162-night Viking World Voyage II

Opunohu Bay is on the island of Moorea in beautiful Tahiti. The bay is surrounded by breathtaking peaks, and stunning natural foliage that has been named by yachtsmen as the most beautiful bay in all of Polynesia. The peaceful blue waters make for excellent swimming, kayaking and snorkeling.

The 70 islands of the Whitsunday group are some of the best known and most developed Barrier Reef islands and are scattered on both sides of the Whitsunday Passage, within 31 miles of Shute Harbour, jumping-off point for the many cruises through the group. The actual Great Barrier Reef is at least 37 miles out from Shute Harbour; Hook Reef is the nearest part of the reef. Many of the Whitsunday islands are National Parks. The large block of mainland national park opposite them, stretching from Airlie Beach south to Conway, is known as the Conway Range National Park.

Thursday Island is the best known of the Torres Strait islands. It is a tiny island off the top of Cape York, Queensland's most northern point. At one time Thursday Island was a major pearling centre and pearlers' cemeteries give testimony to their hardships. Some pearls are still produced here, from seeded "culture farms.' It is a popular pause for passing yachts.

Victoria on Mahé is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, and the only major port in the Seychelles. It's also the only town in the country - every other settlement is a village. The courthouse and main post office have been untouched since colonial times, but rebuilt streets emanating from the center give the town a clean and modern look. The Natural History Museum in the center of town houses an eclectic collection with bones of the extinct Seychelles crocodile, giant robber crabs, dried out fish, a deformed piglet in a jar and lots of glassy-eyed stuffed animals. Other displays include the wreckage of a ship which came to grief off the Amiranteds in 1570 and a display of gris gris artefacts. For history of the country's people, visit the National History Museum or the Seychelles People's United Party Museum, which celebrates the history of the party. Victoria's Botanical Gardens are highly recommended for short and shady walks among a variety of native and introduced trees. Within the gardens is a cafeteria, a pen of giant tortoises and an orchid garden.

The coastal town of Luderitz, named after its founder German merchant Adolf Luderitz, has several sights. At Diaz Point there stands a cross made of dolerite and erected in 1988 during Diaz festival. Other sights include Redford Bay, named after its first white settler and trader David Redford; Diaz Point, the place where Bartolomeu Diaz erected padrao in 1488, and the wooden bridge to Diaz Point was built in 1911 to access fog horn originally located there; Lighthouse built in 1910; Kolmanskop, the ghost town abandoned on the middle of 50's named after a driver Coleman who frequently stopped here. First diamond was found in Kolmanskop in 1908 by laborer Zaharia Levala and became a centre of diamond industry.

Mindelo is a lovely port in Cape Verde that was formed around a volcanic crater. Mindelo offers a lively beach at Baia das Gatas where visitors can enjoy the beautiful sandy beach, clear blue water, and listen to the sounds of local musicians. Visitors may also visit the Centro Nacional Artesanato for local crafts and gifts, including weaving and pottery art.

The peaceful setting of the picturesque port of Honfleur along the estuary of the Seine attracted many artists and writers over the years, including Impressionist Painters. Throughout its history, numerous maritime journeys were initiated from Honfleur. It's a place of great historic charm, notably around the Vieux Bassin, where lofty slate-and-timber fronted houses overlook the colorful yacht and fishing harbor, and sloping cobbled streets recall 16th century Honfleur. Not to be missed are the 15th century wooden church and the Impressionist paintings of the Musee Eugene Boudin. From here it is possible to visit Monet's Garden, Arromanches, the Normandy Landing Beaches and if there is time, Paris.

Dún Laoghaire is a suburban seaside town and seaport nestled at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains in Ireland. The port offers opportunities for biking, canoeing, hiking, clay pigeon shooting, sailing and rock climbing. There are also several music and cultural festivals during the Autumn.

Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey and a busy ferry port. The town has a number of interesting attractions and is a bustling shopping and visitors area. Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and,of course, sailing facilities. Couple this with wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and you can easily lose yourself and relax for a few days. A day trip by ferry to sample the wonderful Dublin is easily achievable. Anglesey has a number of both historic and prehistoric sites close-by. The maritime museum in Holyhead is well worth a visit with exhibits on 100 or so shipwrecks that have taken place in the vicinity. Stroll' down to South Stack Lighthouse.

Situated on Loch Broom and only 59 miles from Inverness, Ullapool is the largest settlement in Wester Ross. It was purpose built as a herring station to a Thomas Telford design in 1788. It is also an excellent base from which to explore the Northwest Highlands. Most of the main roads north of here have been upgraded over the years, and staying in Ullapool and using it as a touring base is now a viable and attractive option.

