The most ancient of Scandinavia’s capital cities, Oslo is a charming city to amble around with breathtaking views of mountains and fjords and a lively character. The university buildings, in particular, are a joy to see due to their grand design. At Universitsgata 13 lies the Nasjonalgalleriet, which has the largest and finest collection of art on display in Norway.

The Kon-Tiki museet showcases the balsawood raft in which Thor Heyerdahl made his now notorious 1847 voyage across the Pacific in an attempt to prove the first Polynesian settlers could have sailed from pre-Inca Peru. History enthusiasts should then head to the Vikingskipshuset to stand in awe of three ninth-century Viking ships, which were retrieved from ritual burial mounds in southern Norway, each embalmed in clay. The Frammuseet is also of interest as it allows you to come aboard one of Roald Amundsen’s ships, Fram, the ship that carried him all the way to Antartica in 1912. The ship is complete with nearly all its original fitting and s such gives unexpectedly in depth insight into the life and conditions of early Polar explorers.

Oslo is also home to the famous Munch Museum, located just outside of the centre. Edvard Munch is Norway’s most illustrious painter. His signature works of the 1890s are on display here as well as earlier paintings, lithographs and woodcuts. The star attraction is predictably the museum’s copy of The Scream, which was mysteriously returned after being stolen in 2004.

Staying in the capital doesn’t mean you have to forgo getting close to nature. The islands of the inner Oslofjord are perfect to visit in the summertime. The nearest island, Hovedøya, is a captivating place to visit. The ruins of a twelth-century Cistercian monastery on the island sit astride the island, which is covered in farmland and deciduous woods. The most southerly island Langøyene is also worth a visit due to its pretty beaches.

Planning your visit

A key stage in planning your holiday is organising travel insurance. Make sure you get the best deal by comparing providers online. Getting to Oslo is relatively straightforward. The main low-cost carriers are Ryanair and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Norway’s long coastline is served by a number of ferry companies, most notably DFDS Seaways and Color Line. Oslo airport has excellent links to local transport, with direct buses or trains to the city centre.

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Post from: Global Blog.com - Travel and Global Vacations-Guide - Cruising Tips. Tourist-Information.

Oslo: a city of culture and history

Freestyle cruising happens to be one of the most in-things in the island-hopping industry. It is considered as an intercontinental cruising characterized by a free spirited approach to enjoying a trip across the world’s great open seas. If you’re one of those who never thought such a vacation existed, read on.

Freestyle cruising allows guests and passengers in any of the lines’ state-of-the-art ships to exercise complete control over their stay on the floating resorts. Passengers can choose when they want to eat, where they want to eat, or how they want to eat. Dining on a Norwegian Cruise is nothing like any other line because it boasts of no set dining times, no dining partners, no dress codes, and offers a wide selection of restaurants and dining rooms on board every ship for the type of cuisine that suits your every mood.

Living accommodation arrangements can be made freestyle too, with Norwegian Cruise’s wide array of accommodations from the largest suites to extraordinary villas to interconnecting suites and staterooms that virtually fit any group size. The line’s complex of villas and deluxe owners’ treats have been aptly dubbed as having your own ship inside a ship. These accommodations offer luxurious and spacious rooms, world-class hotel type bathrooms, sundeck, pool, exercise area, and a dedicated butler all conveniently located on a private deck of the ship.

With Norwegian Cruise, you are also able to design the kind of fun and entertainment you desire as the line has the youngest, technologically advanced, and high tech fleet to give you a truly innovative and memorable experience on board. The fun never stops with a varied array of nightlife, family fun and games, shore excursions, and a lot more. Best of all, you can be assured that the Norwegian’s crew and staff will never pull you off your bed just to queue for an on-shore tour. The freedom to choose is placed at the highest premium on these trips that you can freely opt to either go with the group for a tour or simply lounge on your bed the whole trip… of course, that wouldn’t be fun at all.

This landmark service feature of Norwegian Cruise truly exemplifies the very essence of going on a cruise: freestyle living without any hassles or even the slightest hint of compulsion from the staff and crew is definitely the way to go.

Discover what all the cruise vacation and holiday talk is about with Norwegian Cruise Line freestyle cruising. This unique, fun and exciting island concept is keeping Norwegian’s cruise ships full and for good reason. Check out the details from a website with people who enjoy and cruise all the time at http://www.Cruise-Tips.com This information packed website is filled with how-to cruise ideas, tips and helpful hints to give you the cruise information you’re looking for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meryl_Rougeaux

Post from: Global Blog.com - Travel and Global Vacations-Guide - Cruising Tips. Tourist-Information.

The Norwegian Cruise Line and Freestyle Cruising