Northern countries Cruise - from Warnemünde - 111733

Bergen is one of the most charming cities in Norway, not least due to its unique setting between seven hills. With a population of 218,000 it is the second-largest city in the country and the capital of "Fylke Hordaland". The town of Bergen was granted the city charter in 1070 by Bishop Olav Kyrre. Not that long after, in 1217, King Hakon IV. declared the town to the Norwegian seat of government. Today, the oldest and most famous wooden houses of the city are at the "Bryggen", the former dock of the Hanseatic League. These unique buildings were among four properties in Norway to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Sights include: the Hanseatic museum, the Bryggen Museum, Bergenshus fort, St. Mary's Church and the Leprosy Museum, and the aquarium.

This town in the West of Norway lies at the eastern end of Geirangerfjord, known for its deep gullies and high mountains. The harbour town boasts a large number of small hotels. Sights include: the observation points "Flydalsjuvet" and "Dalsnibba", the "Bride's Veil", "Friaren" and "the seven sisters" waterfalls, the geological park, the church, the "Fjord Experience Centre" which provides information about the history of the area, and the 'royal' farmstead "Skageflå".

The Norwegian town of Hellesylt lies by the Storfjord (Sunnylvsfjord), direct at the opening of the huge Geirangerfjord. The wild Norang valley with its famous mountains "Slogen", "Smorskredtind", "Skruven", and "Kvitegga" is directly nearby. Just 200 m from the ferry quay the powerful Hellesylter waterfall surges over countless huge rocks. Here, visitors can also enjoy watching the sweet little white-throated dippers diving into the water.

The port of Ålesund, which stretches across three islands, was reconstructed after the great fire of 1904 with Art Nouveau architecture. The best view of the city and the skerries before the coast is to be had from the observation hill "Aksla", which can be reached on foot via 418 steps or - the more comfortable option - by car. The panorama restaurant "Fjellstua" is located here. The Ålesund Museum provides an insight into the city's history. At Atlanterhavs Park, visitors can marvel at the creatures that inhabit the Atlantic in a huge sea water aquarium. Around 4 km to the east of the city centre is the Sunnmøre Museum which has various sections. The Medieval Museum gives an idea of what daily life was like at that time and there is also an outdoor museum and a maritime exhibition with old fishing boots and reconstructed Viking ships. The popular trip to the bird island "Runde", to the South-West of Ålesund, provides a very special natural phenomenon.

Kiel is the regional capital of Schleswig-Holstein. In this shipyard and maritime town steeped in tradition visitors can take a walk in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air while still having all the amenities of a city close at hand. This combination of closeness to nature and city life gives the residents of Kiel a special attitude to life. With a population of 250,000 Kiel is the cultural and economic centre of the region. Those living in the surrounding area come to Kiel specially to enjoy the varied cultural life with opera and theatre performances, concert halls, a children and youth theatre, museums, exhibitions, free cultural facilities and trendy clubs and eateries. Kiel's signature event is the annual 'Kieler Woche' - the largest sailing festival in the world!