21-day Norwegian fjords with Nordfjord & northern lights

Your voyage begins in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The largest port in Europe, Rotterdam is an intriguing mix of the old and the new. The city's lineage is ancient - Count Willem III granted city rights to the sleepy fishing village on the Rotte in 1328, yet much of the city dates from the six decades following the end of World War II. An important industrial center and a major European port, Rotterdam was among the first targets of the Nazi blitzkrieg against the West. On May 14, 1940, the German Luftwaffe firebombed the city, Rotterdam was gutted. The post-war years saw a slow rebuilding but by the early 1960s the maze of port facilities extended all the way to the North Sea. Today, this city of over half a million is the economic powerhouse, not just of the Netherlands but of Northern Europe.The Nazi bombardment of 1940 gutted most of the old city. As a result, Rotterdam's architecture is an intriguing mix of old and new: modern glass skyscrapers often stand adjacent to 19th- and 18th-century buildings.

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

Your ship calls at Eidfjord, Norway.

Your ship calls at Scenic cruising Hardangerfjord.

By the mid-19th century, European travelers were cruising the waters of the Nordfjord and visiting the village of Olden. The Romantic Movement inspired this new taste for dramatic landscape - and Norway had plenty of dramatic landscape. Then as now, travelers were impressed, moved, and not frequently overwhelmed by the stark contrast between peaceful rural farmsteads and a towering wilderness of mountain peaks and glaciers.For many years Olden was home to American landscape artist William H. Singer (1868-1943). Scion of a Pittsburgh steel family, Singer provided Olden with a road and a regional hospital.

Your ship calls at Scenic Cruising Nordfjord.

Your ship calls at Alesund, Norway.

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.

Continue your voyage aboard Nieuw Statendam with a leisurely day at sea.

Your ship returns to Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

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

Your ship returns to Alesund, Norway.

Nestled between the deep-blue Romsdalsfjord and stunning mountain scenery, the mountaineering capital of Åndalsnes makes a natural starting point for activities and attractions. A sojourn to the Romsdalen valley area reveals a world of waterfalls, steep mountains, magnificent bridges and the emerald green Rauma River. A breathtaking ride along the Atlantic Ocean Road offers one surprise after another as it takes you right out to and over the ocean's edge. And a visit to an idyllic and celebrated farm just may lure to remain in Åndalsnes forever!

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.

Your ship calls at Scenic Cruising Trondheimsfjord.

Your ship calls at Crossing the Arctic Circle.

Your ship calls at Tromso, Norway.

A second day in Tromso, Norway - time to explore at your own pace.

Your ship calls at Alta, Norway.

A second day in Alta, Norway - time to explore at your own pace.

Your ship returns to Crossing the Arctic Circle.

Your ship calls at Kristiansund, Norway.

Your ship returns to Bergen, Norway.

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

Your voyage concludes in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.