Feb 4 - Feb 18, 2024
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DATES & PRICES
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DATES & PRICES
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Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon: After checking in to the hotel we’ll have some time to relax and settle in before our Orientation meeting at 6:00 p.m. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to lectures and field trips exclusively for our Road Scholar group, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. Whenever possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times (subject to change by the cruise line). This may mean that free time in port is limited. Regardless of the time in port, Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program. All routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and sea conditions could affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and/or miss ports if it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Minimal walking.
Breakfast: At the hotel
Morning: Today we will enjoy an expert-led field trip in and around Bergen by motorcoach. We will first visit Fantoft Stave Church, a wooden church constructed in medieval Norway’s distinctive stave style in the 12th century. The church was originally located in the village of Fortun, more than 100 miles from its present location; it was saved from demolition in the late 19th century, when maintenance of the ancient building had become too expensive for the villagers, and relocated to Fantoft farm. We’ll then ride through town to Mount Fløyen to take a funicular to the top for beautiful views of the city and harbor.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will transfer by motorcoach to the ship for embarkation. A safety drill will take place prior to boarding the ship. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy shipboard activities.
Dinner: In the dining room aboard ship, we will enjoy a 3-course meal, with a choice of starter, regional favorites for a main course, dessert, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure. The ship has lounges, a bar, and a gift shop. There may be music, other entertainment, or a guest speaker on one or more evenings. There are observation decks inside for viewing the scenery and landscape of the Norwegian coast as well as the night sky. Our astronomy expert will point out constellations and search for the Northern Lights.
Activity note: Walking approximately 2 hours. Wear hiking shoes and warm, windproof clothing.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Free Time to enjoy the amenities & activities onboard. We will also be able to attend occasional lectures during free time aboard the ship to expand upon our astronomical observations; exact timings will be decided based on what we have observed. The ship is scheduled to arrive in port in Alesund at approximately 12:00 Noon.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We will arrive in Alesund and disembark to experience the Art Nouveau beauty of this town’s architecture, sitting on seven islands. We’ll walk the town and learn from a local expert, passing through the fishing port of Brosundet and the square. We’ll also visit Jugendstilsenteret, the National Center for Art Nouveau, offering multimedia presentations, original interiors, and more. We’ll then return to the ship on foot.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking approximately 3 miles (5 km).
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll step ashore to explore Trondheim, Norway’s original capital founded around 997 by King Olav Tryggvason. It is today a modern city with charming remnants of its small town past. We’ll learn about the city and its many features by a local expert as the motorcoach takes us through streets and boroughs, including a short stop at Utsikten (The View) to admire the city from a high elevation. We’ll then proceed to the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial place of St. Olav, where we’ll consider the gothic architecture of its exterior as we walk through the grounds. We’ll return to the ship at the conclusion of our outing.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities & activities onboard.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Tonight’s special excursion will replace the dinner on the ship and lasts 3 hours. Warm clothing and comfortable shoes highly recommended.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today is the day we pass into the Arctic Circle, celebrating with our cruise’s traditional Arctic Circle “baptism” on deck.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: After crossing the Arctic Circle, the ship will continue to the modern town of Bodo for a brief stop to explore the town on our own. Then, after passing through the Vestfjord, we will be amidst the Lofoten Islands and the capital of Svolvaer. We will gather at an appointed time and place for our ride to dinner.
Dinner: At the museum.
Evening: We will transfer via motorcoach to the Lofotr Viking Museum, a recreation of the largest Viking building ever found. The original chieftain’s house was established c. 500 C.E. and was inhabited until about 900 C.E. This reconstructed version exhibits an array of finds from this era. We’ll take a journey more than 1,000 years back in time with live performances by local actors. The chieftain and lady of the house will invite us to join them for a real Viking feast in the banquet hall, complete with home-brewed mead. During winter, the Vikings made a sacrifice to ensure the return of the sun and the light. We’ll experience the magic and excitement as they make a sacrifice to the Gods, praying that the sun will return and to avoid “Ragnarok” — the end of the world. The Viking chieftain’s house offers a perfect outdoor arena for watching the wonder of the northern lights that may be flickering.
