CME Cruise Conference

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Amsterdam is a great city in which to discover the charms of northern Europe. The graceful canals of its central district are lined with beautiful gabled houses. It's many, grand art museums display masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer and the largest collection of Van Gogh's work is found here. Fine food is also easy to find along with ample opportunities for shopping (including excellent vintage finds). This great city is well worth a day or two's stay before or after your cruise.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Eidfjord, Norway -

In the shadow of snowy peaks and near stunning blue-green fjords, Eidfjord is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. Even though it has a population of less than 1,000, scores of visitors come here each year to bask in the area's natural splendor. 

Hardangervidda, near Eidfjord, is Europe's largest mountain plateau as well as Norway's largest national park. Interestingly, the legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, and Fridtjof Nansen, who made the first successful crossing of the Greenland interior, both used Hardangervidda to prepare for their expeditions. Walking, hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing are popular, and the area is home to Europe's largest population of wild reindeer.

Molde, Norway - All of the stunning beauty you associate with Norway is on display in Molde, a city roughly 400 kilometers (240 miles) north of Bergen with white clapboard houses sitting alongside a sparkling fjord. On a clear day, more than 200 peaks are visible from this part of the Romsdal Peninsula. (The Varden Viewpoint, 10 minutes by car from the center of town, is the best place to take in the breathtaking panorama.) Even when the weather is less cooperative, there is plenty to do, with cozy cafés, boutiques selling woolen sweaters and the Romsdal Museum, an open-air folk museum where you can literally stroll through the region’s history and traditional homes. Molde is also one end of one of Norway’s most beautiful coastal drives, the Atlantic Ocean Road (in Norwegian, the Atlanterhavsvegen), which crosses spectacular bridges and a number of islands.

Geiranger, Norway - Welcome to the Jewel in the Crown of Norway's fjords. Geiranger Fjord was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, but the area has been luring tourists since the turn of the 19th century. Take the Waterfall Walk to the heart of the cascades. Climb the Skywalk for Europe's highest fjord view with Norway cruises. Explore Geiranger by bike or on foot, or hop in a raft or kayak for a view from the water. Once you've taken in your fill of mountain air, stroll the quaint village center. Indulge your sweet tooth at the local artisan chocolate shop, or sit back at a cafe with a coffee and a krumkake — a rolled cake with whipped cream in the center — and enjoy the view.

Bergen, Norway - A key member of the medieval Hanseatic League of Merchants, Bergen has had plenty of practice combining commerce with community. In this delightful city, you will find pleasure in the Bryggen waterfront district and marketplace, or travel out of town for some great backcountry hikes. On the shores of Nordnes Lake is Troldhaugen—the historic home of composer Edvard Grieg.

Hardangerfjord- Scenic Cruising - From easy guided hikes and the summer-skiing resort on the Folgefonna glaciers to the serious hiking trails that encompass waterfalls and panoramic vistas, Norway’s Hardangerfjord region offers truly exceptional outdoor experiences. Norway’s Queen Sonja is known to favor the hiking trails around the village of Kinsarvik so much that a tough 16-kilometer (10-mile) hike is named after her.CENIC cC

Cruising Geirangerfjord - The coast of Norway is fringed with jagged fjords cut into the shoreline by glaciers eons ago. One of the most spectacular inlets is the mighty Geirangerfjord, a popular cruising destination and, along with the nearby Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When Norway’s glaciers retreated they left deep valleys in their wake that filled with seawater, in the case of the Geirangerfjord to a depth of nearly 500 meters (1,640 feet). Above the surface, the fjord’s sheer rock walls shoot straight up three times as far.