Superior Stateroom
25% Ponant Bonus
21 m2
3
In partnership with RADIO CLASSIQUE, with the exceptional presence on board of Alain Duault.
PONANT invites you aboard Le Boréal for a 12-day musical cruise from the Normandy coast to Scandinavia, to discover cities with a major cultural heritage and exceptional wild landscapes.
Your voyage will begin in the port of Honfleur, a picturesque Norman city. Le Boréal will first sail towards Belgium, starting with Ostend. Among other scenery, you will be able to admire its sea front and the sumptuous Belle Epoque-style façades that bear witness to the town’s rich history as a seaside resort.
Then you will cruise to the Netherlands and reach the port of Amsterdam. You will stroll through the city famous for its canals and enjoy its inhabitants’ relaxed way of life. Amsterdam is renowned for its museums, but you will also fall under the charm of the incredible flower market and the superb exteriors of the beautiful houses.
In Stavanger, a small town with harmonious blend of old and modern styles, you will admire the wonderfully preserved fishermen's houses that date from the 18th century, before sailing to the famous Lysefjorden, bordered by granite cliffs.
Then you will chart a course further north to continue exploring the Norwegian fjords and sail in the calm waters of the Hardangerfjord, the second longest in Norway. At the heart of this pristine natural jewel, you will discover the sublime glacier landscapes while an array of abundant orchards is visible on its lush green shores.
Your ship will then sail towards the Geiranger Fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before making its way to the village of Hellesylt, which boasts a beautiful waterfall.
From the small and charming village of Olden, located a few kilometres from Jostedalsbren National Park and home to one of the last ice caps in Europe, you will be able to admire the wonderful Briksdal glacier.
Your cruise will end in Bergen. The city founded by the Vikings is famous for its Hanseatic wharf that still carries a few traces of its rich historic past.
Ref : BO080523
A musical cruise in partnership with RADIO CLASSIQUE, in the presence of Alain Duault. An amazing cruise to discover iconic Northern European cities and Scandinavian preserved fjords. UNESCO World Heritage...
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For more peace of mind, PONANT selects flights and takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Pascal Amoyel
Voted “Solo Instrumental Discovery of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique in 2005, Pascal Amoyel was awarded the 2010 Grand Prix du Disque by the prestigious Chopin Society in Warsaw for his recording of the complete Nocturnes by Chopin, together with Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire.
This marked the beginning of a great international career, which has led him to perform in the most prestigious concert venues – Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts, Cité de la Musique and Salle Pleyel in Paris –, as well as in the United States, Canada, Russia, China and Korea.
His recordings, whether on his own or with cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand, have received high distinctions such as the Cannes Classical Award, the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, the ‘Choc’ du monde de la Musique, or the German Record Critics’ Award.
Pascal Amoyel is also a composer and a laureate of the Banque Populaire Foundation.
Amoyel works on creating new concert forms. His Block 15, ou la musique en résistance was very successful and was adapted for TV by France Télévisions, while “The fifty-fingered pianist”, “The day I met Franz Liszt”, and Looking for Beethoven sold out at the Avignon Festival and ran for months at the Ranelagh Theatre in Paris.
Pascal Amoyel heads the Notes d’Automne festival for which he has commissioned more than forty creations.
He is a winner of the Premier Grand Prix Arts-Deux Magots, which rewards “a musician blessed with openness and generosity”, Licra’s Prix Jean-Pierre Bloch for “the connection with human rights in his work”, and has been made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and a Chevalier des Palmes académiques.
Language spoken : French and English
Photo Crédit : Jean Baptiste Millot
Emmanuelle Bertrand
A radiant and generous personality, Emmanuelle Bertrand is recognised as a key figure in European cello. Elected 'artist of the year' in France by Diapason magazine and France Musique listeners (2011), Diapason d'Or of the year for her CD Le violoncelle parle, she was revealed to the general public by a Victoire de la Musique award in 2002. In 2017 the Académie des Beaux-Arts awarded her the prestigious Simone and Cino Del Duca Performance Prize.
Since 1999 she has been working with the composer Henri Dutilleux who spoke of her as a 'true revelation'. She has received numerous distinctions: laureate of the International Rostropovitch Competition, First Prize of the Japanese Chamber Music Competition, Prize of the International Maurice Ravel Academy...
Her solo and duo recordings with the pianist Pascal Amoyel have all been rewarded by national and international critics (Gramophe, ffff Télérama, Cannes classical award, Diapason d'or...).
Her latest recording devoted to Brahms (Harmonia Mundi) marks the 20th anniversary of the duo she forms with pianist Pascal Amoyel.
Professor of chamber music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris since 2008, she is appointed professor of cello at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon in 2021. She has been artistic director of the Beauvais Cello Festival since 2012.
Languages spoken : French, English
Photo credit: Philippe Matsas
Thomas Bettinger
Thomas Bettinger began his musical career on the clarinet then saxophone at the same time as doing courses in Dramatic Art then Lyrical Art in Lionel Sarrazin’s class at Bordeaux’s CNR.
In 2016 he played Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca at the Saint-Etienne Opera Theatre, directed by Louis Désiré.
He was Pinkerton at the Reims Opera in March 2016, and in 2017 played the lover in Menotti’s Amelia Goes To The Ball at the Metz Opera. He also played the title role in Gounod’s Faust at the Massy Opera, then in Saint-Etienne, as well as Arturo at the Bordeaux Opera. He has sung the tenor role in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the auditorium in Bordeaux, Avignon’s Opera Confluences, the Madeleine Church in Paris and the Arsenal in Metz.
In 2018, he was back in the role of Faust, this time directed by Nadine Duffaut at the Reims Opera then Metz Opera. He was Rustighello in January 2019 at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. In April 2019, he was the Chevalier des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon at the Bordeaux Opera alongside Nadine Sierra and Alexandre Duhamel directed by Marc Minkowski. During the 2019-2020 season, he played the Duke in Rigoletto at the Metz Opera, Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites at the Capitole in Toulouse, Lenski in Eugene Onegin in Marseille, Don José in Carmen in Massy and Alfredo in La Traviata at the Saint-Etienne Opera.
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: Irina Stopina
Chloé Chaume
Noticed by Mady Mesplé and then Jean-Yves Ossonce, Chloé Chaume began her career at the Tours Opera where she sang many roles. She was Lauretta (Les Fiançailles au couvent) in May 2015 at the Capitole de Toulouse where she was invited back for the Christmas concert with Mozart's Vespers of the Confessor.
Her repertoire, which ranges from sacred music to Lieder, allows her to affirm a voice with a captivating timbre, which led her in 2017 to the closing concert of the Festival de l'Epau, broadcast by Radio Classique, and to Alain Duault's major programme, Musiques en fête, live on France 3 from the Chorégies d'Orange.
In 2018, she performed in Verdi's Requiem at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées for the concert "Sacré Rossini" and made her debut as Marguerite (Faust) at the Opéra de Reims, the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz, then in 2019 at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège, then at the Opéra de Nice.
In 2020, Chloé makes her debut as the Countess at the Opéra de Rouen, the Opéra d'Avignon and the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. She performed at the Opéra d'Avignon during a live broadcast of Eric Breton's creation of "Le Messie du Peuple Chauve" as Elsa.
In the 2021/2022 season, she will return to the Opéra de Tours for her debut as Thaïs under the direction of Michel Plasson.
Languages spoken: French, English and Spanish
Photo credit: Harcourt Studio
Shani Diluka
Interpreter who "masters the craft of music (Suddeutsche Zeitung) endowed with a "winged virtuosity" (Classica),"one of the greatest of her generation" (Piano Magazine), regularly invited by eminent Orchestras and conductors, performing in major venues such as Ravinia Festival Chicago, Verbier Festival, Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Tokyo Forum, La Fenice in Venice, Salzburg Mozarteum, Brazil Sala Sao Paulo or Vienna Konzerthaus to name a few, Shani Diluka bridges the gap between East and West, between her piano and writing poetry (her book was on the prize list of Academie Française). Born in Monaco from Sri Lankan parents, she was discovered at the age of six by a program initiated by Princess Grace of Monaco for exceptional talent. She is the only pianist from the Indian continent to enter Paris Conservatory gaining 1st prize with Unanimity of the jury, and to enter the prestigious Lake Como International Piano Academy presided by Martha Argerich. After such legends as Callas, Rostropovitch or Menuhin, she joins in 2020 the prestigious WARNER Classics label as an exclusive artist, after major awards gained in her past recordings and collaborating also with actors like Gerard Depardieu or Sophie Marceau. Her collaborations include Vladimir Fedosseiev, Lawrence Foster, Andrew Manze, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, the Quatuor Ebène, Modigliani, Belcea quartet or Natalie Dessay...
