Detailed Itinerary
Embark Azamara Quest beginning at 12:00PM. All aboard by 3:30PM.
Welcome Cocktails & Briefing this evening. Meet your fellow participants and PerryGolf staff.
Overnight: At Sea
Today it’s time to relax and reset. Make your reservations early for The Sanctum Spa, a world-class wellness facility offering a full range of health, beauty and restorative treatments. Complimentary fitness and nutrition classes are available along with a fully equipped gym on Deck 9 offering magnificent sea views. There’s room for everyone on the Pool Deck both in and out of the sun. Service to your lounge chair is available from The Pool Bar where the attentive staff is always ready to offer an inclusive cocktail, beer, bottled water, soft drink or fresh towel. The Patio restaurant serves casual fare during the day then completely transforms itself into a sit-down al fresco dining experience at night with table linens and candles. Elegant specialty dining is available for beef at Prime C and Italian at Aqualina. Windows Café serves casual buffet dining with every imaginable choice indoors and out at the sensational Sunset Bar.
What a way to spend a day!
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Today play Stavanger Golf Club which was founded in 1956 and is one of Norway's oldest clubs, now rated #5 in the country. The course is situated only a short distance from the town, and lies in quiet surroundings beside the freshwater late "Store Stokkavatn". The course, designed by British architect Fred Smith is tree lined, and a relatively tight layout. Undulating greens and fairways add to the challenge, with over twenty championships having been held here, both national and international.
SIGHTSEEING: Stavanger is a fascinating blend of old and new – from the Middle Ages when Vikings ruled the seas to today’s North Sea drilling platforms that have made Norway one of the world’s leading oil producers. Echoing this duality is the contrast of modern architecture and trendy, stylish cafés with ancient cobblestone walkways and rows of 18th century whitewashed wooden houses. As you wander around town, keep your eyes open for 23 identical cast iron figures by sculptor Antony Gormley that are scattered about. They are six feet tall and all face 10° west.
Enjoy Stavanger on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Haugesund is one of Norway’s foremost trading towns. The abundance of herring on the west coast initiated it’s development into an important town for the export of herring, and later into one of the largest maritime towns in Norway. The shipping industry is still prevalent in Haugesund, which is home to the National Maritime Directorate. The traditions and connections to Viking culture remain strong and the world's largest Viking ship – the Dragon Harald Fairhair - was built here. Visiting the region will give you a real insight into Viking history.
Enjoy Haugesund on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Again today we sail inland en route for Olden on the southern shore of the Nordfjorden, Norway’s sixth longest fjord. The village is dwarfed by its neighbour, the Jostedal Glacier, which is the largest ice flow in continental Europe covering 188 square miles with ice up to 2,000 feet thick. It is the million-year-old Briksdal Glacier however that is particularly scenic; you can hike across a wooden bridge over a waterfall, through a stunning mountain valley all the way up to the glacier’s face. One of the most amazing sights here are the lakes formed by glacial melt water that produce colors so vivid they must be seen to be believed.
Enjoy Olden on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Today visit Ålesund Golf Club, which plays over the beautiful Solnør Gaard course, on the outskirts of Ålesund. The course is considered by many to be the best and most complete course between Trondheim and Bergen. It is located right in the heart of a region known for mighty mountains and beautiful fjords.
SIGHTSEEING: Just a stone’s throw away from the spectacle of Geirangerfjord, Alesund is renowned for its architecture, where turrets, spires and other whimsical Art Nouveau touches give the town its distinctive character. Tackle the 418 steps to the lookout point on Mount Aksla and be rewarded with sweeping views of the charming town, majestic fjords, and rugged Sunmore Mountains.
Enjoy Alesund on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
Enjoy another relaxing day at sea onboard Azamara Quest.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Lofoten Links, as spectacular as it is remote, was declared the “World’s Coolest Golf Club” by CNN shortly after its 2015 opening. At 68 degrees north it sits inside the Arctic Circle. Already rated #1 in Norway, it is beautifully situated on the island of Gimsøya in Lofoten, located by the seaside with an unobstructed view to the North and the midnight sun. Playing and walking the course is an amazing experience where the ocean is a water hazard on several holes and sandy beaches act as natural bunkers. Bird lovers may also discover rare and exciting species such as sea eagle, black-tailed curlew, grouse, oystercatchers, starlings, ducks and seabirds like cormorants, gannets and eider.
