Iceland and Norway

Step aboard in Southampton & straight into that holiday feeling. No flights, no hassle. Just the excitement of the days ahead and the promise of memorable moment. So, relax and raise a toast as the UK drifts from sight. Before you know it, you'll be watching your destination come into view. But where will it be ?

When you reluctantly depart from this peaceful village of the picturesque Nordfjord, you'll no doubt have some breathtaking and unforgettable scenes etched into your memory, and your camera roll too. Giant waterfalls cascade the mountains, mineral-rich Lake Lovatn glints with a milky turquoise sheen and the Kjenndalen Glacier reveals a green-tinged glow.

Established in the mid-17th century and affectionately nicknamed ‘The Capital of North Iceland’, Akureyri is an industrious port, and home to the country’s largest and most well-known fishing company. Your guide to Akureyri. Known as the capital of the North, the Icelandic city of Akureyri offers a port call in a majestic setting and (for the lucky few) the possibility of glimpsing the Northern Lights. The small city is nestled at the base of Iceland’s longest fjord, Eyjafjörður; a spectacular stretch of water that spans nearly 40 miles. First settled by Norse Vikings in the 9th century, today Akureyri is the perfect launchpad from which to explore Northern Iceland’s greatest treasures. Piercing blue fjords, bubbling mud pools, snow-kissed mountains and tumbling waterfalls all form part of the spellbinding cocktail that is Akureyri’s scenery. While the usually mild climate makes for pleasant exploring on long midsummer days.

Few regions are as wild and unspoilt as Iceland’s Westfjords. With miles of mountains and few-and-far-between roads, venturing here evokes the feeling of entering unchartered terrain. The landscape is dramatic and approaching by sea offers the perfect chance to absorb the scenery before setting foot on land. The most enchanting attraction of this area perhaps is the peace, stillness and calm it emanates. Embrace local life in Ísafjörður town or visit the charming nearby village of Flateyri. Further afield you can sail to Vigur, home to Iceland’s last remaining windmill, where time has seemingly stood still and boat is the only connection to the world outside.

Kirkwall’s Norse heritage stretches back almost a millennium, when the Vikings laid the foundations for St Magnus Cathedral, the most northerly cathedral in Britain, and is built from local sandstone. Tune in to the history of the radio at the Wireless Museum or sample the island’s peaty single malts at the Highland Park Distillery.

Step aboard in Southampton & straight into that holiday feeling. No flights, no hassle. Just the excitement of the days ahead and the promise of memorable moment. So, relax and raise a toast as the UK drifts from sight. Before you know it, you'll be watching your destination come into view. But where will it be ?