She represents an innovative vision of classical music in a open and mixed world while transmitting the heritage she received from great masters such as Leon Fleisher, Menahem Pressler, Valentin Erben from Alban Berg quartet or Elisabeth Leonskaja.
Her recent recording at Warner Classics built around Marcel Proust and "The Search for Lost Time" based on the golden age of french music has received praise from international reviews and numerous awards.
Languages spoken: French, English, Italian, Tamil
Photo credit: Sandrine Expilly
Anna Göckel
Anna Göckel, awarded by the French-Grammy « Révélations classiques de l’ADAMI » in 2016, and proud recipient of the 2020 « Enesco Prize » from the SACEM, immerses herself in musical repertoire ranging from the Baroque period to contemporary commissioned works. She appeared as a soloist with the Orchestre Romantique de Paris, the Lemanic Modern Ensemble, the Ensemble Les Dissonances, the Saint-Étienne Opera, the UAEH Symphony Orchestra (Mexico), CEPROMusic, the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Neue Westfalen Philharmonie, and the Munich Radio Orchestra. She made a very strong and positive impression on the public and the press during the last Queen Elisabeth Competition (2019) and was opening the Festival « Folles Journées de Nantes » 2020 with the Concerto Budapest conducted by Andreas Keller. Deeply committed to chamber music, Anna won the ARD Competition in Munich at the age of 21 with the Karénine Trio that she co-founded (2005-2011).
She is now invited to some of the most important chamber music festivals, such as the Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music (UK), Ravinia Steans Music Institute and the Marlboro Chamber Music Festival (USA). She studied with Prof. Luc-Marie Aguera, at the Hochschule für Musik in Saarbrücken with Prof. David Grimal, and previously with Prof. Boris Belkin in the Netherlands, Prof. Jean Jacques Kantorow in the Paris Conservatory, and with the Ysaÿe Quartet. She has also been inspired by master classes with Menahem Pressler, Ferenc Rados, Donald Weilerstein, Maxim Vengerov, Hatto Beyerle and Miriam Fried. Her first solo recording of Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas, released on the label NoMadMusic, has been awarded « Coup de coeur Classica » Anna plays a Giuseppe Guadagnini violin made in 1780, on a generous loan from the Milanollo Foundation.
Languages spoken: French and English
Photo credit: JF Mariotti
Irina Stopina
Irina has a dual training as a singer and actress and won 3rd prize at the L.Bellan Competition in 2020. She has been following the teaching of L. Sarrazin since her beginnings and has participated in many master classes, notably with Anna Pirozzi and Mariella Devia. As an actress, she plays on major Parisian stages, national stages and in auteur cinema. She was a mezzo-soprano before tackling the roles of lyrico-spinto and dramatic soprano. Irina also has a license III in fundamental mathematics. Recently, Irina stood out at the Metz opera house in the whimsical role of La Baronne de Champigny in Nino Rota's Straw Hat from Italy, conducted by Jacques Mercier, we could also hear her in the main stage Abigaille by Nabucco, at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie and in Strauss's Four Last Lieder during the Libre Cour festival and in Puccini / Verdi at the Bordeaux opera during musical noon. We could hear her on several occasions in Micaela in Carmen under the direction of Romain Dumas or Alexis Duffaure, Métella in Parisian life at the opera of Metz and at the opera of Massy, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni of Mozart with the Arad State Orchestra as well as La Comtesse in The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart accompanied by the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Timisoara, the second lady in The Magic Flute by Mozart, Dido in Dido and Aeneas de Purcell under the direction of M. Trautmann. Since 2013, she has been in turn in the title role of La Périchole by Offenbach, Dorothée in Cendrillon by Massenet, Malika in Lakmé by Delibes, Nakamti in Padmavati by Roussel and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte with Le Paris Symphonic Orchestra under the direction by C. Diederich.
In 2022, we note two roles taken: Violetta in La Traviata by Verdi at the L’eure en scène festival under the baton of Romain Dumas and Mimi in La bohème at the Lumière festival. She will reprise the role of La Comtesse (Les noces de Figaro) with the Contrast ensemble in Vienna.
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: Thomas Bettinger
Alain Duault
The novelist, poet, journalist, musicologist and radio and television presenter Alain Duault has been sharing his passion for and knowledge of classical music for more than 30 years. Considered to be one of the greatest opera specialists in France he is now President of the Prix Pelléas jury, and has been made an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
Alain Duault studied literature, philosophy and psycho-analysis in Paris, then musicology and piano. His first TV appearance was as a guest of Bernard Pivot for his book of poems, Colorature. This led to a number of radio programmes dedicated to classical music, notably on RTL, the radio station where Alain Duault would be “Mr Classical Music” for 22 years, before joining Radio Classique with daily slots until 2018. A role that he also took on for the France 3 television channel, presenting a number of exceptional programmes (masterclasses with Ruggero Raimondi in the Salle Gaveau, Musiques en fête at the Chorégies d’Orange festival…).
In 1999, he conceived and presented Intégrale Chopin (225 works, 60 pianists), broadcast on France 3. Then in 2001, he wrote and performed an ambitious and very popular show, Verdi, une passion, un destin (with Jean Piat and 250 musicians). In the wake of this success, he wrote and performed two other shows: Victor Hugo, la légende d’un siècle in 2002 and Rencontre avec George Sand (with Marie-Christine Barrault) in 2004 and 2005.
Alain Duault also puts his writing skills to the service of classical music. The author of a number of books, including Dans la peau de Maria Callas, (Le Passeur Éditeur, 2014, pocket edition, 2017), Dictionnaire amoureux illustré de l’Opéra (Plon Gründ, 2016), Ce léger rien des choses qui ont fui, poetry (Gallimard, 2017), he also writes editorials for Classica.
Language spoken: French
Photo credit: Laurent Rouvrais @Radio Classique
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Pascal Amoyel
Voted “Solo Instrumental Discovery of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique in 2005, Pascal Amoyel was awarded the 2010 Grand Prix du Disque by the prestigious Chopin Society in Warsaw for his recording of the complete Nocturnes by Chopin, together with Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire.
This marked the beginning of a great international career, which has led him to perform in the most prestigious concert venues – Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts, Cité de la Musique and Salle Pleyel in Paris –, as well as in the United States, Canada, Russia, China and Korea.
His recordings, whether on his own or with cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand, have received high distinctions such as the Cannes Classical Award, the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, the ‘Choc’ du monde de la Musique, or the German Record Critics’ Award.
Pascal Amoyel is also a composer and a laureate of the Banque Populaire Foundation.
Amoyel works on creating new concert forms. His Block 15, ou la musique en résistance was very successful and was adapted for TV by France Télévisions, while “The fifty-fingered pianist”, “The day I met Franz Liszt”, and Looking for Beethoven sold out at the Avignon Festival and ran for months at the Ranelagh Theatre in Paris.
Pascal Amoyel heads the Notes d’Automne festival for which he has commissioned more than forty creations.
He is a winner of the Premier Grand Prix Arts-Deux Magots, which rewards “a musician blessed with openness and generosity”, Licra’s Prix Jean-Pierre Bloch for “the connection with human rights in his work”, and has been made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and a Chevalier des Palmes académiques.
Language spoken : French and English
Photo Crédit : Jean Baptiste Millot
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
For men:
Officer’s evening:
Depending on the itinerary and the program of your cruise, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
For men:
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
HEALTH CARE:
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Radio Classique
Every day RADIO CLASSIQUE attracts over a million listeners with a promise to celebrate the best works in the classical repertoire by top performers, and bring classical music into the hearts of the greatest number of people in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Radio Classique achieves this by employing well-known personalities with a passion for music, offering a varied play list from symphonies to film music, as well as interactive programmes and numerous live concert broadcasts.