SIGHTSEEING: Here, 124 miles above the Arctic Circle, is the Lofoten archipelago which is home to some of the most dramatic scenery in Norway. Its spectacular glacial rock formations are visible in every direction looming large behind expansive beaches and green fields. It is a wildlife wonderland. Birds beyond count congregate in enormous colonies of co-habiting species nesting on towering cliffs. Massive sperm whales thrive offshore where the continental shelf dives more than 3,000 feet. Humans appeared in Lofoten thousands of years ago highlighted by the Viking Age (793–1066 AD). You can see that history at Lofotr Viking Museum.
This evening we make the scenic cruise into Troll Fjord as we continue our journey northwards.
Enjoy Lofoten on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Tromsø Golf Club has the distinction of being the world’s most northerly 18-hole course. At 69 degrees north it sits inside the Arctic Circle. It enjoys a stunning location 40 minutes northeast of the city surrounded by the wild beauty of the Lyngen alpine mountain range. During its extremely short golf season the members make the very most of the midnight sun. Bragging rights are assured for any golfers from around the world who test themselves at this unique venue.
SIGHTSEEING: We are now 217 miles above the Arctic Circle where nearly 75,000 Norwegians inhabit the third largest city in the world this far north. Tromsø is surrounded by a dramatic landscape of snow-capped peaks, scattered islands and fjords, a scene best observed by taking the cable car up Storsteinen Mountain. Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the island of Tromsøya, where you’ll find the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789, and the Arctic Cathedral whose triangular façade represents an iceberg pointing to the sky. This part of the country is home to the Sami, Norway’s indigenous people, with their own language, culture, and traditional pursuits of fishing, hunting and reindeer herding.
Enjoy Tromsø on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Enjoy the morning onboard as our scenic sailing of the Norway coastline continues. This area was first settled in prehistory, as much as 10,300 years ago. The Midnight Sun shines here unceasingly until the end of July during which time the hamlet’s numbers swell as the Sami and their reindeer herds settle on the outskirts of town. Honningsvåg (population 4,000) is the last village before the North Cape where you will find the one of the most popular attractions in Norway: a majestic cliff, rising over 1,000 feet above the sea, providing a limitless panorama stretching silently to the North Pole. Ingeniously concealed inside the cliff is North Cape Hall where you can relax and ponder the vastness. Check out the Perleporten Kulturhus (the local cultural center), the Once Upon A Dream art gallery, and the Artico Ice Bar. A visit to the church is highly recommended: it was the only building left standing in Honningsvåg at the end of World War II.
Enjoy Honningsvåg on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Following our departure from Honningsvag, we enjoy some late evening scenic cruising of the North Cape.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Tucked into the Altafjord, Alta enjoys a warmer, drier climate than you’d expect in Northern Norway because of the Gulf Stream. Rugged landscapes roll down to meet the calm waters of the sheltered harbour where local Sami culture thrives. Visit the Northern Lights Cathedral and marvel at its steel sheet design that captures the essence of this natural phenomenon. The rock carvings in Hjemmeluft bear the traces of a settlement dating from around 4,200 to 500 BC. The rock art constitutes the most important piece of evidence documenting the existence of human activity here in prehistoric times – hence its status as a UNESCO world heritage site. On the bank of the Altaelva river lies the annual home of the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, a luxurious hotel made entirely of snow and ice. The hotel opens in January and melts away in the spring.
Enjoy Alta on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Situated on Norway’s biggest Island, Hinnøya, we find Harstad – a region with unforgettable nature, excellent cuisine, genuine shops, music festivals and an untouched archipelago. Quaint, primary-colored houses and church steeples peek out from a treed hillside overlooking this beautiful Nordic port know to locals as “The Pearl of Vågsfjorden.” Immerse yourself in Scandinavian spa culture with a trip to the Grottebadet Waterpark to explore its caves, waterfalls and therapeutic pools.
Enjoy Harstad on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Salten Golf Club at Bodo Golf Park is located just 15 minutes north of Bodo, and at 67 degrees north, it sits inside the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by mountains, forests and the sea, Bodo Golf Park offers a spectacular landscape, and is an experience that will test even the best of golfers with its natural elements and raw terrain.
