Venture, Inaugural Northern Isles & Viking Homeland ex Greenwich to Tromso

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12 Night Cruise sailing from Greenwich to Tromso aboard Seabourn Venture.

12 Night Cruise sailing from Greenwich to Tromso aboard Seabourn Venture.

The beautiful Outer British Isles teem with breeding seabirds in summer, and Norway’s fjord-cut coast is alive with whales, seals and cheery, ancient towns bright with flowers.

Highlights of this cruise:

Greenwich
A clever floating mooring near the Greenwich Naval Observatory provides your Seabourn ship its proximity to London. One of the world's premier cities.

Kirkwall
The Orkney Archipelago is a group of barren, treeless islands lying off northern Scotland. Strong winds sweep over its rugged wave-beaten coastline. They are typified by tall sandstone cliffs, moss-covered, metamorphic rocks, low-growing bushes and a carpet of plants, which cover the ground in a tapestry of emerald green. The largest town and the capital of Orkney is Kirkwall. It is an ancient Norse town, founded by Earl Rognvald Brusason who built his kingdom here. Early farmers first arrived on these shores over 5,000 years ago, and ancient remains from the Neolithic period pepper the landscape. The cultural significance of a number of these led to an extensive area being designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. It was named ‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney.’

One of the town’s prominent landmarks is St Magnus Cathedral. Constructed of beautiful red and yellow sandstone, it towers over the rest of the town’s buildings. 10:02 AMhe seaside Main Street twists through town, inviting everyone to explore its shops, cafes and little alleyways.

Bergen
Stunningly beautiful Bergen is the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life, and is also the gateway to Norway’s fjords. Since King Olav Kyrre founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all over the world. The city's history has been marked by numerous great fires, and what remains of the Bryggen, its old inner harbor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the colorful setting for one of Norway’s most popular postcard views.

Bergen is a cultural melting pot, with concerts, international festivals and museums of all kinds. The renowned Hanseatic Museum and Gamlehaugen Mansion, the residence of the Norwegian Royal Family, are two of the many highlights. Den Nationale Scene Theater is one of the oldest in Norway, while beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, built by King Olav Kyrre in 1066, has been the site of numerous royal coronations and burials. The Bergenhus fortress, built in 1240, is situated at the harbor entrance and is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone fortifications in Norway.

Tromso
Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the ninth most populous municipality in the country. It surprises visitors with its sophisticated art scene, its contrasting modern and historical architecture, international cuisine, multicultural events, and festivals throughout the year.

Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is within the land of the midnight sun during summer months and the elusive northern lights in winter. However, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the sea doesn’t freeze here in winter, and there is no permafrost in the vicinity. Tromsø is noticeably milder than other towns at the same latitudes in other parts of the world.

Tromsø is also ‘The City of Explorers’ and has seen a number of expeditions set off from its shores to the probe the polar realm. Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited men in the city. Nowadays home to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø continues a tradition of being one of the key centers in explorations of the Arctic.