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Ports & Places

We couldn’t wait to share Voyages of the Great Explorer 2011/2012 with you. Stay tuned for specific information on Ports and Places, coming soon.

	Amsterdam, Netherlands In its 17-centuryGolden Age, this port city was one of the world’s wealthiest cities and, today, it remains the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Built around a series of manmade canals, Amsterdam draws well over 3.5 million visitors annually, making it one of Europe’s premiere tourist destinations. It was from here, that the family of Anne Frank was captured and deported to Nazi concentration camps. Her former home is a popular tourist site.
	Bergen, Norway Beautiful Bergen on Norway’s southwestern (Atlantic) coast benefits from its spectacular seven hills, a rich Viking past, a history of international trade and commerce starting with the Hanseatic League, and its charming old wharf town of Bryggen, with the characteristic wooden houses. Because of their preservation, UNESCO was inspired to declare Bryggen one of its first World Heritage Sites in 1979.
	Bodø, Norway Just north of the Arctic Circle, Bodø is Nordland’s largest port and second largest city after Tromsø in northern Norway. On an unsheltered peninsula in the Norwegian Sea, Bodø is a windy city surrounded by snow-capped mountains, wilderness, nature preserves with white-tailed eagles, a coastal pine forest and waters with some of the world’s best fishing.
	Copenhagen, Denmark Established as a Viking fishing village, Copenhagen has blossomed into one of the world's most exciting cultural capitals. The Little Mermaid statue in the harbor now watches over a city best-known for impeccable design, modernist architecture, and award-winning cuisine, as well as for being a global leader in environmental friendliness. Currently, one out of every 10 food purchase is organic, and 36% of residents commute to work by bicycle every day.
	Geiranger Fjord, Norway The crowning glory of Norway’s fjords, often called the “world’s most beautiful,” Geiranger’s narrow, winding gorges through steep-sided rock reveal some of the most majestic snow-covered mountains, spectacular waterfalls, deep blue waters and lush green vegetation in the world. The 10-mile wonder is listed as one of the natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its “exceptional natural beauty.”
	Holandsfjord / Svartisen Glaciers, Norway Two of Norway’s 18 largest and most spectacular glaciers, Vestre (west) and Østre (east) Svartisen, are located at the very end of the beautiful Holandsfjord in the far northwestern Norway fjordland, located on the Arctic Circle at the point where the celebrated glacier meets the sea.
	Honningsvåg, Norway Claimed to be Norway’s and the world’s northernmost city, Honningsvåg is situated on a temperate southern bay of treeless Magerøya (“meager”) Island, while famed North Cape (Nordkapp) and its five-story visitor center are on the northern side. Fisheries are a primary source of income.
	Molde / Alesund Fjord, Norway Located on the northern shore of the Moldefjord, an arm of Romsdalsfjord peninsula, Molde is a temperate city that emerged as a trading post from a Middle Ages settlement. Today it enjoys much growth, especially from tourism, serving as a gateway to some of Norway’s most spectacular fjords, including the nearby Alesund.
	Oslo, Norway Capital and largest city of Norway, Oslo is a modern, bustling city at the north end of Oslofjord off the North Sea. Oldest of the Scandinavian capital cities, the sprawling governmental, cultural and economic center of Norway is surrounded by wilderness, but its interior parks provide even more greenery, especially Vigeland Sculpture Park with its 212 enormous granite and bronze statues of humans in various typical pursuits.
	Stavanger, Norway For long periods of its history, Stavanger’s most important industries were shipping, shipbuilding, and fish canning. But in the early 1970s, a period of rapid growth began when the town became the on-shore center for the oil industry on the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Tourists enjoy hiking in the area around the city as well as alpine activities in the winter. The city’s most impressive manmade structure is St. Svithun’s cathedral – nearly unchanged since the 14th century.
	Svolvaer, Lofoten Island, Norway Characterized by remarkable natural beauty and a surprisingly moderate climate, Svolvaer (aka Svolbaer) is surrounded and sheltered by majestic mountains to its north and west, with the “midnight sun” visible all night in early summer. Nearby fjords are home to visiting orca whales and other marine mammals and seabirds.
	Tromsø, Norway Inhabited since the ice age about 10,000 years ago, Tromsø and its surrounding Tromsø County boast the world’s northernmost planetarium, university, brewery, mosque and botanical garden, among other distinctions. North Norway’s largest city is also land of the midnight sun, visible all summer. The most famous landmarks are the Tromsø Bridge connecting the mainland with Tromsøya Island, and the Arctic (“ice”) Cathedral.
	Trondheim, Norway Norway’s original capital city of Trondheim was founded by King Olav in AD 997; his statue tops an obelisk in the town square. Atmospheric Trondheim’s landmark Gothic monument Nidaros Cathedral was a medieval pilgrimage site, and has been used for the coronation or consecration of Norwegian kings for centuries.