IT is that time of year to stop looking back on last year's holidays and start looking ahead to those planned for the summer.

This year's cruise on the Fred. Olsen cruise ship Boudicca has a distinct flavour of déjà vu, not only visiting new ports such as Narvik, Tromsø, Molde and Andalsnes but also taking in villages and towns we have already visited.

The first stage of our journey from North Shields will take us to Olden in the inner Nordfjorden, one of my favourite spots in Norway. The 13-night voyage will also take in Geiranger and Bergen, the favourite calling points of my granddaughter and wife respectively.

Nestling below snow-capped mountains, Olden, with its stunning views, is one of the gateways to the Briksdal glacier and cool - sometimes decidedly chill - winds are carried down the valley to the village and "shopping centre", which is within easy walking distance of the Boudicca's berth.

Moored yards from the bank, the Fred. Olsen cruise ships provide the foreground for stunning photographs. In fact, the winner of the 2009 Fred. Olsen photographic competition was Chris Randall from Ramsgate in Kent with a shot of the Balmoral moored at Olden that now appears on the company's home page.

From Olden, the Boudicca will head north for a short call in Norway's "Town of the Roses" - Molde. A modern town, almost completely rebuilt after the Second World War, Molde has, I am assured by a Glasgow Rangers fan who travelled with the team here, a "spectacular" seaside all-year football stadium that is certainly worth a visit.

However, I think that our attention will be more focused on making our way to Varden. This is the town's best vantage point, with stunning views across the fjord to the Sunnmøre mountains, some brochures - and many locals - insisting that on a clear day one can see 87 peaks.

A short hop in the afternoon will take us closer to the mountains. Åndalsnes is popular with hill climbers and mountaineers who use the "village between fjell and fjord" as the gateway to the numerous peaks in the Romsdal region.

There is still much to see before the Boudicca crosses the Arctic Circle into the Land of the Midnight Sun, including the island of Torget, complete with Hat Mountain (Torghatten) through which runs a 525-foot long and 130-foot high hole. Legend says this was made when a horseman shot an arrow at the Maid of Leke, forcing the mountain king of Sømnafjellet to throw his hat in the air to block the arrow as the sun rose, turning them all to stone.  

Soon after this is, to me, one of the most poignant views of the voyage. Near the 12^th Century Alstahaug church, with its distinctive onion dome, stands the monument to 7,500 Russian prisoners of war who died in the German occupation of Norway during the Second World War.  

The nearby Riegel cemetery contains the graves of more than 1,000 of the 2,306 Russian, Yugoslavian, Polish, Czech and Norwegian PoWs and German crew killed in November 1944 when the requisitioned freighter Riegel was attacked by Allied aircrew, unaware it had prisoners in its holds. 

After a full day's cruising the Boudicca is scheduled to arrive in Tromsø, Norway's most northern university and brewery town - complete with beer hall. The town is also home to the wonderfully photogenic Arctic Ocean cathedral, built in the shape of a traditional Sami tent. The cathedral's entire east wall is a stained glass window (73 feet high) depicting the Second Coming.

If time permits, we will probably take the cable car to the top of the 1,380ft Storsteinen, where vantage points give unrestricted views across the town and surrounding area.

It is a short overnight cruise from here to Honnisvåg at Norway's northern tip.  The town has a good variety of shops within walking distance of the harbour and last year we transferred here to a coach for the short journey through the Arctic landscape to North Cape, Europe's most northerly point.

We are under strict orders this year to get proper photographs of a huge carved troll near one of the town's souvenir shops - apparently there were tantalising glimpses of it through a window in our shots from last year's visit but none of us can remember seeing such a creature. But the camera never lies, does it?

This is the farthest north we go this year. Turning round and heading south, the first port of call will be Narvik.

I am assured by friends who have already travelled here that the kindest thing to say of the town at ground level is that it is "uninteresting", which is why we intend taking the 2,132-feet cable car ride to the top of Fagernes for an aerial look across the town and fjords before returning to visit the town's war museum.

The museum is of particular interest as the father of one of my friends and colleagues was a member of the British Expeditionary Force that took part in the bitter fighting around the town during the Second World War before being safely evacuated to the Clyde in Scotland.

Another full day's cruising will see the Boudicca anchor at Geiranger, to date my granddaughter's favourite place in Norway.

Nestling under a semi-circle of mountains off the Storfjord and at the end of the Geirangerfjord, the village has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2005 and the area is arguably one of the most beautiful places in Norway, with its many waterfalls including the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil.

Opposite the Seven Sisters is the Suitor. According to folk tales this indecisive man proposed to all seven sisters, and was refused by each one.  Consequently he turned to drink and the shape of his bottle is clearly visible through the cascading water.  

Although it is too early for the optional trips to have been arranged, many passengers in the past have taken advantage of the Fred. Olsen shore excursions to travel the Eagle's Road with its many hairpin bends and spectacular views from vantage points along the way. 

This year, however, I am determined to complete my walk across the village green and camping site to photograph the river and waterfall that I missed last year, only seeing them from an upper deck after returning on board.

Although small, Geiranger does have a wide range of shops with souvenirs, soft drinks and coffee - at a price that would probably stun first time visitors to Norway.   

The final stage of our North Cape Cruise takes us to Bergen, undoubtedly my wife's favourite town, where we will have plenty of time to visit the market, one of the town's pubs and take the funicular 1,000ft up the mountain to Fløyen with its panoramic views, restaurant and eight marked walks. Despite good, regular bus links from the fish market to the cable car terminus, we will probably give the 2,000ft ride up Ulriken a miss.

My travelling companions are already discussing their shopping itinerary and have drawn up a list of gifts and must-haves from the open air market and the good variety of shops that lie between the Boudicca's berth and the town centre. My shopping list is much simpler - the latest Harry Hole novel by Jo Nesbø.

Shops apart, Bergen has much to offer the day visitor - a trip to Edvard Grieg's summer house at Troldhaugen, a relaxed cup of coffee or beer on historic Bryggen or a walk round the modern town centre and cluster of museums including the obligatory - or so it seems in Norway and other parts of Scandinavia - open air museum featuring a collection of 18^th and 19^th century wooden buildings.

After eight visits to Norway in half as many years, my wife is demanding ownership of next year's Fred. Olsen cruise brochure. It is, she says, time for a change. I wouldn't hold my breath or bet my shirt on the outcome of that discussion.

The Northern Cape Cruise leaves North Shields on Thursday, August 19 and returns on Wednesday, September 1. To book, or to check availability and prices go online at http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk/, call reservations on 01473 742424 or see an ABTA travel agent.