Norse Legends & Britain, Scotland & Ireland

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way.
Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look – city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde – home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city – where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.

In the shadow of snowy peaks and near stunning blue-green fjords, Eidfjord is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. Even though it has a population of less than 1,000, scores of visitors come here each year to bask in the area’s natural splendor.

Hardangervidda, near Eidfjord, is Europe’s largest mountain plateau as well as Norway’s largest national park. Interestingly, the legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, and Fridtjof Nansen, who made the first successful crossing of the Greenland interior, both used Hardangervidda to prepare for their expeditions. Walking, hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing are popular, and the area is home to Europe’s largest population of wild reindeer.

Numerous canyons, including the famous Måbødalen Valley, lead south from the Hardangervidda plateau to the fjords along the coast, and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Eidfjord, visitors can see the dramatic 182-meter-tall (597-foot-tall) Vøringfossen waterfall. In the center of Eidfjord stands the 14th-century stone Eidfjord Kirke, while outside town the famous Kjeåsen Mountain Farm sits on a ledge some 600 meters (1,968 feet) above the Simadalsfjord.

Το Alesund είναι μια μικρή αλλά ζωντανή πόλη με μοναδική, μοντέρνα αίσθηση. Μια προσπάθεια ανοικοδόμησης μετά από μια μεγάλη πυρκαγιά το 1904 έδωσε στην πόλη το χαρακτηριστικό αρχιτεκτονικό στυλ Art Nouveau – ή “Jugendstil” – που χαρακτηρίζεται από τις περίτεχνες λεπτομέρειες, τις ασύμμετρες προσόψεις και τις καμπύλες μορφές που μοιάζουν με φυτά, ζώα και λουλούδια. Από το πάρκο της πόλης, ανεβείτε με τα πόδια τα 418 σκαλοπάτια στην κορυφή της πόλης, την Άκσλα – θα ανταμειφθείτε με μια πανέμορφη πανοραμική θέα στην πόλη, τα νησιά και την απόκρημνη οροσειρά Sunnmorsalpane. Το Alesund είναι η έδρα του μεγαλύτερου στόλου αλιείας μπακαλιάρου της Νορβηγίας, οπότε δεν θα χρειαστεί να πάτε μακριά για να δοκιμάσετε μερικά από τα νόστιμα και φρέσκα πιάτα θαλασσινών κατά τη διάρκεια της κρουαζιέρας σας στη Νορβηγία.

Geiranger is a picturesque fjord town nestled in a crook of winding, namesake Geirangerfjord. Nearby, the Seven Sisters Waterfall takes a 5,000-foot plunge.

Beautiful Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is one of the most popular ports of call on a cruise up the fjords. Step off the ship into the medieval Bryggen wharf area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, where small boats line the harbor and wooden gabled buildings stand proud along the waterfront. Bergen’s rich maritime tradition goes back nearly 1,000 years, including the years the town played an important part in the Hanseatic League, the trading empire that dominated maritime commerce in the region between the 14th and 18th centuries. The city is one of Europe’s oldest settlements, and its cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways lead to emerald-green parks, medieval cathedrals and stone fortresses that kept enemies at bay centuries ago. It’s also eminently walkable, with historic buildings and excellent markets selling everything from fish and produce to trinkets and souvenirs.

Surrounded by mountains and thick forest, and sitting halfway between Geiranger to the north and Stavanger to the south, Bergen offers plenty to do outside the city too. Whether you sign up for a guided excursion or venture out on your own, you’ll be sure to fall in love with Bergen.

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way.
Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look – city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde – home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city – where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.

Your jumping-off point for the highlights of Edinburgh, including historic Edinburgh Castle, housing the Scottish crown jewels and the palace that was once home to Mary Queen of Scots.

The skirl of Highland bagpipes calls you ashore. Go in search of your clan tartan, and “Nessie,” the spurious monster often sighted in Loch Ness.

Inhabited for more than 6,000 years, the Isle of Lewis has a rich history and rugged beauty. Explore the islands varied scenery from fjord-like lochs and dramatic sea-cliffs to barren peat moors and romantic heather covered uplands; marvel at the mysterious Standing Stones at Callanish, the most remarkable piece of antiquity in the Western Isles; and shop for famous Harris Tweed, hand-woven and uniquely dyed using indigenous plants.

