Epic Viking Vistas - Reykjavik to Oslo Cruise

Day 1 - Reykjavik, Iceland

Arrive: Wed 17 July 2024 / Depart: Wed 17 July 2024 at 18:00

Discover this fascinating land where the forces of nature hold sway as you visit the modern capital with its thermally heated outdoor swimming pool, remarkable botanic gardens and folk museum. Explore the starkly beautiful countryside of lava formations, glaciers and incredible waterfalls and the site where the first parliament sat in 930 A.D.

Day 2 - Isafjordur

Arrive: Thu 18 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 18 July 2024 at 17:00

Although remotely located in northwest Iceland and surrounded by ruggedly beautiful fjords, Isafjordur is surprisingly cosmopolitan. The capital of the Westfjords has long been a cultured oasis in the midst of this haunting beauty, fueled by the rewards of being one of Iceland's largest fishing centers. The first merchants lived in wooden houses now preserved in the Neöstikaupstaöur section of town, which is alive with shops and restaurants. Two museums are of particular interest - the West Fjords Folk Museum for tools and heritage items and the Maritime Museum for a look at the 19th century fishing industry.

Day 3 - Labrador Sea cruising

Day 4 - Labrador Sea cruising

Day 5 - Nuuk

Arrive: Sun 21 July 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 21 July 2024 at 19:00

The largest city in Greenland, Nuuk is the cultural and economic center of the country. Explore the picturesque colonial harbor with its quaint old buildings and the newly renovated market where locals sell their daily catch. Greenland’s history comes alive in the National Museum, and its culture thrives in the Nuuk Museum of Art and the Katuaq Cultural Centre. Nuuk’s extensive fjord system is home to many whales, and the area is also populated by seals, reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hares and ravens.

Day 6 - Greenland

Arrive: Mon 22 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 22 July 2024 at 18:00

This colorful fishing village is rich with Inuit culture and a strong connection to the sea. Learn about the town’s history and culture on a guided tour revealing archaeological discoveries that indicate the area was inhabited as far back as 1500 BC. Explore the stunning coastline on a ferry and perhaps catch a glimpse of the minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales and orcas that swim in pods in the surrounding waters.

Day 7 - Qaqortoq, Greenland

Arrive: Tue 23 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 23 July 2024 at 20:00

This charming, colorful town has a pleasant center with a small square featuring Greenland's oldest fountain. The culture project Stone and Man can be seen as an open invitation to explore the town to find the 30 different motifs that are chiseled into rocks and stones by local and Scandinavian artists. The Church of Our Savior from 1832 and the town's two museums are also well worth a visit.

Day 8 - Prince Christian Sound Cruising

Day 9 - Cruising the North Atlantic

Day 10 - Cruising the North Atlantic

Day 11 - Thorshaven

Arrive: Sat 27 July 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 27 July 2024 at 17:00

Stroll through this picturesque fishing town and admire the views from the headland. Take a drive around this stunning, craggy island of majestic waterfalls, beautiful fjords, farms, villages, enigmatic sea stacks and panoramic views of the neighboring islands. Or visit an ancient Viking settlement in a valley of lakes.

Day 12 - Kirkwall

Arrive: Sun 28 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 28 July 2024 at 17:00

This starkly beautiful island holds many ancient treasures like the enigmatic Standing Stones of Stenness and the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, amazingly discovered with furniture and indoor drains preserved. Visit the imposing trio of St. Magnus Cathedral, the nearby ruins of the Earl's Palace, and the earlier Bishop's Palace.

Day 13 - Edinburgh, UK

Arrive: Mon 29 July 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 29 July 2024 at 18:00

Savor the old town’s marvelous Georgian and Victorian architecture and impressive Edinburgh Castle, high on its volcanic crag with a fabulous view. Stroll along the medieval Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to see the abbey and Queen Mary’s chambers. Visit St. Giles’ Cathedral where John Knox once preached.

Day 14 - Cruising the North Sea

Day 15 - Hamburg

Arrive: Wed 31 July 2024 at 06:00 / Depart: Wed 31 July 2024 at 21:00

Although you can visit one of the world’s best ship museums in Bremerhaven at the Schiffahrtsmuseum and head into nearby Bremen for a picnic in lovely Bürgerpark, Hamburg is the main attraction. View famed works of art at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, have a cup of coffee on one of the terraces of the Alsterarkaden, stroll through the historic warehouse district or enjoy the view from the top of 400-year-old St. Michaelis Church.

