Oslo

Departing from the base of the Akershus Castle and Fortress, your guide will provide an interesting commentary as you pass the modern landmarks of the City Hall, Parliament, National Theatre, the Royal Residence and up to the Holmenkollen Hills, for excellent views over parts of the city and the Oslofjord.

A stop will be made at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, for an interesting guided walk around the fascinating ‘wonder-world’ of human figures in stone, iron and bronze. The artist, Gustav Vigeland, never explained these works, leaving the interpretation to each beholder.

Leaving the Park, you will head towards the peninsula of Bygdøy, for a visit to the Viking Ship Museum. Here you will see the incredible craftsmanship of Viking ships. The ‘Gokstad’ is a classic Viking ship, while the ‘Oseberg’, which was dug out in 1904, is richly adorned and was probably used as a pleasure boat. The Museum holds a collection of sleds, implements and gold and silver jewellery found with the ships.

Afterwards, travel past the pleasure boat harbour and glimpse the charming, little castle ‘Oscarshall’, built in the 19th century by the Swedish-Norwegian King, Oscar I.

Oslo, with its superb location, offers unique opportunities on and around its fjord which stretches almost into the city centre. Discover the Oslofjord scenery on a traditional wooden boat, fully restored to its former glory. You’ll sail past numerous islands, including Hovedøya and the Dyna Lighthouse, through narrow inlets and into sheltered bays so that you can capture the capital on camera from different angles.

The boat passes close to the peninsula of Bygdøy, housing many interesting museums as well as beaches such as Huk Bay. See the Maritime Museum with its veteran sailing ships moored outside, and the impressive Fram Museum, housing the polar ship of the same name.

As you sail past the interesting sights enjoy a refreshing drink and help yourself to a delicious Norwegian fresh shrimp buffet.

Cradled between forest-clad hills with a number of islands spread out in the fjord, Oslo is a vibrant city centred around a harbour and guarded by a castle. This is an eclectic place of traditional timber houses, stately Neoclassical buildings and the latest in modern architecture.

In 1624, the town was completely destroyed by fire and King Christian IV decided to rebuild the city under the walls of the fortress of Akershus. Your walking tour starts here, passing the statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the modern landmark of the City Hall.

Take a closer look at the National Theatre and the Royal Palace, before turning down the main street, Karl Johan and passing the University of Oslo and the Ibsen Museum. Visit the Nobel Peace Centre, inaugurated in 2005, whose mission is to keep the spirit of Alfred Nobel’s last will and testament alive.

As you travel to Bygdøy, you’ll pass some of Oslo’s landmarks including the City Hall, National Theatre and Royal Residence. Bygdøy, once the King's private property, is now partly laid out as a museum area, you’ll stop here for a guided visit to 3 interesting museums; Viking Ship, Kon-Tiki and Fram.

The Viking Ship Museum contains well preserved Viking ships, which are an example of the Viking period's daring initiative and ship building craftsmanship. The museum also houses a collection of household implements found during the excavations of the ships and a Viking Age display which includes sledges, beds, a horse cart, wood carvings, buckets and other artifacts.

The Kon-Tiki Museum houses original boats and exhibits from Thor Heyerdahl’s world famous expeditions to Ra, Tigris, Fatu-Hiva, Kon-Tiki, and Easter Island. It also has a 100 foot cave tour, cinema and an underwater exhibition containing a life-size 33 foot whale shark.

The Fram Museum shows the history of the polar explorers, including Nansen's journey across the Polar ocean, Sverdrup's expedition to Greenland and Amundsens journey to the South Pole. There are exhibits displaying animals from the Polar region and the world’s most famous polar ship, the Fram, built in 1892. The Fram is in its original condition with its interior and objects perfectly preserved.

Your leisurely drive will take you past the 13th century Akershus Fortress, which is part museum and part military area, before turning towards the City Hall. The City Hall, inaugurated in 1950 at Oslo's 900 year jubilee, hosts the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every year and is one of Oslo’s most famous buildings after its expressionist architecture won it the ‘Structure of the Century’ title in 2005. You’ll pass the eclectic Parliament of Norway building before proceeding down Karl Johan Street, named after the 19th century Swedish-Norwegian king, towards the prestigious University of Oslo, which was established in 1811.

View the impressive Royal Palace, built in 1849, which is the residence of the Royal Family. Carry on past the granite and wrought iron gates of the Vigeland Sculpture Park and begin the climb up Holmenkollen Hill. Perched high above Oslo, Holmenkollen is the cradle of ski jumping and the site of the 1952 Olympic ski jumping competition. On clear days, there are impressive views to parts of the town and the Oslofjord with its many islands.

Returning towards the town centre, drive down the busy ‘Bogstad-veien’ with its many shops, and continue along the Royal Park passing the House of Artists, and down to ‘Stortorget’ - the big market square, where you also find the Dutch baroque architecture of Oslo Cathedral, built in 1697, before returning to the port.

As you stroll past historical buildings, cosy cafés and art galleries, your knowledgeable guide will provide an interesting commentary of the history of Oslo.

On arrival at ‘Stortorget’, the big market square, you’ll see the dramatic Oslo Cathedral and the statue of King Christian IV, pointing to where the town should be rebuilt. Heading along Karl Johans Gate, you’ll pass the Parliament of Norway and the original University of Oslo buildings from 1811, before reaching the Royal Palace. Finally, you’ll stroll towards the City Hall with its 2 impressive towers and a building adorned with statues and artwork of various kind.

The highlight is a visit to ‘Icebar Oslo’, where you’ll be provided with warm clothing before entering the -5°C bar. Everything including the walls, bar counter, furniture and artwork is made from 60 tons of solid ice sourced from the Torne River in Lapland. Enjoy a drink served in an ice glass while you view the ice art in this unique surrounding, before taking a leisurely walk back to the port.

Explore the small picturesque town of Drøbak, with its narrow streets and beautifully restored 18th century wooden houses. Local law protects Drøbak, due to its significant cultural value, therefore much of the city centre looks like it did 100 years ago.

Feel the festive cheer of this decorated town as you visit the Christmas House and Drøbak Post Office. The Christmas House has a range of Christmas articles such as candles, tablecloths, angels, dolls, decorations etc. The Post Office is said to be Santa’s personal post office, and as a result they receive thousands of Christmas letters from all over the world.

Drøbak also contains art galleries, small shops, a saltwater aquarium, museums and a quaint market square to occupy your time. If you want a more leisurely afternoon then you can sit back and absorb the local atmosphere over a coffee and waffle in one of the restaurants or enjoy the lovely views over the Oslofjord.

Before you leave don’t forget to post your Christmas cards so they can be stamped with Drøbak’s official Christmas postmark. Enjoy a short orientation of Oslo before returning to the ship.