Oceania Cruises: Marina

Wonderful Copenhagen is a city of bridge-spanned canals, copper-roofed buildings and manicured parks. This famous Baltic seaport is one of Europe’s loveliest capitals and the seat of the oldest monarchy in the world. Copenhagen is a focus for commerce, culture, industry and cosmopolitan atmosphere. The locale of Hans Christian Andersen’s enchanting tale of The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen is known as Denmark’s fairy-tale city. Its impressive theaters, museums and churches are of interest to many visitors; the best-loved attractions include the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, the Langelinie Harbor with its Little Mermaid statue and the busy shopping promenade known as Strøget.

Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, is encircled by wooded hills and snowcapped peaks. The city displays a mixture of several architectural styles. A full range of activities includes art galleries, museums, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Other points of interest include Royal Palace; Frogner Park, known for its famous Vigeland sculptures; Holmenkollen, where international skiing events take place; imposing Åkershus Castle; and Bygdøy Peninsula, home to some of Oslo’s most important museums. Many attractions can be explored on foot. Oslo's City Hall ranks as the most distinctive part of Oslo’s waterfront. The art portrays the country's different historical and domestic phases. Munch Museum, which is dedicated to the life work of Norway’s famous painter, contains more than 5,000 drawings and paintings. National Gallery has the nation’s largest collection of Norwegian art and some of Munch’s best-known works. Åkershus Fortress & Castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century, houses Norway’s Resistance Museum.

Set on the scenic southern tip of Norway, at a magical spot with more sunshine than anywhere else in Scandanavia, little Kristiansand is Nature’s playground. Its spacius, ice-free harbor is ringed with thousands of tiny islands, a haven for swimmers, boaters and sport fishermen. Along the waterfront, in the silent Christiansholm fortress, and the charming houses of the historic center, you’ll find a peaceful serenity.

With its spectacular setting among seven hills, Bergen is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable cities in Norway. Most sites are within an easy walk from the harbor. From fine surviving medieval buildings to a series of good museums such as Fishery Museum and Old Bergen open-air museum, Bergen offers a wide variety of attractions. Its scenic beauty can best be appreciated from Mt. Floyen and is captivating. Enjoy this lovely city by taking a stroll to the old part of town, passing impressive 12th-century Bergenhus fortress. Old Hanseatic Wharf, called Bryggen, is where reconstructed gabled buildings house workshops, boutiques and restaurants. St. Mary's Church is Bergen’s oldest building and one of the finest Norman churches in Norway. Rasmus Meyers Collection is a rambling townhouse featuring one of the best collections of Norwegian art, including an upper floor devoted almost entirely to Munch. Bergen boasts numerous historic buildings dating from medieval times: Bergenhus Fortress; Rosenkrantz Tower; Haakon’s Hall.

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The municipality´s centre of administration and trade, with about 1,600 inhabitants and well-developed services, including a hotel, cafes, restaurants, auto repair shops, specialty shops, a pharmacy, bakery, movie theatre, swimming pool, and other services. The newspaper "Lofot-Tidende" is published here.

The small town of Harstad, 75 miles northwest of Narvik, sits surrounded by craggy, snow-topped mountains on the island of Hinnøya. Harstad’s greatest attraction is the Trondenes Church which dates back to the 13th century. This structure was originally built as a fortress church; its design incorporates massive walls, some 7 1/2 feet thick. At the time, Trondenes was also Norway’s northernmost stone church and one of the most important in the country during Roman Catholic times. As early as the Viking Age the church was used as a local gathering place, including the meetings of the Ting (local parliament). Serving as the breadbasket for northern Norway, this region provides seasonal fruits and vegetables for nearby marketplaces. Harstad’s pretty setting with hilly streets, rainbow-colored wooden houses, terraces and views of the mountains is especially appreciated by the summer crowd which flocks here to enjoy the North Norwegian Arts Festival and International Deep-Sea Fishing Festival, usually held in June and July.

The Rock carvings at Alta, dating from circa 4200 BC to 500 BC, are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. In additon, the Komsa culture was named after the Komsa mountain in Alta municipality, where the first archeological remains were discovered.

In World War II, the German battleship Tirpitz used Altafjord as a harbor, and was damaged here by attacking allied warplanes.

Altasaken in 1979 made headlines for weeks, as many people (especially environmentalists) demonstrated and used civil disobedience to prevent the building of a dam in order to produce hydropower. The dam was built, however, and the river still offers good salmon fishing.

The world's northernmost village, Honningsvag, the gateway to the North Cape, is a completely modern fishing harbor set in a land of forests, fjord waters, and crashing waterfalls, everything bathed in summer by the eerie light of the midnight sun. Only the chapel withstood the German destruction of 1944. It's some 50 miles nearer to the North Pole than Hammerfest, on the Alta-Hammerfest bus route.