The largest town on Skye – located in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland – this port’s harbor is fringed by steep cliffs and the town’s Gaelic heritage in evident in the local attractions. Harry Potter fans will recognize that the town is home to the fictional Pride of Portree. Everything is a short stroll away within Portree, and nearby Glasgow provides further opportunities for exploration. The mountainous Isle of Skye provides breathtaking vistas from nearly every destination. Play a round of golf in nearby Sconser or go pony trekking at Skeabost. Skye is also the ideal place for fishing and bird watching. Sample the local whisky at Talisker Distillery in Carbost or simply find a quiet spot to admire the views.

Belfast has emerged from decades of conflict to become one of Ireland’s most intriguing cities. In the 19th century, its location on the banks of the River Lagan made it an industrial center for ropemaking, shipbuilding, tobacco and textiles. And this legacy shaped much of its architecture: Grand Edwardian and Victorian municipal buildings and warehouses are found throughout the city alongside telltale scars of its more recent past.

While the legacy of Belfast’s complex conflict known as The Troubles still looms, there are many other sides of Northern Ireland’s capital to explore, from the quaint streets of the Cathedral Quarter to the newly regenerated Titanic Quarter, where the ill-fated RMS Titanic was constructed.

Belfast is also gathering momentum as an up-and-coming gourmet destination, with a new generation of chefs producing food to get excited about. Beyond the city limits, County Down and neighboring County Antrim have a wealth of things to see and do. Any lingering negative preconceptions will evaporate after a short time in this fascinating and welcoming city.

Dublin works its magic on you slowly. Founded by the Vikings on the banks of the River Liffey in the 9th century, the city occupies one of the loveliest natural settings of any European capital. Its architecture is a jumble of different periods, including the medieval cobblestone streets of Temple Bar, the elegant terraces and leafy squares of the Georgian period and the modern architecture of the revitalized Docklands district.

Dublin’s compact heart is divided by the languorous flow of the Liffey before it enters the wide expanse of Dublin Bay. Both gritty and gracious, the city streets inspired some of the most celebrated writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, acknowledged by its status as a UNESCO World City of Literature.

But while its heritage is undeniably a major draw for visitors, these days Dublin is vibrant with thriving technology firms and a young population eager to make their mark. It might arrive via an impromptu chat with a local or a quiet pint of Guinness in a historic pub, but by the time you leave, Dublin will have charmed you.

The city that launched the Beatles, Liverpool is still a hardworking docks town, offering a lively pub scene and a branch of London’s Tate Gallery. Sample shore excursions: The Beatles; The Roman City of Chester.

Wander through the ancient town center built around St. Cybi’s Church, which is built inside one of Europe’s only three-walled Roman forts (the fourth wall being the sea, which used to come up to the fort). Explore the Ucheldre Arts Centre, then relax with a pint or cup of tea at one of Holyhead’s charming pubs.

Corkonians are fiercely proud of their hometown, so much so that it’s jokingly referred to as the People’s Republic of Cork. And there is a lot to love about Ireland’s second city. Hugging the banks of the River Lee, it takes its name from corcaigh, the Gaelic word for “marshy.” With its origins in the 7th century, Cork enjoyed a flourishing period as a merchant center in the 18th and 19th centuries, with grand buildings like the elegant Cork City Hall bearing testimony to this status. On the north bank of the River Lee is the quaint neighborhood of Shandon with its landmark clock tower of St. Anne’s Church. The city’s heart is set on an island sandwiched between two channels of the Lee that open out into one of Europe’s largest natural harbors at Cobh.

Cobh brought the city prosperity (and also happened to be the final port of call for the ill-fated RMS Titanic). And it was from Cobh that over 2.5 million immigrants caught their final glimpse of their home country as they departed in search of a better life in the United States between 1848 and 1950.

There’s a more modern side to Cork, with a thriving university quarter, pubs, bars and restaurants. Whatever your interests, you will find a side of Cork to love too.

From this busy port city tour to canal-laced Brugge; Brussels, home of the European Union; and Ghent, mecca for chocolate lovers. Sample shore excursion: Antwerp, City of Diamonds.

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way.
Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look – city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde – home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city – where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.