7 1 Culture meets nature in Oslo Viking history can also be experienced in Norway’s capital Oslo, where guests can see some of the world’s bestpreserved Viking vessels at the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy Peninsula, learn about Viking beer at The Beer Academy or head to Viking Planet, a museum that resurrects Viking life via interactive screens and virtual reality technology. Norway’s extensive maritime heritage and the exploits of past explorers and polar researchers can be experienced at the Kon-Tiki Museum, Norwegian Maritime Museum and Fram Museum. Oslo has an abundance of museums, outdoor sculpture parks, art galleries, an iconic opera house and easy access to both the Oslofjord and Europe’s largest urban forest. Here, guests can try traditional Norwegian pursuits such as river fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and wild swimming, kayaking, or tour on RIBs, helicopters and seaplanes. Other excursions take cruise guests to the royal palace and park, Akershus Fortress, Rose Castle, the lively Aker Brygge wharf, Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Ski Museum, and Korketrekkeren toboggan run, or to sample Norway’s culinary scene at local bars and restaurants. Oslo’s four cruise quays – Filipstad, Søndre Akershuskai, Vippetangkaia and Revierkaia – are in the town centre and the city is an ideal stop on any Norwegian fjords, Northern European or Baltic Sea itinerary. Itinerary planning With so much on offer, it can be challenging for cruise operators to choose their itineraries. Cruise Norway and Cruise Baltic have created a new Itinerary Planner tool to help plan routes in both Norway and the Baltic Sea region. “Cruise lines can use the tool to create a draft of their preferred itinerary and check the availability of berths during the selected time frame, helping them to avoid congestion and quickly adjust their route if specific ports are fully booked,” says Inge Tangerås, managing director of Cruise Norway. “It makes it easier for cruise lines to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances we live in and ensure their guests experience the best of everything our beautiful country has to offer.” CFIP TAK ING T IME OUT IN TRØNDEL AG The city of Trondheim in the Trøndelag region has two cruise berths and a well-deserved reputation as Norway’s food capital. It has three Michelinstarred restaurants and the wider region’s economy is primarily based on food production, with sustainable farming methods delivering fresh, highquality seafood, meat, vegetables and beverages to locals and tourists. This commitment, and the region’s innovative culinary scene, led to Trøndelag being named the European Region of Gastronomy for 2022. While in Trondheim, cruise guests can visit the Archbishop’s Palace and Nidaros Cathedral, learn about salmon farming at the SeeSalmon Science Centre and on the nearby islands of Hitra and Frøya, or explore Norway’s music history at both Ringve Music Museum and Rockheim – the National Museum of Popular Music. Other highlights include bicycle tours and the opportunity to try the world’s only bicycle lift, a trip down the river Nidelva in a kayak or a traditional Viking Åfjordsboat, and hiking along the Trondheimsfjord. “Trondheim has everything you expect from a big, lively city, but still has the welcoming atmosphere of a small town,” says Maria Kühnl Undheim, cruise marketing manager at Trondheim Port Authority. “The flat city centre is easily accessible to everyone, and visitors can discover a variety of cultural, historical and active shore excursions.” It is perhaps the warmth of locals that makes cruise calls particularly memorable. “Locals are known for their hospitality,” says Kühnl Undheim. “Cruise guests are welcomed by locals handing out city maps at every call.” Photo: Marit Vetaas Karlsen Nidaros Cathedral is the world’s northernmost gothic cathedral Cruise guests can stop to admire the view at multiple points along the Atlantic Ocean Road “ Cruise Norway promotes the country as “the world’s ultimate nature-based cruise destination””
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