Included Excursion: Norwegian Christmas Experience
Leaving the pier, we’ll board a bus for a short sightseeing tour of Kristiansand’s city center. We’ll continue on through popular residential areas and along the Otra River, making our way up Torridalen valley. Take in the sights of inland woods, farmsteads, and scenic river dwellings as we go.
We’ll soon arrive at the Skraastad Farm for a traditional Christmas get-together. At this time of year, the farm will be decorated in traditional Yuletide fashion. Established in 1773, if the walls of Skraastad Farm could talk, they would have many stories to tell.
After a warm welcome, we’ll gather together in the cozy farmhouse to learn about Norwegian Christmas traditions. Indulge in storytelling, traditional music, and tastings of traditional, homemade Christmas food and drinks such as pinnekjøtt lamb ribs, salmon, and Norwegian sausage. On the way back to the pier, enjoy more of the Christmas spirit of Kristiansand’s decorations in the city center before arriving back at the ship.
Port Info
Nicknamed "Sommerbyen" ("Summer City"), Norway's fifth-largest city has 78,000 inhabitants. Norwegians come here for its sun-soaked beaches and beautiful harbor. Kristiansand has also become known internationally for the outdoor Quart Festival, which hosts local and international rock bands every July. According to legend, in 1641 King Christian IV marked the four corners of Kristiansand with his walking stick, and within that framework the grid of wide streets was laid down. The center of town, called the Kvadraturen, still retains the grid, even after numerous fires. In the northeast corner is Posebyen, one of northern Europe's largest collections of low, connected wooden house settlements, and there's a market here every Saturday in summer.
Start Time
Feb 25 1:00PM CET
to
End Time
Feb 25 5:00PM CET