06 Jun Dover, England
Embark Quest for Adventure. Depart 2100. A late departure on the anniversary of D-Day gives you the chance to join an excursion to the war rooms at Dover castle, which played a vital role in World War II.
Dover is situated at the mouth of a valley in the chalk uplands that form the famous white cliffs. A pre-Roman settlement existed on the site and, as Dubris, the place was important for Roman traffic with the European mainland.
The town's strategic position on the south coast has been evident throughout its history. Archaeological digs in the area have revealed that the area has always been a focus for people entering and leaving Britain.
Bombed and shelled during World War Two, the shattered seafront was subsequently redeveloped after the war and is now the foremost passenger port in the United Kingdom.
08 Jun Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England
Arrive 0800. Depart 1300.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (often shortened to just Newcastle) is a vibrant mix of the contemporary, cultural, stylish and historic and famed across the world for its captivating welcome. As the capital of the north east of England, Newcastle shares 2,000 years of history with its neighbour on the south bank of the River Tyne, the town of Gateshead. The origins of Newcastle can be traced back to Roman times and the city takes its name from the Norman Castle built by the son of William the Conqueror.
Today, Newcastle is a lively and cosmopolitan city that manages to perfectly mix the very best of old and new. Newcastle has seen many an industry play an important role in the economic development of the city. From growth as a centre of the wool trade to being a coal mining power, the port city has also been a focus for shipbuilding. 21st century Newcastle is largely a business and cultural centre, with a particular reputation for a vibrant nightlife and more recently being the home region for high profile public figures including singers, comedians, footballers and television presenters - all of whom are proud to call themselves a 'Geordie'.
09 Jun Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Arrive 0800. Depart 1400.
Located on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, Kirkwall’s most striking feature is the 12th-century sandstone Norse St Magnus’ Cathedral. This busy port is the gateway to some of Europe’s finest archaeological sites, including the 5,000-year-old chambered tomb of Maes Howe, the mysterious Standing Stones of Stenness and the Stone Age Ring of Brodgar.
There’s also a fascinating Stone Age village, that of Skara Brae, which was revealed after an especially fierce storm in 1850. With our choice of excursions you can visit some of the island’s archaeological attractions, explore its rugged landscape or visit one of the world’s most northerly and most famous whisky distilleries.
10 Jun Bergen, Norway
Arrive 1000. Depart 1800.
Surrounded by mountains and sparkling fjords, the waterside city of Bergen has a spectacular setting. There has been a settlement here since medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic Wharf, known as the Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history of trade.
As Norway’s best known medieval settlement, the Bryggen is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our comprehensive selection of excursions allow you to discover the many sides of Bergen, such as the open-air fish market and narrow cobbled streets, as well as the city's open-air Old Bergen Museum. For a bird’s eye view of the city a ride in the funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen is a must or even more spectacular, try sight-seeing from a seaplane.
Learn about one of Norway’s most famous sons, the composer Edvard Grieg, whose former home, Troldhaugen, has been turned into a museum. Those who have visited the city previously may like to enjoy a taste of the Hardanger region or even venture as far as Flam to experience one of the world’s most exciting train rides.
11 Jun Geiranger, Norway
Arrive 0900. Depart 1800. Land by launch or tender.
Geiranger is located in the innermost part of the Geirangerfjord. This small village, with approximately 250 inhabitants, is one of Norway's most famous tourist resorts.
Geirangerfjord is one of Norway’s most renowned fjords and is encircled by majestic snow-capped mountains, some towering between 3,000 and 5,000-feet high.
Nestling amid this breathtaking scenery is the Norwegian Fjord Centre, which is visited on one of the excursions from this port. It is the perfect way to appreciate Norwegian traditions and the country’s natural splendour.
13 Jun Bodø, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Bodo is known as the city of the sea eagle thanks to the mighty birds which soar high above this old fishing town.
The city lies just north of the Arctic Circle where the midnight sun is visible from 2 June to 10 July. Due to atmospheric refraction, there is no true polar night in Bodø, but because of the mountains south of Bodø, the sun is not visible from the city from early December to early January.
Perhaps visit the world’s largest maelstrom, Saltstraumen, where every six hours, 400 mill m3 of water at speeds up to 20 knots rush through the 150 metre wide and three kilometre long sound connecting two fjords. The powerful whirlpools can be up to 10 m in diameter and 4-5 m deep.
You can join a guided walk, go on a sightseeing trip, go fishing or watch sea eagles. And you are, of course, free to just wander along the seashore while watching the waves break on the shore or learn about Norway’s aeronautical feats at the Aviation Museum.
14 Jun Tromsø, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
One of the oldest population centres in the north of Norway, Tromsø is known as the Gateway to the Arctic because it was used as a starting point for hunters looking for Arctic foxes, polar bears and seals.
In the 19th century it was a base for explorers on Arctic expeditions – a history that is remembered in the city’s Polar Museum and Wilderness Centre which is visited on one of our shore excursions in the area. Another history that is commemorated in the area is that of Norway’s indigenous people – the Sami.
Visitors can learn about the traditions, heritage and struggle to preserve Sami culture at the Tromsø Museum. Nowadays, Tromsø is a charming mix of the old and the new with quaint wooden buildings sitting alongside contemporary architecture including the impressive and glacier-like Arctic cathedral with one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe.
A cable car runs to the top of Mount Storsteinen from where there are wonderful views of the city and surrounding countryside of forested peaks and reindeer pastures.
