Port guides

Nynashamn

Northern Europe & Baltic

The small rocky harbor of Nynashamn is your gateway port to Stockholm, the "Capital of Scandinavia." The city began life over seven centuries ago as a Viking stronghold built on the island of Gamla Stan. Today, Stockholm covers 14 separate islands and is interwoven with bays, channels and inlets. The city skyline is a sea of copper roofs grown green with patina, towers, spires and graceful cupolas stand sentinel over the historic Old Town (Gamla Stan). A city of nearly a million people, Stockholm is one of the world's most beautiful, clean, and orderly metropolises. With a history stretching over seven centuries, Stockholm is not just a beautiful city but also Sweden's center of art and culture.

34 cruises

Isle of Noss

Northern Europe & Baltic

Exploring the sandstone cliff faces of the Isle of Noss will reveal ledges loaded with gannets, puffins, guillemots, shags, kittiwakes, Razorbills, fulmars and Great Skuas. The island was recognized as a National Nature Reserve in 1955, and has one of Europe’s largest and most diverse seabird colonies. Sheep have grazed the inland hillsides of Noss since the late 1800s and early 1900s when around twenty people lived on the island to manage the sheep farm. Along with the sheep, shaggy Shetland ponies graze the windblown slopes of Noss.

33 cruises

Dundee, Scotland

United Kingdom · Northern Europe & Baltic

The fourth largest city in Scotland, Dundee lies 40 miles north of Edinburgh and overlooks the Tay Estuary, a seaside location that has greatly influenced the town’s history. Dundee’s shipbuilding industry reached an apex during the golden age of sail, with the three-masted sailing ship RRS Discovery of the famed Robert Falcon Scott expedition being constructed here in 1901. One of the last of its type to be built in Britain, the ship is now on display at Discovery Point. Another vessel, the 46-gun frigate Unicorn, built in 1824, is one of the six oldest warships in the world and only a short walk along the riverfront from Discovery. You may also want to navigate your way to other city highlights, some quirky like the bronze statue of cartoon character Desperate Dan in the city square, and others historic, such as St. Mary’s Tower, the tallest existing medieval tower in the UK.

32 cruises

Konigswinter

Northern Europe & Baltic

The city of Königswinter in North Rhine-Westphalia is located on the eastern bank of the Rhine. The village at the foot of the Siebengebirge has around 41,000 inhabitants. Numerous monuments and museums worth seeing make a visit to the city an unforgettable experience. For example, the Siebengebirgsmuseum provides detailed information about the legendary mountain landscape, which is after all the oldest nature reserve in Germany. In Sea Life, visitors can experience the underwater world up close and the Nibelungenhalle is not only an architectural masterpiece but also houses a reptile zoo. Drachenburg Castle towers high up on the Drachenfels and is one of the landmarks of Königswinter. The imposing structure is reminiscent of a fairytale castle and provides a wonderful view of the region. The Hirschburg is also a historic building in this city. The historic villa is located in a quiet area in the region around the nightingale valley. A kilometer-long tunnel system called Ofenkaulen leads through the middle of the Siebengebirge. The origin of these tunnels is said to go back to the Middle Ages.

32 cruises

Farsund,Norway

Northern Europe & Baltic

Farsund is located on the Lista Peninsula in southern Norway, which is filigreed with fjords and waterways such as the Lygdalsfjorden. It is a popular attraction for vacationers for its beaches and prolific birdlife, as well as hiking trails and historic events such as the pirate festival. The Vanse Church is one of Norway’s earliest, dating from 1037. The town was also an important part of the Atlantic Wall in WWII, with bunkers and fortifications such as the Nordberg Fortress, and nearby islands used as prisons for captured Axis soldiers. The Lista Lighthouse is a popular place to watch birds and get views over the beaches.

30 cruises

Waterford, Ireland

Northern Europe & Baltic

Nestled by the banks of the River Suir, Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, dating back to Viking times. Its impressive medieval city walls, cobbled, winding streets and colorful waterfront lend the town a charming feel. Reginald's Tower is Waterford's best known landmark. The building has been described as the oldest tower of mortared stone in Europe and today houses the city’s Maritime and Civic Museum. Other attraction worth a visit are the City Hall, magnificently restored, and housing the Municipal Art Collection, and the Heritage Museum with its fine collection of Viking and Medieval artifacts. Of course no trip to Waterford would be complete without a visit to the world renowned Waterford Crystal factory. Each piece represents the culmination of light, heat and the skill of master craftsmen. The craftsmen transform glowing balls of crystal into elegant shapes using their artistic instinct, their breath and traditional tools. The perfect place to bring back a treasured memento of your cruise.

30 cruises

Bremerhaven

Germany · Northern Europe & Baltic

Bremerhaven is a port city on Germany’s North Sea coast. The German Maritime Museum at the Old Harbor details the national and regional history of shipping and navigation. Its collection includes the Bremen cog, a restored medieval vessel. Nearby, the WWII submarine Wilhelm Bauer has been converted into a museum. The German Emigration Center is dedicated to the history of those who left Bremerhaven for America.

29 cruises

Schoonhoven

Northern Europe & Baltic

Schoonhoven is a city and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Since 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of Krimpenerwaard. The former municipality had a population of data missing in 2019, and covered an area of 6.92 km² of which 0.65 km² water.

