Norway - Southampton return

Located in the picturesque English county of Hampshire, Southampton is a vibrant waterfront city that seamlessly blends its rich maritime heritage with modern attractions. Whether you stroll through the historic areas or explore the contemporary districts, Southampton offers a delightful experience for all its visitors.

Norway's Stavanger is not only blessed with compelling history, but also a natural beauty. From the ancient port, the city radiates across a network of islands which are connected by graceful bridges.

Once the European Capital of Culture, the Norwegian city of Stavanger is blessed with a compelling history and unbridled beauty effortlessly blending the old with the new. From its ancient port the city fans out along a network of islands, each one connected to its neighbour by an elegant bridge. In Gamle Stavanger (the historic centre) artists workshops still occupy 18th century houses, much as they did in years gone by. Its a wonderful chance to step back in time and immerse in the Stavanger of old, while the citys museums shed light on Stavangers long-standing relationship to the sea.

Your fascinating Gateway to the Fjords is Norways second-largest city, Bergen. Its maritime trade and oil industry remain vital to the economy and its a thriving epicentre of culture and history. Visit the old quays of Bryggen, a World Heritage Site, and the medieval wooden houses of the citys waterfront. You can even take a peek inside the workshops of local painters, weavers and craftsmen.

Sailing through Norways glass-like waters on route to Alesund, youll be struck by a sweeping peninsula of Art Nouveau architecture, stretching to lush greenery, where mountain peaks reach skyward, reflected in the converging fjords. Arriving in Alesund, you could be forgiven for thinking youd stepped off your ship into the pages of a fairy-tale. A myriad of towering spires and decorative turrets, its easy to see why this vibrant fishing port is regarded as one of the prettiest cities in Norway.

A town that rose from the ashes after almost being destroyed in its entirety by a fire in 1904, Alesund now expands across seven small islands, seamlessly connected via an elaborate network of underwater tunnels. Welcoming locals, delicious fresh cuisine, enchanting architecture, and breathtaking scenery, are just some of the highlights to look forward to if your Norwegian adventure includes a call in Alesund.

Haugesund stands proudly on Norways southwest shore, where the icy fjords flow out into the North Sea. Breathtaking scenery and world-class views are the main ingredients of this dramatic coastline. Sheer cliffs and rolling meadows adorn the silent inlets of Haugesund, while nearby youll find striking rock formations and experience the thunder of tall waterfalls.

The part of the country in which Haugesund stands was a region of great importance during the Viking Age, and even lent its name to the country itself. The shipping lane offshore was known as the North Way, which shortened over time to Norway. Its also renowned as the site where Norway's first king, Harald Fairhair, united the nation and was later buried. The hamlet of Avaldsnes nearby gives you a chance to visit Viking Village, a recreated farmstead, or perhaps Karmoy Island, with its ancient grave mounds and tall memorial stones.

Skipping forward several centuries, Haugesund today is celebrated as the setting for two major events in the Norwegian cultural calendar, as every August it plays host to the Sildajazz music festival and The Norwegian Film Festival. Crowned by a pink neoclassical town hall, theres much to admire within Haugesund itself. Even so, it is whats close by that often proves more irresistible. Many visitors, for example, choose to explore the narrow 32-kilometre20-mile Akrafjord, set between sheer cliffs on either side.

The broad 2000-foot Langfoss waterfall is one of its most spectacular sights, resembling a river running down the rock face. You may also see the subject of countless photos with your own eyes, the famous Pulpit Rock, whose scenic view over Lysefjord has become an emblem of the entire fjords region. You can even feel like youve stepped back into the 1800s by visiting the picturesque herring fishing town of Skudeneshavn. Perched on the southern tip of Karmoy island, its home to over 100 excellently preserved whitewashed wooden houses topped with pointed orange roofs.