A day at sea and the numerous possibilities on board the EUROPA guarantee a very relaxing start to your cruise. Work with your personal trainer to improve your fitness, or simply enjoy the endless views across the wide expanse of the North Sea. Rugged coastlines and green meadows greet you on the SHETLAND ISLANDS and provide a first taste of the natural spectacles to come. From the main town of Lerwick, set off on a journey of discovery. You’ll pass grazing Shetland ponies and tranquil stone houses as you head for the prehistoric Jarlshof* on the southern tip of the mainland. This is where longhouses and wheelhouses bring the history of the Vikings and the Picts to life. From REYKJAVIK, the northernmost capital city in the world, it isn’t far to the highlights of any visit to Iceland: follow the Golden Circle* to Thingvellir, where the Vikings held their annual assemblies, and marvel at the natural force of Geysir and the thundering waters of the Gullfoss waterfall*.

Or you could have the chance to discover Ny-Alesund, the starting point for important Arctic expeditions and the site of the world’s northernmost post office. Be sure to send your loved ones a postcard from here. The small island of Moffen, whose beach is home to countless walruses, and the impressive Monaco Glacier, whose ice mass is estimated to be thicker than 200 m (656 ft.), are further possible stops on your Spitsbergen adventure. With a little luck, you’ll spot polar bears here or on the rugged Bear Island. When the ship heads back to the Norwegian mainland, the quaint little harbour city of TROMSOE will greet you. In the past, numerous polar expeditions set off from here. Little red houses perch peacefully around the harbour of Leknes in the LOFOTEN ISLANDS. On a hike* along ancient trails through almost unspoilt mountain panoramas, you’ll come to understand why the Lofoten Islands are the setting for many extraordinary tales: it feels as though these rugged cliffs and glittering lakes could still be home to mythical creatures from Nordic legends.