Olden

As well as being surrounded by immense natural beauty -- think emerald lakes, towering mountains and cascading waterfalls -- this fjord village of approximately 500 inhabitants once hosted American portrait and landscape artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), whose "Singerheimen" home is about a mile from the pier. Olden is mainly a gateway to outdoor activities, such as fishing or boating in the chilly teal-coloured, glacier-fed waters of Oldevatnet Lake. The "Old Church," an unassuming white frame structure that dates back to 1759, is a tourist magnet. The interior is wooden and unpainted; there is no electricity or heating. The pews are in boxes, each with a wooden door, with some doors bearing family initials. The unusual antler-like hat racks on the men's side of the church are fashioned from the branches of young birch trees, with the bark removed. Want to escape paying for internet onboard your ship? Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi in the centre of Olden.