Norway & North Cape - In Search Of Northern Lights Cruise

Day 1 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive: Thu 06 January 2022 / Depart: Thu 06 January 2022

Denmark's capital is arguably one of the world's best-loved cities, and certainly the liveliest of all the Scandinavian capitals. It is a gracious and comfortable place, with a decidedly friendly, hospitable and fun-loving atmosphere. If there is such a thing as a cozy city, Copenhagen is it. From the lingering memory of the tales of Hans Christian Andersen to the colored lights of Tivoli Gardens, there is a delightful ambience that surrounds the visitor everywhere. Tidy, narrow streets are lined with tempting restaurants and cafes, and the pedestrian-only Stroget abounds with stylish shops. The spirited Copenhageners are imaginative and unconventional and exude a "do-what-you-want" philosophy that embraces and respects almost all aspects of life. Every friendly Dane you meet further illustrates the city's motto "Wonderful, wonderful, Copenhagen."

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Bergen, Norway

Arrive: Sat 08 January 2022 / Depart: Sat 08 January 2022

With its mountain backdrop and painted wood houses, Norway's second-largest city is one of the country's most appealing places. In the 14th century, the port of Bergen was a Hanseatic trading center and for a time, the country's capital. The buildings on Bryggen, as the Hanseatic Wharf is called, are collectively a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. The harbor-side market, the lovely parks and the shopping district are all best suited to explore on foot. Take a ride on a funicular up to the 1,050-foot-high Floeien lookout, or head to 13th-century Bergenhus Fortress and 16th-century Rosenkrantz Tower to feel transported back in time.

Day 4 - Alesund

Arrive: Sun 09 January 2022 / Depart: Sun 09 January 2022

Stretching into the Borgundfjord and backed by the Sunnmoere Alps, Aalesund abounds with natural beauty. The town itself dates from the 9th century, when it was a Viking base for establishing settlements in France. Following a great fire in 1904, Aalesund was rebuilt in the popular Art Nouveau style of the time. Today, the towers, turrets and romantic facades make this one of the loveliest towns in all of Norway. The city is also the world's largest supplier of "klippfisk," or dried cod, but the main attraction by far is the scenic beauty of Aalesund's fjords and surrounding peaks, including 550-foot Mt. Aksla.

Day 5 - Trondheim

Arrive: Mon 10 January 2022 / Depart: Mon 10 January 2022

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.Apart from the imposing cathedral, other points of interest include the Museum of Applied Art and Craft with one of the finest collections in Scandinavia, and Stiftsgaarden, the largest wooden structure in the country. Built in 1778 as a private home, it is now the King's official residence in Trondheim. The Royal Garden Hotel located on the river, features the same Hansa architecture as the old warehouses that line the waterfront - only in glass and concrete. It is the city's showcase hostelry.

Day 6 - Bodo

Arrive: Tue 11 January 2022 / Depart: Tue 11 January 2022

Bodø is the administrative center of the region of the same name in Northern Norway, just above the Arctic Circle. There are a number of points of interest in the town itself. The Norwegian National Aviation Museum is the largest in any Nordic nation. The smaller Salten Museum has exhibits of Viking treasure, Sami life, the Lofoten fishery and local history. The village of Kjerringøy nearby is scenically set under alpine peaks, boasting an authentic 19th century trading post and enough character to be used as a location for filming the novels of Knut Hamsen. The village of Saltstraumen is set beside the world’s strongest tidal maelstrom, which runs at 22 knots during peak tides. Just outside Bodø is the picturesque Bodin Church, originally founded in 1240, with a distinctive, teardrop-shaped copper steeple and colorful 17th and 18th century interiors. The Bodø Salmon Center reveals an inside look at the sustainable Norwegian method of salmon farming. Further afield is Svartisen (Black Ice) glacier, Norway’s second largest, which also supports a large population of white-tailed sea eagles.

Day 7 - Svolvaer

Arrive: Wed 12 January 2022 / Depart: Wed 12 January 2022

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.

Day 8 - Narvik

Arrive: Thu 13 January 2022 / Depart: Thu 13 January 2022

Tucked into a fjord north of the Arctic Circle, Narvik is a popular place for Norwegian outdoorsmen to ski, hike and otherwise get into nature. It was the site of a fierce battle between invading German troops and resolute Norwegians in 1940, commemorated at Narvik’s modern War Museum. The small Nord Museum offers more general history, including displays about the culture and history of the nomadic Sami people who follow their reindeer herds across the national borders of the northern Scandinavian realm. There is a Polar Park offering close-up looks at the region’s wildlife, and a cable car to the top of nearby Fagernesfjellet peak, as well as a scenic railway that runs from Narvik through the fjords and mountains to Sweden.

Day 9 - Andenes

Arrive: Fri 14 January 2022 at 09:00 / Depart: Fri 14 January 2022 at 16:00

Andenes is the administrative centre of Andøy Municipality which is located in the Vesterålen district of Nordland county, Norway. The village of Andenes is the northernmost settlement of the island of Andøya. To the east is the island of Senja, and to the west the endless horizon of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Day 10 - Alta

Arrive: Sat 15 January 2022 at 08:00

Alta is a town on Norway’s northern coast, at the head of Alta Fjord. It’s known for views of the Northern Lights, which inspired the cascading architecture of the Northern Lights Cathedral, built in 2013. Thousands of prehistoric rock carvings are at nearby Hjemmeluft Bay, where there are viewing paths and the World Heritage Rock Art Centre. South of town, the Alta River runs through steep Alta Canyon.

Day 11 - Alta

Depart: Sun 16 January 2022 at 23:00

Alta is a town on Norway’s northern coast, at the head of Alta Fjord. It’s known for views of the Northern Lights, which inspired the cascading architecture of the Northern Lights Cathedral, built in 2013. Thousands of prehistoric rock carvings are at nearby Hjemmeluft Bay, where there are viewing paths and the World Heritage Rock Art Centre. South of town, the Alta River runs through steep Alta Canyon.

Day 12 - Honningsvaag

Arrive: Mon 17 January 2022 / Depart: Mon 17 January 2022

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.

Day 12 - Passing The North Cape

Day 13 - Tromso, Norway

Arrive: Tue 18 January 2022 / Depart: Tue 18 January 2022

Many a polar expedition has begun from Tromso. The town was founded in 1794, but its roots go back to Hanseatic and, even earlier to Viking times. Situated inside the Arctic Circle on the forest-clad island of Troms, this spirited city is linked to the mainland by the spectacular Tromsobrua Bridge, built in 1960. During WWII, Tromso was one of the few places in northern Norway to escape bombing, and a number of old wood buildings still remain. At the Tromso Museum, the exhibits include an extensive display on the people of Lapland. The town also boasts both the world's northernmost university and brewery.