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HURTIGRUTEN’S GÖTA CANAL SAILINGS TRANSPORT TRAVELERS IN OLD WORLD STYLE
03-27-2008
PAST STUNNING SWEDISH LANDSCAPES FILLED WITH CASTLES, CLOISTERS AND CHURCHES
New York, NY, March 2008 -- Hurtigruten, formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage, is featuring a series of spring and summer two-, four- and six-day itineraries traversing Sweden’s premier waterway -- the Göta Canal -- aboard a choice of three restored vintage vessels that sail between the country’s second largest city, Gothenburg, and its capital, Stockholm. The full six-day cruises transit one river, three canals, eight lakes, 66 locks and two seas. The vessels, MS Diana, Juno and Wilhelm Tham, constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have been painstakingly restored to maintain the ambiance of bygone eras – but without sacrificing modern creature comforts. The six-day itineraries, available aboard all three vessels, are priced from $2,075 to $3,095 per person, double; four-day sailings, aboard the same ships, $1,275 to $2,425; and two-day cruises aboard MS Diana, $565 to $730. Fares include daily breakfast, two-course lunches and three-course dinners.
The cruises focus on the history of the canal, comprising a series of manmade locks between several stunning natural lakes, and the culture and attractions of the surrounding cities and towns, including a host of fascinating churches, monasteries and museums. In Trollhättan, once an obstacle for vessels traveling up the river until the lock system was completed in the 19th century, guests have the chance to visit the Trollhätte Canal Museum, housed in a warehouse that highlights a film on the history the Trollhätte Canal. At Älgens Berg’s Royal Hunts Museum, travelers can immerse themselves in the history of the region’s history, geology, flora and fauna, and the Swedish elk. Motala, considered the capital or heart of the canal, is the site where Baltzar von Platen, the canal’s creator, founded Motala Werkstad 1822, the start of Swedish industrialism -- and where guests can tour the Motala Motor Museum
Other highlights include a collection of castles: Läckö’s 13th-century Baroque-style De la Gardie Palace set on the shores of Lake Vänern and restored after standing empty for 150 years; the ruins of Stegeborg’s castle, whose fort dates from the early middle ages and overlooks the stunning Slätbaken bay; and in Vadstena, a cloister that houses King Gustav Vasa’s Gripsholm Castle, regarded as one of Sweden’s finest historic monuments. After traversing 11 locks to lower vessels into Lake Roxen at the Locks of Berg, guests can swim in the lake and visit the medieval Vreta and Monastery. The canal transports guests past the foot of the of the Ramunderberget Mountain in Söderköing; to Trosa where travelers enjoy a local punch that can be traced back to society life of the late 1800; and visit the Birka Viking City on Björkö island, a thriving trading community that was abandoned approximately 1,000 years ago and is now a World Heritage site.
The ships, appointed with mahogany paneling, brass fittings and paisley fabrics, feature a lounge, bar and diminutive library. Dining rooms boast French-Swedish cuisine, a robust selection of wines and 25 to 29 cozy cabins with bunk beds, washbasin and shared toilets and showers with privacy locks. The two-day itineraries sail from Motala and Söderköping in July and August; the four-day itineraries between Gothenburg and Stockholm from June through August; and the six-day itineraries between Gothenburg and Stockholm June through September. For more information about the cruise tours and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at, (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us.
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