Between Hygge And The Highlands

Known for the Kiel Canal and Kiel Week, the city boasts an important maritime history. Kiel is also a great place to sight-see, do some shopping and take part in one of the many festivals taking place there.

With its mix of world-famous landmarks and modern charm, Copenhagen appeals to every visitor. The Little Mermaid at Langelinie is the city’s most famous attraction. The colourful waterfront at Nyhavn with its lively cafes is a great place to while away some time, while Amalienborg Palace and the Tivoli amusement park will take you on a journey through the past and present of the Danish capital. In its majestic setting amidst well-kept rose gardens, Rosenborg Castle is home to the Danish Crown Jewels. As well as its historic sites, Copenhagen is a paradise for design fans: the cubist Royal Library and the Royal Opera House are outstanding examples of modern Scandinavian architecture.

By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.

You will can gather exciting impressions until late in the evening – because your ship has an overnight lay time here.

Oslo is the capital of Norway and is also its largest city, situated at the head of Oslo Fjord and surrounded by hills and forests. Home to some 50 museums and full of galleries, cafés, a sculpture park and the Royal Palace, this vibrant city with its handsome 19th-century buildings and wide streets has much to offer. Its history dates back 1,000 years, and includes a rich seafaring heritage that ranges from the Viking era to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki expedition. Discover more about this exciting city on our varied selection of excursions.

Oslo lies between thick forests and the deep-blue Oslofjord – a city that combines innovative architecture, first-class museums and encounters with nature. The fast-growing capital city of Norway is impressive with its modern districts and interesting sights, such as the Barcode Buildings, the opera house, the Astrup Fearnley Museum, the new Munch Museum and the National Museum. Iconic historical sights can be seen at the Akershus Fortress on the Oslofjord. Another highlight of the city is the Holmenkollen, a 371 m (1,218 ft) hill featuring the world-famous ski jump – a mecca for winter sports and a famous Oslo landmark that’s popular with visitors.

Oslo is the capital of Norway and is also its largest city, situated at the head of Oslo Fjord and surrounded by hills and forests. Home to some 50 museums and full of galleries, cafés, a sculpture park and the Royal Palace, this vibrant city with its handsome 19th-century buildings and wide streets has much to offer. Its history dates back 1,000 years, and includes a rich seafaring heritage that ranges from the Viking era to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki expedition. Discover more about this exciting city on our varied selection of excursions.

Kristiansand lies on the estuary of the River Otra in the Skagerrak strait. A particularly charming aspect of the capital of the Norwegian Sorlandet region is the harbour promenade, where cafes and restaurants are the ideal place to enjoy the maritime atmosphere. The sandy headland on which the city was founded in 1641 by King Christian IV, is a great place for an extended stroll, while the nearby city beach and traditional wooden houses in the old town offer relaxation and variety. A walk around the boutiques in the historic city centre will round off your stay in Kristiansand perfectly.

Nicknamed "Sommerbyen" ("Summer City"), Norway's fifth-largest city has 78,000 inhabitants. Norwegians come here for its sun-soaked beaches and beautiful harbor. Kristiansand has also become known internationally for the outdoor Quart Festival, which hosts local and international rock bands every July. According to legend, in 1641 King Christian IV marked the four corners of Kristiansand with his walking stick, and within that framework the grid of wide streets was laid down. The center of town, called the Kvadraturen, still retains the grid, even after numerous fires. In the northeast corner is Posebyen, one of northern Europe's largest collections of low, connected wooden house settlements, and there's a market here every Saturday in summer. Kristiansand's Fisketorvet (fish market) is near the south corner of the town's grid, right on the sea.

Nestled between picturesque fjords and steep hillsides, Norway’s second largest city, Bergen, exudes the charm of a lively coastal city. The Hanseatic quarter of Bryggen, with its colourful wooden houses as a reminder of the city’s trading and seafaring history, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gives Bergen its unique character. A walk along the harbour, where fishing boats moor up in the mornings, leads you to the busy fish market – a place full of aromas where fresh specialities are sold straight off the boats. The city brings visitors under its spell with its harmonious blend of history, liveliness and breathtaking natural scenery.

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Bergen is home to the Hanseatic League’s only kontor (trading enclave) still in existence. Bryggen wharf, a row of timbered Hanseatic warehouses along a quaint quay, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow wooden walkways are flanked by parallel rows of small, vibrantly painted buildings overlooking the picturesque Vågen Harbor. This is perhaps the most charming district of Bergen and a delight to explore, from its tight-knit community of workshops where artisans sell their wares to its cafés where freshly prepared smørbrød, or open-faced sandwiches, are on the menu.

As England’s northernmost major city, Newcastle upon Tyne is the gateway to Scotland. This lively student city impressively combines history and modernity: today a dynamic metropolis with galleries and contemporary architecture, but around 1,800 years ago, the site featured the Roman fortification Pons Aelius, part of the legendary Hadrian’s Wall. Then as now, the city’s appearance is dominated by the River Tyne, which is spanned by seven bridges, including the futuristic Millennium Bridge: an innovative mechanism allows it to rotate around its longitudinal axis – an elegant spectacle when the bridge opens to allow ships to pass through.

An urban city mixing culture, sophistication and heritage, Newcatle-upon-Tyne offers a range of activities and attractions. With more theatres per person than anywhere else in the UK, Newcastle has a wide range of arts and cultural attractions for visitors to enjoy, from the Theatre Royal – regional home to the Royal Shakespeare Company – to the famous Angel of the North.

The striking white cliffs of Dover rise up to 106 m (347 ft) above the deep-blue waves – with their bright limestone visible from afar, they have always been considered a symbol of the region. Dover itself is a coastal town in the county of Kent and one of the most important ferry ports in Great Britain. Only about two hours from London, it is a popular starting point for exploring the British capital: the metropolis of contrasts is a lively mosaic of history and modernity, culture and culinary indulgence, inviting visitors to explore its many sights.

Most famously known for its dramatic white-chalk towering cliffs, Dover is the nearest city to France across the English Channel. Its strategic location as a doorway into England has earned it the moniker “Key to England.” As the port was under constant threat because of its location, the massive Dover Castle overlooking the channel grew over the centuries to become the nation’s largest edifice and remains so today. Dover also served as a bastion and command center during World War II.

Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city with a history dating back to Charlemagne. A major port, this vibrant city is home to art and culture, extensive shopping facilities, Baroque buildings and waterfront vistas. With its well-known fish market, art galleries and Museums together with several beautiful parks including a botanical garden, this is a city with something for everyone. British visitors who remember the Swinging Sixties may like to visit the streets around Grosse Freiheit, where an unknown pop group called The Beatles gave their first public performances in various local clubs before achieving worldwide fame.