Norwegian Fjords & Iceland – with Seabourn

The ship departs at 5pm this evening.

Founded in 997, Trondheim is one of Norway’s oldest cities, situated midway between southern and northern Norway. Dominated by the massive Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim is often referred to as the Royal City. Traditionally, the kings of Norway have been crowned in the cathedral, which is considered a National Shrine. Straddling both sides of the River Nid, on Trondheimfjord, much of the town was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1681 destroyed the majority of its original wooden structures. Some of the oldest buildings, dating to the 1700s, have survived along the river, while the wide streets of the city center boast picturesque and brightly painted houses.

A coastal city, Brønnøysund’s origin dates back to its 13th century Viking heritage. In the intervening centuries, it has been settled by immigrants from southern Norway and Sweden, and its local Swedish-like dialect still carries echoes of this past.

Huddled together in what appears to be a wall of solid rock, the Lofotens are actually several islands. Their scenery, revealed when the ice disappeared from the last Ice Age, is held to be among the most dramatic in Norway. Svolvaer, located on the island of Austvaagoey, received town status in 1996, and is the Lofotens’ most important city with about 4,500 residents. Dominating the town is the mountain peak called Svolvaergeita, a beacon for climbers. Fishermen flock here when the Norwegian Arctic cod enters the Vestfjord to spawn. Artists prize the picturesque setting and extraordinary light conditions.

Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the ninth most populous municipality in the country. It surprises visitors with its sophisticated art scene, its contrasting modern and historical architecture, international cuisine, multicultural events, and festivals throughout the year.

Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is within the land of the midnight sun during summer months and the elusive northern lights in winter. However, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the sea doesn’t freeze here in winter, and there is no permafrost in the vicinity. Tromsø is noticeably milder than other towns at the same latitudes in other parts of the world.

Tromsø is also ‘The City of Explorers’ and has seen a number of expeditions set off from its shores to the probe the polar realm. Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited men in the city. Nowadays home to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø continues a tradition of being one of the key centers in explorations of the Arctic.

The perpendicular cliffs of Nordkapp, or the North Cape, mark the very top of the European continent. This ultimate destination has long drawn adventurous royalty including Oscar II, King of Norway and Sweden, who visited in 1873, and followed by the King of Siam in 1907. The North Cape is located on the island of Mageroey, a name derived from a word that means “meager.” While the landscape may have a lunar appearance, it is not really so isolated. Just 21 miles away, the main town, Honningsvåg, has some 4,000 inhabitants. In summer that number swells when the Sami people and their reindeer settle on the outskirts of town.

The small village of Olden is located deep in the Nordfjord, cradled in a lush valley among snowcapped peaks. It has welcomed visitors arriving by ship since the end of the 19th century, as attested by the venerable Hotel Alexandria dating from 1884. There are some very old farms around Olden, including some believed to predate the Christian era here. Less than four miles away, the village of Loen is nestled at the base of Mt. Hoven, where a newly opened Skylift cable car can carry visitors from sea level to the mountaintop at 1,011 meters in about five minutes. There, they will enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers, and the fjords, farms and villages below. A strung cable Via Ferrata invites ambitious climbers to clip on and ascend the mountain on foot. The village is the popular gateway to the sprawling Jostedalsbreen National Park, with its system of glaciers feeding waterfalls including the Ramnefjellsfossen, whose three free-falling cascades tumble nearly 2,700 feet, making it the world’s third-highest waterfall. Mt. Skala is another popular attraction, boasting twin peaks of over 7,000 feet in altitude.

Stunningly beautiful Bergen is the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life, and is also the gateway to Norway’s fjords. Since King Olav Kyrre founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all over the world. The city’s history has been marked by numerous great fires, and what remains of the Bryggen, its old inner harbor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the colorful setting for one of Norway’s most popular postcard views.

Bergen is a cultural melting pot, with concerts, international festivals and museums of all kinds. The renowned Hanseatic Museum and Gamlehaugen Mansion, the residence of the Norwegian Royal Family, are two of the many highlights. Den Nationale Scene Theater is one of the oldest in Norway, while beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, built by King Olav Kyrre in 1066, has been the site of numerous royal coronations and burials. The Bergenhus fortress, built in 1240, is situated at the harbor entrance and is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone fortifications in Norway.

