Arctic Days & Northern Lights

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 1800-962-043 to make a reservation.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan are due at time of booking. Your deposit is AUD $1,700.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to the Tauck Australia office 90 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Deposit Protection Plan – Tauck provides a "Deposit Protection Plan" at a cost of AUD $89 per person per tour or cruise. The cost is non-refundable and non-transferable and must be paid at the time of booking with your deposit. It only applies when you cancel your tour or cruise prior to final payment date. The deposit held in credit will exclude fees imposed by third parties in relation to air, rail travel, hotels, transfer or applicable cruise cabins. When booking airfares through Tauck (including when taking advantage of a special offer that includes air travel), standard airline cancellation fees will apply. In some cases, airfares will be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation, these fees will be deducted from the deposit paid, and therefore the credit being held. We will only credit the remainder of deposit to a future tour or cruise booking if you book within 24 months of cancellation of the original Tauck tour or cruise. This offer expires after the 24 months. We will only credit the remainder of the deposit to a future tour or cruise booking Balance Due and it can't be used as a credit for the initial deposit of a future tour or cruise booking. The Tauck "Deposit Protection Plan" only covers a Tauck tour or cruise and it does not replace Travel Insurance, which we recommend at the time of booking.

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in costly penalties and fees from hotels, ship operators and other travel providers. Therefore, the per person fees listed below will apply:

Land Tours

Cancellation penalties for land tours apply as follows:

60 days or more before departure

Loss of Deposit.

8 days before departure

25% total cost of tour

7 days or less before departure

Loss of Deposit.

60 days before departure

59-1 day before departure

Please note -  Airfares included on On-Tour Flights required with any of Tauck tours may be subject to different cancellation fees not outlined above.

* For services included in your booking that are not provided by Tauck, additional cancellation fees may be incurred

* Travel Professionals may impose their own cancellation fees.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Tour Interruption Fees: If you have to interrupt your tour en route, you may be entitled to a refund for the unused land portion if it exceeds 24 hours; certain restrictions apply. Such refunds are based upon the number of overnights missed less a fee of AUD $50 per person per day for unused transportation and other fixed expenses.

Partial Room Cancellation: A person who cancels or leaves a tour while a roommate remains constitutes a cancellation of one type of accommodation and rebooking of another type of accommodation. The price charged to the remaining person is the new, higher price for the new accommodation.

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Norway. A visa is not currently required.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact a consulate or embassy of  Norway to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

You will be issued a boarding card, which you must present before embarking the ship in each port. This security measure also ensures that only guests of the ship are permitted onboard.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver's license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Cruise Regulations

International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to us prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied. Once you board the cruise ship, your passport will be held by the purser until you disembark.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

 Checked Luggage – General

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

A certified French physician and nurse travel aboard ship and are available at all times, and an onboard treatment room is available. A nominal fee is charged to your shipboard account for office visits and any medication dispensed. We strongly suggest that each guest contact their physician at home to discuss their personal level of health before embarking on this Arctic expedition.

As on any seagoing vessel, some marked motion may be anticipated in certain areas, dependent upon the weather and season. We recommend that passengers bring anti-motion medication just in case, even if you have never experienced motion sickness in the past. We suggest consulting your physician about appropriate medication.

The water on board the ship is potable, and complimentary bottled water is placed in your cabin each day. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Efforts are made to accommodate guests with special dietary needs. We must be notified of the special dietary needs prior to embarkation. The galley is not equipped to prepare or serve kosher cuisine.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren't required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.

Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site. It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.

Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective. Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive, and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).

Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Tauck. Tauck is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations.

If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries, or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.

MOBILITY

Activities: On a scale of 1 (easiest) to 4 (most challenging), the activities on your itinerary are rated Level 3. Therefore, active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. You should be able to walk two-to-three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty. Additionally, you must have good balance and be steady on your feet to move about the ship while cruising.

Pacing: On a scale of 1 (easiest) to 4 (most challenging), the pacing on your itinerary is rated Level 2. Your journey is moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motorcoach travel.

You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN AND MOBILITY ISSUES: This Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate oxygen tanks, wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Oxygen tanks are strictly prohibited in many foreign countries on regional flights aboard small aircraft, such as those intra-tour flights featured on this Tauck journey. Likewise, the very limited cargo capacity on such flights prohibits the transport of wheelchairs or motorized scooters.

Guests should also bear in mind that the infrastructure in many foreign countries, particularly in developing countries, often presents severe and even insurmountable challenges for those with walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The responsibility of the Tauck Director is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches or inside the ship, including inside staterooms. Smoking is only permitted on the outer decks in the designated smoking areas. These regulations pertain to e-cigarettes as well.

Tromsø, Honningsvåg, and the Arctic Circle experience dramatic seasonal shifts, with cold, snowy winters and cool, mild summers. From November to March, temperatures range from -5°C to 1°C (23°F to 34°F), with polar nights and frequent Northern Lights displays. Summers, from June to August, bring 8°C to 15°C (46°F to 59°F), with the Midnight Sun shining from late May to late July. Coastal areas, like Tromsø and Honningsvåg, have milder winters due to ocean currents, while inland Arctic regions can drop below -20°C (-4°F) in winter. Expect rapidly changing conditions and dress in layers year-round.

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

The Northern Lights occur when the solar flares blast out charged particles that race through space as solar wind. At speeds ranging from 186 to 622 mi (300 to 1000 km) per second, the solar wind commonly takes two to four days to travel the 93 million mi (149 million km) to earth. The particles penetrate the Earth's magnetic field and travel down into the ionosphere along the lines of the magnetic field around the poles. At an altitude of between 60 and 400 mi (97 and 643 km), the particles strike the gases in the ionosphere, causing them to glow and thus form the aurora.