Norwegian cruise offers new shore excursions
Norway’s Arctic spring The Hurtigruten cruise line has unveiled what it calls The Arctic Awakening, in celebration of spring, with special shipboard activities and new optional shore excursions between March 15 and May 31 on the company’s six- to 12-day excursions along Norway’s west coast, with 34 ports of call between Bergen and the Arctic Circle city of Kirkenes near Norway’s border with Russia.
A special 12-day package for North American residents only that departs May 3 starts at $3,644 U.S. per person, based on double occupancy. That’s a savings of 25 per cent, or up to $1,235 U.S. off the regular price, if you book by May 4. The price includes the cruise, round-trip airfare from Newark, N.J., transfers in Norway and one night in a hotel.
I’m told that during the cruise, local fishermen will board the ship to show off Norwegian delicacies like fried cod tongue, and to teach guests how to shell crabs and clean fish. Optional shore excursions include a kayak trip along the mountainous coast of Tromsø; a visit to the largest seabird colony in Scandinavia on the island of Runde; and an outing on the Varanger Peninsula, home to many of Norway’s 450 species of birds. For more infor mation, visit hurtigruten.us.. Virginia is for beer lovers
The Afton Mountain Bed and Breakfast in Afton, Va., is offering a one-day tour of several breweries, until May 31; the rate is $250 U.S. for two people. That rate does not include a room at the B&B, but the package is only available if you book a room; room rates start at $109 U.S. The B&B recommends booking two nights because of the timing of the brewery visits in the afternoon. The package includes transport to and from four breweries, lunch, beer tastings, a $50 voucher for dinner at your choice of local gourmet restaurants, breakfast and guided tours of breweries and lessons on the history of production of Virginia ales. The brewery names alone should work up a thirst: They include the Devils Backbone Brewing Co. and the Starr Hill Brewery. For information visit afton moun tain.com or call 1-800-769-6844. St. Patrick’s Day getaways
The online booking service Cheapoair.com is offering a variety of packages if you want to get away on or around St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 – which falls on a Saturday this year. For example, you could jet to Dublin and stay at the Plaza Hotel there for three nights for $703 U.S. per person. The package includes roundtrip airfare from the New York City area (you leave from Newark airport and return through Kennedy airport).
Meanwhile, the Sanctuary Hotel near Times Square in New York City is offering a St. Patty’s Day special for $279 U.S. per room, per night for staysmarch16-18.atwo-night stay is required. The package includes two green sprinkled Sanctuary cupcakes upon arrival, two “Sanct” Patrick Day cocktails (Midori, blue Curaçao, banana liqueur and lemon juice topped with club soda); two festive green hats and beads to take to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which passes just steps away from the hotel and special attention from the concierge to direct you to “the best Irish bars the city has to offer.” For more information visit sanc tuaryhotelnyc.com. Centennial special in Boston
The Fair mont Copley Plaza hotel in Boston turns 100 on Aug. 19 and is celebrating with rates of $100 U.S. per person, per night based on double occupancy. This amounts to a savings of about $50 to $100 per room, per night, depending on the date. Available now through Dec. 31, the Celebration of a Century Package includes an overnight stay in a newly renovated guest room, a private hotel history tour and a history booklet. Another special, the Anniversary Offer, is available now through Dec. 30 for couples who spent their wedding night at the hotel. Couples must present proof of their wedding night stay to enjoy one night at the original rate they paid and the second night at the hotel’s best available rate. That package requires a minimum twonight stay. For more information visit fairmont.com/ copleyplaza/hotel Packages. For more information on deals in Massachusetts, visit mass vacation.com.