Norway Norway Summer Luxury Cruise - Itinerary
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Day 1: Copenhagen, Denmark - Arrivals Effortlessly cool and down to earth, Copenhagen is a contemporary, clean and classy highlight of Scandinavia. A city built to be liveable, Copenhagen has refused to compromise, resulting in a forward-thinking metropolis that’s green and clean. On your arrival at the Copenhagen Airport in Denmark (CPH), you will be met by our chauffeur for a private transfer to our luxury ship, the Silver Dawn to refresh and relax after a long flight. After some time to settle in your state-of-the-art luxury suites, we'll meet in the evening at one of the exclusive restaurants on board the Silver Dawn and toast the upcoming Nordic adventures that await us as we set sail for our ultimate Norwegian journey. Day 2: Copenhagen to Stavanger Today, we'll spend the day at sea sailing to our next destination, Stavanger. A day at sea on a Silversea luxury cruise ship in Norway is a dreamy escape filled with relaxation and indulgence. As the ship glides through the tranquil waters of the North Sea, we'll immerse ourselves in serenity and unwind in the lap of luxury aboard the Silver Dawn. We can lounge by the pool, basking in the Midnight Sun and enjoying refreshing drinks served by attentive staff. As the ship sails past the coast of Sweden, we can take advantage of the panoramic views from the deck, capturing breathtaking vistas of the vast sea and the cinematographic fjords. Throughout the day, we'll be able to indulge in gourmet dining experiences, as we savor delectable cuisine prepared by world-class chefs and paired with exquisite wines. Day 3: Stavanger, Norway With a pristine historic core and epic scenery all around, Norway’s energy capital is a dynamic powerhouse of the south. Stavanger for centuries have played a leading part in Norway's maritime history, from the time when the Viking kings battled in Hafrsfjord, through the period of the "white sails" and the steamships up to modern super-tankers. The city's growth has been fuelled by North Sea oil exploits and industry, but we'll set out to visit Stavanger's charming Old Town, surrounded by spectacular landscapes of cutting fjords, soaring mountains, and sandy beaches. We'll set out to journey through the fertile pastures on the way to Ullandhaug, to visit the reconstructed Iron Age farmhouses and learn about aspects of life in 500 A.D. We'll visit the fertile farmland of Jaeren, the Ryfylke Mountains, and Hafrsfjord from a viewpoint where the Viking-King Harald Haarfagre in 872 defeated the last of the regional princes and united the 29 small kingdoms under one crown. We'll also get a glimpse of "offshore" life at the Petroleum Museum and we'll take a stroll through the picturesque narrow streets of "Old Stavanger" with atmospheric narrow streets and wooden houses preserved from the 18th and 19th centuries. Day 4: Ålesund, Norway: Giske & Godøy Islands Decorative turrets, pastel-colored paint, and elegant buildings reflect in the glass-smooth harbor waters of Ålesund, welcoming us to one of the world’s finest havens of Art Nouveau architecture. A perfect complement of natural and man-made beauty, the city’s distinctive jugendstil style is enhanced by a thrilling location amid colossal fjord scenery. Today, we'll travel up Mount Aksla, to witness the splendid panoramic views over the town, skerries, and Sunnmøre Mountains. As we leave the city, we'll drive through the sub-sea tunnels connecting the islands with the mainland. We'll arrive on the island of Giske, the seat of power during the Viking Age to visit the 12th-century Giske Church, a Romanesque marble church built as a private chapel for the famous Giske family. Afterward, we'll head to the island of Godøy and the charming village of Alnes. Here, we'll take a stroll through the picturesque village and maybe even climb the lighthouse for spectacular panoramic views before reboarding our ship in the evening. Day 5: Trondheim In the morning, we'll arrive at the colorful, historic capital of Norway, Trondheim, whose history dates back to 997 AD, when it was founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason. We'll set out on a small boat to cruise along the fjord and Munkholmen Island. Depending on the water level on the Nid River, we'll sail upriver between the colorful warehouses, the old bridge, the Kristiansten Fortress and Nidaros Cathedral. Here, we'll join our local guide for a walking tour of Norway's oldest city, as we savor its village atmosphere and blend of ancient and modern architecture. We'll get the chance to tour Nidaros Cathedral, the 12th-century Gothic structure which is Scandinavia's largest medieval building, known for its magnificent stained-glass windows. The construction of the cathedral started in 1070 AD over the grave of St. Olav, and it is still an important destination for Christian pilgrims. We'll walk by Market Square, cross the charming Old Bridge, and visit the old town of Bakklandet, where many picturesque wooden houses are painted in vivid colors. Day 6: Geiranger: Mt Dalsnibba & Eagle Road Today, we'll get to witness one of the world's most beautiful fjords, as we arrive in Geiranger nestled at the end of the majestic Geiranger fjord, a branch of the Storfjorden, or the Great Fjord. We'll