Holland America Archives - Notable Travels

The Faroe Islands: The Sheep Islands

Posted by Linda Fasteson on Jan 31, 2016

These 18 volcanic islands between Scotland and Iceland were formed millions of years ago have remained much undisturbed by the outside world. Residents are descendents of Vikings who arrived in longships over a thousand years ago in search of new uninhabited land. Today, the Faroe Islands are a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

St. John’s, Newfoundland: City of Legends

Posted by Linda Fasteson on Apr 24, 2014

St. John’s is a blend of old and new, city and nature. There are elegant historic homes, colorful wooden houses, brick and stone church and government buildings, colonial shops, and innovative modern museums. Should you want to tour by sea, regaled by songs and stories, accompanied by a Newfoundland dog, the Scademia sails past lighthouses and rugged cliffs to Cape Spear.

Voyage of the Vikings aboard Holland America’s Amsterdam: Iceland

Posted by Linda Fasteson on Apr 23, 2014

It is said that when the Vikings first saw Iceland–with volcanoes, black lava fields, sulfurous steam, and bubbling mud pools– they thought they had discovered the entrance to the Netherworld.

Cruise ports in Norway: Holland America’s Voyage of the Vikings

Posted by Linda Fasteson on Apr 22, 2014

The oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, founded over a thousand years ago, Oslo was an important center of wood trade. In the 1600s, after yet another devastating fire, King Christian IV, ruler of Denmark and Norway, rebuilt the city in brick and stone closer to Akershus Fortress and named it Christiania after himself. The original name was not restored until 1925.

Ultimate farm to fork in the Great Outdoors: Outaouais in Québec, Canada

Posted by Linda Fasteson on Jan 24, 2014

The Outaouais region is about a two hour drive from Montréal. This agricultural area in the southwestern part of the province is bordered by the Laurentian Mountains and Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.