Balmoral, In Search of Northern Lights ex Southampton Return
- Departs Southampton, England
- 18th Nov 2020
- 13 nights
- Balmoral
-
Prices from
NZ$3,149*
13 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Balmoral.
Visiting three incredible destinations in northern Norway presents the perfect opportunity to revel in the early winter wonders of Europe’s spectacular northernmost region. Get closer to dramatic landscapes; embark on exhilarating Arctic adventures; and even go in search of the spellbinding Northern Lights. Experience it all on one unforgettable 13-night cruise.
Balmoral will take you, in comfort and style, into the Arctic Circle, where four consecutive days of discovery are sure to provide sights and experiences you will remember forever. You’ll visit Narvik, which is surrounded by majestic, mountainous landscapes best explored on thrilling husky sledding excursions and is your starting point for tours to the Polar Park, home to native wildlife including bears, lynx and wolves. Stopping overnight in Alta, considered one of the best places on earth to see Aurora Borealis, could be the highlight of your holiday. With luck on your side, you may be fortunate enough to see Mother Nature’s remarkable light show illuminate the clear night sky with dancing ribbons of colour. There will be time during the day to immerse yourself in authentic Sami culture and see the UNESCO-listed rock carvings of Hjemmeluft at the fascinating Alta Museum too.
Spending a day in Tromsø will also afford an opportunity to uncover the abundant attractions of a city known as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’. Take time to explore and you’ll find everything from Neoclassic architecture to the Mack Brewery and the iconic, iceberg-shaped Arctic Cathedral. Be sure to ride a cable car up Mount Storsteinen here – the views of Tromsø and its stunning scenery from the top are not to be missed. Elsewhere, en route to and from Arctic Norway, you’ll also visit Molde and Ålesund. Perhaps begin your time in Norway with a ride on the picturesque Rauma Railway or a journey along the Atlantic Road, regarded one of the world’s greatest roads; and before returning home, make the most of your time in Ålesund to admire the town’s pretty art-nouveau architecture and take in the panoramas available from atop Mount Aksla.
Highlights of this cruise:
Molde, Norway
Depending on your preference, Molde is the town of roses or jazz. Sitting alongside the Romsdalfjord, the town benefits from rich, fertile soil and a mild climate and the town’s gardens - both public and private - are full of flowers, especially roses. In the market square is a statue of the Little Rose Seller.
Every July, Molde hosts a famous jazz festival, which takes over the whole town, with many of the concerts being held in the Romsdal Museum. This is one of the biggest folk museums in Norway, with over fifty historic buildings including farmhouses, smokehouses and a small chapel. On Town Street are local town houses from the pre-war period. The Fisheries Museum is also in the open air, with old houses, fishermen’s shacks, a school and even a cod-liver oil factory.
Moldemarka - a vast recreational hiking area located just north of Molde city centre - is one of the most popular attractions with locals and visitors alike. Famous for the Molde panorama - a magnificent view of over 222 mountains, lush green hills and the North Atlantic Ocean - Moldemarka has a network of easily accessible paths and is easy to climb, hike and ski all year round.
A drive along the incredible Atlantic Road - an 8 kilometre stretch of road that links Molde and Kristiansund - is breathtaking experience, and one that's not-to-be-missed during your time here. The twisting, rising and falling road passes through beautiful rocky coastlines, over the sea and through vast hills and mountains. Featuring some unbelievable architecture and mind-blowing bridges, a drive along this amazing stretch of tarmac was once called the world’s best road trip by The Guardian.
Alta, Norway
As one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights in winter, and experience the sensation of the Midnight Sun in summer, Alta is a truly magical destination. Originally inhabited by the indigenous Sami people, the area has a fascinating cultural history. Rock carvings in nearby Hjemmeluft are believed to date from around 4,200 to 500 BC. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the carvings on display in the Alta Museum are evidence of the existence of human activity in the far north during prehistoric times.
Alta needed rebuilding after WWII, so the buildings of this northern Norwegian port are relatively new; notable architecture includes the Northern Lights Cathedral. A particular highlight is the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. Everything inside and outside the hotel is made of ice, and is open to visitors from January until it melts away in spring.
The head of the Altafjord, where the Altaelva runs through the town, is said to have the best salmon fishing in the world. It’s still possible to see the fish leaping up the river, despite the construction of the 100m Altadammen in the 1970s.
Tromsø, Norway
The island city of Tromsø is one of northern Norway’s true delights. Rich with neo-classical architecture, the city known as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’, contains the largest number of wooden houses in Northern Norway, and its old world charm makes it a real joy to explore.
A major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is famed as a viewing point for the colourful Northern Lights that often light up the night sky. The city’s most recognisable landmark is the must-visit Arctic Cathedral. Built in 1965, the cathedral’s distinctive iceberg-shaped design was inspired by the landscapes of Northern Norway and features a beautiful glass mosaic.
The many museums and galleries in the city include the Perspektivet Museum – set in a neo-classical building built in 1838 that has exhibits from Tromsø’s past, plus the Art Museum of Northern Norway and the Mack Brewery. Tromsø is also home to Polaria, an Arctic aquarium that is popular with locals and tourists alike. The aquarium’s tanks are full of Arctic fish species, and the friendly bearded seals always delight the visiting crowds.
Tromsø, and the stunning landscapes that surround it, are best viewed from the top of the Storsteinen Mountain, which stands 420 metres above sea level. Accessible via cable car, the peak is easy to reach and one of the most popular spots on the edge of the city.
Itinerary may vary by sailing date and itineraries may be changed at the cruise line's discretion. Please check itinerary details at time of booking and before booking other travel services such as airline tickets.