It is these values which set Radio Classique apart, as an accessible, elegant radio station which is much appreciated by epicurean and discerning listeners ; values that are perfectly in tune with what PONANT’s musical cruises have to offer, under the artistic direction of Alain Duault. A truly unforgettable musical experience awaits passengers in the company of outstanding artists in an intimate and privileged setting.
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Embarkation 08/05/2023 from 14:00 to 15:00
Departure 08/05/2023 at 17:30
A treasure of the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur is located on the edge of la Crique de Rouen in Normandy. You will no doubt admire the historical ships moored in its old port. With its tall, slate-covered houses, the quays provide a great setting for a very nice walk. In the streets behind the harbour, you will see many timber houses. These picturesque places were the cradle of several pre-impressionist painters. You can see their works in the Eugène Boudin museum. Exhibited works represent scenes of medieval streets and the coastline as it used to be, as illustrated by the Butin beach and its lush green hillsides.
Arrival 09/05/2023 midday
Departure 09/05/2023 early evening
Located on the Flemish coastline, half way between France and the Netherlands, the elegant city of Ostend is a favourite summer destination for Belgians. You can enjoy the “queen of beaches”, a stretch of fine white sand punctuated by breakwaters, covered by the North Sea at high tide. The seafront boasts sumptuous facades from the Belle Epoque, such as Villa Maritza, which stands witness to this seaside town’s rich past. Art amateurs will enjoy the excellent Kunstmuseumaan Zee, where a retrospective of Belgian art dating from 1830 is on display.
Arrival 10/05/2023 early morning
Departure 10/05/2023 early afternoon
Located in the Flemish region of Belgium, Antwerp is worth a visit for its remarkable architectural heritage. In this moderately-sized, cosmopolitan city, you will be able to stroll around the ancient city centre, dominated by the most important monument in Antwerp, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The museums of the city retrace the history of Antwerp, including the home of Rubens, containing the works of the painter, and the Plantin-Moretus museum, a print works and publishing house that are UNESCO listed. From Grote Markt, the central square in the city, you will be captivated by the attractive sight formed by the unusual medieval architecture of the guild houses.
Arrival 11/05/2023 early morning
Departure 11/05/2023 late afternoon
Amsterdam is above all a city of water. Omnipresent, it guides the traveller’s steps, from street to street, from canal to canal, its bridges seeming to bend their arches to form allegiances with him. Let yourself fall in love with the grace and romanticism that emanate from this charming scene. Known around the world for its museums and the finest collection of the Dutch and Flemish masters of the golden age, this city is home to many other treasures. Take a stroll through the old district or pay a visit to a diamond house – do not miss this “treasure chest” of the Netherlands.
Arrival 12/05/2023
Departure 12/05/2023
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Arrival 13/05/2023 early morning
Departure 13/05/2023 midday
At the far end of the country, stands the harbour town of Stavanger, with its warm, friendly atmosphere. A friendliness you’ll notice in the little old town cobbled streets, which has some 170 old wooden houses, as well as in its modern city centre, always bustling.
Arrival 13/05/2023 late afternoon
Departure 13/05/2023 late afternoon
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.
Arrival 14/05/2023
Departure 14/05/2023
In the heart of Norway’s natural scenery, to the southeast of Bergen, you will sail the peaceful waters of the Hardangerfjord, the second longest fjord in Norway. At the wide mouth of this majestic fjord, gently sloping valleys offer the sight of lush meadows and fruit trees galore. Moreover, it is rightly nicknamed the “fruit orchard of Norway". As you continue sailing and move further inland, the fjord narrows and the rolling surroundings make way for vertiginous walls and high mountainous areas. Enhanced by the reflections of the light on the soft waters, at times clear, at times deep, the landscapes become wilder and reveal an uncut diamond of singular beauty.
Arrival 14/05/2023 midday
Departure 14/05/2023 late afternoon
About 150 kilometres from Bergen, the little town of Ulvik is one of the rare pearls in the county of Hordaland, in the south-west of the country. You’ll find it tucked away in one of the quieter Hardanger fjords. Why not spend a quiet interlude in its orchards, between the apple and cherry trees. All around, a spectacular landscape of mountains with steep rock-faces culminate in a 1,000 metre high altitude – a paradise for walkers. On the mountainsides, a few scattered farmsteads stand witness to the region’s farming activity. At their feet, gentle hills of silky green tumble into the cobalt seas.
Arrival 15/05/2023 early afternoon
Departure 15/05/2023 late afternoon
A charming seaport in Vestland County, Floro is the westernmost town in Norway. Founded by royal decree in 1860, this charming, picturesque port developed thanks to the herring trade, which made it prosperous in the 19th century. Nowadays, the small town stands out for its proximity to numerous hiking trails, offering exceptional views of the captivating beauty of a string of islands. Floro will welcome you to its typically Norwegian natural environment, where snow-covered peaks and verdant plains form a spellbinding postcard.
Arrival 16/05/2023 early morning
Departure 16/05/2023 late afternoon
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.
Arrival 17/05/2023 early morning
Departure 17/05/2023 midday
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 splendour 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: the 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.
Arrival 17/05/2023 early afternoon
Departure 17/05/2023 mid afternoon
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.
Arrival 18/05/2023 early morning
Departure 18/05/2023 midday
With its two wooden churches, one red and the other white, plus its breathtaking view of the mouth of the river Oldeelva, Olden looks just like a picture post card. Located a few kilometres from the Jostedalsbreen park, home to one of the last glacier polar icecaps, this little village is a definite must for exploring the blue languages of the Briksdal or Kjennalen glaciers. Make sure you find some time to visit the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Absolutely amazing. Another gem is lake Lovatn and its turquoise waters inviting you to quiet contemplation.
Arrival 19/05/2023 early morning
Disembarkation 19/05/2023 at 07:00
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 openair museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, jewellers. 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.
Bruges (or Brugge in Flemish) is an exquisitely preserved medieval town. It had the good fortune to be linked with the sea by a navigable waterway, therefore the city became a leading member of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century, when the town established Europe's first stock exchange.
Upon arrival in Bruges a guided walk through the historical centre will introduce you to this beautiful, romantic city. During the walk, your guide will point out major sights such as the Market Square with its Guild houses and the Belfry Tower.
The Stadhuis, or Town Hall, dating from the 14th century, has a wonderfully ornate facade covered with statues, and the Oude Griffe, the former Recorder's House from the 1530's, is ornamented with impressive windows. Pass the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
Take a rest with a 30-minute guided canal boat cruise. See the beauty of medieval Bruges from a different perspective from the canals and waterways of the city.
Free time will be given to browse through the lace and chocolate shops around the Walplein Square, before boarding the coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
This dynamic modern city has a centre straight out of the Middle Ages. It was weavers from Ghent, joined by others from Bruges, who took up arms to defeat the French in 1302.
Arrive at the centre of the medieval city of Ghent, where you begin your walking tour at St. Michael's Bridge, with its view of Ghent's three glorious medieval steeples. The closest is that of the early Gothic St. Nicholas Church. Behind is the Belfry dating from 1314 and in the background rises the honey-coloured tower of St. Bavo's Cathedral.
Your guide will lead you to the pontoon where you will board a canal boat for a fun and thorough exploration of the city. As you cruise through the historic city see highlights such as the impressive Castle of the Counts, the Fish Market, 13th century Monasteries and the ancient port of Ghent along with its mercantile houses.
After your canal cruise, you will continue your walking tour, passing the old port, the Meat House and the City Hall to reach St. Bavo’s Cathedral (outside visit).
Then, enjoy some free time for shopping before re-boarding your coach and returning to the pier and your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Your guided walking tour of Antwerp starts at the pier, where your guide awaits you. He will lead you through the Old Town surrounding the Marketplace, including the Town Hall, gabled guild houses, cafes and Brabo statue.
You will walk to the City Hall. This building, that was finished in 1564, is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Low Countries, and probably one of the most beautiful. The wealthy interiour dates mostly from the 19th century.
Continue one block to the nearby Vlaaikensgang (“Pie Alley”), a neighborhood that is typical of medieval Antwerp, then walk one more block to visit Our Lady’s Cathedral.
