The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

A visit to Stavanger is like a step back in time, with its rich landscape, enchanting fjords and wonderful mixture of old against new. Littered with 19-century buildings, its beautiful old quarter is the perfect place to transport yourself back in time to the historic days of prosperity. Situated in the heart of the city is Stavanger’s 12th century cathedral, the only church to have retained all its original features since its construction in the Middle Ages. Discover Pulpit Rock, hanging 1,800 feet above the Lysefjord below – when you step out to admire the views, you’ll feel on top of the world.

The peaceful village of Olden has the perfect Fjordland cruise setting – nestling at the southern end of one branch of the beautiful Nordfjord and at the entrance to the gorgeous Oldedalen Valley. A lake in the valley has been turned a rich, deep green by the river pouring down the mountains from the vast, million-years-old Briksdal Glacier. Giant waterfalls also cascade down making the views even more spectacular as you travel through the valley to the foot of the glacier – one of the offshoots of the vast Jostedal Glacier now designated as a national park. Other tours head overland to the inner Nordfjord area with its wind-blown rocks, towering mountains and verdant valleys. Also in the area are folk and glacier museums, a skiing centre on the glacier plateau and northern Europe’s deepest lake – Hornindalsvatnet.

Nearby Geiranger might be more widely known, but the UNESCO World Heritage listed village of Hellesylt seems determined not to be overshadowed by its more famous neighbour. Surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks and with a spectacular roaring waterfall cascading through the centre of the village and directly into the fjord, the former Viking settlement is every inch the quintessential Norwegian fjord town. The slogan of the Norwegian Tourist Board; “Powered by Nature”, could have been created with Hellesylt in mind, and the village offers ample opportunity to revel in the great outdoors. Enjoy the majestic scenery at your own pace; it’s easy to get up close and personal with the beauty and wildlife of the Sunnylvsfjorden simply by stepping ashore to explore. History buffs should make Sunnylven church their first port of call; this wooden parish church was constructed in its current incarnation in 1859, although the origins of the church date back to at least 1150.

It is just nine miles long but the snaking Geirangerfjord is the most photographed of all Norways fjords because of the sheer beauty of its setting. As you cruise along to the ships anchorage off Geiranger cruise port, just marvel at the views as spectacular waterfalls with evocative names like Bridal Veil and The Seven Sisters cascade down from the steep rocky peaks that overlook the fjord from both sides. Geiranger welcomed its first cruise ship (carrying a group of Quakers from Scotland) in 1869 and its appeal for visitors has hardly changed since then. It is still just a small village resort which simply makes the ideal base for walking, boating, or motoring tours into a surrounding area full of natural beauty and magnificent scenery with snow-capped mountains, verdant valleys, plunging waterfalls and age-old glaciers. There are superb views from the Dalsnibban mountain plateau overlooking the fjord.

Storfjorden, Norway

Haugesund, homeland of the Viking kings and birthplace of Norway, is a place where you can inhale the Viking spirit. Surrounded by beautiful coastline, spectacular waterfalls and majestic fjords it’s no wonder the kings called this extraordinary setting home. Populated for thousands of years, you can walk in the footsteps of the great kings at the Nordvegen History Centre and travel back over 3,500 years. St Olav’s Church, dating from 1250 AD, is a monument to the former days of glory, and next to the church stands one of Norway’s tallest pillars, Virgin Mary’s Sewing Needle. In nearby Rehaugene you can explore the ‘Pyramids of the North’ – six intriguing Bronze Age, earthen burial mounds. And if you are feeling like a spot of retail therapy, you’re in luck – not only is Haugesund filled with charming markets it’s also home to Norway’s longest pedestrian street.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.