Hurtigruten launches new portal for UK travel agents

Hurtigruten Group has unveiled an online platform to provide UK travel agents with the information and support needed to help sell Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express cruises. 

The new platform, agentportal.hurtigruten.com, shows live availability and real-time pricing with an option for instant booking. The portal also has details of agent bookings and commissions; exclusive access to offers and deals; information on the cruises, destinations, ships and excursions; in-depth training to become a Certified Hurtigruten Specialist; and other customised marketing materials. 

As part of the launch, Hurtigruten Group are offering travel agents a chance to win a cabin on a four-day cruise from Portsmouth to Liverpool, departing May 7, 2022, on the battery-hybrid powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridjof Nansen. For a chance to win, travel agents must sign up to the platform by July 31, be UK-based and aged over 18. 

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Mark Walter, head of UK Sales at Hurtigruten Group, said: “We understand that now more than ever our trade partners need quick access to up-to-date information, news, marketing support, training and an easy-to-use booking system. Our new agent portal does exactly this and we are delighted to launch all this handy information in one place. We urge travel agents across the country to sign up today and start using this excellent platform.”

The group unveiled that booking levels are currently 50 per cent higher than before the pandemic, with strong demand for small-ship experiences in 2022. As travel restrictions ease, Hurtigruten will be resuming their Norwegian coastal sailing this July between Bergen and Kirkenes. All of its seven cruise ships will be returning to service after 18 months of limited operations due to coronavirus — Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express will be the only company offering voyages along the Norwegian coast this summer. 

Hurtigruten Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: “As vaccines are being rolled out and travel restrictions are lifted, we are seeing a huge pent-up demand and strong booking trends across all markets. When international travel resumes, we will be ready to welcome our guests on board again.”

In May this year, Hurtigruten announced a large-scale green upgrade to the entire fleet of ships that cruise Norway. By 2023, new batteries and biofuels will be used to cut carbon emissions by 25 per cent and NOx emissions by 80 per cent. The company has a track record of minimising their impact within the cruise industry, launching the world’s first battery-hybrid powered cruise ships in 2017.