Norwegian fjords cruising
CRUISE operators are increasing capacity in the Norwegian fjords as demand for the region grows.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines UK sales and marketing director Nigel Lingard said the operator is planning to add two weeks to each end of its fjord cruise season in 2000.
This will enable the programme to run from early May until early September, allowing time for three or four extra departures, depending on the length of cruises.
P&O Cruises is offering six fjord cruises this year, and is set to increase capacity in the area when its new ship Aurora is launched in May 2000.
General marketing director Nigel Esdale said more customers are taking fjord cruises because of the desire to experience a scenic voyage to areas which are not easily accessible by car or on foot.
Norwegian Cruise Line has increased the number of fjord cruises to three in 1999, compared to one it offered last year.
NCL executive director for the UK and Continental Europe, Bill Ellerington, said demand for fjord cruises is cyclical. “On balance, we find Baltic cruises are more consistently popular,” he said.
A Cunard Line spokesman said the company has reduced its fjord cruise programme because it has fewer ships available, although the two ships which are sailing in the region – QE2 and Royal Viking Sun – are expected to fill up.
Norwegian Coastal Voyages managing director Iain Cottam said the line has achieved a 26% increase in UK passenger numbers to 8,000 in 1998.
However, in forecasting an 8% growth from the UK this year, he sounded a note ofcaution.
“December is normally a big month for us, but this year was disappointing,” he said.
“People are talking about recession being around the corner. People are being more cautious. They aren’t booking with the same level of confidence as last year.”
Tour operator Scantours is operating four-day canal cruises between Stockholm and Gothenburg between May 11 and September 13.
The eight-day packages are made up of a four-day cruise and two-night stays in both Stockholm and Gothenburg. Prices start from ú945, based on two people sharing.
The cruises are operated on historic steam ships with a capacity of 60 passengers. Juno was built in 1874 and Wilhelm Tham in 1912.
Scantours sales and marketing director John Lawrence said: “The facilities are very similar to those you get in railway sleeping cars. There are washbasins in the cabins but other facilities are shared.”