From there, you will walk past the Groenplaats, home to the famous statue of Rubens, on your way to the Rubens House.
Peter Paul Rubens was born in the German town of Siegen in 1577, but his parents were from Antwerp, and in 1589, two years after the death of Rubens’ father, his mother moved the family back to Antwerp. On his 21st birthday, Rubens was enrolled as a master at the influential painter’s guild of St. Luke, and in 1600 he left for Italy where he spent eight years as court painter to the Duke of Mantua. In 1611, Rubens bought this building on the Wapper and enlarged it to provide a home and studio with all the trappings of a palazzo. It was here that he received scores of distinguished guests and built his dazzling career.
After your visit of the Rubens House, your guide will lead you back to the ship on foot.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Start your scenic tour in the direction of the Cogels Osylei, Belgium's most important 'Art Nouveau style' street where you will make a short guided walk. Here you can find such a rare diversity of styles that the area has become an architectural curiosity of international fame.
Afterwards, you will head north to admire the Central Railway Station. Dubbed the 'Railway Cathedral', it is one of the world's most impressive railway stations and one of the main landmarks in Antwerp. The railway station was built between 1895 and 1905. An extensive restoration, which started in 1993 was completed 16 years later in 2009. Today the whole complex is over 400 metres long and has two entrances. There are three levels of tracks and a shopping centre which includes a diamond gallery with more than 30 diamond shops.
Continue your sightseeing tour of Antwerp driving by the MAS Museum and the 'Havenhuis' (Port House). MAS Architects, Neutelings and Riedijk, alternated between red sandstone from India and glass panes to give this riverfront museum a distinctive look that's both modern but also recalls the 16th century store house used in Antwerp's Old Port. The connection to the city is in the details as well. If you look closely at the 203-foot-tall building, you will see 3,185 silver hands, the symbol of Antwerp. Dame Zaha Hadid is the genius behind the brand new 'Havenhuis', home to the port of Antwerp. This intriguing piece of architecture is a combination of an old fire station and a modern glass construction that mimics the waves of the river Scheldt.
Then, your coach will drop you near the cruise terminal where your guided walking tour starts. Discover the old town section surrounding the marketplace with the Town Hall, gabled guild houses, cafes and Brabo statue. Then walk one block to the Vlaaikensgang ('Pie Alley'), typical of medieval Antwerp. Walk one more block to Our Lady’s Cathedral for an inside visit. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Belgium and a major landmark of Antwerp. The interior contains some of world's greatest Rubens paintings, Elevation of the Cross and The Descent of the Cross.
From there you can join your guide to walk back to the ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, board your coach for a 30 min transfer to the Van Gogh Museum.
Your guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The Museum features the largest Van Gogh collection in the world, including 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by Amsterdam’s native son. The main exhibition chronicles the various phases of Van Gogh’s life, and features famous works such as The Potato Eaters, Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, Bedroom in Arles, and Sunflowers.
The museum was founded in part by the widow of Vincent’s brother, Theo, who inherited her husband’s collection after his death. Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger dedicated the latter part of her life to promoting Vincent’s work through sales, exhibitions, and the publication of his letters. Johanna’s son continued her work after her death, and the Van Gogh Museum opened in 1973. In September 2013, the museum unveiled the long-lost Van Gogh painting Sunset at Montmajour, which spent years in a Norwegian attic, believed to be by another painter. It is the first full-size canvas by him discovered since 1928.
On completion of the tour, you will reboard your coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
A one-hour coach ride takes you through the lowland countryside dotted with farms, canals and flower fields to The Hague, the Netherland’s administrative capital.
Much of the town has an 18th and 19th century appeal, with large, fine residences along broad, tree-lined avenues and streets. Officially known as ’s-Gravenhage (the Count’s Hedge), The Hague is the Dutch seat of government and home to the royal family. It was the Dutch capital until 1806, but that same year Louis Bonaparte installed his government in Amsterdam. Eight years later, when the French had been ousted, the government returned to The Hague, but the title of capital remained with Amsterdam. During your panoramic tour, you will pass the Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace which houses the International Court of Justice.
Your excursion then continues to the Mauritshuis, a Palladian-style mansion housing the royal collection of pictures, one of the finest in the world. See masterpieces by all of the 17th-century Dutch masters, works by Dutch and Flemish painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as 17th-century works by foreign artists. Of the almost 800 paintings, some of the treasured highlights are Vermeer’s Diana and her Companions, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and View of Delft; several works by Rembrandt including two self-portraits; The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius; Night Scene by Peter Paul Rubens; and works by Paulus Potter, Pieter Brueghel, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Rogier Van der Weyden.
Following this unforgettable guided tour of the Museum, you will have some time at leisure to explore the museum on your own, before returning to your ship in Amsterdam.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Utstein Monastery is situated on Mosteroy Island. Up to 1992, going to Mosteroy Island had to be done by boat. Today, the drive is via an underwater tunnel almost 3 miles (5 km) long that goes down to nearly 700 feet (210 m).
On Mosteroy Island, the land is fertile and peaceful with grazing sheep and cows. Wonderful green colours, in all the splendid shades which only soft sea air can create, surround you on your way to Utstein Monastery, the best-preserved monastery built in Norway, and you can easily understand why the Viking kings chose to settle here.
From the 13th century onwards, Augustine monks lived here in the peaceful countryside. The Reformation in 1537 put an end to monastery life, and the king's vassals took over the property. In 1937, Restoration works began that ended in 1965.
After the guided visit, the tour ends with a short music recital in the chapel (15 to 20 minutes). One cannot but feel the peace in these surroundings. The old beeches are still standing in the garden, spreading their great crowns over the group of old buildings.
After the visit and recital, return to the pier and your ship in Stavanger via the same route.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Stavanger and its surroundings have played a leading role in Norway's maritime history for centuries, from the time when the Viking kings battled in Hafrsfjord, through to the period of the “white sails”, the steamships and to today's modern super tankers.
From the pier, drive passing rich agricultural countryside before arriving at Ullandhaug, with its reconstructed farmhouses from the Iron Age and an introduction into life during that time. In one of the low houses with turf roof, learn more about the living conditions around the year 500. Learn how Norwegians lived their life at this time - a local guide will demonstrate how they made flour or wove their clothes.
On the sightseeing drive to the farm, a photo stop will be made at the Stavanger Cathedral, the best preserved of Norway's Mediaeval churches, built around 1125 by Bishop Reinald of Winchester.
After the visit, re-board you coach and drive toward a viewpoint nearby Ullandhaug hill, and enjoy a magnificent view over Hafrsfjord, where the Viking king Harald Haarfagre (the Fair-haired) defeated in 872 the last of the regional princes, and founded the Kingdom of Norway by uniting the 29 small kingdoms under one crown.
Here you will have a photo stop at the Sword in Rock, a monument made of three Viking swords more than 29 feet (9 m) high forced into the ground, recently raised to commemorate this event.
To the east, the fertile farmland of Jæren with the Ryfylke Mountains forms the background. Before your return to the ship, you will have the option of strolling through Old Stavanger and the charming, picturesque and well preserved wooden houses in narrow lanes, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The houses were originally built for seamen, craftsmen and businessmen. Old Stavanger is today considered unique and its rehabilitation and conservation is the city's most important project.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
The Hardanger fjord with its green pastures, snow-capped mountains, and thousands of fruit trees is often called the “Queen of the Norwegian Fjords”. And in a sheltered bay on the innermost arm of the fjord lies the village of Ulvik, known for its fruit production.
You will start your journey along the Ulviksfjord. Passing the former ferry pier at Bruravik, you will enter a tunnel which will take you onto the new Hardanger Bridge, one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, crossing the fjord with a span of 1,310 metres (4,300 ft). You will continue to scenic drive along the Hardangerfjord for a short while and then turn south following the long and narrow Sørfjord. After a few kilometres, you will arrive for a stop at the village of Kinsarvik, one of the many fruit orchards of Norway. Enjoy some time at leisure in the town before your ride back to Ulvik.
