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Colorful port of Bergen

Cruising the Norwegian Fjords - with Smithsonian Journeys

Bergen - Oslo - Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Le Dumont-d'Urville
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Come aboard the Le Dumont-d'Urville for an 8-day cruise and sail along the Norwegian coastline, whose vertiginous cliff faces have been sculpted by the wind and the sea, giving rise to many unspoiled fjords. From Bergen, famous for its Hanseatic wharf which still carries a few traces of the rich historic past of the city founded by the Vikings, the ship will first sail towards Alesund, where you will be able to admire the wonderfully preserved fishermen's houses that date from the 18th century. Le Dumont-d'Urville will set sail for Loen. From this small and charming village, located a few kilometers from Jostedalsbreen National Park, which is home to one of the last ice caps in Europe, you will have the opportunity to admire the magnificent Briksdal Glacier. On the final leg of your trip, you will call at Gothenburg, in Sweden. Your cruise will end in Oslo, the Norwegian capital, a city with a unique energy.
Famed Pulpit Rock in NorwayAn early morning view of Alesund, NorwayBeautiful Oslo, NorwayParliament building in OsloColorful port of Bergen
Highlights
  • Sail with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Kolbert
  • Discover Norwegian fjords and extraordinary landscapes
  • Visit Gothenburg, whose preserved old town looks out over a magnificent archipelago
  • Explore colorful and cosmopolitan Norwegian villages
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Bergen | Embark

Located at the end of Byfjord, Bergen was the capital of Norway in the 12th and 13th Centuries and has preserved some very beautiful monuments from the time when it was home to royalty. Wandering through Bergen’s streets means going back in time, in search of the hidden treasures that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. A veritable open-air museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, jewelers. The Bergen cable car offers you a splendid panorama over the port and the surrounding fjords. Do not miss the visit to the old quarter with its narrow streets, a testimony of the power of the Hanseatic League that controlled trade in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

Day 2: Alesund

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Surrounded by a multitude of islands, fjords and majestic mountains, the town of Ålesund surprises many visitors. In fact, it is internationally renowned for its Art nouveau architecture. After the terrible fire of 1904 which reduced a large part of the town to ashes, Norwegian architects inspired by the Art nouveau style contributed to its reconstruction, with a very picturesque result. Not far from Ålesund, you will also discover Giske, the native island of Rollon, the great Viking leader who commanded the Norse expeditions to Normandy, or the beautiful island of Godoy and the village of Alnes, which offers a grandiose panorama over the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding islands.

Day 3: Geiranger | Hellesylt

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A must-see stopover in Norway, located halfway between Bergen and Trondheim, Geiranger offers the stunning beauty of a natural decor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The splendor of the sheer cliffs, dark rock and crystalline water are the stars of the show here. The sides of the fjord offer many possibilities for hiking: Eagle’s Road takes you up to a steep stretch offering a gorgeous panoramic view. A visit to Geiranger village will immerse you in the rhythm of life in the little local community.

Hellesylt is a small village located 20 kilometres from the Geiranger site. Here, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Norwegian village. Colourful houses, wooden walkways, rustic stalls where you can have a refreshment before heading off to discover more of the local colour. The surroundings are simply magnificent with cliffs, mountains and lakes with peaceful waters. The village is crossed by a river whose charming cascade tumbles into the fjord waters.

Day 4: Loen

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At the innermost reaches of the storied Nordfjord, the small village of Loen lies below the great Jostedal Glacier, the largest ice cap in continental Europe. More than a century ago, European cruise ships started to call here for guests to visit the stunning mountains and valleys of the fjord and by horse-drawn carriage. Today, the Loen Skylift provides modern access to the panorama of the fjord landscape by ferrying guests to the top of Mount Hoven – 1011 meters above sea level – via cable car in only five minutes. Just inland lies beautiful Lake Lovatnet, renowned for its turquoise waters that are fed by meltwater from the surrounding glaciers.