take a scenic drive up the winding mountain road, offering an ever-changing kaleidoscope of mountain farms, waterfalls, lakes, and streams. As we climb higher and higher up the mountain, we'll reach the summit of Mount Dalsnibba. The road to Mount Dalsnibba climbs almost 5,000 feet above sea level to the summit where we'll experience some of Norway's best mountain and fjordland scenery. Next, we'll continue to Flydal viewpoint, where we can take photographs of our ship far down on the fjord. Before returning to the pier, we will drive up the Eagle Road, consisting of 11 hairpin bends, to reach the famous Eagle Bend viewpoint and the Seven Sisters waterfalls. In the afternoon, we'll arrive back at sea level to board our ship and sail to our next destination. Day 7: Flåm Today, we'll arrive in Flåm, with its glacial waterways lined by evergreen forests amidst jagged mountains and sheer cliff walls. Situated inland, on the arm of the Sognefjord, the village has just 400 inhabitants. We'll take a short drive through idyllic Flåm to Gudvangen. En route, we'll pass through two long tunnels and take in the splendid views of the Aurlandsfjord. We'll continue our drive through the Nærøy Valley along the Salmon River, past Glashamaren, where the road winds its way up the mountain, leading to the beautiful Oppheim Lake, then through woodlands and green farmland before approaching the spectacular Tvinde Waterfall. We'll take a short stroll for a closer look at the falls, which cascade down the mountainside, before some refreshments at the Stalheim Hotel, perched on a cliff overlooking the Nærøy Valley. Before returning to the pier, we'll have time to explore the open-air museum, filled with 16th- and 17th-century farm buildings gathered from various parts of the country, as well as the stately Lekve House. Day 8: Bergen: Troldhaugen & Grieg Piano Concert Founded more than 900 years ago, Bergen has its roots in the Viking Era. As one of the ports of the Hanseatic League, for several hundred years Bergen was the center of prosperous trade between Norway and the rest of Europe. Bryggen, or the Hanseatic Wharf, with its colorful wooden houses, is the most obvious remnant from that time, and this is where many of the city’s restaurants, pubs, craft shops and historical museums are located. We'll set out from the pier and arrive at the light yellow clapboard house stands amidst trees at Troldhaugen, the Hill of the Trolls. Here, Edvard Grieg lived with his wife Nina for 22 years. The house was frequently used as a gathering place for many Scandinavian artists and is filled with paintings, prints, memorabilia, and, most notably, Grieg's Steinway piano. After a tour of the house, we'll enjoy a performance of selected Grieg works, giving us a glimpse of Edvard Grieg's life with musical examples from various periods. Day 9: Kristiansand: Lillesand Old Charm Today, we'll be able to bask in summer’s glow in Kristiansand, a popular summer getaway for travelers from Scandinavia and beyond. We'll first take a scenic drive to Lillesand, an idyllic small town, known for its white-painted houses that date from the 18th and 19th century, when Lillesand was bustling with maritime activity. En route, we'll pass the old Christiansholm Fortress, built in 1672, and through Kristiansand to observe the rectangular pattern of streets between the harbour on two sides, and the Otra River on the third. We'll view the delightful old houses, typical of southern Norway, then cross the Otra River where the 950-year-old Oddernes Church is located. Once in Lillesand, we'll stop for refreshments at the fashionable Hotel Norge, before getting to explore the quaint harbor-side town on our own. We'll set sail to Oslo tonight and enjoy dinner on board as we spend our last night cruising through open fjord waters. Day 10: Oslo Norway's capital is a beautiful, stirring city where old and new blends with thoughtful harmony. In the morning, we'll take a panoramic tour through Oslo's city center, seeing the City Hall, the National Theatre, the Royal Residence, and suburban villa areas en route to the Bygdøy Peninsula. We'll step back in time at the quaint Open-Air Folk Museum, to a recreated traditional Norwegian village. The authentic village features 158 buildings from rural and urban Norway, each representing a different historical time period and region, as well as a 13th-century Gol Stave Church with its steep stepped-roofs and wood-carved dragons. Then, we'll proceed to Vigeland Sculpture Park, Norway's most visited attraction filled with monumental sculptures in bronze, granite, and iron, a monolith with 121 figures carved from a single block of granite, and 36 statue groups surrounding the monolith. Next, we'll visit the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, to witness panoramic views of the city. In the evening, we will toast and celebrate our Norwegian expedition and share memories of our journey during our farewell dinner in one of the ship's elegant restaurants. Day 11: Oslo - Departures Sadly, this is our last day in Norway and on the Silver Dawn Luxury Ship. We hope that you are taking home great memories of sights, experiences, and new travel friends. Your airport transfer will be arranged in accordance with your scheduled return flight.
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