16-Day Arctic Cruise

This ultimate Norway vacation combines the best of both mainland Norway and the icy Arctic island of Spitsbergen-half way to the North Pole. Explore the ancient Hanseatic seaport of Bergen and the beautiful surrounding Fjord Norway region before setting sail on our world-famous Norwegian Cruise, bound for Spitsbergen. Along the way, you'll call at the Viking capital city of Trondheim, the haunting Lofoten Islands, and North Cape, northernmost point in continental Europe. After two days on the Norwegian Sea, you'll arrive at Longyearbyen, capital of Svalbard. Highlights of your Spitsbergen cruise include fjords such as Magdalenefjord, Isfjord, and Kongsfjord; tender landings at Gravneset; the "Seven Icebergs"; the Russian mining town of Barentsburg; and the research center at Ny-Alesund. After five days enjying Svalbard's seas, put ashore at Longyearbyen for your flight to the truly sophisticated Norway capital of Oslo.

This evening, depart from the U.S. on your transatlantic flight to Bergen.

Arrive in Bergen. Transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Check-in and registration on board MS Nordstjernen in Bergen. Depart Bergen. An information meeting on board will take place before sailing toward Flam, where you will make your first stop during your cruise. [B/L/D]

Arrival in Flam. Beautiful Flam is situated in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord that is 127 miles long and up to a mile deep. We recommend a ride on the Flam Railway, an incredible train journey from Flam up to the Bergen Railway mountain station at Myrdal. On the 12-mile train ride, you'll see rivers that cut through deep ravines and waterfalls that cascade down the sides of steep, snow-capped mountains. You will depart Flam, sailing toward Gudvangen on the Naeroyfjord, the most beautiful and spectacular arm of the Sognefjord. The fjord is 10 miles long and only 224 yards wide at its narrowest. Cruising out of the Naeroyfjord, you head for the Geirangerfjord. [B/L/D]

You arrive in the Geirangerfjord, called the most beautiful fjord in the world. Among other sights, you will see the famous waterfalls named the Seven Sisters. Your next stop will be in Alesund. Alesund's beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad turrets, spires, and beautiful ornamentations that give the town its distinctive character are right out of a fairytale. Then, go on a guided tour in the city or spend the time on land on your own. You are sailing out from Alesund, leaving the coast of More, heading for Trondelag and the regional capital of mid-Norway-Trondheim. [B/L/D]

Trondheim holds a special place in Norwegian history and culture. It was the first capital of Norway and is still the city where new Norwegian kings receive their ceremonial blessing. Today, Trondheim is a modern city, a center of knowledge that's home to a highly respected university, many popular colleges and a research community ranked among the best in Europe. The city's well-known cathedral, Nidarosdomen, is only one of the many sights well worth visiting in Trondheim. Enjoy some time on your own before you depart the coast of Trondelag, headed for the Lofoten Islands. [B/L/D]

Beautiful Reine is the first place you arrive at in Lofoten. Reine is a traditional fishing village in the municipality Moskenes, farthest out on mainland Lofoten. After visiting Reine, see the 62-mile-long Lofoten Wall rising from the sea. This seemingly solid, jagged mountain range shelters the archipelago's many fishing stations, including Stamsund and Svolvaer, from the rough seas to the west. You arrive in Svolvaer in the afternoon for sightseeing or time on your own. You head north toward the beautiful Trollfjord and the Vesteralen region. In addition to its dramatic scenery, the Trollfjord is well known for the 1890 battle over cod between local fishermen and wealthy steamship owners who were blockading the fjord. [B/L/D]

Early in the morning, you arrive at Bjarkoy, just outside Harstad. This municipality consists of 365 islands. The landscape of the islands varies from great mountains and hills to woods and bare rock faces. In the summer, you can enjoy one of Bjarkoy's beautiful white beaches. At the northern side of Bjarkoy, you find the Krykkjeberg cliffs, where as many as 10,000 birds nest. On your way toward Tromso-Norway's "Paris of the North"-you sail along the coast of Senja, secondlargest island in mainland Norway. Sitting in the mouth of the fjord, lush Senja is home to former fishing villages-and lots of traditions. In Tromso, spend the afternoon on a guided tour or discover the city on your own. The famous Arctic Cathedral is a must, as is the Arctic experience center Polaria. Departing Tromso, our journey continues north. To the east, you can enjoy the view of the spectacular mountains of Lyngsalpene. [B/L/D]

Honningsvag is a prominent fishing harbor and the capital of North Cape. Approximately 4,000 to 5,000 ships arrive here each year. The North Cape Museum contains displays about local coastal culture and is presided over by a very pleasant host and hostess. You sail around the cape, leaving the Norwegian coast, bound for Svalbard. The voyage to Longyearbyen takes approximately two days. If ice and weather conditions allow, you will land at Bjornoya (Bear Island). [B/L/D]

Arrival in Longyearbyen, administrative center of Svalbard. A guided tour in and around town will give you an introduction to the exciting history of Longyearbyen. You also visit the Svalbard Museum and Gallery Svalbard. You will have lunch at Longyearbyen's historic hotel, Spitsbergen Hotel. Enjoy time on your own before we sail out of the Adventfjord from Longyearbyen, headed for Barentsburg, the Russian mining town in Gronfjorden. Sightseeing and an optional Russian folklore show at the cultural house are offered while in Barentsburg. Come night, you sail northward out from the Isfjord, then along the coast of Prins Karls Forland island. [B/L/D]

In the morning, you wake up alongside the "Seven Icebergs," and sail farther on, to the magnificent Magdalenefjord. At Gravneset, you make your first landing with the tender boats. Gravneset is well known for its many cultural monuments from the heyday of whaling in Svalbard. The additional program for Monday and Tuesday is contingent on weather and ice conditions. Most likely, you will get to see the walrus colony at Moffen Island. You'll cross the 80th parallel, visit Grahuken-the outermost settlement on the Woodfjord-and the trapper station in Mushamna. On Tuesday afternoon, the MS Nordstjernen heads southward. [B/L/D]

Arrive in Ny-Alesund. Ny- Alesund boasts an exciting history based on both coal mining and polar exploration. Today, the settlement is a modern research center with highly developed facilities and infrastructure. Enjoy a guided walk in town, an optional museum visit and souvenir shopping. Leaving Ny-Alesund, you cross the Kongsfjord and sail toward the former settlement of Ny-London, where a marble mine was established by a Mr. Mansfield from England in the beginning of the 19th century. Structural traces from this adventurous business are still visible. Sailing out from the Kongsfjord, your ship also ventures into the edge of the ice in the beautiful Krossfjord. At night, you continue southward along the coast of Prins Karls Forland and return to the Isfjord. [B/L/D]

Arrive in Longyearbyen. Disembarkation from MS Nordstjernen. Enjoy some time on your own before your Arctic cruise concludes with a lunch at the Radisson SAS Polar Hotel Spitsbergen. Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Depart for Oslo via Tromso. [B/L]

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. [B]

Meal codes: [B] Breakfast [L] Lunch [D] Dinner

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