Saga's Spellbinding Norway

It's the final day of our fabulous Cruise Week with Saga Cruises, sailing their world and enjoying their cruise style and destinations. To conclude, we have a final journey to epic, beautiful Norway...

We make no bones about it - Norway is one of the most amazing countries to visit, especially by cruise ship, and this voyage just about has the lot.

Set sail on Saga Sapphire from Dover in July and you can visit quaint villages, historic ports and experience the UNESCO-protected landscape of Norway’s stunning fjords. In the evenings, guests can also get into the 1960s groove with the Steve Love Band and, to continue the theme, a 60s culture speaker will also be on board to bring back memories of the ‘Make love, not war’ era.

And then there are the ports. Old Stavanger (above left) is characterised by white-boarded houses, fantastic gardens and cobbled streets. Extremely quaint and dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, these houses are still lived in today and make for a fascinating tour. You can also explore the beautiful Lysefjord, where the cliff walls rise more than 300ft out of the still, blue waters for a distance of more than two miles.

The cruise then calls in at Flam deep in the Aurlandsfjord, surrounded by picturesque scenery of meadows, orchards and imposing mountains. Here, guests can enjoy a choice of several excursions, including include a ride on the Flåm Railway - one of the most dramatic train journeys in Europe.

Next up, the impossibly pretty village of Olden stands at the end of the beautiful Nordfjord,

with its quaint wooden homes, miles of forest and simple way of life. You can visit the Briksdal Glacier (right) on a guided hike or the Norwegian Glacier Centre, where you can learn about how glaciers are formed.

Finally, the Sapphire calls into the quintessential Norwegian port, Bergen. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, the waterside city has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Scandinavia and is a guaranteed hit with passengers. There has been a settlement here since Medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic Wharf, known as the Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history.

Saga's 7-night Spellbinding Norway voyage costs from £909 per person, departing Dover on July 24 and calling at Stavanger, Flam, Olden and Bergen.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.