Arctic Circle Crossing: North Cape

The largest port in Europe, Rotterdam, is an intriguing mix of the old and the new, with bold modern architecture intermixed with classic 18th and 19th century buildings. Destroyed during WWII, the city has since been completely rebuilt to become the Netherlands second largest city.

You'll dock at the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal, conveniently located in the heart of the city. The terminal is just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the city center, making it a quick 10-minute taxi ride or a pleasant 25-minute walk. Public transportation options include trams and buses, providing easy access to key attractions including the Markthal - a bustling market with diverse food stalls, and the Cube Houses, a unique architectural marvel. For a dose of history, visit the Maritime Museum.

A day cruising at sea offers you the perfect mix of relaxation and activity. Start your morning on the top-level decks with a game of pickleball, enjoying the fresh sea breeze and expansive ocean views. Or, head to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon® to rejuvenate with a therapeutic spa treatment. The Kids Club will keep younger guests entertained with a variety of fun events and activities, while you can unwind by the pool or enjoy a Pilates class at the Fitness Center.

In the evening, delight in a tantalizing meal at one of the ship's restaurants, and afterward, enjoy a world-class performance at the stunning World Stage, adding a touch of culture to your night. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or both, a day at sea will be full of unforgettable experiences.

Norway's longest and deepest fjord, Sognefjord, is truly one of the world's most stunning natural wonders. A cruise along this spectacular waterway will showcase the best that mother nature has to offer.

Imagine 205 majestic winding kilometres of beautiful villages, centuries-old architecture including wooden stave churches, towering mountains with snow-covered peaks, cascading waterfalls and panoramic views. Look out for little farms that cling perilously to a narrow shelf either beside the water or unbelievably perched partway up the wall.

A colourful, historic capital of Norway, Trondheim's history reaches back to 997 AD. It may be Norway's third-biggest city, but there's a welcoming and intimate feel here, with a photogenic waterfront, and glowing wooden warehouses adding old-time charm. Ships will dock in the port of Trondheim.

Top Things to Do in Trondheim:

• visit the Rockheim Museum
• walk a trail in Bymarka Nature Reserve
• visit the Nidaros Cathedral
• ride the historic trolley up Byåsen Hill
• stroll the charming Bakklandet district

When you sail the Trondheimsfjord, you sail along the route of the Vikings as they returned to their capital, Trondheim. While not one of Norway's most famous fjords, the Trondheimsfjord nevertheless played an important role in the country's history. Because it's ice-free year round, the Trondheimsfjord is home to a vast array of marine life and deepwater corals, and some of Norway’s most salmon-rich rivers empty into the fjord.

East of the city of Trondheim the coastline becomes more rugged, yet quiet beaches are common, most notably at Korsvika on the Lade Peninsula.
Air traffic is a common sight around the fjord, with both the Ørland Airport and Trondheim's main Værnes Airport close to the water. (One runway at Værnes, in fact, extends out into the fjord, causing quite the unnerving experience for passengers landing there the first time.) Near the end of the fjord, the island of Ytterøya is known for its produce, pretty summer cottages and for Stone Age burial mounds.

A day cruising at sea offers you the perfect mix of relaxation and activity. Start your morning on the top-level decks with a game of pickleball, enjoying the fresh sea breeze and expansive ocean views. Or, head to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon® to rejuvenate with a therapeutic spa treatment. The Kids Club will keep younger guests entertained with a variety of fun events and activities, while you can unwind by the pool or enjoy a Pilates class at the Fitness Center.

In the evening, delight in a tantalizing meal at one of the ship's restaurants, and afterward, enjoy a world-class performance at the stunning World Stage, adding a touch of culture to your night. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or both, a day at sea will be full of unforgettable experiences.

Called the northernmost point of Europe, the North Cape (or Nordkapp) is situated at the very north tip of Norway and inside the Arctic Circle. Home to where the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet and with only the Svalbald archipelago standing between it and the North Pole, this is the true land of the midnight sun.

Lookout for hundreds of thousands of puffins, gannets, cormorants, seals, dolphins and whales that make this stretch of chilly water and the tall cliffs their home. Not forgetting the colourful, compact fishing villages, so at odds with the otherwise stark and barren landscape.

The world’s northernmost village, Honningsvag is the gateway to the North Cape. It is a completely modern fishing harbour set in a land of forests, fjord waters, and crashing waterfalls. The cliffs of the North Cape are perched 1,000 feet above the Arctic Ocean and provides a lookout over a limitless panorama.

Top Things to Do in Honningsvag:

• visit the North Cape cliffs and hall
• birdwatch on Gjesvaerstappan Island
• go crabbing in Sarnesfjorden
• ATV in the North Cape
• have a drink at the Artico Ice Bar

Called the northernmost point of Europe, the North Cape (or Nordkapp) is situated at the very north tip of Norway and inside the Arctic Circle. Home to where the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet and with only the Svalbald archipelago standing between it and the North Pole, this is the true land of the midnight sun.

Lookout for hundreds of thousands of puffins, gannets, cormorants, seals, dolphins and whales that make this stretch of chilly water and the tall cliffs their home. Not forgetting the colourful, compact fishing villages, so at odds with the otherwise stark and barren landscape.

