Coastal Wonders of the Norwegian Coast and Midnight Sun

Norway’s beauty shines brighter than ever in Bergen, where colourful wooden buildings line every street. From the historic wharf called the Bryggen to the neighbouring fjords just waiting to be explored, a day in Bergen makes for a fun mix of city and seclusion, outdoor adventure and arts and culture. Ships will dock at the Skolten cruise port.

Top Things to Do in Bergen:

• take in the views from atop Mount Floyen
• visit the Bryggens Museum
• explore the famous fish market
• fly over Hardangerfjord in a seaplane

Sailing Norway’s epic Geirangerfjord, the only Norwegian fjord that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a notable experience. Picturesque to a fault, Geirangerfjord has inspired folklore, fairy-tale and film for centuries.

Unabashedly called 'the most beautiful fjord in the world,' the scenery is absolutely stunning in every direction.

Snow-mantled mountains rise majestically from the glacier-carved fjord, the Seven Sisters waterfalls burst forth from cliffs and thunder into the deep, serene water and emerald-green forests blanket the hillsides.

Soaring turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation adorn the buildings throughout Ålesund, giving it a distinctive flair and earning the town a revered architectural reputation. Seven islands comprise Ålesund , and they’re cleverly connected by an elaborate set of underwater tunnels. Feeling energetic - climb the 418 steps to Mount Aksla for panoramic views of the town, surrounding islands and fjords or how about visting the Atlanterhavsparken aquarium, which offers an immersive look at marine life.

Explore the coastal town of Bronnoysund, with its charming Old Town and timeless wooden houses, and spot the iconic Bronnoysund Bridge that leads to the tranquil Alsten Island.

Indulge in the local cuisine at quayside restaurants, savouring seafood delicacies, and visit the Norwegian Aquaculture Center for a deeper understanding of the region's fishing heritage.

Discover the natural wonder of the nearby Torghatten rock formation, and experience the lush beauty of the Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Area of cultural richness and stunning island scenery.

Bronnoysund's unique character and the pristine Nordic landscape makes it an irresistible destination for cruise travellers.

Way beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in 'another world'. A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests.

Top Things to Do on the Lofoten Islands:

• visit the Svolvaer Magic Ice Bar and Gallery
• explore the preserved Nusfjord fishing village
• take a boat tour among the Lofoten Skerries
• visit the Gallery Lofoten House

According to legend, Trollfjord was named after the mythical creatures that guarded this narrow two kilometre strip of the Raftsundet Strait. Bright and verdant in the warmer months, snow-capped and glacial in the cold frost of winter, experience out of this world beauty no matter what time of the year you visit.

This breathtaking passage has the largest sea eagle population in the world, listen to the call of these majestic birds while keeping your eyes peeled for puffins clinging to cliffs. In the water below, otters and seals play in surf teeming with fish and the occasional porpoise or whale.

In the north of the Arctic circle you’ll discover Tromsø, a secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the “Paris of the north”. You’ll soon see why when you discover its extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.

Almost a hundred islands and rocks make up the Gjesvӕrstappan Nature Reserve, one of Europe’s largest and most accessible nesting areas for Atlantic seabirds. More than one million nesting birds have been counted on Storstappen, the largest of the islands, and the minor islands next to it.

Zodiacs are the best way to look for the Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Black and Common Guillemots, Northern Gannets, White-tailed Eagles, and Arctic Skuas, Common Eider Ducks, Common Shags and Great Cormorants as well as various other species.

Called the northernmost point of Europe, the North Cape (or Nordkapp) is situated at the very north tip of Norway and inside the Arctic Circle. Home to where the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet and with only the Svalbald archipelago standing between it and the North Pole, this is the true land of the midnight sun.

Lookout for hundreds of thousands of puffins, gannets, cormorants, seals, dolphins and whales that make this stretch of chilly water and the tall cliffs their home. Not forgetting the colourful, compact fishing villages, so at odds with the otherwise stark and barren landscape.

The world’s most northerly fishing village, Skarsvag, is set amongst rolling hills, prolific birdlife and arctic fjords. The village is most famous for its proximity to the North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe.

The cape's sea cliffs are perched 1,000 ft above the Arctic Ocean and provides a lookout over a limitless panorama. These cliffs are home to thousands of puffins, gannets and cormorants.

Visitors can stand beneath the massive metal globe and take in the limitless view, hike to cape Knivskjellodden or visit the North Cape Hall for exhibitions on the North Cape’s history.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.

This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen lies Bear Island or Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. Observe this isolated piece of land discovered in 1596 by Dutch navigator, Willem Barents. Following a tough fight between a polar bear and the members of the expedition, he dubbed the place Bear Island.

Regularly covered by a thick layer of fog, Bjørnøya shelters a meteorological station built in 1923. The island was declared a nature reserve in 2002 and is home to an enormous colony of sea birds - skuas, guillemots, puffins, gulls, petrels and little auks all coexist here.

Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.