Christmas Scandinavian Escape

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, Copenhagen has a fairytale magic all of its own. Discover the beauty of the Copenhagen cruises while visiting the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel. Stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees or in the shops and cafés of Stroget, Europe's longest pedestrianised shopping street. With a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Copenhagen have plenty to offer. Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics - and at Kronberg Castle - the former Elsinore of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, Copenhagen has a fairytale magic all of its own. Discover the beauty of the Copenhagen cruises while visiting the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel. Stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees or in the shops and cafés of Stroget, Europe's longest pedestrianised shopping street. With a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Copenhagen have plenty to offer. Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics - and at Kronberg Castle - the former Elsinore of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

The Polish city and increasingly popular Baltic cruise port of Gdynia is only 80 years old but some of its churches and palaces date back as far as the 13th Century. The main Kocluszki Square is the hub, with many open-air concerts, festivals and other events taking place there during the summer. But the jewel in this region's crown is undoubtedly the former Hanseatic city of Gdansk (once Danzig) which also found more recent fame as the birthplace of the Polish freedom movement, Solidarity. The pedestrianised Old Town centre is a wonderful place to wander, shop or enjoy a coffee before exploring its many historic sights, of which the 13th century gothic Oliwa Cathedral with its fabulous rococo organs is probably the pick.

The history and daily life of Norway's modern capital is inextricably linked to the sea, and what better way could there be to approach Oslo than by ship? Enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world, this beautiful city has a profusion of historic sights to explore including the Royal Palace, the National Theatre and a wonderful array of Art museums. Southwest of the city is Bygdøy Peninsula and the famous Kon Tiki Museum, home to Thor Heyerdahl's raft, where you can learn all about Norway's maritime past. Or celebrate traditional ways of life with a visit to the Folk Museum.

The history and daily life of Norway's modern capital is inextricably linked to the sea, and what better way could there be to approach Oslo than by ship? Enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world, this beautiful city has a profusion of historic sights to explore including the Royal Palace, the National Theatre and a wonderful array of Art museums. Southwest of the city is Bygdøy Peninsula and the famous Kon Tiki Museum, home to Thor Heyerdahl's raft, where you can learn all about Norway's maritime past. Or celebrate traditional ways of life with a visit to the Folk Museum.

On the banks of the Elbe River, 70 miles inland from Travemünde, lies the city of Hamburg. This cruise destination was once a one-time Hanseatic League port, which was founded over 1,000 years ago. Cruises to Hamburg have plenty to offer. The city’s two Alster lakes, hundreds of canals and spacious parks, the grandeur of its church steeples and great City Hall belfry, its sense of energy and confidence – all contribute to the subtle appeal of the imposing city.

Understand that Zeebrugge literally means Bruges-on-Sea and you immediately appreciate why this ferry port is also Belgium's major cruise port. A medieval jewel on the North Sea, the charming city of Bruges is just 10 miles away. Sometimes called the Venice of the North because of the picturesque criss-crossing canals on which you can enjoy fascinating and romantic boat rides, Bruges actually has a character all its own. Although it has all the facilities of a modern city - smart shops, restaurants, bars and hotels - these are all found behind the centuries-old facades and weathered gables of the historic buildings at the city's heart. Bruges is rightly famous for its exquisite lacework, tasty chocolate and huge range of local beers while, from Zeebrugge, you can also visit another historic city, Ghent, the capital Brussels, and historic battlefield sites such as Waterloo and Ypres.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.