17-day Norwegian fjords & landscapes: Amsterdam

Your voyage begins in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Mention Holland and most people think of tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes. In reality, Amsterdam has been a vital European cultural center since the Middle Ages.The Dutch boast that God may have made the world, but they made the Netherlands. Dams, sea gates, and the 19-mile dyke walling out the Zuider Zee have allowed the Dutch to reclaim their low-lying country from the North Sea. The marsh that originally surrounded Amsterdam steadily disappeared beneath the expanding city. Vibrant, fascinating and always alive, Amsterdam is imbued with the quality the Dutch call "gezelligheid." Explore the city's 700-year-old streets and marvel at its stepped-gable houses. Cruise down its bustling canals and browse the colorful flower markets. Did we mention that you can shop for everything from cheese and chocolates to diamonds and Delftware?

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Zuiderdam's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Your ship calls at Eidfjord, Norway.

Your ship calls at Scenic cruising Hardangerfjord.

This quaint town perched on the North Sea boasts dual personalities. While renowned as the site where Viking king Harald Hårfagre united Norway as a kingdom in the 9th century, it's also one of the country's most popular destinations for the annual Sildajazz Festival and Norwegian Film Festival. Add in a thriving town center with hundreds of shops and cultural diversions to jaw-dropping scenery and thrilling excursions, your stay in Haugesund promises to be an enthralling experience you won't soon forget.

Bergen has played a crucial role in Norwegian history and culture since Olav the Good founded the city in 1070. Perched between the sea and seven hills, Bergen has witnessed Vikings setting sail on voyages of exploration, trade and war. In the Middle Ages, its old port was a major trading hub for the Hanseatic League, the band of Germanic merchants whose trading empire encircled the Baltic and North Seas. In the 19th century, Bergen was home to such cultural luminaries as the virtuoso violinist Ole Bull and the composer Edvard Grieg.The city retains much of its 18th- and 19th-century charm. Visitors to Bergen will encounter a city that offers a heady blend of natural beauty, history and culture.

Your ship calls at Alesund, Norway.

Continue your voyage aboard Zuiderdam with a leisurely day at sea.

Your ship returns to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Another day at sea to explore the ship at your own pace.

Your ship calls at Nordfjordeid, Norway.

Your ship calls at Scenic Cruising Nordfjord.

Your ship returns to Alesund, Norway.

Trondheim is the third largest - and second oldest - city in Norway. The town was originally called Kaupangen upon its founding in 997 A.D. by Viking king Olav Tryggvason. The city commands the trade routes linking Southern Norway with the fjord lands to the north. Trondheim quickly became a major commercial and cultural center - the city served as Norway's royal capital.Trondheim's old city features broad avenues and attractive 17th-century wood buildings - a legacy of the rebuilding that followed a disastrous fire that leveled the city in 1681.

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Zuiderdam's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Your ship calls at Skjolden, Norway.

Your ship calls at Scenic cruising Sognefjord.

Your ship returns to Eidfjord, Norway.

Your ship returns to Scenic cruising Hardangerfjord.

Your ship returns to Bergen, Norway.

Continue your voyage aboard Zuiderdam with a leisurely day at sea.

Your voyage concludes in Amsterdam, Netherlands.