Day 5: Sandnes | Sailing Lysefjorden

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the southwest of Norway, nestling at the head of the Gands Fjord, Sandnes lies surrounded by nature. Known as the “pottery town” of Norway due to its significant ceramics industry resulting from the presence of readily available clay in the region, Sandnes offers a combination of plains and peaks. A few kilometres from there, you may get the chance to discover Pulpit Rock. This astonishing rock formation towers 600 metres (1968 ft) above the waters of the Lysefjord. The stunning view over the fjord from this site makes it one of the most popular hiking destinations in Norway.


You will sail into the heart of one of Norway’s most breathtaking fjords, its marvellous décor dominated by pristine nature, between vertiginous granite cliffs, crystal-clear waters and luxuriant vegetation. Very close to Stavanger, the quiet waters of Lysefjorden stretch out over around forty kilometres, beneath impressive rocks. Admire the world-famous site of Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a majestic cliff in the shape of a pulpit that rises to more than 600 metres above the waters. A bit further on, Flørli, from the top of its 4,444 steps, is the world’s longest wooden stairway, whereas the Kjerag, with its mythical boulder wedged between two rock faces, provides an unusual and unforgettable spectacle. 

Day 6: Arendal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This port town located on the south coast of Norway is considered to be the locality with the best climate in the entire country. Arendal was long reputed for its iron mines from which, in the 19th century, it was able to produce a particularly strong earthy iron ore.

Day 7: Gothenburg

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A lively harbor town, Göteborg is located on the west coast of Sweden, at the crossing of the Göta älv river and the bay of Cattégat. In the old Haga district, you can peruse hippy-chic fashion boutiques and bohemian cafés on the ground floors of traditional wood houses. On the majestic Gustave-Adolphe square, you’ll see elegant neoclassical buildings. Not far from here is the municipal museum dedicated to the town’s history. In addition, you will be able to sail along Göteborg’s numerous canals. As for eating, it’s the fish and shellfish which make the gastronomic reputation of this beautiful stopover.

Day 8: Oslo | Disembark

The capital of Norway, Olso, is a green city. Its many parks and gardens make it the reputedly pleasant city it is. The 80 hectares of Vigeland sculpture parks and its 212 open-air exhibitions, the Munch Museum dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, plus the Akershus fortress which symbolizes Oslo’s rich history, are both must-sees. For culture, the national gallery shelters the largest Norwegian collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures open to the public. And, for sports enthusiasts, the Holmenkollen district with its Ski museum and famous ski jump offer the most stunning, all-encompassing view of the city.

Ship/Hotel

Le Dumont-d'Urville

Le Dumont-d'Urville Ship
Le Dumont-d'Urville Restaurant
Le Dumont-d'Urville Paint Gallery

Dates & Prices

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Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Deluxe Stateroom
Area: 19 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² Private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Area: 19 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Area: 19 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Area: 19 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Deluxe Suite
Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 6m² private balcony
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Prestige Suite Deck 5
8m² private balcony King-size bed or twin beds
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Prestige Suite Deck 6
8m² private balcony King-size bed or twin beds
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Privilege Suite
Area: 32 m² Capacity: up to 4 passengers per cabin 8m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Grand Deluxe Suite
Area: 45 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 30m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
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Owner's Suite
Area: 45 m² Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin 30m² private balcony; King-size bed or twin beds
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Port Fees
  • Unlimited Wifi
  • Onboard Entertainment 
  • Captain’s Welcome Cocktail and Gala Dinner
  • Gratuities to Onboard Crew
  • “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request)
  • 24h Room Service (special selection)
  • English-Speaking Lecturer 
  • Highly experienced and bilingual (French-English) expedition staff
  • Park Entry Fees into Protected Areas
  • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite. 
  • Arrival & Departure Transfers
  • A program of onboard enrichment provided by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts
  • Luggage handling from the airport to the ship on the day of embarkation.
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Visa Fees
  • Optional Excursions - Ponant allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately six to two months prior to the cruise* departure. Please note that this is subject to change. Please contact us for more details.
  • Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned
  • Laundry Services, Hair Salon, and à La Carte Spa Treatments
  • Pre or post cruise programs, overland programs or shore excursions 
  • Beverages other than the ones mentioned in inclusions
  • CDP recommends that every Traveler has full and adequate travel insurance covering the risks of cancellation, assistance being required, repatriation, damages to and loss of baggage, and medical expenses

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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
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