MS Nieuw Statendam - May 18, 2025

One of the largest and most modern ports in the world, Rotterdam is the major foreign-trade center of the Netherlands and its second largest city. Among the noteworthy buildings that survived the German air bombardment of 1940 were the stock exchange, the city hall, and the Van Beuningen Museum, with its collection of paintings by Dutch masters.

Trondheim has been the home of Norway's royal residence since AD 997 when it was founded by King Olaf I. The city is still home to Stiftsgarden, a huge wooden palace. Around AD 1100, Saint Olaf II began to perform miracles for his people, making Trondheim a major pilgrimage destination. Be sure to visit Nidaros Cathedral, certainly one of Europe's premier Gothic-style churches, where the Norwegian kings are still crowned.

Welcome to the top of the world! The village of Honningsvag, bathed in the eerie light of the midnight sun, is the northernmost community in Europe, set in a land of vast forests, dramatic fjords, and crashing waterfalls. Just up the coast is North Cape, Europe's northernmost point, with breathtaking views towards the Barents Sea and the North Pole.

Tromso, the home of the famous Northern Lights Observatory, is beautifully situated on a forest-covered isle. Take a leisurely island drive and visit the Tromso Museum and an ultra-modern cathedral, whose design was inspired by the ice of the Arctic. Again, the preservation of old ways and integration with present-day technology is remarkable.

Haugesund and its vicinity present attractions both ancient and modern. History buffs can take a trip back to the 9th century and explore numerous Viking monuments, including the grave of Harold I. It is also home of a 928-foot drydock, which, at its completion in 1979, was the largest in Scandinavia. For those more interested in contemporary Nordic achievment, the port boasts both fish and aluminum processing industries.

Lerwick is a town in the Shetland Islands, an archipelago north of the Scottish mainland. Historically a major fishing port, Lerwick today attracts those drawn to the combination of Norse and British culture in the area. Every January, the Up-Helly-Aa fire festival features a Norse ship that is dramatically dragged through the town and burned.

Dover is the port city for London, England. Its famous white cliffs have inspired songs and have been a welcome-home sight for returning Brits. Your trip to London takes you through the gorgeous countryside of Kent, where many of England's well-to-do keep fabulous country estates. In London, you'll know you're in one of the great capitals of the world.

One of the largest and most modern ports in the world, Rotterdam is the major foreign-trade center of the Netherlands and its second largest city. Among the noteworthy buildings that survived the German air bombardment of 1940 were the stock exchange, the city hall, and the Van Beuningen Museum, with its collection of paintings by Dutch masters.