Norway

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Located on the northern shore of the Romsdalsfjord, the Norwegian town of Molde is famous for its beautiful surroundings and spectacular panoramic views of over 220 snow-capped peaks. Small wooden houses, gardens, parks and avenues full of trees and flowers have earned it the nickname ‘town of roses’ - a name that is definitely well deserved.

It is easy to make the most of a day in Norway's most northerly city and cruise port Tromsø because, in summer, the 'midnight sun' shines around the clock. The best way to see its full glory is to take a cable car 480 metres up to the top of Mount Storsteinen, which affords spectacular views out over the city to the surrounding mountains. You’re just 400km from the Arctic Circle in Tromsø, but there’s no need to get out your polar gear. Thanks to its position on the Gulf Stream, this lively city (said to have the greatest number of bars per capita in Norway) is relatively mild for its latitude. If you're fascinated by the world of snow and ice, the city's Polaria Science Museum is the place to find out all about it. Within its iceberg-shaped walls, you can meet the local wildlife at a vast aquarium, experience an Arctic snowstorm or take a virtual trek through the frozen wilderness to encounter polar bears and see the mystical Northern Lights. Tromso also has a centuries-old heart and some impressive modern architecture, including the beautifully austere, peaked Arctic Cathedral with its icy shards of concrete and glass. Please note snow-based shore excursions are not available on autumn cruises.

Haugesund, homeland of the Viking kings and birthplace of Norway, is a place where you can inhale the Viking spirit. Surrounded by beautiful coastline, spectacular waterfalls and majestic fjords it's no wonder the kings called this extraordinary setting home. Populated for thousands of years, you can walk in the footsteps of the great kings at the Nordvegen History Centre and travel back over 3,500 years. St Olav's Church, dating from 1250 AD, is a monument to the former days of glory, and next to the church stands one of Norway's tallest pillars, Virgin Mary's Sewing Needle. In nearby Rehaugene you can explore the 'Pyramids of the North' - six intriguing Bronze Age, earthen burial mounds. And if you are feeling like a spot of retail therapy, you're in luck - not only is Haugesund filled with charming markets it's also home to Norway's longest pedestrian street.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.