Hammerfest, the world's northern-most city with a population of 7,000 residents, is located in the wide but calm bay of the Province of Finnmark. The North Atlantic Gulf Stream provides the city with an ice free port all year round. Hammerfest's short distance from the North Cape makes it an attractive destination to tourists. Like Tromso, Hammerfest became a major location for the start or end of arctic expeditions in the 19th century. In 1890, the town was one of the first in Europe to provide electric street lighting. Of course, the sun's disappearance from the sky during the arctic winter from November through February may have contributed to this distinction. Today the main street shops of this interesting trawler port offer a friendly welcome, and the drily -named 'Polar Bear Club' provides intriguing insights into Arctic history and tradition.

Enjoy the appealing frontier atmosphere at this ancient whaling capital and base for expeditions to the North Pole.

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Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.

Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.

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The most interesting places to visit in Iceland are Dettifoss, Myvatn, Goðafoss, Krafla, Ásbyrgi, the park in Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, the fossils at Tjörnes, the ghost valleys of the north. Húsavík is known for being the whale watching capital of Iceland. The bird life offers unique nature experience on sea for tourists. Lundey (also known as Puffin Island) is an island colony of 100.000 puffins and other cliff dwelling birds. The beautiful garden in the center of town and the river running through it provides life for many birds. The Folk Museum has one of the largest polar bears ever caught locally. The well-timbered church built in 1907 is open for visitors during summer. The town is a starting point for sightseeing tours and one-day excursions to many famous places found in the north, like Lake Myvatn, Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Hljódaklettar, Hólmatungur, Ásbyrgi, Tjörnes peninsula, Adaldalur valley, Laxárdalur valley and the Grenjadarstadur Folk Museum. Húsavík is an environmental friendly town - where geothermal water heats all houses and heats or dries industrial products.

Siglufjordur is a quiet fishing village located within an isolated narrow fjord in northern Iceland. The small town at one point was home to 3,000 inhabitants, however since the 1950’s has drastically shrunk. Siglufjordur as of the year 2011 reported a population of only 1,206 locals. Visitors can enjoy skiing, private tours of the area as well as the Herring Era Museum which is enjoyed by many.  During the aurora spring & autumn seasons, the sky shines with vibrant neon shades that light up the charming small town. 

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This narrow 70-mile-long channel across the southernmost tip of Greenland is breathtakingly dramatic. Huge glaciers tumble down towards the rugged coast from the Greenland ice cap-exactly the kind of scene that inspired one Greenlandic poet to declare: 'I get dizzy of all this beauty'. A thousand years ago, just north of here at Narsarsuaq, Eric the Red established his farm amid 6,000-foot mountains and glaciers.

Built along the base of the Kuannersooq Fjord, the maritime town of Paamiut is highlighted by scenic architecture and old shops, stables and the old church. White tailed eagles flock to Paamiut en masse, and in the surrounding sea, you may catch sight of whales - orcas and humpback among many others. 

 

Nuuk was founded by the unfailingly optimistic Hans Egede - the Danish missionary with soul-conversions on his mind - who promptly named the settlement Good Hope. Today Nuuk is small by modern standards, with a total population of only 14,000. Despite a wealth of land and a paucity of people, Nuuk has insisted on housing the population in immense apartment blocks with imaginative names like Blok P - a kind of Gulag on ice - and the urban sprawl is now spreading out along the road to the airport. Kolonihavnen is a pleasant exception to the rest of Nuuk's Lego-city look: it's a picturesque 18th-century fishing village in the heart of Nuuk and gives some idea of what the town looked like before the industrial harbour was built. Nuuk's real attraction lies in its proximity to any number of excellent day hikes into the hinterland and the fabulous views from the tops of the nearby mountains. Organised tours, boat trips and the rental of equipment is easier from the capital.

Qaqortoq means "The White Place", and the town is the educational and cultural center of Southern Greenland. The sheep farms give this part of Greenland special character. Qaqortoq has a sculpture park "Stone and Man" made by 18 Nordic sculptors. The result is 24 sculptures and reliefs spread all over town. Greenland's only public fountain is in the town square. The square is the historical part of town, with many buildings from colonial times and a museum concentrating on Greenlandic culture, the Norse period and the history of Qaqortoq. Close to the square is "Brædtet" market where local fishermen and hunters sell the days catch. There are 2 churches in town; "Frelserens" from 1832 and "Gertrud Raschs" from 1973. "Frelserens" hans the lifebuoy and memorial tablet with the names of those missing from M/S Hans Hedtoft, which went down in January 1959. "Gertrud Raschs" has one of Greenlands most beautiful altar pieces made by artist Maria Haagen-Müller.

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The small town of Grundarfjörður (Grundarfjordur) is situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland.

The fire, frost and water symbolized by the red, white and blue of Iceland’s flag are manifested in this land. Reykjavik, or Smoky Bay, was so named in 874 A.D. by Ingolf Arnarson when he sighted the numerous hot springs on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Today this remarkably pollution-free city is wrapped around a sweeping bay and has managed to retain its charming Old-World atmosphere. A pastiche of red-blue-and green-roofed houses together with the tall gray tower of Hallgrim’s Church dominate the skyline. In Old Town, many of the wooden buildings have been lovingly restored and stand side by side with modern timber and concrete structures. There are fine museums and art galleries; historic pubs present activity in late afternoon. The beautiful countryside outside of Reykjavik includes such natural wonders as volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains and spectacular waterfalls.