SIGHTSEEING: Bodø is one of North Norway’s fastest growing cities, full of urban excitement while remaining deeply connected to its rich natural surroundings. It’s home to a diverse community of artists all keen to capture such amazing seaside splendor, a lively music scene, and ample shopping opportunities. Bodø’s main attractions come courtesy of Mother Nature. Saltstraumen Maelstrom (whirlpool) is the world’s strongest tidal current where 400 million cubic meters of water press through this straight that’s just 150 meters wide every six hours. Climb the stone steps to the top of Keiservarden plateau for a bird’s eye view of the city and sweeping 360-degree views of the Lofoten Islands. The harbor which is surrounded by a chain of postcard-worthy islands, has been the backdrop for many Norwegian films.
Enjoy Bodø on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Trondheim was founded over 1,000 years ago and has been Norway’s capital city, a site of countless coronations, and an important pilgrimage for worshipers of the Christian faith. Today, Trondheim is a vibrant, youthful city that embraces the simplicity of Scandinavian life. Trondheim’s intimate city center is ideal for strolling or cycling. Wide boulevards are alive with activity but never feel overcrowded. Nidaros Cathedral is the world’s northernmost Gothic church, and was built over the tomb of St. Olav, credited with bringing Christianity to Norway. Climb to the top of the cathedral’s tower for incredible views of the city and the Nidelva river.
Enjoy Trondheim on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea onboard Azamara Quest.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Orkney Golf Club is situated on the outskirts of Kirkwall, and is the oldest in the Orkney Islands, having been founded in 1889. This local community club offers a sporting and fun layout of just under 6,000 yards long, and boasts beautiful panoramic views over the Northern Isles, and the town of Kirkwall. Please note, no golf carts or caddies available. Guests will use pull/push carts at this easy-walking venue.
SIGHTSEEING: The 70 islands of Orkney are low lying, a pleasing, gently rolling panorama of fertile fields, heather cloaked moors, and lakes. The red sandstone walls of the imposing St. Magnus Cathedral dominate Kirkwall, the main town, capital, and hub for roads linking east and west. In summer whales and dolphins sport in coastal waters, and tens of thousands of breeding seabirds congregate on sharp seaside cliffs. The early arrival of mankind on this scene can be investigated at Skara Brae, an amazingly well-preserved Neolithic village that was inhabited and already abandoned more than 5,000 years ago.
Enjoy Kirkwall on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Under the craggy emerald peaks of the Scottish Highlands lies a tiny port town with a heart for adventure. Gaelic for “little bay”, Oban is a captivating getaway that fulfils your every dream of Scotland. Dubbed both the Gateway to the Isles and the sea kayaking capital of Scotland; kayaking, boating, and other outdoor endeavours are within easy reach of Oban.
The backdrop to both historic and fictional scenes, Oban’s breath-taking landscape has played a key role in some of history’s most famous moments. Explore the magnificent Inveraray Castle, the former home to the Duke of Argyll. Look familiar? This vision in Gothic Revival architecture can also be seen on the popular show Downtown Abbey as the fictional “Duneagle Castle”.
Enjoy Oban on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: This afternoon you will enjoy the lively Irish capital city of Dublin. A good place to begin is The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street for a well-designed archaeological collection featuring Bronze Age gold jewelry and Viking swords. The stars of the show are the “bog people” — preserved corpses of men who were killed (presumably sacrificed) and tossed into peat bogs during the Iron Age. The preservative qualities are remarkable. Dublin is home to St Patrick’s Cathedral of course but much of Ireland’s history can be read in Christ Church Cathedral, which dates back to circa 1030. Dublin’s booming culinary scene is found along Exchequer Street where The Green Hen has won many admirers with its combination of French atmosphere and Franco-Irish cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Try the pan-fried duck breast. Finally, while craft beer is certainly the popular new thing, a pint of “the black stuff” is still required drinking on any trip to Dublin. The Guinness Storehouse museum at the St. James’s Gate brewery explains how the stout is made and how to pull a proper pint at the correct 45-degree angle and waiting 119.5 seconds before topping it off.
Enjoy Dublin on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: In Port – Dublin, Ireland
Disembark Azamara Quest at 9:00AM.