Norway’s coast may run 1,650 miles in length, but taking the country's countless fjords and islands into account, the actual shoreline adds up to some 62,000 miles. Upon its May christening in Amsterdam, Swan Hellenic’s new SH Diana expedition ship sailed north on a 10-night Norway Explored voyage to go deeper into those fjords than most ships can manage and explore some of the lesser visited spots in this Nordic geological wonder.
As always, sea conditions dictate safety, and right upon its launch the Diana faced 24 hours of rough North Sea waters, forcing cancellation of a planned stop at Heligoland, a square-mile German island that is an important migratory bird stop, and is known for its odd 150-foot-high sandstone sea stack and for its role in WWII operations.
Instead, Diana headed straight to the town of Mandal which lies just west of Norway’s most southern point. At a curve on the mouth of the Mandal River, the town developed as an important timber, shipbuilding and salmon center. Today a huge orange ball of a sculpture that suggests a salmon egg sits in the river just off a graceful pedestrian bridge.
A local guide led Diana passengers up the hill for views of the postcard-perfect town and then through its narrow streets below that are lined with old white-washed wooden houses, with many in the pedestrianized center having been turned into shops and cafes.
An enormous early-19th-century merchant house is now the Mandal Museum whose summer exhibits focus on the town’s fishing past. A number of prominent Norwegian artists came from here, including brothers Gustav and Emanuel Vigeland whose childhood home is part of the museum as well.
In ten days of darting between open sea and into the deep fjords that twist and turn past plunging mountain slopes, the Diana would encounter hardly another ship. As always within Norway’s fjords, lucky passengers might spot individuals or pods of humpback whales breaching. Both harbour porpoises and Atlantic white-sided dolphins cruise the waters on occasion as well.
South of the popular city of Bergen and branching some 111 miles inland, Hardangerfjord is Norway’s second longest fjord. The town of Ulvik lying at the end of a northern branch is dotted with orchards and has a lovely small mid-19th-century church surrounded by a cemetery, and whose interior is filled with traditional rosemåling, or rose painting. In the lobby of the Brakanes Hotel—in front of which Diana tenders docked—a fine example of a rose trunk is on display, which most anyone of Norwegian descent will recognize as those used by their ancestors to bring family belongings to America. An optional bus excursion followed a switchback road way above town and up to the 450-foot-high Espeland Falls.
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You can’t escape the orange. That’s what travelers this summer have been reckoning with — swaths of tangerine, traffic cone and burnt sienna on maps indicating record high temperatures around the globe. Four concurrent heat domes from the southern United States to East Asia descended on millions — Phoenix residents enduring 31 days of 110-degree-plus temperatures. Italians in more than a dozen cities under extreme weather warnings. And in South Korea, at least 125 people were hospitalized for heat-related conditions at the World Scout Jamboree.
Upon its christening in May, Swan Hellenic’s new SH Dianasailed north from Amsterdam to explore some of the lesser visited spots along Norway’s seemingly endless coast. Thanks to the expedition ship’s small-size, its 10-night Norway Explored voyage went deeper into fjords than most cruise ships can manage (the first leg of the voyage is covered in this post).
Why is the Essex coast so underrated? Close to London, and arguably as pretty as any other, is it because there’s something unchanging about it – perhaps even conventional? And yet stepping off the train at Shoeburyness – the last stop on the capital to coast railway from Fenchurch Street – feels gently discombobulating.
Royal Caribbean already operates the world’s largest cruise ship—Wonder of the Seas—but next January it will break that record with Icon of the Seas, which boasts 2,805 staterooms (including more than 1,800 with balconies) and 179 suites. Nearly 1,200 feet long, Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and features a 55-foot-waterfall, multiple pools and waterparks and a “chill island” and a “thrill island”—depending on a passenger’s vibe.
The vote is in, but cruises to Amsterdam are not yet out: After Amsterdam’s City Council voted in favor of banning cruise ships from the city center on July 20, the future of voyages docking in the heart of Amsterdam still remains unclear.
Ever dreamed of packing up everything and moving to another country? Here are the most livable cities in the world, according to a study by The Economist.
A recent report released from travel marketing engine Sojern, analyzed travel trends from January 2015 to April 2016 and found the top international destinations for U.S. travelers as well as the top emerging and declining international spots.
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
I don’t suppose that most travelers choose their trip destinations based on a country’s happiness index. On the other hand, if they knew that Country A scored near the top of the happiness index and Country B scored near the bottom, it seems probable they’d be inclined to book their flights to Country A. Who wants to spend their vacation among unhappy people?
AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).
In stressful times like this global pandemic, it’s easy to get caught up in fear, confusion, and the never-ending news cycle. But perhaps the best way to escape it all is to mentally dive into a good vacation. Researching your dream trip of choice is a helpful reminder that the world will go back to normal again—and when it does, you’ll have a decisive plan of action for a trip you’re excited to take. Whether it’s a new type of travel for you (sailing, hiking, train itineraries, or road tripping) or a destination you’re unfamiliar with, now’s the time to tackle all your wildest travel ambitions.
For the sixth year in a row, Finland has claimed the top spot in the World Happiness Report. The annual report, compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, surveys residents in over 150 countries to determine which nations are the happiest.