Day 16 - Cruising the North Sea

Day 17 - Haugesund

Arrive: Fri 02 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 02 August 2024 at 18:00

Located in the southwest of Norway where the fjords flow out into the North Sea, Haugesund is surrounded by the blue ice Folgefonna glacier in the north and the impressive mountain formation of Preikestolen in the south. Learn why this charming town is known as the Homeland of the Viking Kings at Avaldsnes’ Viking settlement, where you can see a reconstructed Viking farm and learn how the Vikings lived. Discover majestic fjords, cascading waterfalls, stunning glaciers, imposing mountains, and idyllic islands and lighthouses. The best way to get an insider’s look at Haugesund is to follow the locals and go for an invigorating hike at Preikestolen, also known as the Pulpit Rock or Preacher’s Rock, one of the most popular hiking trips in the region.

Day 18 - Alesund

Arrive: Sat 03 August 2024 at 10:00 / Depart: Sat 03 August 2024 at 22:00

In 1904 much of Ålesund was destroyed by fire, but the town was quickly rebuilt in the period's popular Art Nouveau style. Soaring turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation adorn the buildings throughout Ålesund, giving it a distinctive flair and earning the town a revered architectural reputation. An evening departure allows you plenty of time to explore its many attractions, such as the spectacular Art Nouveau Centre museum, scenic Town Park, and Atlantic Sea Park, one of Europe's largest aquariums. For a look at modern Norwegian woodworking, visit the impressive Gallery Cylindra. Many of Ålesund's squares feature sculptures commemorating significant events, including the town's rich fishing history and Norway's contribution to World War II.

Day 19 - Nordfjordeid

Arrive: Sun 04 August 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 04 August 2024 at 18:00

Day 20 - Stavanger, Norway

Arrive: Mon 05 August 2024 at 10:00 / Depart: Mon 05 August 2024 at 19:00

Chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, oil-rich Stavanger lies in southwestern Norway's stunning fjord region. Old Stavanger has been meticulously preserved with many of its wooden cottages converted into art galleries and boutiques. But it's the museums that set this cosmopolitan city apart. The Stavanger Museum alone consists of eight buildings exhibiting collections that include maritime, medical and printing artifacts. Outdoor enthusiasts may enjoy walking the nature trails along the banks of nearby Lysefjorden, a classic fjord, or beholding the amazing view of the countryside from Pulpit Rock.

Day 21 - Kristiansand, Norway

Arrive: Tue 06 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 06 August 2024 at 20:00

Founded in 1641 near the southern tip of Norway, Kristiansand once claimed the world's largest fleet of sailing ships. Today the proud city exudes an energy that peaks in summer, when your ship calls. The Posebyen old quarter boasts a collection of historic wooden houses surrounded by shops and restaurants. Museums abound and include the Agder Museum of Natural History and Botanical Garden, which opened in 1828. Kristiansand Zoo, said to be Norway's most visited attraction, covers 150 acres of Nordic terrain where animals like red pandas, moose and Bactrian camels roam in wide-open spaces.

Day 22 - Skagen

Arrive: Wed 07 August 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 07 August 2024 at 18:00

A centuries-old fishing village, Skagen is perched along the windswept sand dunes at the northernmost point of Denmark, where the North Sea and the Baltic merge in a frenzy of crashing currents. The town has long been depicted by painters because of its spectacular scenery, charming communities and the remarkable quality of its light, inspiring a group of artists known as the Skagen Painters. See their work at the Skagen Museum, and then learn the science behind the region’s natural wonders at the nature center, housed in a striking building designed by architect Jørn Utzon of Sydney Opera House fame.

Day 23 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive: Thu 08 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 08 August 2024 at 21:00

See another side of this lovely city with a cruise along its charming canals. Visit the quaint old harbor at Nyhavn and beautiful Rosenborg Castle and, of course, the famed statue of the Little Mermaid. Or venture into the countryside and enjoy its panoramic vistas, fairy tale castles and the village of Fredensborg.

Day 24 - Gothenburg

Arrive: Fri 09 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 09 August 2024 at 17:00

One look at the abundance of canals and gabled houses in Gothenburg, and it's clear that the Dutch founded this robust city on the Göta River. That was in 1621, close to the time that mighty Elfsborg Fortress was built at the harbor's mouth. Touring the citadel is fascinating, as are the 17th-century Crown House, Maritiman ship museum, and Gothenburg Art Museum, with masterpieces from Edvard Munch to Picasso. Gothenburg is one of Sweden's greenest cities, compliments of parks such as Slottsskogen. For a vibrant atmosphere, walk along Kungsportavenyn, Gothenburg's main street, which is a hive of cafés, boutiques and plazas.

Day 25 - Oslo

Arrive: Sat 10 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 10 August 2024

Overlooking a gorgeous fjord, Norway's capital and largest city simply radiates with natural beauty and sophistication. Oslo's rich seafaring history is on display at the Viking Ships Museum, rivaled only by the Kon-Tiki Museum, which holds the balsawood raft that Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl used to sail from Peru to Polynesia. History aside, Oslo exudes a love of the outdoors in city parks like Vigeland, which is adorned with over 200 life-size sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland. Much of Oslo is heavily forested with pines, making it one of Europe's greenest cities.