Explore Norway’s Viking Heritage on a Norway Cruise
When you set sail with Holland America Line on a Norway cruise, you’re embarking on an unforgettable journey to the home of enchanting Norwegian villages surrounded by breathtaking fjords. You’re also heading to the home of Norwegian Vikings who sailed along many of Norway’s fjords centuries ago.
Let’s explore Viking history and the places to visit to learn more about them.
Viking History Highlights
The Viking Age was a period during the Middle Ages that spanned from the 8th to 11th century, marked by exploration, discoveries and conquests. These seafarers were also recognized as warriors or Norsemen. When they took to the sea to explore other areas, they were often looking for riches. Ireland, Scotland and England were of great interest to the Vikings, becoming targets for both raids and settlement. They even founded Ireland’s first trading towns.
Their interests eventually moved westward toward Iceland and Greenland. Though the Viking Age came to an end, their impact can be found beyond the history books, including in the names of certain places across Northern Europe, in artifacts in museums and historical landmarks. An example is the 9th-century Viking boat from the largest of the Gokstad Viking Ship Findings at the Maritime Museum in Oslo, Norway.
Dive Deeper Into Viking Heritage on Shore Excursions
Oslo
Oslo is Norway’s capital city, containing a mix of modern architecture and world-class museums where you can explore 10th-century Viking history. Visit the aforementioned Maritime Museum to view a 9th-century Viking boat. Check out the Best of Oslo With Lunch shore excursion to learn more about Viking history.
Stavanger
The Stavanger Old & New shore excursion takes you to the “Swords in Rock.” This monument is comprised of three Viking swords forced into the ground. It stands more than 30 feet tall and commemorates the place where Viking King Harald Haarfagre (Fairhair) defeated the last of the regional princes in AD 872. He founded the Kingdom of Norway by uniting the 29 small kingdoms under one crown.
Skjolden
When you book the Culinary Odyssey from the Viking Era to Today shore excursion, you can taste Norwegian specialties that started with Viking roots. If the weather cooperates, you can take a seat outside next to a Viking ship.
Flam
As part of the Viking Village & Tvinde Waterfall shore excursion, you can visit the Njardarheimr Viking Community, where people have chosen to live similar to how the Norse lived more than a thousand years ago. They will impress you with their skills and know-how in handicrafts and history, and you may even try a few techniques yourself.
Additional Tip: If you find yourself in Reykjavik, Iceland, consider the Lunar Landscapes & the Viking World Museum shore excursion. Here you will find a full-scale replica of the Gokstad Viking longship discovered in Norway in 1882.
Trace the Route of the Vikings
When you sail Trondheimsfjord, you sail along the route of the Vikings as they returned to their capital, Trondheim. Explore Trondheimsfjord and more on select cruises to Norway, especially the Vikings Saga and Voyage of the Vikings cruise itineraries.
Learn more about the Vikings, how they lived and the impact they made by diving deeper into the destinations you visit on a Norway cruise. Let us know which activities you enjoyed most by commenting below.
