MS Fram has a fresh new look, with upgraded cabins and a state-of-the-art Science Centre — all designed to bring you even closer to the wild, remote destinations we explore. With space for 200 guests, MS Fram was built for polar travel, carrying on the spirit of the legendary Norwegian exploration vessel that once drifted through Arctic ice under great explorer Fridtjof Nansen.
Elsewhere on board, comfort is a top priority, so after a day of exploration you can relax and dine in your choice of two restaurants, or at the outdoor BBQ and catch up with your fellow guests with a cocktail in the Explorer Lounge & Bar as you watch the scenery glide past the windows. Around the ship there are numerous artworks commissioned by local artists based around the Arctic, adding an extra sense of inspiration to your voyage.
Day 1 Oslo
Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, is encircled by wooded hills and snowcapped peaks. The city displays a mixture of several architectural styles. A full range of activities includes art galleries, museums, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Other points of interest include Royal Palace; Frogner Park, known for its famous Vigeland sculptures; Holmenkollen, where international skiing events take place; imposing Åkershus Castle; and Bygdøy Peninsula, home to some of Oslo’s most important museums. Many attractions can be explored on foot. Oslo's City Hall ranks as the most distinctive part of Oslo’s waterfront. The art portrays the country's different historical and domestic phases. Munch Museum, which is dedicated to the life work of Norway’s famous painter, contains more than 5,000 drawings and paintings. National Gallery has the nation’s largest collection of Norwegian art and some of Munch’s best-known works. Åkershus Fortress & Castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century, houses Norway’s Resistance Museum.
Day 1 Longyearbyen
Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.
Day 1 Longyearbyen
Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.
Day 2 Longyearbyen
Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.
Day 2 Longyearbyen
Known for its stark mountain peaks and spectacular glaciers, Longyearbyen was named for the American John Monroe Longyear, who established a mining operation here in 1906. In the summer season, many species of birds can be found nesting in the steep cliffs while the seaside harbors a number of marine animals from white whales, seals and walruses. In the small town, are museums, local shops and restaurants to explore at a leisurely pace.
Day 3 Alesund
The region is famous for its beautiful scenery with high mountains and blue fjords, of which the Geiranger fjord is one of the most attractive tourist places in Norway. The climate is less severe than might be expected from its geographical location, with mild winters and cool summers. Ålesund, with its unique architecture, is the center of business and industry in Møre and Romsdal. As the sea, the woods and the mountains are easy accessible, the possibilities for outdoor and sports activities are excellent, both in the summer and winter season.
Day 4 At Sea
Day 5 At Sea
Day 6 Blomsterbukta Bay
Day 7 East Coast of Greenland
This area, characterized by impressive mountain peaks, has several villages. The inhabitants are primarily hunters of seals and bears, and their lifestyle and language are distinct from the fishing communities of western Greenland.
Tasiilaq (Ammassalik)—This village is on an island off the east coast of Greenland and just south of the Arctic Circle (close to the airport at Kulusuk). It was unknown to the outside world before 1884. Plan on three or four days visiting the Inuit people of Tasiilaq and viewing spectacular Sermilik Fjord, glaciers and icebergs (which are often seen by air). Rare arctic flora can be viewed on hikes in the nearby Valley of Flowers. The mountains of the area are suitable for skiing in the winter (there's a ski lift in Tasiilaq). One of our favorite activities is to tour the icebergs by boat: Gliding among the icebergs is spooky—but not to be missed. Other boat trips—good for viewing birds and seals—can take you to the village of Kuummiut.
Because the Tasiilaq/Kulusuk area lies much closer to Iceland than the other parts of Greenland, it remains popular as an Icelandair tour destination. Day-trippers descend on Kulusuk (Cape Dan), a typical outpost tucked between towering mountains and an iceberg-filled bay. It's a good place to buy local beadwork and sculpture. Kulusuk was the site of one of the original Distant Early Warning radar posts, set up by the U.S. during the Cold War to watch for incoming Soviet missiles. The post has since been dismantled. Tasiilaq is 450 mi/725 km northeast of Nuuk.
Day 8 At Sea
Day 9 Bjornemyr
Day 10 Rypefjord
Day 11 Rodefjord
Day 12 Danmarkshavn
Day 13 Ittoqqortoormiit
One of the most remote areas of Greenland, Ittoqqortoormiit is accessible only by air or, a few months a year due to the sea being frozen nine months out of the year, by boat. The Scoresbysund Fjord on the the side of Ittoqqortoormiit is the largest and longest fjord complex in the world. One of the last hunter societies in the world, Ittoqqortoormiit is south of the world's biggest National Park, where visitors can view polar bears, narwhals, and arctic foxes.
Day 14 At Sea
Day 15 Reykjavik
The fire, frost and water symbolized by the red, white and blue of Iceland’s flag are manifested in this land. Reykjavik, or Smoky Bay, was so named in 874 A.D. by Ingolf Arnarson when he sighted the numerous hot springs on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Today this remarkably pollution-free city is wrapped around a sweeping bay and has managed to retain its charming Old-World atmosphere. A pastiche of red-blue-and green-roofed houses together with the tall gray tower of Hallgrim’s Church dominate the skyline. In Old Town, many of the wooden buildings have been lovingly restored and stand side by side with modern timber and concrete structures. There are fine museums and art galleries; historic pubs present activity in late afternoon. The beautiful countryside outside of Reykjavik includes such natural wonders as volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains and spectacular waterfalls.