Norwegian Fjords & the Midnight Sun

Roundtrip Amsterdam on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam

June 7–21, 2020

14–Night Cruise along Norway’s Scenic Coast &
Fjords on Holland America’s Newest Ship – Nieuw Statendam

Join PES and cruise majestic fjords, sail across the Arctic Circle to witness the remote beauty of North Cape, and explore small villages surrounded by breathtaking scenery and steeped in Viking history!

Cruise Itinerary Highlights:

• Experience the Midnight Sun during the Summer Solstice
• Visit Norway’s largest national park, waterfalls, and mountain plateaus in panoramic Eidfjord, home to less than 1,000 inhabitants
• Explore Bergen, a charming city with deep maritime and Viking roots
• Travel to the Artic port of Honningsvag, your gateway to North Cape
• Surrounded by steep hills and stunning waterfalls, Skjolden is located at the head of Sognefjord–the world’s longest navigable fjord
• Encounter Stavanger’s incredible beauty and ancient history – from the natural wonder of Pulpit Rock to historic museums and churches

Your Holland America Cruise Features:

• A world of dining – from The Dining Room, specialty restaurants Rudi’s Sel de Mer and Tamarind, to a variety of casual options
• Wide array of engaging opportunities for exploration, entertainment, and relaxation including World Stage with nightly performances, multiple live music venues, live cooking shows, Lido Pool with giant LED movie screen, shops, spa, fitness center, wraparound teak decks, and casino, plus youth- and teen-friendly activities
• Variety of bars and lounges including wine and whiskey tasting rooms
• Carefully crafted, locally guided shore excursions available
• Award-winning service – nearly 1 crew member for every 2 guests

Brief Itinerary

Port & Scenic Cruising Highlights

Eidfjord, Norway

In the shadow of snowy peaks and near stunning blue-green fjords, Eidfjord is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. Even though it has a population of less than 1,000, scores of visitors come here each year to bask in the area’s natural splendor.

Scenic Cruising Hardangerfjord

From easy guided hikes and the summer-skiing resort on the Folgefonna glaciers to the serious hiking trails that encompass waterfalls and panoramic vistas, Norway’s Hardangerfjord region offers truly exceptional outdoor experiences. Norway’s Queen Sonja is known to favor the hiking trails around the village of Kinsarvik so much that a tough 10-mile hike is named after her.

Bergen, Norway

Beautiful Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is one of the most popular ports of call on a cruise up the fjords. Step off the ship into the medieval Bryggen wharf area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, where small boats line the harbor and wooden gabled buildings stand proud along the waterfront. Bergen’s rich maritime tradition goes back nearly 1,000 years, including the years the town played an important part in the Hanseatic League, the trading empire that dominated maritime commerce in the region between the 14th and 18th centuries. The city is one of Europe’s oldest settlements, and its cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways lead to emerald-green parks, medieval cathedrals and stone fortresses that kept enemies at bay centuries ago. It’s also eminently walkable, with historic buildings and excellent markets selling everything from fish and produce to trinkets and souvenirs.

Molde, Norway

All of the stunning beauty you associate with Norway is on display in Molde, a city roughly 240 miles north of Bergen with white clapboard houses sitting alongside a sparkling fjord. On a clear day, more than 200 peaks are visible from this part of the Romsdal Peninsula. (The Varden Viewpoint, 10 minutes by car from the center of town, is the best place to take in the breathtaking panorama.) Even when the weather is less cooperative, there is plenty to do, with cozy cafés, boutiques selling woolen sweaters and the Romsdal Museum, an open-air folk museum where you can literally stroll through the region’s history and traditional homes. Molde is also one end of one of Norway’s most beautiful coastal drives, the Atlantic Ocean Road (in Norwegian, the Atlanterhavsvegen), which crosses spectacular bridges and a number of islands. Around every bend, there are magnificent views of mountain peaks, the Atlantic and the fjords that notch Norway’s coast. From mid-June through August, Molde lives up to its nickname—the City of Roses—with flowers blooming everywhere, from the roof of the town hall and the university grounds to the picket fences around houses.

Trondheim, Norway

Although a popular cruise destination, Norway’s Viking capital is often overlooked by other travelers in favor of Oslo and the fjords. Yet Norway’s third-biggest city has plenty to offer those who make the time to explore.

Honningsvag, Norway

For many travelers, the sparsely populated settlement of Honningsvag is nothing more than a pit stop en route to the North Cape, the northernmost point of continental Europe. (The North Cape is rightly an iconic bucket-list destination with postcard views across the open ocean.) But amidst its colorful buildings, Honningsvag has a lively cultural life powered by local spirit and an economy driven by shipping through the Barents Sea, which is ice-free year round thanks to the warming influences of the Gulf Stream. The town’s several notable cultural institutions include a museum and a busy cultural center.

Honningsvag is also a terrific base for exploring the rest of rugged arctic Norway, whether on foot, all-terrain vehicle or on the water. Back in town, be sure to stop by the statue of Bamse, the Saint Bernard dog that became the mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during World War II. The city was destroyed in bombing during the war and the harrowing experiences of that period are documented at the church, which gave temporary shelter to the residents.

Scenic Cruising North Cape

The Nordkapp (North Cape) is a 984-foot-tall headland in northern Norway, commonly known as the northernmost point in Europe. The views offered from the cape and an enjoyable visitor center keep that reputation intact, even though it’s not technically true; clearly visible from the North Cape, the slim peninsular Knivskjellodden is actually almost 1,500 feet farther north. Sticklers for detail argue that because both points are on the island of Magerøya, neither should count, as the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is even farther north.

Alesund, Norway

Alesund, a quaint fishing town of approximately 45,000 in western Norway, has been called Norway’s most beautiful city. A fire in 1904 destroyed much of it, resulting in the town being rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style—also known as Jugendstil—that was popular around the turn of the 20th century. A year after the fire, Norway gained its independence from Sweden, which led to a campaign to build a “Norwegian town” to mark the creation of the new nation. The colorful buildings feature castlelike turrets and spires with intricate facades of ornamental flowers, gargoyles and Viking-inspired decorations.

Skjolden, Norway

Surrounded by steep hills and stunning waterfalls, Skjolden is located at the head of Sognefjord–the world’s longest navigable fjord. Visit Urnes Stave Church, the oldest stave church found in Norway, included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, and take a hike in Jostedalsbreen National Park for views you’ll never forget.

Scenic Cruising Sognefjord

Norway’s Sognefjord is the longest and deepest fjord in the world. Imagine 127 majestic winding miles of beautiful villages, centuries-old architecture including wooden stave churches, towering mountains with snow-covered peaks, cascading waterfalls and panoramic views. It is also a region known for its traditional food, folklore, music and rich culture. Set in the southern part of the country, centrally located at the heart of Fjord Norway (as the region is known), the fjord reaches depths of more than 4,291 feet. It also soars to the sky, with rugged cliffs rising to more than 5,577 feet. This is nature at its most dramatic. In fact, one of the Sognefjord’s arms, the Nærøyfjord, is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Urnes Stave Church, which was build around 1130 is also included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. As the poet John Keats once wrote, “The poetry of earth is never dead,” and within the Sognefjord lie many sonnets of life. Be inspired by its treasures. All you have to do is sit back and watch the spectacular wonder of this destination.

Stavanger, Norway

Before this port city on Norway’s western coast earned its status as the epicenter of “black gold” and the extraction of North Sea oil, it was a shipbuilding and fish-canning town. Fuelled by its wealth as one of the world’s top energy capitals, it’s now home to top-notch fusion restaurants and a bustling nightlife that caters to a never-ending influx of expatriates.