The delightfully attractive city of Amsterdam is home to many of the world’s great art treasures, and is a major center of the glamorous diamond trade as well. Unique architectural styles of the past blend with superb modern structures, and the web of curved and straight canals makes the city as easy to traverse by water as by land. The hospitality of the local people has been remarked upon by generations of travelers, and the Dutch’s respect for and tolerance of the beliefs of others has attracted refugees from around the world for centuries.

Approaching the coast, ships are greeted by the ethereal White Cliffs of Dover. This iconic strip of milky-white land serves as England’s welcoming beacon, its stark beauty becoming more apparent as you draw closer. The coastline unfurls like a grand tapestry, its white chalk cliffs streaked with black flint, rising majestically 350 feet straight from the sea’s embrace.

The echoes of ancient times resonate from every corner of Dover. Archaeological treasures hint at the presence of human life during the Stone Age, painting a vivid picture of the region’s rich history. However, it was the Romans who first recorded Dover’s significance, drawn by its strategic location just 21 miles from the French mainland. Dover is home to remarkable Roman remnants, including the tallest Roman-built lighthouse still standing in Britain, as well as the only preserved Roman wall mural outside Italy.

The Orkney Archipelago, a collection of stark, treeless islands off Scotland’s northern coast, is steeped in history dating back over 5,000 years. Here you’ll find Europe’s densest concentration of ancient Neolithic sites, and rugged coastlines framed by towering cliffs of Old Red Sandstone from the Devonian period.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
Option 1: Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Journey through a landscape of rich farmland, rolling hills, and moorland to explore the heart of Neolithic Orkney. Marvel at the ceremonial Standing Stones of Stenness, and visit the eerily beautiful Ring of Brodgar on a windswept plain. Discover Skara Brae, Orkney’s most exciting Neolithic village and the best-preserved of its kind in Northern Europe. This 5,000-year-old settlement was buried under sand until a storm in 1850 revealed its secrets.

Option 2: Highlights of Orkney with Guided tour of Stromness
Head into Mainland, Orkney’s largest island, passing through the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney. Stop at the Ring of Brodgar, a massive ceremonial circle of stones dating back nearly 5,000 years. Continue to Stromness, a charming fishing village, for a guided tour along the picturesque harbor and flag-stoned high street. Your circular tour follows Scapa Flow’s coastline, a famous British Naval Base in both World Wars.

The bay of Vopnafjörður was first settled by Vikings in the late 9th century. The first record of it is in the Vopnfirðinga saga, one of the classic Family Sagas, a series of epic family histories written in the 13th century. Little is known about the history of Vopnafjörður after Iceland lost its independence to Norway in 1264.

This is an area of truly rugged, natural beauty. Devoid of trees and carpeted in thick mosses, the landscape surrounding Vopnafjörður is typical of the extreme east coast of Iceland. Gljúfursárfoss, a graceful, cascading waterfall plunges into a very dramatic gorge. It is one of the best known waterfalls in this part of the country. A highlight of Icelandic culture and lifestyle is the Bustarfell Folk Museum. Bustarfell is a quaint group of six houses, many centuries old, constructed in the traditional Icelandic farm style. The brown wooden houses, gabled in red with grass-grown roofs, is one of the oldest and best preserved farms of its kind in Iceland.

Akureyri is the second largest urban area in Iceland, with a population of around 18,000. Referred to as ‘The Capital of the North’, it is situated at the head of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland and only 62 miles (100 km) from the Arctic Circle. It is a cultured city, with a university, numerous galleries, museums, art exhibitions, and live theater performances. Visit Akureyri, Iceland’s charming northern town, blending vibrant culture with breathtaking fjord views.

The Westfjords in northwest Iceland is a remote and sparsely populated peninsula of steep, tall mountains cut by dozens of fjords. The lack of flat lowlands suitable for farming played a key role in keeping this region wild and sparsely populated. The raw and untamed natural landscape around Ísafjörður is characterized by a subarctic environment. A colorful show of blooming tundra wildflowers carpets the mountain slopes and valleys during the short, cool summer.

