In 2024, I explored Norway on their Hurtigruten cruise line. This was a 12-day cruise along the entire coast of Norway. I began this adventure in Oslo and then traveled to Bergen where I boarded the ship for the remainder of the trip. Click here to see my blog and video on a special Arctic Circle Baptism.

After exploring Norway, I knew I wanted to visit the other Scandinavian countries. The challenge was how to do it. As I researched options, I discovered a 12-day cruise with Celebrity Cruise line that visited several Scandinavian countries.

Leaving from Amsterdam, we arrived in Oslo, Norway. It was good to explore new areas in Oslo which you can see in the video below. My first stop was to Saint Olav Catholic Cathedral . This church was established in 1843 and was the first Catholic congregation in Norway after the Protestant Reformation. The Oslo Cathedral was also another beautiful site in downtown Oslo and is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway.

After eight miles of walking the beautiful city of Oslo, I headed back to the ship and indulged at the ***Café al Bacio.***

The next day, we were in Skagen, Denmark (pronounced SKAIN). There were several places I wanted to see in this northernmost part of Denmark.

Denmark was part of the Roman Catholic Church until the Reformation in 1536. Although not mentioned in any of its history, the Buried Church was probably Catholic when first established in the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome.

During the last half of the 18th Century, the church was partially buried from nearby sand dunes. The congregation had to dig out the entrance every time services were to be held. This continued until 1795 when the church was abandoned and eventually demolished, leaving the tower as the only part of the original structure still standing.

The next place I wanted to see in Skagen was the northern part of the town known as Grenen. Here, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea meet. As I walked to the bus stop for a trip to Grenen, I stopped by the Swedish Seamen’s Church. This church, established in the 1900s, belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden. I was greeted by the pastor of the church and the organist who provided a beautiful rendition of a popular Christian hymn that we all should know – see video below.

While in Grenen, I saw Denmark’s second tallest lighthouse. After exploring the beaches in Grenen, I took the bus back to the downtown area and spent some time shopping in the open market provided on Skagen’s main street. I then walked back to the ship where I discovered the benefits of a foot massage as one of the ship’s spa services.

After a day at sea, we were in Stockholm, Sweden. I had my list of places to see and was ready for another seven-mile walking adventure around this beautiful city. My first stop was at City Hall. I read in several travel books that the views of Stockholm were the best at City Hall. As you will see in the video below, the views were spectacular.

I then walked to the old part of town known as Gamla Stan. The Stockholm Cathedral was a beautiful site.

This medieval cathedral was built in 1279 and is the oldest church in Stockholm complete with a statue of a knight in armor mounted on a horse near the altar - see video below!

The Royal Palace was next to the Cathedral. Before exploring this 18th century palace with over 600 rooms, I decided to visit the Riddarholmen Church. This church was built in connection with a Franciscan monastery founded in 1270. The church was completed at the beginning of the 14th century and has been a burial place for Swedish kings for over 400 years.

Before heading back to the ship, I visited the King’s Garden located behind the Opera House. There was so much to see on this beautiful sunny day. My last stop was the Ostermalms Food Hall. This market hall has been in existence since 1888 and was named the seventh best in the world. Stockholm was wonderful.

This is only Part 1 of my Scandinavian adventure. Enjoy the video below and stay tuned for Part 2 featuring Helsinki, Tallinn, and Copenhagen.