Tromsø, nestled within the Arctic Circle, is ideal if you want to see the northern lights, and offers a lovely mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, and restaurants that serve Arctic delicacies. The Arctic Cathedral, with its striking design, is a must-see. Take a cable car up Storsteinen Mountain for panoramic views of the fjords and surrounding islands.

Tromsø is also renowned for its Northern Lights, visible from September to April. The Polaria Arctic aquarium provides a unique insight into Arctic marine life, and the Polar Museum offers a fascinating look at the region's polar history. Stroll through the city center to explore charming cafes, shops, and the historic wooden houses of Skansen.

Superbly located on Norway’s biggest island Hinnøya, Harstad is a perfect illustration of what makes Norway famous. Spectacular scenery, powerful, raw beauty, long summer days and endless white nights are par for the course here, not to mention clear fjordic waters teeming with marine life. Ships will dock at this port.

Top Things to Do in Harstad:

• visit the medieval Trondenes Church
• kayak in Arctic Norway
• sample local beer at Harstad Brewery
• hike Mount Aun
• visit Grottebadet Waterpark

Way beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in 'another world'. A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests.

Top Things to Do on the Lofoten Islands:

• visit the Svolvaer Magic Ice Bar and Gallery
• explore the preserved Nusfjord fishing village
• take a boat tour among the Lofoten Skerries
• visit the Gallery Lofoten House

Leknes is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway. Pretty red houses lay dotted on the green covered hills, while jagged mountains soar behind in a magnificent backdrop. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the pier.

Top Things to Do in Leknes:

• explore the UNESCO listed Nusfjord
• visit the 18th century Flakstad Church
• trek from Utakleiv to Haukland Beach
• visit the Viking Museum in Borg
• look for sea eagles along the Leknes coast

A day cruising at sea offers you the perfect mix of relaxation and activity. Start your morning on the top-level decks with a game of pickleball, enjoying the fresh sea breeze and expansive ocean views. Or, head to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon® to rejuvenate with a therapeutic spa treatment. The Kids Club will keep younger guests entertained with a variety of fun events and activities, while you can unwind by the pool or enjoy a Pilates class at the Fitness Center.

In the evening, delight in a tantalizing meal at one of the ship's restaurants, and afterward, enjoy a world-class performance at the stunning World Stage, adding a touch of culture to your night. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or both, a day at sea will be full of unforgettable experiences.

Set on the shores of a sparkling fjord, cosmopolitan Kristiansand is the largest city in Southern Norway. It has a cultural and tranquil atmosphere, a blend of contemporary and traditional architecture, and a natural beauty woven throughout and beyond the city. Ships will dock at the cruise terminal.

Top Things to Do in Kristiansand:

• admire the wooden buildings in Posebyen
• cross the bridge to the island of Odderoya
• visit the Christiansholm Fortress
• hop aboard the Setesdal Vintage Railway
• visit the charming village of Lillesand

Soaring turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation adorn the buildings throughout Ålesund, giving it a distinctive flair and earning the town a revered architectural reputation. Seven islands comprise Ålesund , and they’re cleverly connected by an elaborate set of underwater tunnels. Feeling energetic - climb the 418 steps to Mount Aksla for panoramic views of the town, surrounding islands and fjords or how about visting the Atlanterhavsparken aquarium, which offers an immersive look at marine life.

Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Island Archipelago, offers stone age ruins, heather-covered moors and rugged Scottish highlands. With its dramatic cliffs, Grand Victorian houses, charming Shetland ponies, and Nordic heritage Lerwick allows for hours of entertainment. Smaller ships will dock at the Port of Lerwick, while larger ships will anchor offshore.

Top Things to Do in Lerwick:

• explore the ruins of Scalloway Castle
• hike on Mousa Island
• visit the Shetland Museum
• admire Fort Charlotte

A day cruising at sea offers you the perfect mix of relaxation and activity. Start your morning on the top-level decks with a game of pickleball, enjoying the fresh sea breeze and expansive ocean views. Or, head to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon® to rejuvenate with a therapeutic spa treatment. The Kids Club will keep younger guests entertained with a variety of fun events and activities, while you can unwind by the pool or enjoy a Pilates class at the Fitness Center.

In the evening, delight in a tantalizing meal at one of the ship's restaurants, and afterward, enjoy a world-class performance at the stunning World Stage, adding a touch of culture to your night. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or both, a day at sea will be full of unforgettable experiences.

The largest port in Europe, Rotterdam, is an intriguing mix of the old and the new, with bold modern architecture intermixed with classic 18th and 19th century buildings. Destroyed during WWII, the city has since been completely rebuilt to become the Netherlands second largest city.

You'll dock at the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal, conveniently located in the heart of the city. The terminal is just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the city center, making it a quick 10-minute taxi ride or a pleasant 25-minute walk. Public transportation options include trams and buses, providing easy access to key attractions including the Markthal - a bustling market with diverse food stalls, and the Cube Houses, a unique architectural marvel. For a dose of history, visit the Maritime Museum.