Norwegian Fjords
Bergen, Norway
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The Norwegian Fjords, carved by glaciers over hundreds of thousands of years, include Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, both designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites specifically for their combination of dramatic scenery — sheer cliff walls rising thousands of feet directly from narrow waterways — and the exceptional preservation of that natural landscape. Cruise ships navigating the narrower fjords must sail at deliberately reduced speeds through some of the most restrictive maritime channels used by large passenger vessels anywhere in the world, passing directly beneath waterfalls including the Seven Sisters, a set of cascading falls tumbling directly into Geirangerfjord. Norway's position well north of the Arctic Circle in its northern reaches makes fjord cruise itineraries in summer months an opportunity to view the midnight sun, with some far-northern ports experiencing genuine 24-hour daylight, while winter sailings instead offer aurora borealis viewing opportunities along the same general coastline. The Norwegian Fjords's combination of UNESCO-protected glacial scenery, deliberately slow navigation through narrow protected channels, and access to both midnight sun and aurora borealis viewing depending on season has made it one of the most scenically dramatic cruise regions anywhere in Europe.
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