Suggested Private Excursions

Reykjavik - The Golden Circle - FD Tour

Reykjavik - Bathing in the Blue Lagoon - HD Tour

Reykjavik - Langjökull Glacier & the Ice Tunnel

Reykjavik Highlights - HD Tour

The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.

The most interesting places to visit in Iceland are Dettifoss, Myvatn, Goðafoss, Krafla, Ásbyrgi, the park in Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, the fossils at Tjörnes, the ghost valleys of the north. Húsavík is known for being the whale watching capital of Iceland. The bird life offers unique nature experience on sea for tourists. Lundey (also known as Puffin Island) is an island colony of 100.000 puffins and other cliff dwelling birds. The beautiful garden in the center of town and the river running through it provides life for many birds. The Folk Museum has one of the largest polar bears ever caught locally. The well-timbered church built in 1907 is open for visitors during summer. The town is a starting point for sightseeing tours and one-day excursions to many famous places found in the north, like Lake Myvatn, Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Hljódaklettar, Hólmatungur, Ásbyrgi, Tjörnes peninsula, Adaldalur valley, Laxárdalur valley and the Grenjadarstadur Folk Museum. Húsavík is an environmental friendly town - where geothermal water heats all houses and heats or dries industrial products.

Eskifjörður (Eskifjordur) is a seaside fishing village in east Iceland with many outdoor activities and historical buildings to visit. A walk around the town is recommended and sailing around the fjord is an enjoyable way to see the magnificent views.

The Faroe Islands have been voted by National Geographic Traveler as the most undisturbed and appealing place in the world. Visitors can take boat excursions around the islands and experience the magnificent stone cathedrals in one of the many grottoes. The Faroe Islands are considered a bird lovers paradise. Over 300 birds species have been identified on the islands, and visitors can see a variety of bird colonies on the cliffs, including guillemots and puffins.

The name Stornoway comes from the Norse for "Steering Bay", an indication of the early origins of the town. As the best natural harbor in the Western Isles it was a focus for development, and Stornoway Castle was built as early as 1100 by the MacNicol family. Today's Stornoway is a busy, attractive town and the largest settlement in the Western Isles. The shape of the town is defined by the harbour, which partially surrounds it. Visit an interesting range of shops pleasantly different from the usual outlets colonising most UK High Streets. Visitors to Stornoway should be aware that Sunday observance is strong here. Most transport links to Lewis and Harris, and within them, do not operate on a Sunday. Most shops, petrol stations, cafes, pubs, visitor attractions are closed on Sundays, as are at least some public toilets.

Greenock - a town slightly west of Glasgow - has a waterfront surrounded by hills and is composed of a bustling industrial area and a residential area with a 19th-century flavor. Glasgow's top attraction, the Burrell Collection, was amassed by wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell before it was donated to the city and is now housed in a prize-winning museum in Pollok Country Park. This collection includes everything from Chinese porcelain and medieval furniture to paintings by Renoir and Cézanne. Visit the granite cross above town, a proud memorial to French sailors who fought in the Battle of the Atlantic and lost their lives. Enjoy a short ferry ride to the Scottish Highlands. Explore the statue, scientific library, museum, and the Watt School of Engineering, Navigation, Radio, and Radar that commemorate James Watt (discoverer of steam power) who was born in Greenock. Travel to Glasgow and visit George Square, Glasgow's oldest public square. Shortbread is a traditional recipe of Scotland and should not be missed.

Dublin enjoys one of the loveliest natural settings in Europe. Dublin attracts visitors from around the world with its old world charm and friendly atmosphere. Most of the architecture dates from the 18th century, when Dublin enjoyed great prominence and prosperity. Also of interest are stately Georgian houses which front Merrion Square. O'Connell Street is considered the commercial center of Dublin. Perhaps the most memorable feature of Dublin is the traditional pub, where visitors can enjoy conversation over fine Irish brew. The city also offers many fine parks, including St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park. National Gallery's renowned collection includes works by such famous masters as Rembrandt and Monet. Trinity College's Old Library is home to the most cherished treasure, the Book of Kells, a manuscript of the Gospels. Admire Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy the exhibits in impressive National Museum. Self-guided walking tours include Old City Trail, Georgian Heritage Trail and the Cultural Trail.

Suggested Private Excursions

Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours

Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour

Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours

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London is known worldwide as an entertainment capital, a center for the arts, a center of rich and varied heritage, a 'green' city, and waterfront attraction center. The city is alive with theaters, clubs, pubs, casinos and entertainment venues, making it a day or night out to remember. Southampton is the main regional centre for the arts, offering quality, variety and choice. Southampton has a rich and varied heritage, five excellent museums covering all aspects of the city's past and the remains of the medieval town walls. Southampton's rich heritage of parks and open spaces make it probably 'the Greenest City in the UK'. Whether it's shopping, eating out or taking in great events, there's always something to see and do on the attractive waterfront.