Vigur Island, second largest island in the Westfjords region, is one of the most renowned areas in Iceland for viewing nesting birds en masse. The area’s cliffs host an astonishing wealth of nesting birdlife, while the occasional arctic fox can be spotted patrolling the edges of the bird colonies in hope of an easy meal.

According to Icelandic history, Ísafjörður was first settled in the 9th century by a man called Helgi Magri Hrólfsson. The oldest house in Iceland, built in 1734, can be found in Ísafjörður and is now a part of a local museum.

Steeped in history and bursting with contemporary flair, Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E, marking the birth of the first permanent settlement on this island nation. Today, it is home to approximately 200,000 inhabitants, making up nearly 60% of Iceland’s population. Reykjavík holds the title of the world’s northernmost national capital, and it takes pride in its reputation as one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities globally. Its commitment to sustainability and eco-consciousness is evident in every corner, from its energy-efficient buildings to its pollution-free skies.

Heimaey Island is the largest in the Westman Islands located four miles off the south-west coast of Iceland. One of the most visually impressive islands in Iceland, it is ringed by tall, vertical sea cliffs many hundreds of feet high. Heimaey is also the home to over eight million Atlantic puffins, more nesting puffins than anywhere else on earth. A local story tells that puffin chicks, taking their first flights at night, often become stranded in the village streets, where the local children rescue them and set them free the next day.

In January of 1973 the island received the nickname, ‘Pompeii of the North’ when a volcanic eruption and lava flow destroyed half the town. This caused a crisis when the town’s only harbor was nearly blocked by advancing lava. Nowadays it is a lively place with a vibrant culture and over four thousand residents. Archaeological excavations suggest that people lived on Heimaey as early as the 10th Century.

Djúpivogur is a very small, quaint town of some 456 people, located in East Iceland in Berufjörður fjord. Towering, pyramid-shaped Mount Búlandstindur dominates the landscape, rising to 3,510’ (1,069 m). It is a place of unspoiled nature, with quiet lagoons and a tranquil harbor populated by colorful fishing boats. The area is well-known for the diversity of birdlife, especially in nearby Búlandsnes Bird Sanctuary where most of Iceland’s bird species can be observed.

Time seems to flow more slowly here, because the residents have chosen a much different lifestyle, enriched with opportunities to observe their natural surroundings. Djúpivogur is a creative community, displaying its local arts and crafts in workshops and galleries. The Eggs of Merry Bay, ‘Eggin í Gleðivík,’ is a large outdoor art installation by renowned Icelandic artist Sigurður Guðmundsson. It consists of 34 large sculpted stone eggs representing the 34 bird species found in the vicinity. Located only a kilometre from the town center, it makes an easy and pleasant stroll along the shore.

People have lived and prospered on Shetland since Neolithic times. The site of Clickimin Broch, a hollow-stone-walled structure, was a Late Bronze Age farmstead of the 7th century BCE. Historic Fort Charlotte, built in 1653, is a five-sided fortress, with cannon batteries pointing out to sea.

Shetland was ruled by the Norse for several hundred years, but Norse culture and practice survived long after the period of Norse rule. Placenames are almost exclusively Norse, while there is also genetic evidence showing that around 60% of Shetlanders stem from a western Norwegian lineage. Houses are of Scandinavian style and the Shetland flag is based in the design of the main Scandinavian flags. Perhaps the strongest clue of the relationship between these places lies in the dialect spoken by Shetlanders today, which contains many Old Norse words.

The main town of Lerwick was built on the herring trade and modernized by the oil trade, the town has a strong maritime feel. Today it is home to a third of the islands’ population. Britain’s most northerly town, is a small, bustling, cosmopolitan seaport with a population of over 7,000 people and fine architecture. The name Lerwick is derived from Norse and means ‘bay of clay.’

Positioned as a major port with a rich maritime past, Invergordon serves as a gateway to the majestic Scottish Highlands. The capital of the highlands, Inverness, has been a pivotal player in Scotland’s history, witnessing numerous clan battles since its medieval days as the Pictish capital. The Battle of Culloden, fought near Inverness in 1746, marked the end of the Jacobite rising and is a significant historical event.

Sadly our cruise ends today, with disembarkation this morning.