7 Night Viking Shores and Fjords Cruise from Amsterdam

Embark your ship in Amsterdam, city of charming canals, elegant gabled houses, and Dutch painting masters. This elegant city was born from the Dutch Golden Age, when merchants fed their coffers from the Indonesian spice trade and commissioned great works of art. Settle in and explore your ship, perhaps enjoying lunch at the World Cafe or stretching your legs after your walk along the ship's Sun Deck.

Cruise the North Sea today. Vikings sailed these waters to establish colonies on Scottish islands, coastal France, and beyond. In medieval days, the North Sea became a busy thoroughfare for trade as goods were exchanged between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, with the powerful Hanseatic League controlling much of the traffic. As you sail, you might find your inner calm with yoga on the Sports Deck. Lounge by the Main Pool with its retractable roof and enjoy a cocktail at the Aquavit Bar.

Discover one of the Baltic's most romantic ports today when you visit Skagen at the northernmost point of Denmark's peninsular mainland, Jutland. This charming old fishing village, nestled amid pristine dunes, picturesque moors, and long sand beaches, prospered on the herring trade in its early days. The small town, inspiration to generations of artists, is best explored on foot, so you will accompany a local guide past colorful wooden houses on the waterfront and admire traditional fishing boats in the harbor. During a visit to the Coastal Museum, sample some herring and a glass of aquavit.

Discover the cultural riches of Norway's sophisticated capital today. Oslo enjoys a stunning setting at the northern tip of the Oslofjord and boasts a rich history and cosmopolitan flair. See the once-mighty fortress of Akershus, the splendid Royal Palace and more before enjoying a leisurely stroll through the city's famous Vigeland Park, a breathtaking collection of 212 stone and bronze sculptures that depict the cycle of human life.

Call on Kristiansand today, a charming small city near the tip of Sorlandet, Norway's southland. Its strategic location on the Skagerrak strait long made it both a military stronghold and the royal residence of Harald Fairhair, the first King of Norway. Discover this remarkable city during a panoramic drive, featuring the impressive 17th-century Christiansholm Fortress, the fish market at Fiskebrygga wharf, the Old Town with its picturesque wooden houses, and the splendid Neo-Gothic cathedral. Alternately, you can visit its fascinating Kristiansand Cannon Museum, a remarkable collection of coastal artillery.

From the heart of the Old Town, where your ship berths, you will have the morning and early afternoon to explore. Start here in the old quarter, Gamle Stavanger, which has Europe's highest concentration of wooden buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Or, consider a cruise along the Lysefjord to see the famous Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, jutting out nearly 2,000 feet above-it is one of Norway's most famous natural attractions. Offshore oil drilling is an important industry for the local economy, and the award-winning Norwegian Petroleum Museum tells the story of the dangers faced in extracting this precious natural resource. While ashore, don't forget to indulge in waffles with cream and sweet jams with a steaming cup of hot tea.

Through breathtaking fjords your ship glides into the village of Flam. Spend the day soaking up majestic views-from Vassbygdevatnet lake to picturesque Vassbygdi and Aurland. Board the famous Flam Railway for a train ride that climbs nearly 3,000 feet. Stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall and at the Molstertunet open-air museum in Voss. Lunch on the famed Hotel Stalheim's veranda, and gaze at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naeroyfjord.

Awake in Bergen, where you will be departing your ship. If you wish, you may explore more with Viking: Stay on in this fascinating old mercantile city, visit Norway's cosmopolitan capital of Oslo, or journey to Iceland.