FTB22 - Icy North

issue 22 Summer 2010

bridge from the

Step Back in Time

Follow the Viking trail

Oasis of the Seas The wait is over!

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FROM THE BRIDGE | Cruise Region Focus

the icy

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Passionate historians or even just the curious can recreate their own ‘Viking trail’ by interconnecting the various Norse settlements with modern cruise ship itineraries. words: Roderick Eime

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland SUMMER 2010 23

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FROM THE BRIDGE | Cruise Region Focus

the icy

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f you were a Viking in the early Middle Ages of European history, chances are you were not much of a diplomat or humanitarian.

The fearsome Viking reputation is not without substance. Beginning around the ninth century until well into the eleventh, the Norse mariners went on an aggressive land grab that often resulted in bloodshed, abduction and pillaging.

But Vikings were also skilled seafarers, advanced agriculturalists and energetic traders who advanced the culture and civilisation of Europe.

No matter which angle you embrace, Vikings still evoke a powerful mystique with their bold and robust architecture and design as well as pagan worship. Just like the Greeks and Romans, Norse mythology is full of mighty deities and gods.

Icebergs near the fjords in Greenland

Away from the land, it’s out on the water that the Vikings had their biggest influence.

Their penchant for raiding, trading and colonising spread the Norse culture and genes deep into Russia, North Africa and as far as modern Canada. Great explorers such as Erik the Red and his son Leif Eriksson, took the Norse influence west of Iceland to Greenland and North America and even created settlements as far away as L’Anse aux Meadows on the tip of Newfoundland. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is believed the Vikings lived there around 1000AD. Many Newfoundland itineraries include L’Anse aux Meadows, where you can view displays depicting how the Vikings lived. Most then sail on to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Far from being constrained by its name, Iceland is much more than frozen water. Visits to ports such as Djupivogur, Isafjordur, Seydisfjordur and Akureyri will reveal a land rich in natural and cultural treasure. One of the most popular excursions is the geothermal lake, The Blue Lagoon, where you can swim in 40-degree, mineral-rich waters just 40 kilometres from the capital. Reykjavik itself is well known for its vibrant nightlife, museums and cultural attractions, including the Arbaer Open Air Museum, which preserves old Icelandic houses and furnishings from ancient times.

Greenland, the world’s largest island, was also visited and colonised by Erik and Eriksson.

However, these villages only existed until the early 15th century, when the Norse settlers were either evicted by the Inuit or died out – why they disappeared remains a mystery to this day. Not limited to small expedition vessels, Nanortalik and Qaqortoq are two ports visited by the larger liners. In this region you could see the northern lights dance across the sky or take a chilly trip to the icecaps by boat.

Visits to Greenland are becoming increasingly popular and even a little urgent, as the massive glaciers disintegrate in the planet’s warming climate. Watch in awe as enormous chunks of ice the size of city buildings plunge into the water. The destination provides both a natural and cultural feast.

If you were sailing toward Iceland from the northern tip of Scotland, it would be hard not to stumble across the remote yet fascinating Faeroe Islands. Still a domain of Denmark, the first Vikings are thought to have arrived there in the seventh century, not by boat but from a migration north from the Orkneys and Shetlands. The port, Tórshavn, is the world’s

Lighthouse in Faeroe Islands

One of the most popular excursions is the geothermal lake, The Blue Lagoon, where you can swim in 40-degree, mineral-rich waters just 40 kilometres from the capital. smallest capital, where you can visit the ruins of farms that belonged to famous Viking chieftans, explore the mountain moors on horseback, or buy goods from a local woodcarver after watching him work.

Search for itineraries that include ports of Tórshavn (Faeroes), Kirkwall (Orkneys) or Portree (Hebrides) to fully experience the Norse influence of Northern Britain where Gaelic and Norse culture coexist in a colourful fusion. ■

FACT FILE As an Arctic destination, most ports are only visited during the northern summer cruise season, typically May to September. The ideal months are June to August when the weather is warmest.

Viking followers, Norse historians and enthusiastic cruisers can chose from a variety of vessels and itineraries to explore this region.

Here are some examples. Be sure to check each cruise line for other departure dates and itineraries.

Holland America Line’s Maasdam departs Boston for a cruise to Dover calling at a number of ‘Viking’ ports along the way. The 17-night Voyage of the Vikings departs July 17, 2010. Cunard is also offering an exciting return transatlantic voyage combined with visits to a number of Norwegian ports. This cruise departs New York July 19, 2010.

Other cruise lines that visit ports on the Viking Trail: MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Princess Cruises, Saga Cruises, Discovery World Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Cruise West, Costa, and Hurtigruten.

Viking Boat

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