Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDeparts 05:00 PM The Netherlandsââ¬â¢ second-largest city and Europeââ¬â¢s busiest port is home to some of the 20th and 21st centuries' most important architectural feats, which is particularly impressive when you consider that nearly all of Rotterdam was razed to the ground during World War II. Sometimes referred to as ââ¬ÅManhattan-on-the-Maas,ââ¬Â the city lives up to its reputation as a forward-looking metropolis with fascinating design and some of the Netherlands' finest museums and most trendy shops.
Marvel at buildings by starchitects Rem Koolhaas and Norman Foster or get lost in the maze of gabled homes in historic Delfshaven, the point from which the Pilgrims set sail for the New World aboard the Speedwell in 1620. In the postwar years, Rotterdam has also become one of the most diverse cities on the continent as waves of migrants from elsewhere in Europe, North Africa and Turkey have come to work in the shipping industry, concentrated here thanks to the cityââ¬â¢s location on the deltas of the Rhine and Maas rivers. With its sweeping harbor and massive Europoort, the city has quickly grown to become the largest port in all of Europe.
Day At Sea
Day Skjolden, Norway / Scenic cruising SognefjordArrives 10:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM / Cruising Located at the end of picturesque Lusterfjord with its emerald-green waters from melting glaciers, Skjolden is nestled between Norway's highest mountain range, Jotunheimen National Park and two glaciers. It is home to the wooden, 12th century Urnes Stave Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Scenic cruising Sognefjord
Norway's Sognefjord is the longest and deepest fjord in the world. Imagine 205 majestic winding kilometers (127 miles) of beautiful villages, centuries-old architecture including wooden stave churches, towering mountains with snow-covered peaks, cascading waterfalls and panoramic views. It is also a region known for its traditional food, folklore, music and rich culture. Set in the southern part of the country, centrally located at the heart of Fjord Norway (as the region is known), the fjord reaches depths of more than 1,308 meters (4,291 feet). It also soars to the sky, with rugged cliffs rising to more than 1,700 meters (5,577 feet). This is nature at its most dramatic. In fact, one of the Sognefjord's arms, the Nærøyfjord, is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Urnes Stave Church, which was build around 1130 is also included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. As the poet John Keats once wrote, âThe poetry of earth is never dead,â and within the Sognefjord lie many sonnets of life. Be inspired by its treasures. All you have to do is sit back and watch the spectacular wonder of this destination.
Day Stavanger, NorwayArrives 10:00 AM Departs 07:00 PM "Before this port city on Norway's western coast earned its status as the epicenter of âblack goldâ and the extraction of North Sea oil, it was a shipbuilding and fish-canning town. Fuelled by its wealth as one of the world's top energy capitals, it's now home to top-notch fusion restaurants and a bustling nightlife that caters to a never-ending influx of expatriates.
Amidst this financial boom, though, Stavanger has managed to hold on to its heritage and soul: Archaeological museums and reconstructed settlements pay due reverence to the city's Viking past. The cobblestoned Old Town is a well-preserved core of white wooden cottages near an Anglo-Norman cathedral, the oldest in Norway. Natural beauty abounds, too, with the nearby Lysefjord and its impressive Preikestolen (âThe Pulpit Rockâ) drawing a steady stream of visitors during the summer.
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Day Kristiansand, NorwayArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM "The capital of the southern coastal region known as the Norwegian Riviera, Kristiansand has earned the nickname âSummer City.â The Gulf Stream keeps temperatures mild and snow to a minimum, so Kristiansand is Norway's outdoor playground.
Even with just a few hours, Kristiansand's grid layout makes it simple to get around on foot to explore historic sites such as Posebyen (the old town), which dates back to 1631, and former military fortresses and installations. Within the city limits are a number of forested recreational areas, a fish market with harbor views and even a sandy beach. The coastline is dotted with islands, skerries and picturesque fishing villages and farther afield, highlights of the region include Kristiansand Zoo & Amusement Park, the quaint town of Lillesand and Setesdal Mineral Park, with glittering displays of crystals and gems.
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Day Scenic cruising Oslo Fjord / Oslo, NorwayCruising / Arrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM "Not a fjord in the geological sense, the Oslo Fjord is actually a vast expanse of water stretching south from the Norwegian capital for nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles). Almost half of Norway's population lives within an hour's drive of the fjord, so there's plenty to see along the shoreline, from islands and skerries to major towns and cities.
Day Rotterdam, The NetherlandsArrives 07:00 AM The Netherlandsââ¬â¢ second-largest city and Europeââ¬â¢s busiest port is home to some of the 20th and 21st centuries' most important architectural feats, which is particularly impressive when you consider that nearly all of Rotterdam was razed to the ground during World War II. Sometimes referred to as ââ¬ÅManhattan-on-the-Maas,ââ¬Â the city lives up to its reputation as a forward-looking metropolis with fascinating design and some of the Netherlands' finest museums and most trendy shops.
Marvel at buildings by starchitects Rem Koolhaas and Norman Foster or get lost in the maze of gabled homes in historic Delfshaven, the point from which the Pilgrims set sail for the New World aboard the Speedwell in 1620. In the postwar years, Rotterdam has also become one of the most diverse cities on the continent as waves of migrants from elsewhere in Europe, North Africa and Turkey have come to work in the shipping industry, concentrated here thanks to the cityââ¬â¢s location on the deltas of the Rhine and Maas rivers. With its sweeping harbor and massive Europoort, the city has quickly grown to become the largest port in all of Europe.