When I cruised in the Arctic this summer on Lindblad's National Geographic Explorer I was amazed that several brave souls went swimming off the ship in the icy water.
Well, "swimming" is something of an exaggeration. They plunged in, shreiked and leapt out, into the warm embrace of a waiting towel. I imagine most also broke all records as they raced to the sauna.
Now Hurtigruten is offering passengers the chance to get their chills, this time by taking a plunge into the Barents Sea in Vardo, in Norway, the most easterly town in Western Europe and on a level with Siberia.
No need to worry, says the blurb, the Barents Sea is ice-free in winter due to the Gulf Stream. Oh that's all right then. I'll maybe freeze to death but at least I won't get hit by a passing iceberg (cue Titanic music).
I'm only joking of course. It sounds a really fun thing to do and I'm still kicking myself that I didn't plunge into the Arctic waters. It was all the people watching that put me off. Or at least that's my excuse.
Hurtigruten's seven-day Voyage North from Bergen to Kirkenes, stopping at Vardo, costs from £659 per person excluding flights and provided you book December 31 (after that the price goes up to £941 per person).
To book, see your cruise travel agent, call Hurtigruten on 020 8846 2666 or click here.
Jane Archer
