Vikings of the North Sea

The cruise begins in the heart of Copenhagen, where the Ocean Albatros is moored. After embarkation and mandatory safety procedures, the lines are cast, and the captain sets a northbound course out of the Sound. Your cabin will be shown to you, and the mandatory security procedures will be carried out. While dinner is served in the elegant restaurant, pass the castle of Kronborg, made famous by a certain Hamlet!

Ocean Albatros will moor in the important fishing port of beautiful Skagen. Skagen is known for its fantastic sunlight, vibrant city life, characteristic yellow houses, and white sandy beaches.

Start the day with a coach tour to Grenen, the pointed peninsular marking the northernmost point of Denmark. Join the tractor-bus called ‘Sandormen’ and see where the waters of Skagerrak and Kattegat meet in culminating waves. Always a popular excursion for Skagen visitors.

After the visit, take a leisurely city walk, which includes Skagen Art Museum, where visitors will see the permanent collection of works by the famous Danish painters, Anna Ancher, P.S. Krøyer, Holger Drachmann, and others. In the 19th century, these world-renowned artists created works of art in the artists' colony, which primarily consisted of Scandinavian painters known as "the Skagen Painters".

After you've seen the "top" of Denmark, go back to the port of Skagen to get back on the ship for a late lunch and to continue on to Norway through the North Sea.

People from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, which are in the Nordic region, made up the sailors, who are now known as Vikings. Their famous longships took them on trips all over the known world, where they set up Viking settlements that had a big effect on the history of Western Europe. As you brave some of the routes the Vikings sailed, delve into their history and quite possibly debunk some romanticized views of these folk along the way.

Haugesund is in southwestern Norway, between Bergen and Stavanger. It was the home of the first Viking king of Norway, Harald Fairhair. Here, nestled among small islands and mountains, is where this wonderful old town by Kamsundet can be experienced. The strait itself, which protected the passing ship traffic, was also a source of massive herring fishing, which was the city's growth engine.

Sildebyen, which literally means "Herringtown," also has a pink town hall from 1931 that stands out. The town's history of shipping and building ships is clear, and in 1913, it was Norway's fourth-largest shipping town. The waterway also gave many people the chance to travel around the world. Many captains and sailors started their first long trips around the world from here. Norway is still a great seafaring nation, with hundreds of thousands of Norwegians working on the oceans every day (ocean industries account for about 70% of Norway’s export earnings).

There are many stories about the first Viking king in the Icelandic sagas. For example, the Orkneyinga and Heimskringla sagas talk about a military trip to the Hebrides. Here, the king fought to clear the islands of dissident Viking pirates who were raiding the Norwegian coasts. The expedition later continued to Scotland, much in the same way as your route takes you.

You are set to approach Lerwick near the "Main Land" of the Shetlands in the morning. There are more than 100 islands that make up the Shetland Islands, but only 15 of them are inhabited all year round. The islands form the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, located approximately 300 km north of the mainland of Scotland.

For those who are on the optional excursion: "Clickimin Broch and Shetland sightseeing"

Once securely docked at the port, depart through Lerwick towards Scalloway for a short scenic drive. From the elevated position, you can enjoy the view of the charming village and the imposing Scalloway Castle. After a short photo stop, continue eastwards through the area that is locally known as the Black Gates—an area where peat is still cut and used as fuel.

Following the road northward, your main destination of Clickimin Broch is only a short drive. There will be free time to discover this well-preserved and restored broch and learn more about life in the Iron Age.

(Please note: The coach excursion is part of the optional excursion package and is not included in the price of the trip.)

Afterward, return to Lerwick, and after some time at leisure in the port town, reboard around lunchtime.

As you finish your meal, the ship moves to the nearby Isle of Noss, where you can encounter many bird colonies. Depending on the weather, you may hope to make either a Zodiac cruise or a landing with a shorter hike on the island.

Leave the Shetland Islands and explore the seas towards the Orkney Islands, due south.

During the night, sail south on the waters between the Shetlands and the Orkneys, and in the early morning, reach the town of Kirkwall on the windy Orkney isles off the mainland of Scotland. Orkney is old Norse for "seal islands", and, like the other North Atlantic islands, the Orkneys have a rich Viking story.

Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney. Orkney has a fascinating history and contains one of the highest concentrations of Stone Age remains anywhere in the world, preserved in the islands' softly blowing sand. These sites range from the dramatic stone circle of Brodgar to the touchingly intimate Neolithic houses of Skara Brae, preserved so perfectly they could almost still be inhabited. Unlike the Scottish mainland, Orkney and nearby Shetland were colonized by Norse settlers and were a part of the Kingdom of Norway until the late 1400s; the islands' language, culture, and architecture are subsequently distinct from the rest of Scotland. Locals are proud of their Nordic heritage, which is evident almost everywhere you go in the city, from the magnificent St. Magnus' Cathedral (the founding of which is detailed in bloody sagas; it is also one of the only churches in the world to have its own dungeon) to street names to the world-renowned Highland Park distillery. More recently, the islands were of huge military importance to the British state, and an entire German fleet lies scuttled at the bottom of Scapa Flow, just outside the city. The barricades between several of the islands were conducted after a daring U-boat raid in the Second World War; along with the magnificent Italian Chapel (built by prisoners of war), they bear a testament to the islands' intricate history.

Today, the islands have again reinvented themselves: visitors are warmly welcomed, and the bustling port is littered with equipment and parts devoted to tidal and wind energy as Orkney seeks to capitalize on its abundant green energy.

For those who participate in the optional excursion: "Highlights of Orkney":

Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. Along the way, pass through rolling, gentle landscapes into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney, an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. After passing the Standing Stones of Stenness, stop at the 5000-year-old ceremonial circle: the Ring of Brodgar.

Continue to the pretty fishing village of Stromness. After a briefing and orientation, enjoy free time to explore the picturesque harbor in Stromness and stroll along the quirky, flagstone streets. Maybe visit the beautifully refurbished Pier Arts Centre with exhibitions by both local and international artists, relax with a hot beverage in a café, or explore the craft shops selling local knitwear, pottery, and artwork.

Finally, return to the coach and continue your circular route, following the coastline of Scapa Flow, a famous British Naval Base in both World Wars.

(The excursion is part of the optional excursion package and not included in the price of the trip.)

For guests wishing to stay in Kirkwall, a short walking city tour will be arranged, passing by St. Magnus cathedral as well as the picturesque ruins of Bishop's and Earl's Palace.

In the afternoon, depart south to Aberdeen.

The Captain will lead the ship southwards along the east coast of Scotland and arrive in Aberdeen, the Granite City, which is Scotland's third-largest city. At this point, say farewell to the ship and its crew before departing the ship.