Day 1: Amsterdam

A stop in Amsterdam offers the chance to explore the sights of one of Europe’s most colorful, dynamic and historic cities—one with a well-earned reputation as a laid-back and inviting place for people of all stripes. Visitors are naturally drawn to the historic city center where you’ll find some of the world’s top art museums, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. And at Dam Square, the Amsterdam’s largest public square, you can tour the Royal Palace before continuing to the tourist attractions on the Canal Belt. The iconic network of waterways that surrounds the downtown area offers a picturesque backdrop for sightseeing by bike or canal boat. Be sure to visit the floating Bloemenmarkt to peruse famed Dutch tulips, and take time to wander and window-shop among the narrow lanes of de Jordaan. And you won’t have to look far in Amsterdam to find delicious Dutch treats along the way. Just duck into a cozy brown café to sample a plate of bitterballen with mustard and a beer, and grab a gooey sweet stroopwafel from a street vendor as you stroll.

Day 2: At Sea

Day 3: Scenic cruising Oslofjord & Oslo

Oslo, Norway’s charming capital city, is a vibrant mix—modern architecture and world-class museums dwell alongside 10th-century Viking history, with indigenous Sami culture woven throughout. This cosmopolitan center, with its coveted quality of life, caters to every interest from history buffs and literary types to students of modern Nordic design and aspiring arctic adventurers.

Day 4: Kristiansand

The capital of the southern coastal region known as the Norwegian Riviera, Kristiansand has earned the nickname “Summer City.” The Gulf Stream keeps temperatures mild and snow to a minimum, so Kristiansand is Norway’s outdoor playground.

Day 5: Stavanger

Before this port city on Norway’s western coast earned its status as the epicenter of “black gold” and the extraction of North Sea oil, it was a shipbuilding and fish-canning town. Fuelled by its wealth as one of the world’s top energy capitals, it’s now home to top-notch fusion restaurants and a bustling nightlife that caters to a never-ending influx of expatriates.

Day 6: Flam

Off the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the larger Sognefjorden in southern Norway, Flåm—and its surrounding area—is a place to stop, gaze and linger. There are no traffic lights; instead the village has an easy pastoral rhythm. Explore the steep-sided fjords and hike through sweeping valleys and meadows, home to grazing sheep. See the frozen-in-time churches and architecture and visit traditional farms where geitost or brown goat’s-milk cheese is made. There are many ways to take in the majestically beautiful landscapes, some designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and many are easily accessible. You have only to pick and choose: Embark on a wildlife-spotting cruise through the fjords' narrow passageways or go on a kayaking or cycling excursion that passes by gushing waterfalls. The Flåm Railway runs on a winding route on sheer slopes that reach up to 863 meters above sea level. Or see the area at true Flåm pace, with a simple picnic on the shore.

Day 7: At Sea

Day 8: Disembark in Amsterdam