MS Volendam - April 24, 2025

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Lisbon is many cities, from the cobbled alleys of the Alfama district to the broad Parisian style avenues at its heart. View it all from the heights of St. George's Castle. Belem's Monument to the Discoveries recalls the seafaring past, while nearby Sintra's storybook palaces, and the seaside resort of Caiscais, have different tales to tell.

Lisbon is many cities, from the cobbled alleys of the Alfama district to the broad Parisian style avenues at its heart. View it all from the heights of St. George's Castle. Belem's Monument to the Discoveries recalls the seafaring past, while nearby Sintra's storybook palaces, and the seaside resort of Caiscais, have different tales to tell.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

It is a commercial port, an important naval station, and the seat of the French Naval Academy. There is a national engineering school in Brest and nearby is the Oceanographic Center of Brittany. The spacious, landlocked harbor was created in 1631 by Cardinal Richelieu as a military base and arsenal.

Cherbourg is located in Normandy, which is a province of France. Ever since the reign of Louis XIV, Cherbourg has been an important port town to all of Europe. The city is dominated by Mount Roule, which is the site of a fortress. From the terrace at Mount Roule, one can view a magnificent panorama of the area, which includes the Naval and arsenal, as well as the lush Emmanuel Liasis park, which houses an impressive display of subtropical vegetation.

Located along the North Sea, Zeebrugge is located ten miles north of Brugge (Bruges) and serves as its port. The Brugge-Zeebrugge Canal connects the seaside resort with the cultural mecca that is its sister city. Visitors to Brugge will see stunning representations of gothic and roman architecture and collections of Dutch and Belgian art.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Eidfjord is perched at the end of the Hardangerfjord. Located on the official tourist route, Eidfjord is a great place to see Hardangervidda National Park, the highest mountain plateau in Northern Europe. The natural scenery of the area is splendid. The central placement of Eidfjord makes for convenient access to Bergen and Oslo.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

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.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

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.

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.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Akureyri is the capital of the northern part of Iceland and serves as the gateway an area full of stunning waterfalls. It's also the place that Icelander head went they want some sun. From here, it is a short trip to the magical and mystical Dimmuborgir area and its ominous black castles.

Isafjordur, capital of Iceland's Westfjords, dates back to the 9th Century and is one of the country's main fishing ports. Isafjordur also boasts a lively cultural scene and the West Fjords Folk Museum is definitely worth a visit. Take a walk down the harbor and see local fisherman at work or see many of the nearby homes that date back to the 18th Century.

Reykjavik, the largest city and capital of Iceland, is a city full of history, great theatre, and exciting nightlife. For a dose of Icelandic and Viking history, visit the National Museum and visit Hallgrimskirkja, a church that features a famous statue of explorer Leif Erickson and a great spot to view the entire city.

Reykjavik, the largest city and capital of Iceland, is a city full of history, great theatre, and exciting nightlife. For a dose of Icelandic and Viking history, visit the National Museum and visit Hallgrimskirkja, a church that features a famous statue of explorer Leif Erickson and a great spot to view the entire city.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Nanortalik includes some of Greenland's most beautiful fjords, the country's only natural forest and dramatic, rugged mountains. The district's population of c. 2,700 is divided between the town of Nanortalik itself, five villages and a number of sheep farms. The main occupations are hunting and fishing.

Frozen, gleaming white fjords and glaciers, looming icebergs, pale green fields dotted with sheep farms and towns of brightly painted blue, red, yellow, green and white houses are the hallmarks of Southern Greenland, and especially Qaqortoq, the 'White Palace'',one of the region's largest villages. Greenland's only fountain splashes gently in a pleasant square while the harbour is alive with locals bringing in the day's catch.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Adventurous travelers will cherish their experience in St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. If it's art and culture you seek, you'll find it in spades, with options ranging from Atlantic Canada's largest university to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Hikers and bikers can make the most of St. John's expansive walkways and bike trails, framed by placid and scenic countryside.

St. Pierre, lying off the shores of Newfoundland and first claimed by France in the 1500s, represents the only French holding left in North America. Explore St. Pierre's quaint village of brightly colored houses and rural fishing communities, then embark Le Levant and watch for whales and puffins as the ship sails into the late-setting sun.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Halifax is perfect for exploring on foot, with tree-lined streets, inviting sidewalk cafes, and museums in a park-like waterfront setting. Discover historic dockside vessels at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Stroll lazily through one of the finest Victorian city gardens in North America. Experience the charm of Peggy's Cove, as ships from every corner of the globe sail by in the background.

Portland has a thriving waterfront in the heart of downtown that is a hodgepodge of condos, fish markets, and ferry docks. Bordered by Maine's rocky coast to the north, and miles of white, sandy beaches to the south, the city offers hiking, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing, and to the west and north lies some of the best skiing in the world. This is Maine, "the way life should be".

Stroll the cobblestone streets of one of America's most historic cities, home to such patriots as Paul Revere, Ben Franklin, and Drew Bledsoe. Discover a living museum where almost four centuries of American history can be traced. When it comes to variety, see why Boston is called the Hub. Nightclubs and theaters, the North End and Chinatown, Fenway Park and Boston Common can all be found here.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Ft. Lauderdale has 23 miles of beaches, 300 miles of inland waterways and swimming pools galore, but immersing yourself in this city doesn't require a drop of water. Dive into a culture as deep as any ocean, a culture characterized by Seminoles and Broadway shows, golf and whimsical water taxis, fine cuisine and tasty jazz. And just like the horizon here, the list of attractions goes on and on.