Activity note: Walking along the dockside from the ship to the Polar Museum. Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll gather for a lecture on astronomy from our onboard expert.
Lunch: Aboard ship
Afternoon: Tromsø has been the starting point of many polar expeditions, lending it the epithet "Gateway to the Arctic." This afternoon we'll visit the Arctic University Museum of Norway, where we’ll learn more about life in Arctic Norway through the ages on a field trip led by a local expert. Permanent exhibitions focus on subjects including wildlife, geology, archaeology of the Viking era, and nomadic Sami culture.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Today’s exploration is approximately 3 hours. Wear warm, windproof clothing and comfortable shoes. Minimal walking.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll have an early call at Hammerfest, one of the northernmost towns in the world. The ship will then proceed to Honningsvåg, gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We’ll set out on an expert-led field trip by motorcoach from Honningsvåg to the North Cape, the northernmost point on the European continent, passing through vast frozen plains, shores, and mountains. The North Cape plateau rises more than 1,000 feet in a steep cliff from the Arctic Ocean. A sculpture of the globe has become a symbol of the North Cape and a popular site for pictures. We will also visit the North Cape Hall, a modern visitor center, and watch a panoramic film about the area and its seasonal changes. We will then return to the ship.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Today’s adventure by motorcoach is approximately 2 hours. Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll set out via motorcoach led by a local expert and ride to Kirkenes, where East literally meets West on the Russian border. Kirkenes represents the turning point of our voyage. We’ll start with a short ride through the town before we reach a surprisingly fertile landscape. Next, we’ll stop at Skafferhullet, the historical crossing point on the border between Norway and Russia, then proceed to Storskog, the border station between Norway and Russia. We are not permitted to cross the border, but can take pictures. We’ll be able to see the Russian community of Boris Gleb. From here we’ll travel through the small mining community of Bjørnevatn before reaching Pasvikdalen, an imposing green landscape with Norway’s largest brown bear population. En route back to Kirkenes we’ll stop at the impressive Prestfjellet Mountain that overlooks both the town and our waiting ship.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We’ll gather onboard for a session on astronomy.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: There is a fairly steep slope up to the Arctic Cathedral which may be icy.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The ship will make brief stops in several towns along the way to Tromso, during this time, we will have free time to enjoy the amenities & activities on board.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities & activities on board, the ship is scheduled to arrive Tromso just before midnight.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: We’ll board a motorcoach in Tromsø and ride up to attend a midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral. With its exquisite glass mosaic window, the cathedral is a memorable experience.
Activity note: Today’s day trip is over 4 hours.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we will pass through the Lofoten Islands and its intricate web of inlets and isles. We’ll encounter history and breathtaking landscapes of fjords and mountains sights as we begin a motorcoach ride through the streets of Harstad. We’ll move on to the Trondenes peninsula and visit the world’s northernmost medieval church on the shores of Laugen Lake, with an organ from 1790. Afterwards, we’ll ride across to Hinnøya Island – Norway’s largest – then cross the Gullesfjord by ferry, where refreshments will be available for purchase, to Sortland across the Sigerfjord in another ferry.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the amenities & activities on board.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Full day on board.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: We’ll cross the Arctic Circle and sail past the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters overlooking the shipping channel as we enter a world of legends and folklore.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We’ll gather with one of our experts for a lecture on astronomy and the Northern Lights.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Minimal walking.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Free time in Trondheim.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We’ll gather for another lecture on astronomy.
Dinner: In our reserved section of the dining room aboard ship, we’ll have our last dinner together of the study cruise.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Minimal walking.
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: The ship will make its final leg of the journey back to Bergen where our study cruise originated.
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: We’ll complete disembarkation procedures and transfer to our hotel by motorcoach. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 9:00 a.m. See your program's travel information regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!