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Day 1 Sat BERGEN
18.00 Check-in and registration on board MS
Nordstjernen in Bergen. Departure Bergen.
Information meeting on board before sailing towards
Flåm where we will make our first stop during our
cruise.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 2 Sun FLAM - NAEROY FJORD - GEIRANGER
(B, L, D)
08.00 Arrival Flåm. Beautiful Flåm is situated in
the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary
of the 204 kilometers long, and up to 1.308 meters
deep, Sognefjord. Surrounded by steep mountain-sides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, Flåm is
a paradise for everyone looking for a one-of-a-kind
experience with nature. We really recommend you to
try the Flåm Railway - an incredible train journey
from the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen
Railway, down to Flåm station nestled in the
innermost corner of the Aurlandsfjord. The train
journey provides some of Norway's wildest and most
magnificent scenery. On the 20 km long train ride
you can see rivers that cut through deep ravines,
waterfalls cascade down the side of steep,
snow-capped mountains and mountain farms cling
dizzily to sheer slopes. The train drives slowly and
even stops at the most beautiful sights.
Alternatively we suggest a walk on your own in the
village of Flåm.
12.00 Departure Flåm. We are sailing towards
Gudvangen in Nærøyfjord, the most beautiful and
spectacular arm of Sognefjord. Here we will enjoy
the view of steep mountains covered with snow, wild
waterfalls and vivid cultural landscapes with tiny
farms clinging to the mountainsides. The fjord is 17
kilometers long, and the width is only 250 meters
where it's most narrow. Nærøyfjord is now on the
World Heritage List of Unesco. After visiting
Nærøyfjord we head for Geiranger.
Accommodation: onboard MS Nordstjernen
Day 3 Mon GEIRANGER FJORD - ALESUND (B, L, D)
08.00 We arrive in Geirangerfjord. The Geiranger
Fjord is called the most beautiful fjord in the
world. Here you will find scenery that will leave
you breathless. Among other sights, we will see the
famous waterfalls named "The Seven Sisters". We will
also get to know more about how life was on the
abandoned farms along the fjord's banks, such as
Skageflå, Knivsflå and Blomberg.
13.00 Our next stop will be in Ålesund. Ålesund's
beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and
wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful
ornamentation that give the town its distinctive
character are like something from a fairytale. We go
on land, and may participate in a guided tour in the
city, or we may spend the time on land on our own.
There is also time for shopping.
20.00 We are sailing out from Ålesund, leaving the
coast of Møre, heading for Trøndelag and the
regional capital of Mid Norway - Trondheim.
Accommodation: onboard MS Nordstjernen
Day 4 Tue TRONDHEIM (B, L, D)
08.00 Trondheim holds a special place in Norwegian
history and culture. This was the first capital of
Norway, and is still the city where new kings
receive their ceremonial blessing. Today Trondheim
is a
modern city, a centre of knowledge with a highly
respected university, many popular colleges and a
research community ranking among the best in Europe.
The well-known cathedral Nidarosdomen is only one
out of many sights well worth visiting in Trondheim.
Time on our own.
12.00 We are leaving the coast of Trøndelag, heading
for the Lofoten Islands.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 5 Wed LOFOTEN ISLANDS - TROLLFJORD -
SVOLVAER (B, L, D)
13.00 Beautiful Reine is the first place we arrive
at in Lofoten. We are sailing slowly to watch and
admire this spectacular area. Reine is a traditional
fishing village in the municipality Moskenes,
furthest out on mainland Lofoten.
14.00 After visiting Reine, we are meeting the 100
kilometers long Lofoten Wall rising from the sea. A
seemingly solid, jagged mountain range, which
shelters the many fishing stations, including
Stamsund and Svolvær from the sea to the west.
17.00 We arrive in Svolvær in the afternoon.
Landing. Sightseeing or time on our own. Svolvær is
the capital of Lofoten, and an important junction
for the entire region.
20.30 We are leaving Svolvær and head north towards
the beautiful Trollfjord and the Vesterålen region.
In addition to the dramatic geography, Trollfjord is
well known for the battle between
fishermen using the new steamboats and the fishermen
still using the traditional boats (rowing and
sailing boats), in 1880. Trollfjord is located on
the west side of Raftsundet, between the two regions
Vesterålen and Lofoten. The fjord is 2 km long, 100
meters wide at the mouth of the fjord, and with a
maximum depth of 62 meters.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 6 Thu BJARKØY - TROMSØ - HONNINGSVAG
(B, L, D)
07.30 Early in the morning we arrive at Bjarkøy,
just outside Harstad. This municipality consists of
365 islands, and all of them are varied and special
in its own way. The nature varies from great
mountains to hills, woods and bare rock faces. In
the summer you can enjoy one of the beautiful white
beaches out here. At the northern side of Bjarkøy we
find the bird cliffs named Krykkjeberg. Up to 10.000
birds are nesting here, and we're crossing the
strait to experience the fantastic bird life at
close range.