Back to Ulvik, you will visit the Hardanger Juice and Cider factory located on the hills above Ulvik with a beautiful view of the fjord below. Join a guided tour of the facilities and learn about the production of juice, cider and apple brandy. After the introduction, you will have the opportunity to taste some of the products, before reboarding your coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
This tour will bring you on both side of the Hardangerfjord, often called the “Queen of the Norwegian Fjord”. There, further inland, the mountains are higher and more threatening, however, in an open and sheltered bay, lay lovely villages surrounded by green pastures and fruit trees. An excellent example is Ulvik, where your excursion starts, or Eidfjord that you will reach after enjoying a one-hour scenic drive.
During your journey to Eidfjord you will cross the fjord via Hardanger Bridge. The 1,310-metre (4,350 ft) long suspension bridge was opened in 2013 – and is among the longest suspension bridges in the world.
Arriving in the village of Eidfjord, known for its salmon river Eio, you will drive along Eidfjord Lake. Surrounding you, you will see towering mountains, polished by ice and rocks during the Ice Age that ended some 8,000 years ago. At the far end of the lake, you will enjoy a visit of the Norwegian Nature Centre, focusing on the Hardangervidda National Park, the largest in Norway. The interactive exhibition combines modern design and innovative teaching technologies, and is designed like a trip through time from 2.9 billion years ago up until today. You will explore the interaction between nature, people, culture and environment, and see the spectacular panoramic film “Fjord-Mountain-Waterfall”, with a 20-minute virtual flight over the National Park and all its natural wonder.
Before returning to Ulvik, you will stop for a coffee break at ‘Tunet på Haugen’, a small authentic farm shop and café with mainly organic food. Afterwards, you will reboard your coach and enjoy a relaxing return drive to the pier.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, you will start the tour heading westward to one of the several islands stretching out into the ocean. Thanks to new bridges and one of the longest submarine tunnels in the world, islands are easily accessible. After a 15-minute drive, you will reach Giske Island, which had a unique position during the Viking period.
The famous Gange - Rolv, or Rollo, was born on Giske. This great warrior conquered Normandie in 911 and became the ancestor of William the Conqueror, sire to the English Royal Family. The old marble church at Giske was built as a family chapel for one of most powerful families. The church is built in the Norman style and is a typical product of the architecture prior to 1200. In 1756 the church was restored. The local artist Jacob S. Giskegaard created the new interior including a new pulpit, and a new alter piece.
Continue your visit proceeding to Godoy Island and Alnes village located on the seaside. You will see a typical fishing village with a well-preserved and picturesque architecture. Its main attraction is its lighthouse. You will get the opportunity to climb up its stairs (87 steps) to enjoy a beautiful look-out to the Atlantic Ocean and the surroundings islands.
Then, you will return to the city center and make a visit to Borgund Church, also known as St Peter’s Church. After a fire in 1904 the church was rebuilt in the Roman style. Part of the church is from the old St Peter's Church from around 1100. The stone alter is from Medieval times and also worth mentioning are the beautiful wood carvings.
After this visit, you will return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Ålesund, the largest town on the northwest coast of Norway, has a spectacular setting: stretching over three islands, near the ocean and backdropped by impressive mountain-peaks. The town centre was destroyed by a fire in 1904, but rebuilt shortly after in the characteristic Art Nouveau architectural style of the period. Today Ålesund has a population of approximately 40,000, but the town centre is relatively small and easy to cover on foot.
From the pier, you will start on foot with a visit to the Art Nouveau museum, located in the old pharmacy building. The museum provides interesting insight into the fire of 1904 and the creative Art Nouveau period.
After your visit, you will continue your walking tour. Your guide will put particular emphasis on presenting the importance of fisheries in Norway's biggest fish export harbour and, of course, you will be shown a multitude of examples of the picturesque Art Nouveau style that has made Ålesund famous.
The tour will continue uphill to the quaint little park at the foot of mount Aksla. Here, you will find exotic trees and plants as well as a memorial stone dedicated to the German emperor Wilhelm II, for whom the main street in town is named after. Furthermore, you will see the statue of the Viking "Gange-Rolf" who sailed from Ålesund to what is today Normandy (France), named after the Norwegian settlers. From the park, you could choose to continue to ascend mount Aksla, where your will be rewarded for your efforts with a spectacular view. Or you could wander about in the park or just sit and have a rest before the return to the pier and your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€: the excursion price is less than €50.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, you will start the tour along the Borgundfjord, through the modern suburbs to the old trading centre of Borgund. En route, a visit is made to Alesund Church. It was built in 1909, with concrete and Norwegian marble.
Then you will visit the Sunnmøre Open-Air Museum consisting of various types of farmhouses, boathouses, etc. which have been moved to this site from all over the region.
The Museum also houses several different old boats. The shipbuilding traditions go back a long time and boats built here were reckoned to be the most reliable to be found along the coast. Here you find copies of the so-called Kvalsund-boat from the year 700 and the even older Fjørtoft-boats.
Alongside lies the fishing vessel Heland - better known as the “Shetland bus”, as it was used to carry Norwegian partisans across the North Sea during the Second World War.
Heading back you make a detour up on Mount Aksla to enjoy the view (weather permitting) over the town and its surroundings, before returning via the central parts of the town to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, board your motor coach and go admire the beautiful scenery over your ship, all the way to Mount Dalsnibba.
As you reach the Djupvaten Lake at 3,280 feet (1,000 m) high, the landscape changes. From many vantage points you can see snow-covered mountains even in summer, glaciers and lakes.
Then you will proceed to mount Dalsnibba, 4,843 feet (1,495 m). From the top of the mount, enjoy a bird's-eye view of the scenery. Usually, the wind at the summit blows strongly. Mount Dalsnibba is located above the town of Geiranger, 4.5 miles (7 km) away from Geirangerfjord. It offers very good look-out opportunities.
On your way back, a stop is planned at Djupvasshytta Lodge. Here, you can stroll around the lake before enjoying a cup of tea and Norwegian pastries served at the Lodge.
You will also stop at Flydal, which offers once again a beautiful look-out point over your ship.
When your ship departs for her next port of call, do not hesitate to have a last look up, to Mount Dalsnibba.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, depart by minibus to the kayak base. A guide will meet at the landing stage holding a kayak sign. Then walk approximately 5 minutes to the kayak base, where the kayaks are waiting for you, before receiving safety briefing and paddling instructions.
Since Geiranger is at the end of a long fjord, it means that you will head out of the fjord. You will glide along the steep mountain walls to the Geiranger fjord where the “Preacher’s Pulpit” can be seen. Along the way, your guide will tell you stories about Geiranger and its people.
After approximately 1¾ hours in the kayak, you will return to the base and walk the few meters back to your minibus and then your ship.
There is no experience required; your well-trained guides will teach you all you need to know. This is the perfect adventure for all, families included.
Life jackets are compulsory and will of course be provided for all participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, leave Geiranger by coach on a journey of discovery through the countryside in the west of Norway, a land majestic mountains and emerald green lakes. For more than 100 years the Geirangerfjord considered by many the world's most beautiful has been visited by cruise ships.
You will head for Mount Dalsnibba, climbing up through a beautiful landscape of mountains, waterfalls and lakes that follow one after the other, before arriving at Lake Djupvaten. A fantastic spectacle awaits as you enter a world of naked rock, ice and snow. Your route continues on up Mount Dalsnibba to a height of 4,930 feet (1,495 m) from where you will have an exceptional view (weather permitting). At this altitude, all the snow-capped peaks cast light on a scene that appears inaccessible.
You will then take a break for lunch in local restaurant. After lunch, you will head to the summer ski resort of Tystigen to capture the stunning panorama. Drive along the shores of Lake Stryn, the emerald-green colour of which is so typical of the area, due to the melting Jostedalen glacier that you will see further on. You will continue your route along the River Stryn, an excellent spot for salmon fishing, to Nordfjord and the village of Stryn, where you will be at leisure to stretch your legs and stroll around the streets. You last stop will be Hornindalsvatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Europe at 1,695 feet (514 m) deep.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
The fantastic Nordfjord was created by glaciers, dominated by vikings and now, paddled by you.
Kayaking on a green fjord, in a quiet valley surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls and blue glaciers, is a memorable experience.
You will start your journey from the old Mølla guest house 5 minutes away by foot from the pier in Olden. Once at the kayak station, you will receive all equipment (kayak, paddle, spray-skirt, safety equipment) and a safety briefing to learn the dos and don’ts of kayaking.
