Charmingly eccentric-that is how the Norwegian town of Alesund is often described. What makes Alesund so unusual is its architecture. The town center boasts a somewhat outrageous collection of pastel-colored buildings, many with towers and turrets. Not so unusual, perhaps, except for the fanciful flourishes of human faces, pharaohs and dragons that peer down upon fascinated passersby.

The story of how these strange and altogether delightful buildings came to be is as remarkable as the structures themselves. In 1904, a fire consumed the town center and left 10,000 people without homes. Undaunted, the citizens saw an opportunity to re-imagine their city. Local architects, trained in Germany, helped rebuild the town in a surge of reconstruction lasting three years. The influence is certainly that of the Jugendstil movement. The style most closely resembles Art Nouveau. The result: uncommonly wonderful.

• Olden and the surrounding area is an artful juxtaposition of charm and natural majesty. From a historic 18th-century church and a variety of small shops and cafes in Olden, to the south lies Briksdalsbreen, an amazingly blue glacier whose impressive beauty is fair reward for a hike along a picturesque winding path affording glimpses of picture-postcard vignettes of waterfalls, rivers and mountains. Upon arrival, you’ll also discover the village of Loen, surrounded by grand mountains and enchanting blue-green waters, that serves as the gateway to the magnificent Jostedal Glacier National Park, a magical place of forested slopes and glittering lakes and home to the largest glacier in Northern Europe, Jostedalsbreen.

Your Day at Sea
Enrich. Entertain. Escape.

Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish:  pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360^o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging celebrity entertainers and speakers; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours.