] port contact: Port Manager Hugo Nss, [email protected]

10 Narvik Unique Selling points: Polar Park, The

Ofoten line Railway / Ore industry and world war II history quay Fagernes: 250 m/15 m

quay pier 1: 140 m/15 m Shorex contact: grethe Parker,

[email protected] port contact: Maritime Manager

istein Kaarb, [email protected]

8 harstad Unique Selling points: viking,

medieval and military history quay City centre: 300 m/9.3 m Shorex contact: gro Dagsvold, gro@

destinationharstad.no port contact: Port Manager

Ivar Hagenlund, [email protected]

6 alta Unique Selling points: Northern

lights, the Sami and alta River quay terminalkaia: 265 m/10.2 m quay Marinekaia: 63 m/12.5 m Shorex contact: Henriette b. Eilertsen, [email protected] port contact: Port Manager arnt Trygve Nilsen, [email protected]

5 hammerfest Unique Selling points: The worlds

northernmost town, from Pomorian trade to energy town (5 energy sources), Meridian/land surveying history quay 1: 220 m/9 m quay 2: 120 m/8 m quay 9: 300 m/12 m

Shorex contact: Knut arne Iversen, [email protected]

port contact: Port Manager Per-ge Hansen, [email protected]

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wide body aircraft

Medium body aircraft

CNNS Cruise-destination

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Welcome to Vesterlen and Sortland

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The Blue City

Vesterlen welcomes you year round to whale safaris under the midnight sun and winter fishing under the northern lights.

www.sortland-havn.no

Midnight Sun Adventures Nature and bird Safari Sami Culture and

Salmon fishing Boattrip to Trollfjorden Kayaking Eagle Safari

Northern lights adventures Lively fishing villages Boat and fishing trips Whale watching Bird and seal Safari Museums

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178x124mm-sortlandhavn-CruiseNetwork-febr2014.indd 1 12.02.14 09:28


Longyearbyen is one of the worlds most fascinating towns. Located at 78 degrees north, it is o -cially the northernmost town in the world. An unusual, modern and international tax free sett lement just 1300km from the North Pole. Longyearbyen welcomes visitors to our slice of the Arctic, a safe haven in the otherwise harsh and wild landscape, where polar bears roam and the elements rule. With our highly knowledgeable and well-trained guides, Spitsbergen Travel has been a vital force in the development of Longyearbyen as a Mecca for adventure. Be it hiking or Champagne tasting, a fj ord safari in high-powered open boats or a guided visit to the prize-winning Svalbard Museum, Spitsbergen Travel ensure that your guests have the opportunity to experience all this unique town has to o er.

[email protected]: + www.spitsbergencruise.no

SPITSBERGEN TRAVEL, YOUR SHORE EXCURSIONS PROVIDER IN SPITSBERGEN

Trekking Icefj ord Safari Guides with expertice Exciting excursions

Cruise port Longyearbyen, one of the worlds most fascinating destinations

Operating from the real ARCTIC HUB

one contact point // arctic logistics port agencyyear around 24/7 // we embrace the challenge

one contact point

arctic logisticsport agency

year around 24/7we embrace the challenge

[email protected]+47 7902 4900Longyearbyen

Svalbard & Jan Mayen islands

+47 7902 4990


The Deputy Chair of the CNNS Board, se-Lill Barstad, is the Tourism Manager of Visit North Cape.

The Chair of the CNNS Board, Harriet Willassen, is the Marketing Manager of the Port of Troms.


thE REgION OF OppORtUNItIESFive years ago the cruise ports in Northern Norway and Svalbard made a decision to form a regional cruise network. By joining forces, they aimed to strengthen the individual ports. harriet Willassen (port of troms) and se-Lill Barstad (Visit North Cape) are two of the people behind the regional cruise network.


Both ports have more than 100 calls per year. Nearly 120,000 cruise passangers arrive every summer and slowly but surely a few in the winter too. However, its still the case that only 15% of cruise traffic to Norway and just one percent of the total European cruise traffic sails up to Northern Norway and Svalbard.

Its not really an exaggeration to say that the cruise industry has not quite discovered Northern Norway and Svalbard yet. In recent years there has been major focus on opportunities for turnaround ports in the north, where major airports with good capacity and adjacent ports play a key role. What will it take to gain market share? The trend is towards increasingly shorter cruises and, on the face of it, this is a disadvan tage for a region that requires a long voyage to reach. But if we manage to turn this disadvantage into an advantage, for example by facili-tating turnaround operations in Northern Norway, then opportunities that werent even dreamed of a few years ago will immediately open up, say Willassen and Barstad in agreement. By exploiting the time when passengers are being moved

between cruise ships and aircraft, we can offer shore excursions in summer as well as winter. There is an abundance of opportunities to arrange overland trips by bus. This is something we hope the cruise lines will take advantage of in the future because we are convinced that this is a sensible way to go. Shorter cruises and even greater experiences is a win-win situation for the cruise line and the passenger.

The proportion shorex sales aboard the cruise ships have dropped and this has provided a challenge for some of

the biggest destinations. The number of passengers is increasing and more passengers are going on tours. However, as a percentage of the number on board, sales are declining. How do you explain this decline in onboard sales, and what can the destinations do to meet this challenge? It has become cheaper to go on cruises and this attracts less affluent groups. Meanwhile, passengers are far more enlightened about existing offers than was the case earlier, but the economic development in key target markets has weakened. In order to meet this compe-tition, its a sensible strategy to get cruise lines, agents and destinations to cooperate more closely so they can offer packages that are not available for purchase in the same combinations elsewhere.

The cruise lines and agents are looking for innovative shorex offers that differ-entiate the ports. Holland America Line, for instance, has stated that the shorex offers at the ports are too similar. What is CNNS doing to address this? CNNS has had a project aimed at developing new and better shorex offers, and we are now starting to see the results of this. Our destinations are


Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik

presenting new ways of thinking about shorex and we have also become more conscious of being innovative. Providers who dont renew themselves risk being left behind. Its important that the cruise lines and agents offer these new shorexes on board so that we get sales. Perhaps this is the biggest challenge we face.

At the start of the 2015 season we are experiencing a dramatic fall in oil prices, which may only be short-lived. The Norwegian Krone (NOK) has also weakened against the Euro and Dollar. This must have a positive effect on the traffic to the high-cost country Norway, while the fuel argument is also weakened slightly in relation to long sailing distances. Generally speaking, this is good news for the Norwegian travel industry, for the cruise lines and not least for the cruise passenger. Norway has traditionally been considered a high-cost country, but if we gaze to competing countries its fair to say that these differences have evened out significantly in recent times.

In 2014 Northern Norway and Spitsbergen (Svalbard) managed for the first time to take market share in Norway. The northern cruise region increased traffic by 6%, while Norway as a whole experienced a decline of 10%. How would you explain these numbers, and what can be done to sustain this growth? What we are seeing is possibly a levelling out of the traffic in parts of Southern

We are blessed with some natural phenomena that no

one can match the northern Lights and the Midnight

sun. Most of the region is sparsely populated, and our

region is one of the few on earth where its still possible to

experience nothing. there are not too many places left

where urbanites can experience that.

Norway. The growth in the south has been strong in recent years, while our region has experienced steady growth. Northern Norway has experienced great success with winter cruise and this is clearly

reflected in the statistics. In addition, Northern Norway has a number of unique qualities that you wont find elsewhere in the world...

What are such unique selling points for Northern Norway & Spitsbergen? norway is marketed under the slogan Powered by Nature and the further north you travel the more you experience this. The entire region offers a wide variety of opportunities for physical activity to challenge all your senses.

For many, it comes as a real surprise to discover how mild the climate is considering how far north it is. The Gulf Stream gives us ice-free ports and really quite pleasant temperatures when we compare ourselves with other destina-tions at the same latitude. Yes thats true and we are also blessed with some natural phenomena that no one can match the Northern Lights and the midnight sun. In addition, the region is also far more inhabited than many people imagine. Most of the region is sparsely populated, and our region is one of the few on earth where its still possible


to experience nothing. There are not too many places left where urbanites can experience that. Nothing. Complete silence and nothing to see apart from beautiful scenery. We can also offer an exciting combination of urban and wilderness. Northern Norway and Svalbard is genuinely Powered by Nature!

The two ports you represent attract 55% of the traffic to Northern Norway and Svalbard? Secretly, should you wish that this proportion was slightly lower to the advantage of the many small cruise ports in the north? Yes and no. It would be beneficial for the largest ports if the calls were spread over several days. But we would prefer that the overall traffic to Northern Norway and Svalbard increases, and that to the greatest extent possible this increase goes to the many smaller ports we have in the north. Unfortunately, many of the cruise ships are too big for the smallest ports, but we would like to see medium-sized and smaller cruise ships calling at ports which they have not traditionally used. Seven ports have fewer than 30 calls a year, and among these we find

many hidden treasures. The small ports must be allowed to be small and offer their unique experiences. CNNS has worked quite consciously to ensure that each port differentiates itself through its history, culture and industry. Thats how we can demonstrate our diversity. We also have a strong desire that more cruise ships will call at all the ports in the evening and overnight. In a region where we have daylight 24 h from May to August, you dont need to think 9 to 5 when youre planning your itineraries ...

In 2015 Costa will sail with Costa neoRomantica to Lofoten, a voyage she has made many times before. The cruise ship will then call at Bod, Narvik and Sortland (Vesterlen), all of which are ports located within a compact area and which Costa has not called at previously. This provides good opportunities for slow cruising with ample time for the passengers and low fuel costs for the cruise line. A win-win situation like this must be good news, especially consid-ering that all seven cruises are sold out? Absolutely, and this is at the very core of our objective when CNNS was estab-

lished in 2011. Several ports now get opportunities to present unique and exotic experiences. Bod has an exciting history from The Cold War, Narvik was the scene of important events during World War II and Sortland wants to profile itself on the marine life and fishing and aquaculture industries. Everyones heard of Norwegian salmon. Cruise passengers now have the opportunity to experience modern salmon farming. We believe what Costa is doing in 2015 is a smart solution this will surely be copied by other cruise lines.

The cruise lines are looking for new destinations. Are Murmansk and Arkhangelsk attractive enough? After all, such destinations would lead to increased cruise traffic along the Norwegian coast since all the cruise ships must sail past our beautiful coast to get there? Yes, both destinations are exciting, as are the opportunities in the White Sea. Russia is an exciting country, which we as neighbours really know too little about. In addition, it will be exciting for cruise passengers to experience the Solovetsky Islands, which certainly represents a once-in-a-lifetime experience. CNNS has taken the initiative to organise a FAM trip to Arkhangelsk, which this serves as a signal to the cruise lines that this alternative is something that they should consider. When you combine this with the turnaround operations in Northern Norway, it offers a completely a new and exotic opportunity for cruising.

Four years have now passed since CNNS was established. Are you satisfied with what has been achieved so far? We believe that the cooperation within CNNS has shown results within a relatively short space of time. Northern Norway & Svalbard has emerged as a cruise region and is now in a stronger position in terms of both products and market. Our members are working to make each other better, and we have a common channel for reaching out to the industry. Cooperation with Cruise Norway is also important for us. Norways spearhead does a solid job, which we support actively. We believe its right to focus on regions and not just on destina-tions. The most important thing is that the unique history, culture and industry of our region is communicated better, and that the cruise lines get the differentiated shorex offers they have expressed a desire for.

Photo: Statsbygg


Experience Nordkapp 711021Visit us at www.visitnordkapp.net

Hotel & local food

www.rica.no/honningsvaag www.destinasjon-71nord.no www.birdsafari.com www.fishingland.no www.articoicebar.com www.evart.no

KingCrab Safari BirdSafari Fishing IceBar Local Gallery

vizuelli.no Photo: A

une forlag. Illustration: Bjrn H

olthe

SixSidesMidnattsol

Welcome to the northernmost point of Europe and enjoy the wealth of facilities at Nordkapp

The North Cape Hall offers: New film, Nordkapp Panoramafilm shown in a 160 widescreen portraying the four seasons at Nordkapp Exhibition from the long history of North Cape as a travellers destination Chapel of St. John - the northernmost ecumenical chapel in the world Exciting gift and souvenir shop with a rich varity of beautiful items Restaurant, cafe and bar with a fantastic panoramic view of the Arctic Ocean Northernmost post office with at special North Cape mark

NEW ATTRACTION!

Cave of Light


The majestic Isfjorden on the island of Spitsbergen offers great opportunities for a diversity of experiences within a small radius glaciers, wildlife, cultural relics and small settlements. The recently established Svalbard Cruise Network is working to develop shorex offers in Isfjorden.

SLOW CRUISINg IN thE hIgh aRCtIC

a major effort is underway in high arctic Svalbard to develop facilities and products for the cruise market. the key words are a new port and shorex product development in Longyearbyen and Isfjorden.


Located at latitude 78N, Svalbard offers an easily accessible and well organized destination for cruise ships. Ever since the first cruise ship arrived here 130 years ago, the High Arctic landscape has had a magical force of attraction on cruise tourists. Highlights include the distinctive geology, the abundant wildlife, the enormous glacier termini and landing sites near cultural relics.

The Tourism Manager at Visit Svalbard, Ronny Brunvoll, is optimistic about the future. Svalbard will remain an attractive destination because the archipelago meets peoples needs to experience something unique and to get close to nature. Our continued development as a cruise destination, with particular focus on Longyearbyen and Isfjorden, is aimed at being able to provide even better experiences for guests in the future.

LonGYEarBYEnThe small Arctic metropolis of Longyearbyen is the best adapted cruise destination in the archipelago. There is good infrastructure in place, including

shorex providers ready to take both smaller and larger groups on excursions.

Brunvoll believes that Longyearbyen has been under-communicated as a tourist destination and that it has great potential. With our many museums, attractions, relics of culture and opportunities for shopping, Longyearbyen is well suited for organized excursions as well as for guests who just want to stroll on their own from the port, says Brunvoll, adding that obviously it is safe to explore the settlement on ones own. Yes, you wont encounter polar bears within Longyearbyen. But as soon as you head out of the settlement, its highly recommended to be in an organized group with a qualified, armed guide. Its certainly necessary to be armed.

As well as developing new shorex offers, work is underway to develop better port facilities for the cruise ships. A new pier is planned along with a terminal building to provide comfort for the passengers. Another project in the planning stages is a new access route to ensure an easy, safe and interesting 2 km walk for the passengers between the port and the centre of Longyearbyen. Hopefully, both of these projects will be

realized within a timeframe of two to five years.

isFjordEnThis vast fjord stretches from the west of Spitsbergen to the east, virtually dividing Svalbards largest island in two. The settlements of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg are both located in Isfjorden. The fjord also has a number of smaller arms, one of which is Billefjorden. At the head of this fjord, cruise passengers can go ashore for a guided tour of the abandoned Russian mining settlement of Pyramiden, a former communist stronghold in the High Arctic.

Ronny Brunvoll believes Isfjorden, where cruise ships are still permitted to use heavy fuel oils, has a huge potential as a cruise destination. This fjord system offers the best of most things with glaciers, wildlife, cultural relics and settlements everywhere. Through the Svalbard Cruise Network, we are now working to prepare even better for cruise traffic. Among other things, we will develop guidelines for landing sites and suggested itineraries.

www.visitsvalbard.com

24 CRUICE NORTH 2015 12 CRUICE NORTH 2013

The cruise port of Harstad offers wide variety of tailor-made excursions and activities for passengers visiting Harstad during both winter and summer. Schedule your turnaround operations in Harstad and uti-lise Evenes airport and the Port of Harstad. Our authorized guides will ensure your visit is a memo-rable one!

Port of Harstad culture, history and coastal adventures!Destination Harstad, PO Box 654, NO-9486 Harstad [email protected] www.destinationharstad.no Tel. +47 77 01 89 89 Port of Harstad, PO Box 193, NO-9482 Harstad [email protected] www.harstadhavn.no Tel. + 47 77 00 12 10

Harstad Havn KFSjveien naturligst i Norge

The coast of southern Helgeland with over 12.000 small and big islands is the home of a unique nature and cultural heritage which makes the coastal scen-ery exceptional. The Vega Archipelago is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in recognition of the fascinating interac-tion between the islanders and the eider ducks.

The famous Mythical Mountain Torghatten with its distinctive hole right through its middle must be experienced. You can walk a well-prepared path up to the hole, enjoy the fantastic view and walk through the hole.

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WELCOME TO BRNNYSUND - Gateway to the World Heritage Area

At the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre you can get a glimpse of the life in the sea, and learn about modern aquaculture, from fish-egg to ready products of high quality. The Centre offers underwater cameras, feeding of fish, information films and professional guiding.

Brnnysund CruiseportP.o.Box 65

N-8901 BrnnysundTel. +47 75 01 20 70

www.cruiseportbronnoysund.no

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SMaLL aNd BEaUtIFUL CItyharstad is one of the cruise ports in our region with the fewest calls each year. however, this destination is now taking steps to improve both the infrastructure and shorex offers in order to make the gem of the Vgsfjord even more attractive for future cruise calls.


With a beautiful location on Norways largest island, Hinnya, and surrounded by a picturesque Arctic coastal landscape, Harstad has much to offer visitors. In winter you can chase the Northern Lights and in summer you can enjoy the Midnight Sun at Nupen, Norways most romantic place, says Gro Dagsvold, Cruise Coordinator at Destination Harstad.

GoUrMEt and CULtUrEAfter participating in the CNNS networks signature project, Shorex 2014, Dagsvold is full of go-ahead spirit to develop new shorex offers. You can now have lunch or dinner at historic sites in Harstad while experiencing exciting stories about the place youre at. We have a strong belief that this will be popular among our cruise guests, she says.

Three top-end restaurants in Harstad are involved in this project and they will ensure that the quality of the food served matches the quality of the stories told.

Harstad has an abundance of exciting historical sites. On the Trondenes Peninsula you will find one of Norways most beautiful churches, the Trondenes Church. For most people this is more than a church; it is a symbol of tradition and history dating right back to the Viking era and the Middle Ages. The area was also significant during World War II. The Germans built the land-based Adolf Guns here, which since the end of the Cold War have been accessible to curious visitors.

nEW CrUisE portPort Director Ivar F. Hagenlund has outlined ambitious plans for future port development, which will be adopted in the near future. We want to build a completely new port in the city centre. The

cruise quay will be to the east, but there will also be a possibility to dock diagonally towards the north, he says.

The East Quay, which is an extension of the current quay, will be approximately 300 m long with a depth of 10 m. It will be a permanent ISPS quay. The other quay will be for the Hurtigruten ships so cruise will have access 24/7. However, the Hurtigruten quay will also be able to be used for cruise calls, using temporary fences and security, he says. If these plans are realized, the cruise capacity in Harstad will more than double from 2018-19. The final decision will be made by June 2015, says Hagenlund.

The new plans that are designed to attract more cruise calls to the Port of Harstad.


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SOMEthINg tO SUIt EVERy taStEthis overview includes all relevant large-scale festivals, sporting events and cultural events for cruise passengers. you will also find photos and links on our website: cnns.no

North CapeThe North Cape festival Month: June

North Cape film festival Month: Septembernordkappfilmfestival.no

alta

finnmarkslpet (sled dog race)Month: Marchfinnmarkslopet.no

troms

Northern lights festival (Nordlysfestivalen)Month: January / Februarynordlysfestivalen.no

Troms International film festival (TIff)Month: Januarytiff.no

Sami week in TromsMonth: February (Sami National Day, February 6)msm.no

Midnight Sun MarathonMonth: Junemsm.no


RidduRiddu (international indigenous peoples festival)Month: Julyriddu.no

harstadarts festival of Northern Norway (festspillene i Nord-Norge)Month: Junefestspillnn.no

arctic Race of Norway (International cycling race)Month: Augustletour.com/arn

Narvik

winter festival in NarvikMonth: Marchvinterfestuka.no

arctic Race of Norway (International cycling race)Month: Augustletour.com/arn

Lofotenlofoten International Chamber Music festivalMonth: Julylofotenfestival.com

Cod fishing world Championship Month: Marchvmiskreifiske.no

lofotr viking festivalMonth: Augustlofotr.no

BodNordland Music festival winterMonth: Marchmusikkfestuka.no

Nordland Music festival Summer Month: Augustmusikkfestuka.no

bod International Organ festival Month: Aprilbiof.no

BrnnysundRootsfestivalenMonth: Julyrootsfestivalen.no

TorghattmessaMonth: JulyAnnual three-day trade fair in South Helgeland combining enter-tainment, information, sales promotions and amusement and with a lively atmosphere right in the thriving Brnnysund. torghattmessen.no

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STORY BY: ERIK JOACHIMSEN

Lets just call them the client because its really immaterial who accompanied me on this journey. The central characters were the people we met, the experiences we participated in, the beautiful scenery and the wild weather we encountered during a four-day journey just before Easter in 2014.

Alta. Troms. Bod. Lofoten. Four days packed with experiences, personalities, food, culture and nature. This is one of many golden combinations. It could just as easily have been four other destina-

tions, but thats the way it worked out this time.

CoMpaCt adVEntUrEsALTA - The client flew directly from Europe to Alta, the town of the Northern Lights. Alta is one of my favourite places in the north. Its maybe not the prettiest town, but my word what an exotic and professional place. And theres a vast number of shorex offers within a small radius. If there was an Olympics for adventure tourism, Alta could without doubt host it the summer games as

well as the winter ones!The Northern Lights Cathedral, built

in 2013, is a gift to the town and its visitors. Its a work of art at the end of the main street, whether you admire it from the outside or from the inside; a quiet, aesthetic room where you can see the Northern Lights through an artists eyes.

After an expert lesson in dog sledding by Eirik Nielsen at Holmen Husky, we continue to Maze, the Sami village that was actually destined to be inundated when the hydroelectric power plant was developed here around 30 years ago. Thankfully that didnt happen. Risten Eira from Cavzo Safari shares a moving story with us as we enjoy coffee brewed on the fire; from life as reindeer herder, to getting engaged and then the wedding with several thousand guests. She perfected the art of storytelling and demonstrated the Sami primal force at a high level. Its the sort of

NORthERN LIghtS CRUISINg IN NORthERN NORWay:

thIS IS ONLy thE BEgINNINgthis is a travelogue from a wonderful work holiday in our beautiful region. I can never get enough of Northern Norway.

1 holmen husky: Dog sledding for dummies 2 Sorrisniva Igloo hotel: A new hotel is built every year. 3 Risten Eira from Maze: Ill never forget this storytelling. 4 Verdensteateret in troms: Dating from 1916, its the oldest operating cinema in Northern Europe. 5 polaria: The Arctic in a nutshell 6 troms Villmarksenter: Happy girls and playful puppies 7 henry Johnsen at Stella polaris, Bod: You are one of the most talented guides I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. ALL PHOTOS: ERIK JOACHIMSEN /CNNS

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experience that you never forget.The slate quarry in Pskatun, with

an enthusiastic Trond Striefelt, is always a success. How can someone handle stone with such passion? Not to mention Hans Ulrik Wislff, the man who guides King Harald to the salmon and is himself the king of the canyon. What he and his family has achieved with Sorrisniva, with a new igloo hotel and creative ice sculptures every winter, has been invaluable for the tourism industry in Alta.

As the day turns to evening, we receive a lesson about the Northern Lights before setting off to hunt for this phenomenon. It was the most amazing Northern Lights chase I have ever been on, even though its worth noting that we didnt actually see the lights. It was a glowing experience fitting of the companys name, Gld, the Norwegian word for glow.

MY HoME toWnTROMS - Its a bit strange but incredibly exciting to come on holiday to your own city, but thats the way it was. We arrived in the midst of the spring thaw, and the city didnt appear at its loveliest. Maybe thats never been quite the case because its not architecture and aesthetics that sell this city. The Arctic Cathedral is an exception, of course. Our guide impressed with her knowledge and language skills that were well above average, and the music and song made an impression with the client. The classic attractions the cable car, Polaria and lhallen (the beer hall) all passed with flying colours and as usual Emma delivered personal service and a wonderful lunch at one of the citys better restaurants, Emmas Under. What Troms may lack in beauty, it certainly makes up for in charm.

On the island of Kvalya, another dog sled and eager huskies wait, but the weather gods were certainly not on our side. A brief snowshoe trek instead concludes with coffee brewed on the fire in the lavvu (Sami herdsmens tent). Its often the case with places like this, but to fully experience the place you need to meet the main person behind it. With her tens of thousands of kilometres behind the dog team, Tove Srensen is Tromss wilderness centre. You saved the day there and then, Tove!

tHE CitY oF tHE CoLd WarBOD - The time is 8:15 am on Saturday, and most normal people are still asleep. The rigid inflatable boat (RiB) with more than enough horsepower behind it waits and chugs as we change into warm clothes to prepare for a cold and

NORthERN LIghtS CRUISINg IN NORthERN NORWay:

thIS IS ONLy thE BEgINNINg1 holmen husky: Dog sledding for dummies 2 Sorrisniva Igloo hotel: A new hotel is built every year. 3 Risten Eira from Maze: Ill never forget this storytelling. 4 Verdensteateret in troms: Dating from 1916, its the oldest operating cinema in Northern Europe. 5 polaria: The Arctic in a nutshell 6 troms Villmarksenter: Happy girls and playful puppies 7 henry Johnsen at Stella polaris, Bod: You are one of the most talented guides I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. ALL PHOTOS: ERIK JOACHIMSEN /CNNS

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windy start to the day. We head towards Saltstraumen with guide Henry Johnsen and Captain Knut Westvig as competent crew. Henry is one of the best and most knowledgeable guides I have ever met. And Knut has a level of experience that far exceeds most in the industry. We are received on arrival at Tuvsjyen by the hosts and are returned to the Stone Age through storytelling and culinary experiences.

The U-2 spy plane nicknamed the Dragon Lady hangs majestically in its own corner of the Norwegian Aviation Centre in Bod. The shooting down of this plane over Smerdlovsk in the Soviet Union 1960 created further tension between the superpowers. The U-2 conveys its share of world history, and is stunning too.

And indeed, after a bit of a late night on the town, we encounter another lady. We had to go down to the quayside in Bod to see Miss Aurora Borealis this time. Unpredictable, but equally beautiful every time. Cross check and report, as they say on the plane.

FoUr sEasons in onE daYLOFOTEN - Weather and nature that pretty well sums up Lofoten it. Add in encounters with people, places and stories too for good measure. I have never visited Lofoten without meeting Tor-Vegard Mrkved, or the Blacksmith of Sund, as he is better known. He is always obliging and he delivers what must be one of the most beautiful and famous mementoes from Lofoten: the cormorant. And the client each took one home with them, so they will never forget the black-smith, Lofoten and Northern Norway.

Jim Olaisen in Nusfjord, I promise you that the boknafisk you served for lunch proved a real hit with the client, as did your lively storytelling about the shop of all shops in Lofoten: the famous general store.

Ditto Anders Tangrand, who stood sweating by the stove when we arrived at his glassblowing studio at Vikten in ferocious weather. You can find glass-blowing studios all over the world, but there is only one like this in Lofoten. As the waves crash onto the majestic beach below, he

produces the most beautiful products imaginable from local raw materials. The client was actually more than satisfied to sit in the upstairs caf, enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the waves.

There were also plenty of swells at Unstad, where windsurfers from around the world come to battle with the waves. However, on this particular day, the waves were too big. What makes a Brazilian settle here? That was actually the big question from the client, and I think they got to experience the answer. The storm we encountered that day was one of the greatest experiences of the entire trip. The rain and sleet came horizontally and the fresh snow stretched almost down to the pebbles on the beach. It sounds priceless, you cant experience that at home in Brazil...

Lofotr Viking Museum is perhaps the regions most professionally accom-plished museums. Or to put it more correctly, experience centre. Theres little reminiscent of museums here, thank-fully. The client is extremely impressed, although that doesnt surprise me in the least. Terje Boe is a reincarnation of a

8 the dragon Lady, the U-2 spy plane at the Norwegian aviation Centre: a plane that conveys the history of the Cold War! Stunning! 9 Flakstadstranda, Lofoten: Surfing the Arctic way. 10 Frode hov at hov: horses, golf and storytelling at their very best 11 Storvgan: a compact experience with a gallery, museum and aquarium accessible from the same car park 12 The Lofoten Aquarium 13 the Northern Lights Cathedral in alta: Its far more than a cathedral. 14 a rorbu in Storvgan: where the history is preserved in the walls 15 the Blacksmith of Sund: No trip to Lofoten is complete without meeting Tor-Vegard! 16 terje Be: You are a reincarnation of the Viking chief. 17 Jim Olaisen in Nusfjord: The boknafisk was to the clients liking. ALL PHOTOS: ERIK JOACHIMSEN /CNNS

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Viking chief. Lofotr provides a reproduction of the Viking era through traditional poems, food and mead of world class.

The highlights come one after the other in Lofoten, just like mountains from the sea. Kalle Mentzen and Ragnar Riksheim at Full Steam were next. The seasonal Lofoten fisheries, cod liver oil production and tastings as well as a heavenly fish dinner in authentic surroundings in Henningsvr feature on the programme. The client was already impressed, and I think they still taste of roe in their mouth. Thats what it tastes like before the industries destroy it, said Kalle.

Next day: Svolvr. Blue sky. A hung-over fisherman is rescued at the last minute from a fishing boat thats on fire. And we can see what we could barely make out the previous day. Frode Hov receives us during his morning coffee at Hov. We didnt really do anything there apart from listening and asking questions. But it was enough, Frode. They were already convinced and you just reinforced their faith. We only needed to mention in passing that you have an 18-hole golf course and that you offer horseback riding

on white sandy beaches by the open sea. The guests will come here anyway.

dEdiCatEd and CHarMinG If theres one thing I really appreciate about working in this industry, its being able to show others what we can offer. Sometimes you really need to ask yourself if youre at work or on holiday.

The client was actually two people: a Norwegian resident in the companys homeland and another person who is a native of that country. The latter was somewhat sceptical beforehand, but the Norwegian, who had tricked his colleague up here knew what was in store. The foreigner has completely changed tune after the trip and is now working to convince the management that what initially sounded like a crazy idea is actually just that.

Its precisely this madness that propels the uniqueness and contributing to the guests choosing us above Legoland, Mallorca or the Pyramids. Its precisely the people who move outside the box

who manage to sell the authentic, the unique, that no one believed in.

The client thanked me for inviting them and, to quote them directly, for all the fantastic, dedicated, charming people we met on our way.

p + p = EAfter several years in the travel industry, its slowly starting to dawn on me that the combination of Person and Product is what creates an Experience. Without these people who not only offer stories, nature and local food, but also offer themselves, we would not have been as professional as we actually now are.

In conclusion, its about time I expressed my thanks too. I would like to express my thanks for being able to go on this journey in my assigned part of the world, and to thank all the personalities who work hard every day to make this region an even better destination for tourists from all over the world.

Youre the best people with the greatest experiences.

8 the dragon Lady, the U-2 spy plane at the Norwegian aviation Centre: a plane that conveys the history of the Cold War! Stunning! 9 Flakstadstranda, Lofoten: Surfing the Arctic way. 10 Frode hov at hov: horses, golf and storytelling at their very best 11 Storvgan: a compact experience with a gallery, museum and aquarium accessible from the same car park 12 The Lofoten Aquarium 13 the Northern Lights Cathedral in alta: Its far more than a cathedral. 14 a rorbu in Storvgan: where the history is preserved in the walls 15 the Blacksmith of Sund: No trip to Lofoten is complete without meeting Tor-Vegard! 16 terje Be: You are a reincarnation of the Viking chief. 17 Jim Olaisen in Nusfjord: The boknafisk was to the clients liking. ALL PHOTOS: ERIK JOACHIMSEN /CNNS

Your Gateway to Northern Norway & SvalbardNorthern Norway and Svalbard offer ultimate cruise opportu -nities. Our region is powered by breathtaking nature and offers a host of unique opportunities based on nature, culture and activities.

At Cruise Northern Norway & Svalbard (CNNS) we will do our utmost to facilitate the cruise lines and agents to provide an outstanding service for passengers who visit our cruise region.

We strongly believe that our future success will depend on our ability to constantly improve existing shore excursions and develop new ones.

CNNS also considers that turnaround operations in the north-ernmost part of Europe are the key to success.

On our website cnns.no you will find information about our shorex project, turnaround opportunities, winter cruise and port information. In addition, you will be able to read news and browse through our extensive photo gallery.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss joint opportunities in Northern Norway and Svalbard. We will do our outmost to offer your cruise line or agency the best shore excursion opportunities and infrastructure in our cruise region to create unforgettable adventures for your passengers

Kindest regards

Harriet Willassen Erik Joachimsen Chair of the Board Managing Director

cnns.no


Cruise North magazine 2015

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Transcript of Cruise North magazine 2015