AIDA North Cape 2023 · Page 3

Here's an overview of some of the sights in Haugesund:

Haraldshaugen is a national memorial dedicated to the Norwegian king Harald I, who united the country in the 10th century. There's a large obelisk surrounded by a semicircular stone monument. The site also offers an impressive view of the fjord.

Karmøy is an island off the coast of Haugesund and a popular destination for excursions. Here you'll find picturesque fishing villages, beautiful beaches and historic sites such as the Nordvegen History Centre, an interactive exhibition about the Viking Age.

The City Hall is an impressive building in the town centre. It's built in neo-Gothic style and houses the town administration. The building itself is a sight, and in the surrounding area you'll also find shops, restaurants and cafés.

• In the area around Haugesund there are many opportunities to explore Norway's breathtaking nature. You can go hiking along the coast, take a trip to the surrounding islands or go on a boat tour through the fjord.

In the evening AIDAmar sailed out, heading for Bodø, our next destination.

After another sea day we reached Bodø. At -10 degrees and in thick snowflakes, AIDA took us by bus to the tidal current. We had booked the excursion "RIB boat on the tidal current". After a 30-minute drive we reached the landing stage and were given our suits so we wouldn't get too cold on the water.

After a safety briefing, the boat took us out onto the water and straight into the whirlpools. Then we went up the river to watch sea eagles. After 40–45 minutes we were back at the landing stage. Once we had taken the suits off again, we went back to AIDAmar.

The whole excursion lasted about 3 hours and cost us 149 euros per person. Personally, we wouldn't do this excursion again – the ride on the tidal current was far too short, and the whirlpools can be seen much better from the bridge.