Cruise and Maritime Voyages

With more bicycles than permanent residents, the Dutch capital is both charming and quirky. Aesthetically little has changed in the centre since its 17th century Golden Age. Beautiful gabled houses and merchants’ mansions line serene, tree-lined canals, which are laid out in five concentric circles and crossed by numerous bridges. The Royal Palace, originally built as a Town Hall in the 17th century, stands on a large square in the centre of the city. Considered one of Europe’s major art capitals, Amsterdam is home to a number of superb galleries and museums including the famous Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.

Nestled at the head of the peaceful Ulvikfjord and framed by a beautiful backdrop of glorious mountains, the pretty village of Ulvik is just a scattering of attractive houses, a waterfront hotel and white-clapboarded church. The village sits in the heart of one of Norway’s largest fruit growing districts with hillside orchards stretching down to the shores of the fjord. From where ships anchor in the fjord, the village, which is the start of an optional overland excursion highlighting the charms of Hardangerfjord, is picture-postcard perfect. (Only passengers taking the excursion go ashore in Ulvik)

Lying at the end of a tributary of the beautiful Hardangerfjord, Eidfjord is surrounded by mountains up to 1,900 metres high. The small town is the gateway to Hardangervidda, which is the largest high mountain plateau in Europe and Norway’s largest national park. A short walk from the village centre there are graves by the roadside dating back to the Iron Age and Viking eras. The ‘old’ church in Eidfjord was built in 1309. Nearby the stunning Vøringfossen waterfall is one of Norway’s most popular natural attractions and features in optional excursions along with the amazing Sysen Dam.