M/S Maarten welcomes you aboard. We can offer you lots of cultural experiences, fun and adventure. The frame around all of this is located at sea, by our beautiful Southern Norwegian archipelago. M/S Maarten is very popular and is steady trafficking throughout the summer. We tailor any trip or business trip to fill the customer's needs. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed!
M/S Maarten is ideal for groups up to 100 people. The upper deck gives you the overview you need, and in the cabin, there are 70 comfortable seats at your disposal. The boat is equipped with large windows, which allows you to experience the sights from a warm atmosphere.
MS Maarten offers the following trips, to cruise passengers, who are visiting Kristiansand.
These tours must be booked through your cruise companies.
Kristiansand and vicinity by boat.
A highlight on this nautical excursion is sailing through Skippergada, a natural maritime canal between two islands. Along both sides of this narrow canal are quaint timber houses built around 1800 in the traditional southern style. After nearly 2 hours on board the sightseeing boat, you dock at a small local harbor, Korsvik, and travel by coach to the charming town of Lillesand. This bustling summer paradise was once the home of eight busy shipyards that produced around 50 wooden sailing ships from the 1860s till the 1900s. You go on a pleasant and informative town walk between the signature white timber houses. Many of the houses are listed and some date back to the 1730s. You visit the lively marina and after a little free time (schedule permitting), we return to our ship by coach.
Time: 4 hours (1 hour and 45 minutes onboard the sightseeing boat, MS Maarten)
Discover Ny-Hellesund and Høllen
This archipelago boat tour includes a visit to an old out harbour, a coach journey along the coast and city sightseeing in Kristiansand. The archipelago around Kristiansand comprises former out harbours, narrow passages with calm waters and hundreds of small islands and islets. The boat sails westwards from the cruise pier to Ny-Hellesund – in its days an important hub for sea traffic along the coast. This out harbour had its own pilot station, customs office and a guest house, and could accommodate as many as a hundred sail ships simultaneously.
Then the boat takes us to the small village of Høllen, resplendent with white painted houses and beautiful gardens. Finally, the coach takes us along a scenic coastal road, rounding it off with a city sightseeing before returning to the cruise pier.
TIME: 4 hours (approx. 1 hour 45 min. on board the sightseeing boat M/S Maarten)
Walking distance: Approx. 700 m
Through Blindleia and Lillesand
On board the sightseeing boat you explore a narrow 20 km (12 mile) passage known as Blindleia, protected from the open sea by a number of islands and skerries. You pass old outports, smaller ports where once sailing ships sought refuge and thriving communities evolved. Today, most of the local houses have been turned into idyllic summer houses, still kept in the traditional style. You conclude your trip in the charming town of Lillesand. This bustling summer paradise was once the home of eight busy shipyards that produced around 50 wooden sailing ships from the 1860s till the 1900s. You go on a pleasant and informative walk in town and take in the signature white timber houses. Many of the houses are listed and some date back to the 1730s. You visit the lively marina and after a little pause (time permitting) you return to our ship by coach.
Time: 4 hours (approx. 2 hours 30 min. onboard the sightseeing boat MS Maarten).
M/S Maarten is ideal for groups up to 100 people. The upper deck gives you the overview you need, and in the cabin there are 70 comfortable seats at your disposal. The boat is equipped with large windows, which allows you to experience the sights from a warm atmosphere.
The employees working at M/S Maarten emphasizes that safety is important while on board. We spend a lot of resources on the ship so that it can maintain its good condition, and that the crew has approved education and courses. We have annual inspections from both the Norwegian Maritime Directorate and the Directorate for Civil Protection & Emergency. We also have inspections on the fire extinguishers, the electricity, VHF- security etc. Additionally, we are subject to the rules of the FSA and liquor license control.
These tours are not recommended for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility due to steps onboard sightseeing boat.