You will be ready to start your tour from the pier, heading out into the fjord. As you follow the contours of the shore, your guide will share their local knowledge about the fjords and glaciers surrounding you. In the distance you will see waterfalls, glaciers and green mountainsides.
After approximately 2 hours of kayak, you will get back to the pier.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Briksdal glacier is a part of the Jostedal glacier ice field, which is the largest glacier on the European mainland. The wild glacier is a fantastic work of Nature. Its slope plunges from a height of 3,937 feet (1,200 m) down to the lush, narrow Briksdal Valley. Briksdalsbreen Glacier lies at the end of enchanting Oldedalen valley.
Board your motor coach and start the tour. The trip through Oldedalen valley to Briksdal glacier is an amazing symphony of scenic splendours. From wild flowers to awe-inspiring mountains that are reflected in crystal clear lake waters, to great waterfalls that cascade from vertical mountainsides.
Your motor coach will stop at the mountain lodge, and from the lodge it is about 1.8 mile (3 km), a 45-minute walk on a gravel road up to the glacier. During your walk, enjoy the view onto the gigantic glacier.
If you don't want to walk that far, another option is to be driven by cars (7 seats in each) from the lodge, up to a parking lot which is a 10-minute walk from the glacier. Please note that you pay directly on the site for the transfer by vehicle. We will not be able to pre-book this service and unfortunately during the high season, vehicles are not always running.
Using the same way to get back to the lodge, you will have some more opportunities to take pictures walking down the path. At the lodge, enjoy a snack including tea, coffee and pastries, and some time at leisure in the well-stocked souvenir shop which will make your trip to Briksdal memorable.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, drive along the winding road along the fjord to the neighbouring village of Loen. Thereafter, continue into the Lodalen Valley to the far end at Kjenndalen. From here, take a short stroll up to a view point of the Kjenndalen glacier in the distance - an arm of the mighty Jostedalsbreen glacier - the largest glacier on mainland-Europe.
Walk back to the bus and drive back towards Loen. Leaving the buses, board the new cable car (inaugurated 2017) taking you up to mount Hoven, 1011 metres above the sea – around 200 metres above the tree line in this part of Norway.
Enjoy a coffee-break and spectacular views of the fjord and villages below as well as the surrounding mountain scenery. During your stay at Hoven, you have the possibility to enjoy a short walk to soak up the scenery around you.
After some time at leisure, return by cable car to Loen where your bus will be waiting for you to bring you back to the pier in Olden.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Music
Set sail on a musical journey! If you have a passion for classical instrumental music or opera, if you love Celtic melodies or jazz, treat yourself to a different and exclusive experience aboard a PONANT ship. On board or ashore, our guests of honour, including renowned artists, talented musicians and brilliant virtuosos, share their knowledge and their passion in an intimate and accessible manner during concerts or talks.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
No single supplement
FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT *
*The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
Bruges (or Brugge in Flemish) is an exquisitely preserved medieval town. It had the good fortune to be linked with the sea by a navigable waterway, therefore the city became a leading member of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century, when the town established Europe's first stock exchange.
Upon arrival in Bruges a guided walk through the historical centre will introduce you to this beautiful, romantic city. During the walk, your guide will point out major sights such as the Market Square with its Guild houses and the Belfry Tower.
The Stadhuis, or Town Hall, dating from the 14th century, has a wonderfully ornate facade covered with statues, and the Oude Griffe, the former Recorder's House from the 1530's, is ornamented with impressive windows. Pass the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
Take a rest with a 30-minute guided canal boat cruise. See the beauty of medieval Bruges from a different perspective from the canals and waterways of the city.
Free time will be given to browse through the lace and chocolate shops around the Walplein Square, before boarding the coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
This dynamic modern city has a centre straight out of the Middle Ages. It was weavers from Ghent, joined by others from Bruges, who took up arms to defeat the French in 1302.
Arrive at the centre of the medieval city of Ghent, where you begin your walking tour at St. Michael's Bridge, with its view of Ghent's three glorious medieval steeples. The closest is that of the early Gothic St. Nicholas Church. Behind is the Belfry dating from 1314 and in the background rises the honey-coloured tower of St. Bavo's Cathedral.
Your guide will lead you to the pontoon where you will board a canal boat for a fun and thorough exploration of the city. As you cruise through the historic city see highlights such as the impressive Castle of the Counts, the Fish Market, 13th century Monasteries and the ancient port of Ghent along with its mercantile houses.
After your canal cruise, you will continue your walking tour, passing the old port, the Meat House and the City Hall to reach St. Bavo’s Cathedral (outside visit).
Then, enjoy some free time for shopping before re-boarding your coach and returning to the pier and your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Your guided walking tour of Antwerp starts at the pier, where your guide awaits you. He will lead you through the Old Town surrounding the Marketplace, including the Town Hall, gabled guild houses, cafes and Brabo statue.
You will walk to the City Hall. This building, that was finished in 1564, is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Low Countries, and probably one of the most beautiful. The wealthy interiour dates mostly from the 19th century.
Continue one block to the nearby Vlaaikensgang (“Pie Alley”), a neighborhood that is typical of medieval Antwerp, then walk one more block to visit Our Lady’s Cathedral.
From there, you will walk past the Groenplaats, home to the famous statue of Rubens, on your way to the Rubens House.
Peter Paul Rubens was born in the German town of Siegen in 1577, but his parents were from Antwerp, and in 1589, two years after the death of Rubens’ father, his mother moved the family back to Antwerp. On his 21st birthday, Rubens was enrolled as a master at the influential painter’s guild of St. Luke, and in 1600 he left for Italy where he spent eight years as court painter to the Duke of Mantua. In 1611, Rubens bought this building on the Wapper and enlarged it to provide a home and studio with all the trappings of a palazzo. It was here that he received scores of distinguished guests and built his dazzling career.
After your visit of the Rubens House, your guide will lead you back to the ship on foot.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Start your scenic tour in the direction of the Cogels Osylei, Belgium's most important 'Art Nouveau style' street where you will make a short guided walk. Here you can find such a rare diversity of styles that the area has become an architectural curiosity of international fame.
Afterwards, you will head north to admire the Central Railway Station. Dubbed the 'Railway Cathedral', it is one of the world's most impressive railway stations and one of the main landmarks in Antwerp. The railway station was built between 1895 and 1905. An extensive restoration, which started in 1993 was completed 16 years later in 2009. Today the whole complex is over 400 metres long and has two entrances. There are three levels of tracks and a shopping centre which includes a diamond gallery with more than 30 diamond shops.
Continue your sightseeing tour of Antwerp driving by the MAS Museum and the 'Havenhuis' (Port House). MAS Architects, Neutelings and Riedijk, alternated between red sandstone from India and glass panes to give this riverfront museum a distinctive look that's both modern but also recalls the 16th century store house used in Antwerp's Old Port. The connection to the city is in the details as well. If you look closely at the 203-foot-tall building, you will see 3,185 silver hands, the symbol of Antwerp. Dame Zaha Hadid is the genius behind the brand new 'Havenhuis', home to the port of Antwerp. This intriguing piece of architecture is a combination of an old fire station and a modern glass construction that mimics the waves of the river Scheldt.
Then, your coach will drop you near the cruise terminal where your guided walking tour starts. Discover the old town section surrounding the marketplace with the Town Hall, gabled guild houses, cafes and Brabo statue. Then walk one block to the Vlaaikensgang ('Pie Alley'), typical of medieval Antwerp. Walk one more block to Our Lady’s Cathedral for an inside visit. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Belgium and a major landmark of Antwerp. The interior contains some of world's greatest Rubens paintings, Elevation of the Cross and The Descent of the Cross.
From there you can join your guide to walk back to the ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, board your coach for a 30 min transfer to the Van Gogh Museum.
Your guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The Museum features the largest Van Gogh collection in the world, including 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by Amsterdam’s native son. The main exhibition chronicles the various phases of Van Gogh’s life, and features famous works such as The Potato Eaters, Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, Bedroom in Arles, and Sunflowers.
