Day 1: The heart of Finnmarken Your adventure begins in the picturesque town of Alta, located at the head of Alta Fjord. All passengers are kindly asked to board the vessel by 17:00. Day 2: Seiland National Park's glaciers and wildlife We plan to spend the whole day in Seiland National Park, enjoying views of the northernmost glaciers in Scandinavia. Then at Bårdfjord, in the northwest, you'll land in an area of small islands populated by courting common eiders. Here we'll find a picturesque valley of thawing lakes and reindeer that often appear on the slopes. We may even spot sea eagles soaring overhead. Days 3-5: The lively seabird colonies of Finnmarken In Northern Norway, cliff-nesting seabirds begin returning to their breeding places in April (early spring) to meet their mates. It is our aim to observe as many of these species as we can. These may include gannets, great cormorants, European shags, herring gulls, black-legged kittiwakes, common guillemots, razorbills, black guillemots, and Atlantic puffins. To accomplish this, we'll sail by (and sometimes land at) numerous bird-watching locations, such as Lille Håen, Andotten, Lille Karmøya (all at Sørøya), along with Hjelmsøystauran and Gjesvaerstappan, where we may see one of the largest seabird colonies in Norway. We are not allowed to land near some of these colonies, but from our Zodiacs we can get great views of the birds. Also, these colonies tend to be exposed to bad weather, so if we must reroute, our alternative landings will be in secluded nature areas in inner fjords and inland straits. Day 6: Europe's northernmost cape Knivskjeldodden, on Magerøya, is the northernmost point of Europe, about one km (.6 miles) north of North Cape. From our landing place in Knivsjelvika, we can walk to this point and later to a few lakes on the thawing tundra not far to the south. Migratory tundra birds have not arrived here yet, but we might see ptarmigans and snow buntings. Day 7: Arrival at Honningsvåg After a visit to the seabird colonies at Svaertholdklubben, you will arrive at the end of the day in Honningsvåg, the northernmost harbor town in Norway. Day 8: Across the Finnmarken tundra to Alta We disembark in Honningsvåg, where on request you can transfer by chartered bus (T) (a three-hour drive that you must book in advance) through the partly snowy tundra to the Alta airport. Please note: Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises, and willingness to compromise on comfort is a basic requirement on board a historic sailing vessel. Important information about the use of sails: The vessel is equipped with sails to be used in good conditions (based on open sea, water depth, wind, and time allowance), but the use of sails is not guaranteed. The captain decides whether to use the sails or the engine. If sails are used, the crew will operate them. Guests must follow the safety instructions of the team. The average cruising speed for s/v Rembrandt van Rijn is 6.5 knots.