Honningsvåg, Norway

Honningsvåg, at 71° north, felt like a true Arctic outpost. About 3,200 people live on the island, where fishing has long been the foundation of life and tourism now brings more than 300,000 visitors each year. During World War II, nearly every building in town was burned, with only the church surviving.

The highlight of the morning was visiting the tiny village of Gjesvær, home to just 64 residents, where we boarded a boat to nearby bird cliffs. We spotted puffins, razorbills, and even white-tailed eagles soaring overhead. The island is also home to more than 3,000 reindeer each summer before they migrate back toward Finland for the winter, even swimming across fjords along the way. A special thank you to Richard Lovelock, our ship's wildlife expert, for sharing the puffin and eagle photos.

Our afternoon was spent enjoying a play put on by some of the town's aspiring actors. We enjoyed the performance while eating a Norwegian waffle and sampling local beer.Read more