The museum was founded in part by the widow of Vincent’s brother, Theo, who inherited her husband’s collection after his death. Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger dedicated the latter part of her life to promoting Vincent’s work through sales, exhibitions, and the publication of his letters. Johanna’s son continued her work after her death, and the Van Gogh Museum opened in 1973. In September 2013, the museum unveiled the long-lost Van Gogh painting Sunset at Montmajour, which spent years in a Norwegian attic, believed to be by another painter. It is the first full-size canvas by him discovered since 1928.
On completion of the tour, you will reboard your coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
A one-hour coach ride takes you through the lowland countryside dotted with farms, canals and flower fields to The Hague, the Netherland’s administrative capital.
Much of the town has an 18th and 19th century appeal, with large, fine residences along broad, tree-lined avenues and streets. Officially known as ’s-Gravenhage (the Count’s Hedge), The Hague is the Dutch seat of government and home to the royal family. It was the Dutch capital until 1806, but that same year Louis Bonaparte installed his government in Amsterdam. Eight years later, when the French had been ousted, the government returned to The Hague, but the title of capital remained with Amsterdam. During your panoramic tour, you will pass the Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace which houses the International Court of Justice.
Your excursion then continues to the Mauritshuis, a Palladian-style mansion housing the royal collection of pictures, one of the finest in the world. See masterpieces by all of the 17th-century Dutch masters, works by Dutch and Flemish painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as 17th-century works by foreign artists. Of the almost 800 paintings, some of the treasured highlights are Vermeer’s Diana and her Companions, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and View of Delft; several works by Rembrandt including two self-portraits; The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius; Night Scene by Peter Paul Rubens; and works by Paulus Potter, Pieter Brueghel, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Rogier Van der Weyden.
Following this unforgettable guided tour of the Museum, you will have some time at leisure to explore the museum on your own, before returning to your ship in Amsterdam.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Utstein Monastery is situated on Mosteroy Island. Up to 1992, going to Mosteroy Island had to be done by boat. Today, the drive is via an underwater tunnel almost 3 miles (5 km) long that goes down to nearly 700 feet (210 m).
On Mosteroy Island, the land is fertile and peaceful with grazing sheep and cows. Wonderful green colours, in all the splendid shades which only soft sea air can create, surround you on your way to Utstein Monastery, the best-preserved monastery built in Norway, and you can easily understand why the Viking kings chose to settle here.
From the 13th century onwards, Augustine monks lived here in the peaceful countryside. The Reformation in 1537 put an end to monastery life, and the king's vassals took over the property. In 1937, Restoration works began that ended in 1965.
After the guided visit, the tour ends with a short music recital in the chapel (15 to 20 minutes). One cannot but feel the peace in these surroundings. The old beeches are still standing in the garden, spreading their great crowns over the group of old buildings.
After the visit and recital, return to the pier and your ship in Stavanger via the same route.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Stavanger and its surroundings have played a leading role in Norway's maritime history for centuries, from the time when the Viking kings battled in Hafrsfjord, through to the period of the “white sails”, the steamships and to today's modern super tankers.
From the pier, drive passing rich agricultural countryside before arriving at Ullandhaug, with its reconstructed farmhouses from the Iron Age and an introduction into life during that time. In one of the low houses with turf roof, learn more about the living conditions around the year 500. Learn how Norwegians lived their life at this time - a local guide will demonstrate how they made flour or wove their clothes.
On the sightseeing drive to the farm, a photo stop will be made at the Stavanger Cathedral, the best preserved of Norway's Mediaeval churches, built around 1125 by Bishop Reinald of Winchester.
After the visit, re-board you coach and drive toward a viewpoint nearby Ullandhaug hill, and enjoy a magnificent view over Hafrsfjord, where the Viking king Harald Haarfagre (the Fair-haired) defeated in 872 the last of the regional princes, and founded the Kingdom of Norway by uniting the 29 small kingdoms under one crown.
Here you will have a photo stop at the Sword in Rock, a monument made of three Viking swords more than 29 feet (9 m) high forced into the ground, recently raised to commemorate this event.
To the east, the fertile farmland of Jæren with the Ryfylke Mountains forms the background. Before your return to the ship, you will have the option of strolling through Old Stavanger and the charming, picturesque and well preserved wooden houses in narrow lanes, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The houses were originally built for seamen, craftsmen and businessmen. Old Stavanger is today considered unique and its rehabilitation and conservation is the city's most important project.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
The Hardanger fjord with its green pastures, snow-capped mountains, and thousands of fruit trees is often called the “Queen of the Norwegian Fjords”. And in a sheltered bay on the innermost arm of the fjord lies the village of Ulvik, known for its fruit production.
You will start your journey along the Ulviksfjord. Passing the former ferry pier at Bruravik, you will enter a tunnel which will take you onto the new Hardanger Bridge, one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, crossing the fjord with a span of 1,310 metres (4,300 ft). You will continue to scenic drive along the Hardangerfjord for a short while and then turn south following the long and narrow Sørfjord. After a few kilometres, you will arrive for a stop at the village of Kinsarvik, one of the many fruit orchards of Norway. Enjoy some time at leisure in the town before your ride back to Ulvik.
Back to Ulvik, you will visit the Hardanger Juice and Cider factory located on the hills above Ulvik with a beautiful view of the fjord below. Join a guided tour of the facilities and learn about the production of juice, cider and apple brandy. After the introduction, you will have the opportunity to taste some of the products, before reboarding your coach and return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
This tour will bring you on both side of the Hardangerfjord, often called the “Queen of the Norwegian Fjord”. There, further inland, the mountains are higher and more threatening, however, in an open and sheltered bay, lay lovely villages surrounded by green pastures and fruit trees. An excellent example is Ulvik, where your excursion starts, or Eidfjord that you will reach after enjoying a one-hour scenic drive.
During your journey to Eidfjord you will cross the fjord via Hardanger Bridge. The 1,310-metre (4,350 ft) long suspension bridge was opened in 2013 – and is among the longest suspension bridges in the world.
Arriving in the village of Eidfjord, known for its salmon river Eio, you will drive along Eidfjord Lake. Surrounding you, you will see towering mountains, polished by ice and rocks during the Ice Age that ended some 8,000 years ago. At the far end of the lake, you will enjoy a visit of the Norwegian Nature Centre, focusing on the Hardangervidda National Park, the largest in Norway. The interactive exhibition combines modern design and innovative teaching technologies, and is designed like a trip through time from 2.9 billion years ago up until today. You will explore the interaction between nature, people, culture and environment, and see the spectacular panoramic film “Fjord-Mountain-Waterfall”, with a 20-minute virtual flight over the National Park and all its natural wonder.
Before returning to Ulvik, you will stop for a coffee break at ‘Tunet på Haugen’, a small authentic farm shop and café with mainly organic food. Afterwards, you will reboard your coach and enjoy a relaxing return drive to the pier.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, you will start the tour heading westward to one of the several islands stretching out into the ocean. Thanks to new bridges and one of the longest submarine tunnels in the world, islands are easily accessible. After a 15-minute drive, you will reach Giske Island, which had a unique position during the Viking period.
The famous Gange - Rolv, or Rollo, was born on Giske. This great warrior conquered Normandie in 911 and became the ancestor of William the Conqueror, sire to the English Royal Family. The old marble church at Giske was built as a family chapel for one of most powerful families. The church is built in the Norman style and is a typical product of the architecture prior to 1200. In 1756 the church was restored. The local artist Jacob S. Giskegaard created the new interior including a new pulpit, and a new alter piece.
Continue your visit proceeding to Godoy Island and Alnes village located on the seaside. You will see a typical fishing village with a well-preserved and picturesque architecture. Its main attraction is its lighthouse. You will get the opportunity to climb up its stairs (87 steps) to enjoy a beautiful look-out to the Atlantic Ocean and the surroundings islands.
Then, you will return to the city center and make a visit to Borgund Church, also known as St Peter’s Church. After a fire in 1904 the church was rebuilt in the Roman style. Part of the church is from the old St Peter's Church from around 1100. The stone alter is from Medieval times and also worth mentioning are the beautiful wood carvings.
After this visit, you will return to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Ålesund, the largest town on the northwest coast of Norway, has a spectacular setting: stretching over three islands, near the ocean and backdropped by impressive mountain-peaks. The town centre was destroyed by a fire in 1904, but rebuilt shortly after in the characteristic Art Nouveau architectural style of the period. Today Ålesund has a population of approximately 40,000, but the town centre is relatively small and easy to cover on foot.