The Orkney Islands are different from mainland Britain and reflect the original 9th century Viking settlement. In addition to Norse heritage are remains of prehistoric monuments such as Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets winding around medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney artifacts is housed in 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions include Maes Howe, Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village Skara Brae. Rock circles, cairns, standing stones, ancient tombs and prehistoric villages are scattered about, gaining these islands international recognition. Only the walls and tower of the 12-century residence, Bishop's Palace, stand. The top of the tower affords a great view of the cathedral and across Kirkwall rooftops. Earl's Palace dates from 1600. Its style blends medieval fierceness with elements of French Renaissance architecture - featuring dungeons, massive fireplaces and magnificent central hall. A good mile south of town is Highland Park - the "most northerly legal distillery in Scotland."

Dominated by the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, this picturesque city offers shopping on Princes Street, the grandeur of the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral and historic Palace of Holyrood House, where Queen Mary lived and many Scottish kings were wed. Or venture across the moors to marvel at the scenic Highlands.

The northern part of Scotland, known as the Highlands, ranks as one of the world’s most magnificent scenic spots. Among the main attractions is a landscape of dramatic mountains and forested hills. Invergordon is the port for Inverness and capital of the Highlands. The surrounding countryside offers such famous attractions as the Battlefield of Culloden, Loch Ness, the villages of Tain and Cromarty, numerous historic castles and old established whisky distilleries. Enjoy the picture-perfect scenery and an opportunity to chat with a Highlander eager to introduce you to his fabled land and its rich heritage. Inverness Castle is a predominantly 19th-century edifice perched high above the Ness River. Today’s remains house the Sheriff’s Office. The exhibits of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery may be worth viewing as they provide a good overview of the development of the Highlands. Located 14 miles southwest of Inverness the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition tell the legend of the monster from 565 A.D. to the present.

The municipality´s centre of administration and trade, with about 1,600 inhabitants and well-developed services, including a hotel, cafes, restaurants, auto repair shops, specialty shops, a pharmacy, bakery, movie theatre, swimming pool, and other services. The newspaper "Lofot-Tidende" is published here.

Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.

Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.

The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.

This village at the head of the bay Berufiord developed around an important trading post in the past. In 1589 the German Hansa merchants were granted a trading license there by the Danish king. Later on the Danish introduced the trade monopoly and took over themselves. The oldest houses (1788-1818) date back to the Danish period. One of them, Langabud (1790), has been renovated and transformed into a nice restaurant and museums. Fishing, fish processing and commerce are the main trades. The scenic beauty of the surroundings is renowned and visitors are treated well in every respect.

The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.

Nanortalik means 'place of bears'. It is Greenland's southernmost town, the district border extends all the way from the island Qeqertarsuaq, north west of Alluitsup Paa to the Cape Farewell area and to the 60 kilometers long Lindenow Fjord in East Greenland. The area is approx. 15,000 square kilometers. The most renowned feature in the area is the Nanortalik skyscrapers - the steep peaks and sheer mountain walls lining the Tasermiut Fjord, Pamiagdluk, Prins Christianssund and Lindenow Fjord. Names like Ketil Mountain and Ulamertorsuaq are well known to most rock and mountain climbers in the world. The mountains in this area are just as challenging as the Alps and only experienced climbers should give it a go. The sealhunters move to the outermost islands in the spring to hunt the big hooded seal, because the seals' migratory route passes through these islands along with the field ice. Here, the hunter culture remains unspoilt for many generations. The supply for summer and winter is prepared on the islands. The place got its name, Nanortalik, because the polar bears drift by on big ice floes in the field ice from East Greenland. Each year several polarbears are spotted in the area, but they are of no danger to the inhabitants. In the spring and in the late summer the waters surrounding the municipality are filled with whales, of which the most frequent is the minke whale.

Qaqortoq means "The White Place", and the town is the educational and cultural center of Southern Greenland. The sheep farms give this part of Greenland special character. Qaqortoq has a sculpture park "Stone and Man" made by 18 Nordic sculptors. The result is 24 sculptures and reliefs spread all over town. Greenland's only public fountain is in the town square. The square is the historical part of town, with many buildings from colonial times and a museum concentrating on Greenlandic culture, the Norse period and the history of Qaqortoq. Close to the square is "Brædtet" market where local fishermen and hunters sell the days catch. There are 2 churches in town; "Frelserens" from 1832 and "Gertrud Raschs" from 1973. "Frelserens" hans the lifebuoy and memorial tablet with the names of those missing from M/S Hans Hedtoft, which went down in January 1959. "Gertrud Raschs" has one of Greenlands most beautiful altar pieces made by artist Maria Haagen-Müller.

Cruising