Northern countries Cruise - from Bremerhaven - 111798

Bremerhaven, an administrative district in its own right in the federal state of Bremen, lies to the North of Bremen, on the lower Weser. Founded in 1827, the first regular connection between America and Europe set out from Bremerhaven in 1847. In 1938, Bremerhaven was amalgamated with the town of Wesermünde. In 1947, Wesermünde was re-named Bremerhaven, forming the federal state of Bremen. Sights include: the Atlanticum, the German Shipping Museum, the Historical Museum, the Kunsthalle Bremerhaven, the harbour museum, the museum ships the "Wal", the "Gera" and "Goliath", the fishing harbour, the "Wilhelm Bauer" submarine and the zoo.

The Norwegian town of Flåm lies by the new main road, which is open all year round and connects eastern and western Norway. The port has excellent train, bus and ferry services to Oslo, Voss und Bergen. The picturesque town lies in the valley of a magnificent mountain landscape. Attractions in the surrounding area include the popular bicycle route "Rallarvegen", Flam railway and the Flam railway museum. The railway site is surrounded by a large number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. During the summer months, there is a bus to take tourists from Flam to the main attractions.

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.

Norway's fourth-largest city grew important through herring fishing. At the beginning of the 20th century it was also home to the largest canned foods industry in the world. Today, Norway's oil capital is characterised by a mixture of Nordic rustic charm and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, which visitors can experience during a visit to the fish market in particular. Since the city has been spared any fires, entire districts with the original old wooden houses have been preserved. Almost 200 of these restored white wooden buildings in narrow steep cobbled streets with gas laterns in the Gamle Stavanger area are a reminder of the time of the city's founding. Sights include: Canning Industry Museum, the Maritime Museum, Utstein monastery, Lysefjord, Romanesque-gothic cathedral.

The port of Esbjerg lies at the most northerly corner of the Wadden Sea. Because Esbjerg was founded at the time of industrialisation, the town was built in the style of Historicism. Some impressive buildings from this era can still be seen today on a stroll through the town, for example the train station and the building at the market place. The house in which the tourist office is located dates from 1900. The staircase gable of the post office is in stark contrast to the bank (Torvet 20). A glance inside the churches, meanwhile, shows the modern architecture of the last few decades. Today, this young port and industrial city, with a population of 80,000, is the Danish centre of "off-shore" activities in the North Sea. For those who rise early, Esbjerg holds a fish auction in the huge fish hall at the quay. Another sight worth visiting is the Fishing and Maritime Museum, which has an aquarium for seals. For beach holidaymakers, Esbjerg acts as a stepping stone to the island of Fanø.

Bremerhaven, an administrative district in its own right in the federal state of Bremen, lies to the North of Bremen, on the lower Weser. Founded in 1827, the first regular connection between America and Europe set out from Bremerhaven in 1847. In 1938, Bremerhaven was amalgamated with the town of Wesermünde. In 1947, Wesermünde was re-named Bremerhaven, forming the federal state of Bremen. Sights include: the Atlanticum, the German Shipping Museum, the Historical Museum, the Kunsthalle Bremerhaven, the harbour museum, the museum ships the "Wal", the "Gera" and "Goliath", the fishing harbour, the "Wilhelm Bauer" submarine and the zoo.