Founded on the island of Troms, it is more than five times the size of Norway’s capital, Oslo, and is the world’s northernmost university city located 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle.
15 Jun Alta, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 2300.
Alta sits at the mouth of Altafjord and is made up of three villages – Bukta, Elvebakken and Bossekop – where the indigenous Sami people used to hold their bi-annual market.
The area is famed for prehistoric rock carvings discovered in 1973. Just over a decade after they were discovered the site was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. See this historically important site on one of several shore excursions in the area.
The nearby town of Kåfjord is also well known as it was where one of the world’s largest battleships was based during World War II and was the German headquarters for the north-west. A war museum is dedicated to the history of the era.
17 Jun Murmansk, Russia
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Murmansk is a city in the north-west part of Russia and is the biggest port in the Polar area. The area mainly serves as a seaport, but because it's a fairly compact area, most of the city's attractions are within easy reach of the port.
Some of its tourist attractions include exhibition halls, an aquarium, the Regional Museum of Fine Arts and the Theatre of Northern Fleet. The area is full of bars and restaurants; the local cuisine mainly comprises pizzerias, Moroccan restaurants and grills.
19 Jun Solovetsky Islands, Russia
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700. Land by launch or tender.
The Solovetsky Islands in Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. These historic islands were once the setting of the Russian Orthodox Solovetsky Monastry, which was founded in the 15th century. Today, the islands prove to be a popular tourist site because they have so much to offer; particularly a long, rich history.
You can explore the Pomor villages; the pre-historic stone labyrinths, medieval monasteries and gulag museums; as well as various remnants of past cultures. If you're interested in the area's natural beauty, the Solovetsky Islands enjoy a rich sea life. There's also a number of headlands, lakes, extensive forests which are virtually untouched.
20 Jun Archangel, Russia
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Archangel, or Arkhangelsk, is a regional centre in Northwestern Russia. Until the 20th century, nearly all of the buildings in Archangel were wooden, meaning there are little examples of historic architecture before this time. The city's culture is rich and diverse; you'll find three theatres, interesting museums and festivals at all different times of the year.
Some of the must sees include a visit to the Natural History Museum, a trip to the Gallery of Arts or a stroll along the picturesque Northern Dvina embankment. A trip to Lenin Square will allow you to visit bars, restaurants and cafes.
In 1989, an unusually rich silver treasure was found by the mouth of Dvina, right next to present day Arkhangelsk. It was probably buried in the beginning of the 12th century, and contained articles that may have been up to 200 years old at that time.
22 Jun Honningsvåg, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 2200.
Honningsvåg is the capital of Norway’s stunning North Cape and home to 3,000 of the 4,000 people living on the island of Magerøy.
The town was under German occupation during World War II, and was partly destroyed by fire during their retreat.
As a result, many of the houses are built in an identical style – part of a post-war reconstruction project. From here you can travel to the northernmost tip of Norway, as you can travel no further.
24 Jun Svolvær, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 1400.
Located on the south coast of Austvågøy in the Lofoten Islands, the town of Svolvær enjoys an enviable setting backed by scenic snow-capped mountains and facing the ocean. Such is the beauty of its surroundings, the region has long been a haven for artists who come to capture the inspiring panoramas.
The port is also a perfect base from which to set out on a leisurely cruise along the narrow Trollfjord, and experience a true taste of the Lofoten Islands and its quaint fishing villages. The Lofoten archipelago is made up of seven islands and is home to 24,000 people.
Svolvær is the capital of this region – voted the third most beautiful group of islands in the world by National Geographic Traveller in November 2007. Settlement can be traced back 6,000 years to when the people survived by hunting and fishing.
The area was later a Viking stronghold and the legacy of these times still remain in the area – not least in nearby Borg where archaeologists discovered the largest Viking house from the era which has been reconstructed and now houses a museum.
26 Jun Stavanger, Norway
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Stavanger flourished in the early 19th century as a centre for the fishing trade and while other towns and cities in Norway have suffered with the decline of the industry, Stavanger has managed to keep its economy booming by diversifying, first into ship building and now into oil.
These two contrasting industries have led to Stavanger being a city of two halves – it has a bustling and modern area of high-rise buildings and a historic old centre of warehouses, stock rooms, cobbled streets and clapboard residential buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
The city centre has a range of shopping and dining opportunities but is also home to a number of historically significant attractions and was the birthplace of Alexander Kielland, one of the great 19th-century Norwegian novelists. Its cathedral, dating back to 1125, is an impressive building and the only cathedral in Norway to retain its original features.
From here you can explore the attractive blue waters of Lysefjord, surrounded by cliffs and striking rock formations, and visit Hafrsfjord where 29 small kingdoms were united to form the Kingdom of Norway in the 9th century. For those interested in learning more about oil excavation from the North Sea, an independent visit to the very informative Petroleum Museum is recommended.
28 Jun Dover, England
Arrive 0800. Disembark Quest for Adventure after breakfast.
Dover is situated at the mouth of a valley in the chalk uplands that form the famous white cliffs. A pre-Roman settlement existed on the site and, as Dubris, the place was important for Roman traffic with the European mainland.
The town's strategic position on the south coast has been evident throughout its history. Archaeological digs in the area have revealed that the area has always been a focus for people entering and leaving Britain.
Bombed and shelled during World War Two, the shattered seafront was subsequently redeveloped after the war and is now the foremost passenger port in the United Kingdom.