On our way towards Tromsø, we are sailing along the
second largest island of Norway, Senja. This
is a lush island in the mouth of the fjord, with
former fishing villages and places with lots of
traditions.
14.30 We're sailing on through Rystraumen before we
get the first glimpse of Tromsø, the city that has
lots of names to live up to. "Nordens Paris", "The
Gateway to the Arctic" or "The Gateway to the Arctic
Sea" - please choose! We spend the afternoon on a
guided tour, or we may discover the city on our own.
The famous cathedral Ishavskatedralen is a must, and
so is the Arctic experience center Polaria.
18.30 Our journey continues north. Sheltered by the
large islands Ring-vassøy, Reinøy, Vanna and Arnøy
in west. In east we can enjoy the view of the
spectacular mountains Lyngsalpene. We're heading
east, passing through the strait Magerøysundet and
further on to Honningsvåg.
Accommodation: onboard MS Nordstjernen
Day 7 - 8 Fri - Sat HONNINGSVAG - NORTH CAPE
(B, L, D)
10.00 Thanks to a good and sheltered port,
Honningsvåg has become a prominent fishing harbour
and the capital of Nordkapp. Not less than 4.000 -
5.000 ships are arriving here yearly. The Nordkapp
museum contains local coastal culture and a very
pleasant host and hostess. From here we might visit
Nordkapp on our sight-seeing tour, or we can spend
the time on our own in Honningsvåg.
15.00 We are sailing around the cape, leaving the
Norwegian coast, heading for Svalbard. The voyage to
Longyearbyen takes app. 2 days. On board there will
be different causeries, telling us about the
exciting polar history and the flora and fauna
waiting for us at the archipelago. If we're allowed
by the ice- and weather conditions, we will do a
landing at Bjørnøya (the Bear Island).
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 9 Sun LONGYEARBYEN (B, L, D)
10.00 Arrival in Longyearbyen, a town with app.1.800 inhabitants. A guided tour in town and the
local areas will give us an introduction to the
exciting history of Longyearbyen. We also visit
Svalbard
Museum and Gallery Svalbard. We will have lunch at
Longyearbyen's historic hotel, Spitsbergen Hotel.
Time on our own.
18.00 We are sailing out of Adventfjorden from
Longyearbyen, heading for Barentsburg, the Russian
mining town in Grønfjorden. Sightseeing and optional
Folklore show at the Cultural house whilst
being on land in Barentsburg. At nighttime we're
sailing northward, out from the Icefjord, then along
the coast of the Prins Karls Forland.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 10 - 11 / Mon - Tue MAGDALENEFJORD - MOFFEN
ISLANDS
(B, L, D)
In the morning we wake up outside "The seven
Icebergs", and we are sailing further on to the
magnificent Magdalenefjord. At Gravneset we make our
first landing with the tender boats. Gravneset is
well known for its many visual cultural monuments
from the whaling period on Svalbard. The additional
program for Monday and Tuesday is based on the
existing weather- and ice-conditions. Most likely we
will get to see the walrus colony at Moffen Island,
we are trying to cross the 80° parallel, and we
might also visit Gråhuken - outermost in Woodford,
and the trapper station in Mushamna.
Tuesday: In the afternoon MS Nordstjernen is sailing
southwards.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 12 Wed NY ALESUND - PRINS KARL FORLAND
(B, L,
D)
Arrival in Ny-Ålesund at app. 10.00. Ny-Ålesund has
an exciting history based on both coal mining and
polar exploration. Today the settlement is a modern
research centre with facilities and infrastructure
of a high standard. Guided walk in town, optional
museum visit and souvenir shopping. Leaving
Ny-Ålesund we are crossing the Kongsfjord and sail
towards the former settlement Ny-London where a
marble mine was established by Mr. Mansfield from
England in the beginning of the 19th century. The
remaining from this adventurous business is still
visible and interesting. Sailing out from Kongsfjord
we also go into the edge of the ice in the beautiful
Krossfjorden. At night we continue southwards along
the coast of Prins Karls Forland and return back to
the Icefjord.
Accommodation: onboard MS
Nordstjernen
Day 13 Thursday LONGYEARBYEN - DEPARTURE
(B, L)
Arrival in Longyearbyen at 09.00. Disembarkation and
latest checkout from MS Nordstjernen at 11.00. Time
on our own before the cruise is rounded off with a
lunch at the Radisson SAS Polar Hotel Spitsbergen.
Transfer from the hotel to the airport at 13.00.
Departure SK4425 to Oslo via Tromsø at 14.55.
The program is subject to alternation due to
weather- and ice-conditions.
During the cruise along the Norwegian shoreline, we
offer a number of excursions ashore.
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