From the pier, you will start on foot with a visit to the Art Nouveau museum, located in the old pharmacy building. The museum provides interesting insight into the fire of 1904 and the creative Art Nouveau period.
After your visit, you will continue your walking tour. Your guide will put particular emphasis on presenting the importance of fisheries in Norway's biggest fish export harbour and, of course, you will be shown a multitude of examples of the picturesque Art Nouveau style that has made Ålesund famous.
The tour will continue uphill to the quaint little park at the foot of mount Aksla. Here, you will find exotic trees and plants as well as a memorial stone dedicated to the German emperor Wilhelm II, for whom the main street in town is named after. Furthermore, you will see the statue of the Viking "Gange-Rolf" who sailed from Ålesund to what is today Normandy (France), named after the Norwegian settlers. From the park, you could choose to continue to ascend mount Aksla, where your will be rewarded for your efforts with a spectacular view. Or you could wander about in the park or just sit and have a rest before the return to the pier and your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€: the excursion price is less than €50.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, you will start the tour along the Borgundfjord, through the modern suburbs to the old trading centre of Borgund. En route, a visit is made to Alesund Church. It was built in 1909, with concrete and Norwegian marble.
Then you will visit the Sunnmøre Open-Air Museum consisting of various types of farmhouses, boathouses, etc. which have been moved to this site from all over the region.
The Museum also houses several different old boats. The shipbuilding traditions go back a long time and boats built here were reckoned to be the most reliable to be found along the coast. Here you find copies of the so-called Kvalsund-boat from the year 700 and the even older Fjørtoft-boats.
Alongside lies the fishing vessel Heland - better known as the “Shetland bus”, as it was used to carry Norwegian partisans across the North Sea during the Second World War.
Heading back you make a detour up on Mount Aksla to enjoy the view (weather permitting) over the town and its surroundings, before returning via the central parts of the town to your ship.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, board your motor coach and go admire the beautiful scenery over your ship, all the way to Mount Dalsnibba.
As you reach the Djupvaten Lake at 3,280 feet (1,000 m) high, the landscape changes. From many vantage points you can see snow-covered mountains even in summer, glaciers and lakes.
Then you will proceed to mount Dalsnibba, 4,843 feet (1,495 m). From the top of the mount, enjoy a bird's-eye view of the scenery. Usually, the wind at the summit blows strongly. Mount Dalsnibba is located above the town of Geiranger, 4.5 miles (7 km) away from Geirangerfjord. It offers very good look-out opportunities.
On your way back, a stop is planned at Djupvasshytta Lodge. Here, you can stroll around the lake before enjoying a cup of tea and Norwegian pastries served at the Lodge.
You will also stop at Flydal, which offers once again a beautiful look-out point over your ship.
When your ship departs for her next port of call, do not hesitate to have a last look up, to Mount Dalsnibba.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, depart by minibus to the kayak base. A guide will meet at the landing stage holding a kayak sign. Then walk approximately 5 minutes to the kayak base, where the kayaks are waiting for you, before receiving safety briefing and paddling instructions.
Since Geiranger is at the end of a long fjord, it means that you will head out of the fjord. You will glide along the steep mountain walls to the Geiranger fjord where the “Preacher’s Pulpit” can be seen. Along the way, your guide will tell you stories about Geiranger and its people.
After approximately 1¾ hours in the kayak, you will return to the base and walk the few meters back to your minibus and then your ship.
There is no experience required; your well-trained guides will teach you all you need to know. This is the perfect adventure for all, families included.
Life jackets are compulsory and will of course be provided for all participants.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, leave Geiranger by coach on a journey of discovery through the countryside in the west of Norway, a land majestic mountains and emerald green lakes. For more than 100 years the Geirangerfjord considered by many the world's most beautiful has been visited by cruise ships.
You will head for Mount Dalsnibba, climbing up through a beautiful landscape of mountains, waterfalls and lakes that follow one after the other, before arriving at Lake Djupvaten. A fantastic spectacle awaits as you enter a world of naked rock, ice and snow. Your route continues on up Mount Dalsnibba to a height of 4,930 feet (1,495 m) from where you will have an exceptional view (weather permitting). At this altitude, all the snow-capped peaks cast light on a scene that appears inaccessible.
You will then take a break for lunch in local restaurant. After lunch, you will head to the summer ski resort of Tystigen to capture the stunning panorama. Drive along the shores of Lake Stryn, the emerald-green colour of which is so typical of the area, due to the melting Jostedalen glacier that you will see further on. You will continue your route along the River Stryn, an excellent spot for salmon fishing, to Nordfjord and the village of Stryn, where you will be at leisure to stretch your legs and stroll around the streets. You last stop will be Hornindalsvatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Europe at 1,695 feet (514 m) deep.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
The fantastic Nordfjord was created by glaciers, dominated by vikings and now, paddled by you.
Kayaking on a green fjord, in a quiet valley surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls and blue glaciers, is a memorable experience.
You will start your journey from the old Mølla guest house 5 minutes away by foot from the pier in Olden. Once at the kayak station, you will receive all equipment (kayak, paddle, spray-skirt, safety equipment) and a safety briefing to learn the dos and don’ts of kayaking.
You will be ready to start your tour from the pier, heading out into the fjord. As you follow the contours of the shore, your guide will share their local knowledge about the fjords and glaciers surrounding you. In the distance you will see waterfalls, glaciers and green mountainsides.
After approximately 2 hours of kayak, you will get back to the pier.
Price range:
Find out more
€€: the excursion price is between €50 and €100.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
Briksdal glacier is a part of the Jostedal glacier ice field, which is the largest glacier on the European mainland. The wild glacier is a fantastic work of Nature. Its slope plunges from a height of 3,937 feet (1,200 m) down to the lush, narrow Briksdal Valley. Briksdalsbreen Glacier lies at the end of enchanting Oldedalen valley.
Board your motor coach and start the tour. The trip through Oldedalen valley to Briksdal glacier is an amazing symphony of scenic splendours. From wild flowers to awe-inspiring mountains that are reflected in crystal clear lake waters, to great waterfalls that cascade from vertical mountainsides.
Your motor coach will stop at the mountain lodge, and from the lodge it is about 1.8 mile (3 km), a 45-minute walk on a gravel road up to the glacier. During your walk, enjoy the view onto the gigantic glacier.
If you don't want to walk that far, another option is to be driven by cars (7 seats in each) from the lodge, up to a parking lot which is a 10-minute walk from the glacier. Please note that you pay directly on the site for the transfer by vehicle. We will not be able to pre-book this service and unfortunately during the high season, vehicles are not always running.
Using the same way to get back to the lodge, you will have some more opportunities to take pictures walking down the path. At the lodge, enjoy a snack including tea, coffee and pastries, and some time at leisure in the well-stocked souvenir shop which will make your trip to Briksdal memorable.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€: the excursion price is between €100 and €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.
From the pier, drive along the winding road along the fjord to the neighbouring village of Loen. Thereafter, continue into the Lodalen Valley to the far end at Kjenndalen. From here, take a short stroll up to a view point of the Kjenndalen glacier in the distance - an arm of the mighty Jostedalsbreen glacier - the largest glacier on mainland-Europe.
Walk back to the bus and drive back towards Loen. Leaving the buses, board the new cable car (inaugurated 2017) taking you up to mount Hoven, 1011 metres above the sea – around 200 metres above the tree line in this part of Norway.
Enjoy a coffee-break and spectacular views of the fjord and villages below as well as the surrounding mountain scenery. During your stay at Hoven, you have the possibility to enjoy a short walk to soak up the scenery around you.
After some time at leisure, return by cable car to Loen where your bus will be waiting for you to bring you back to the pier in Olden.
Price range:
Find out more
€€€€: the excursion price is more than €150.
The price of the excursion will be available approximately two months prior to the cruise departure.
The complete programme of excursions, including up-to-date prices, will be provided with the Travel book that you will receive before the departure of your cruise.
PONANT also allows you to pre-book your excursions approximately two months prior to the cruise* departure. Billing is done on board.
*Excluding Expedition cruises.