Cruise description

29 Night Cruise sailing from Tilbury to London aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stay pre-cruise in London.

29 Night Cruise sailing from Tilbury to London aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stay pre-cruise in London.

Combining a maiden cruise to the fjords of the Norway with the most remote destination in our calendar, Iceland, this grand cruise is the perfect synthesis of Scandinavian history and natural magnificence, beginning with a two-night hotel stay in the global city of London before sailing to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh on your way to a truly magical kingdom.

Explore the spectacular landscapes surrounding the village of Geiranger and the port of Olden. Stroll through Bergen, then cruise the largest and best known fjord in the country, the Sognefjord, to the cities of Stavanger, Kristiansand and Oslo. Spend a morning in the Dutch city of Amsterdam and another in the Shetland port of Lerwick, then arrive at the volcanic island of Heimaey and the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.

Visit the maritime museum of Isafjordur, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, followed by the lava craters of Akureyri. The charming harbour of Husavik is home to the geothermal Myvatn Nature Baths, then explore Scottish castles, remote Viking settlements and the Neolithic mysteries of Maes Howe and Skara Brae.

Highlights of this cruise:

Tilbury
Tilbury is located on the north bank of the River Thames, in the borough of Thurrock in England, at the point where the river suddenly narrows to about 740 metres in width. Tilbury is a modern town, which is home to one of Europe’s largest container ports, together with a international cruise terminal.

To the west of Tilbury is the popular Lakeside shopping complex, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe.To the East is St. Catherine’s Church which is possibly on the site of one of the first Christian monasteries developed in the 7th C. Henry VIII built riverside block houses at East and West Tilbury, these later becoming Coalhouse and Tilbury Forts.

Olden
Olden is located in the Strynn municipality of Norway. It is the southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of Nordfjord terminates at Olden from which a lovely valley, Oldedalen, strikes due south for some 20 kilometres between slopes rising sharply to more than 1700 metres to the edge of the Jostedalsbre.

Olden is a base for a journey to the million years old Briksdal Glacier, which is the best-known of the Jostedal Glacier's many icy arms. The turbulent river, which feeds the beautiful Olden Lake, forms magnificent falls that you can see on your ride up to the stunning glacier.

Flam
Flåm is a Norwegian village at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord. The town is located in the municipality of Aurland, in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, this area is a paradise for everyone looking for a one-of-a-kind experience with nature.

Flåm is known for its railway which is widely known as one of the world's most fantastic stretches of railroad. The exciting history of the railway can be learnt by visiting the Flåmsbana Museum in Flåm. Other attractions include the Otternes Farmyard, the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre and the Borgund Stave Church.

Lerwick
Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands, found more than 160 km (100 miles) off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is by far the UK's northernmost town, being closer to Bergen in Norway than to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen.

Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring and white fish seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port. The harbour is also busy with vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.

Lerwick is a fascinating place at any time of year. In summer, its waterfront is brightened by yachts and cruise liners from ports around the North Atlantic. In winter, the harbour is a refuge for all kinds of craft and the twists and turns of Commercial Street defeat the wildest weather.

There's a wide choice of good places to eat, pubs and clubs to suit most tastes and some of the most advanced indoor leisure facilities in Britain. Lerwick is also an excellent place to sample Shetland's internationally celebrated musical heritage. The islands are best known for their fiddle music, but there's a wealth of talent embracing a wide range of styles.

Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality. Nicknamed the Capital of North Iceland, Akureyri is an important port and fishing centre. The town is located at the end of a long fjord known as Pollurinn and is surrounded by high mountains.

Akureyri is a very picturesque town with its location by a scenic fjord, eclectic building styles and streets winding their way through gorges. Visitors can walk around the town centre, see the impressive church and check out Listagilið (literally: "the art canyon"), home to a number of arts and crafts galleries and shops. The tranquil municipal botanical garden, Lystigarðurinn, is worth visiting, as are the several small museums dotted around town.