Cruise around the Fjords

The Arctic gateway, Tromso at 69 degrees north, is renowned for the midnight sun in summer and the Northern Lights in winter. The Arctic Cathedral, with stained-glass windows, hosts midnight concerts. The Fjellheisen cable car offers panoramic views from Mount Storstei­nen, while the historic centre features old wooden houses. The Polar Museum chronicles early polar explorations, and the thriving Alpine Botanic Garden adds to Tromso's charm.

Trollfjorden is unbelievable. A 100m-wide entrance to a narrow fjord with near-vertical mountainous sides up to 1,100 m high, the passage slices through Austvågøya, on the edge of the Lofoten Islands. As the ship enters the fjord, the silence is only broken by the gentle sound of the ship's engines and the occasional cry of a white-tailed eagle soaring overhead. At the end of the fjord, the ship slowly spins, offering a final captivating view.

Svolvær is a classic Norwegian fishing port, tucked away on Austvågøya in the Lofoten Islands. Surrounded by peaks and beaches, bays and craggy inlets, it’s an age-old picture, a jumble of white and red clapboard houses, the clear water filled with little, bobbing boats. Popular with mountain climbers, the town’s mountain Fløya commands a spectacular viewpoint across the harbour and Vestfjord.

The mighty Svartisen glacier, Norway’s second biggest, pours down the mountain almost to Svartisvatnet lake. The glacier visitor centre is a fascinating place with access to hikes along the edge of the ice flow, up to 200 m thick. Glorious Holandsfjord is just the other end of a short channel from the lake and the ship has stirring views. The little village of Holandsvika sits across the fjord, with an 18-km lakeside path and boat trips.

Bronnoysund, a charming town on a narrow peninsula midway up Norway's coast, is surrounded by islands. Torghatten, a granite mountain on Torget island, is renowned for its unique, natural hole. Boat trips explore the Vega Archipelago UNESCO site, known for shallow waters, fishing docks, and nesting spots for eider ducks. The Norwegian Aquaculture Centre offers insights into salmon farming through aquariums, underwater cameras, and a restaurant.

Tucked away amongst the hills of Trondheim fjord, Trondheim is a Viking city founded in the 11th century that is filled with colourful timber buildings. Nidaros Cathedral is the burial site of Viking king St Olav (c. 995 – 29 July 1030). The mighty 17th-century Kristiansten Fortress is the country’s best preserved fortification. Stiftsgården, the Norwegian royal residence, is believed to be one of the largest wooden buildings in northern Europe.

The Eidsfjorden village of Nordfjordeid has a craftsman-built replica of Myklebust, Norway's largest known Viking ship. The surroundings boast rich Viking burial mounds. Nordfjordeid is also the gateway to Briksdalsbreen Glacier, an accessible arm of the expansive Jostedalsbreen glacier. At the end of Innvikfjorden, the Loen Skylift gondola ascends 1,011 metres, offering breathtaking views.

The magnificent gateway to the fjords, Bergen is a medieval port surrounded by mountains. From the beauty of Bryggen, the seafront maze of ancient timber buildings, to the modern Fløibanen Funicular that soars up Fløyen peak, no one would want to miss this city. Other highlights are the aquarium, the KODE art museum encompassing Norway’s Edvard Munch, as well as Picasso, while outside town is composer Edvard Grieg’s enchanting house.

One of Norway’s most dramatic sights is sailing the mighty Hardangerfjord (at 179 km, Norway’s second longest) with its impressive waterfalls and then through to the end of Ulvikafjorden. Ulvik village, nestled amid mountains, offers breathtaking scenery reflected in glistening waters. It's an ideal destination for hikes, kayaking, and water activities. In May, the slopes come alive with the blossoms of thousands of fruit trees.

The southernmost town in Norway has a curving 1 km, grassy dune-backed beach, Sea Sand, one of seven beaches in Furulunden forest park. Sea Sand is only one of the calm, beautiful hideaways surrounding this charming town of white-painted buildings at the mouth of the river Mandalselva. The snaking waterway is filled with sailboats while gentle hills rise as a backdrop. Mandal also has the largest wooden church in Norway, seating 1,800 people.

This tiny German island, 2 km long and 56 m above sea level in the North Sea, is surrounded by jagged red sandstone cliffs. The mostly grassy plateau joined Schleswig-Holstein in 1890, after periods as possessions of Denmark and the United Kingdom. Tours of Festung Helgoland bunkers and war tunnels shed light on the island's wartime naval history. Today, Helgoland is a peaceful retreat, inviting windswept walks and birdwatching.

Amsterdam is a gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the heart of things. Yet, the magic also unfolds while strolling through narrow streets and crossing the hundreds of bridges. It houses a treasure trove of fabulous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, adorned with Dutch Masters, conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum. To the south, picturesque stretches of countryside with windmills line the canals.