BOTTOM LINE: The is a spectacular itinerary on a well-maintained ship with a wonderful crew and very enjoyable dining.

ITINERARY: Two weeks along the coast of Norway, from Copenhagen DK to North Cape NO and return, well above the Arctic Circle for the summer solstice (midnight sun). The scenery on this itinerary is spectacular, much of it in mountainous archipelagos like those of Alaska and Chile. The cities and towns along the way are delightful and (except for Bergen and Geiranger) they are uncrowded. More port-on-your-own info follows.

SHIP: The Star is about 15 years old, but was nicely refurbished in 2015. The deck plan is a bit chopped up, with some areas requiring detours for access, but overall the public areas are very pleasant. The one weakness is the lack of a vista lounge for scenic cruising -- the top deck buffet and short hallways aft of it are the only indoor areas with full glass walls. The "free" dining rooms have some windows, but only the surcharged restaurants (mostly unused during the day) have full glass walls. You will need to be outside for good scenic cruising, so dress accordingly. Read more