29 cruises

Rothenburg

Northern Europe & Baltic

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a German town in northern Bavaria known for its medieval architecture. Half-timbered houses line the cobblestone lanes of its old town. The town walls include many preserved gate houses and towers, plus a covered walkway on top. St. Jakob’s Church houses an intricate, late Gothic altarpiece by woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider. The medieval Town Hall has a tower with panoramic views.

28 cruises

St. Kilda, United Kingdom

Northern Europe & Baltic

Gloriously remote, St. Kilda is an archipelago 50 miles off the Isle of Harris. Although the four islands are uninhabited by humans, thousands of seas birds call these craggy cliffs home, clinging to the sheer faces as if by magic. Not only is St. Kilda home to the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic Puffin (almost 1 million), but also the world largest colony Gannets nests on Boreray island and its sea stacks. View less The islands also home decedents of the world’s original Soay sheep as well as having a breed of eponymously named mice. The extremely rare St. Kilda wren unsurprisingly hails from St. Kilda, so birders should visit with notebook, binoculars and camera to hand. While endemic animal species is rife on the island, St. Kilda has not been peopled since 1930 after the last inhabitants voted that human life was unsustainable. However, permanent habitation had been possible in the Medieval Ages, and a vast National Trust for Scotland project to restore the dwellings is currently being undertaken. The islands even enjoyed a status as being an ideal holiday destination in the 19th century. Today, the only humans living on the islands are passionate history, science and conservation scholars. One of the caretakers even acts as shopkeeper and postmaster for any visitors who might like to send a postcard home from St. Kilda. It should be noted that St. Kilda is the UKs only (and just one of 39 in the world) dual World Heritage status from UNESCO in recognition of its Natural Heritage and cultural significance.

28 cruises

Foynes

Northern Europe & Baltic

Sail down the stunning River Shannon to the heart of the Emerald Isle. Home to a significant first in aviation history, Foynes is your gateway to discover the castles, cliffs, and cities of western Ireland. During WWII, the port of Foynes was alive with wartime activity and intrigue, as it was the first airport in Europe to welcome seaplanes making transatlantic flights. Visit the Flying Boat Museum to tour a replica of the “Yankee Clipper” and relive the golden age of aviation.

27 cruises

Leith, Scotland

Northern Europe & Baltic

Edinburgh is to London as poetry is to prose, as Charlotte Brontë once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities and proudest capitals, it's built—like Rome—on seven hills, making it a striking backdrop for the ancient pageant of history. In a skyline of sheer drama, Edinburgh Castle watches over the capital city, frowning down on Princes Street’s glamour and glitz. But despite its rich past, the city’s famous festivals, excellent museums and galleries, as well as the modern Scottish Parliament, are reminders that Edinburgh has its feet firmly in the 21st century.Nearly everywhere in Edinburgh (the burgh is always pronounced burra in Scotland) there are spectacular buildings, whose Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian pillars add touches of neoclassical grandeur to the largely Presbyterian backdrop. Large gardens are a strong feature of central Edinburgh, where the city council is one of the most stridently conservationist in Europe. Arthur's Seat, a mountain of bright green and yellow furze, rears up behind the spires of the Old Town. This child-size mountain jutting 822 feet above its surroundings has steep slopes and little crags, like a miniature Highlands set down in the middle of the busy city. Appropriately, these theatrical elements match Edinburgh's character—after all, the city has been a stage that has seen its fair share of romance, violence, tragedy, and triumph.Modern Edinburgh has become a cultural capital, staging the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival in every possible venue each August. The stunning Museum of Scotland complements the city’s wealth of galleries and artsy hangouts. Add Edinburgh’s growing reputation for food and nightlife and you have one of the world’s most beguiling cities.Today the city is the second most important financial center in the United Kingdom, and the fifth most important in Europe. The city regularly is ranked near the top in quality-of-life surveys. Accordingly, New Town apartments on fashionable streets sell for considerable sums. In some senses the city is showy and materialistic, but Edinburgh still supports learned societies, some of which have their roots in the Scottish Enlightenment. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, for example, established in 1783 "for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge," remains an important forum for interdisciplinary activities.Even as Edinburgh moves through the 21st century, its tall guardian castle remains the focal point of the city and its venerable history. Take time to explore the streets—peopled by the spirits of Mary, Queen of Scots; Sir Walter Scott; and Robert Louis Stevenson—and pay your respects to the world's best-loved terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. In the evenings you can enjoy candlelit restaurants or a folk ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, a traditional Scottish dance with music), though you should remember that you haven't earned your porridge until you've climbed Arthur's Seat. Should you wander around a corner, say, on George Street, you might see not an endless cityscape, but blue sea and a patchwork of fields. This is the county of Fife, beyond the inlet of the North Sea called the Firth of Forth—a reminder, like the mountains to the northwest that can be glimpsed from Edinburgh's highest points, that the rest of Scotland lies within easy reach.

27 cruises

Kinsale, Ireland

Northern Europe & Baltic

Kinsale is a town on the southern coast of Ireland, in County Cork. Two 17th-century fortresses overlook the River Bandon: the vast, star-shaped Charles Fort to the southeast, and the smaller James Fort on the river's opposite bank. The 16th-century courthouse building houses the Kinsale Regional Museum, with a variety of displays on local history and information about the 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania.

26 cruises

North Cape

Northern Europe & Baltic

While the Midnight Sun will soon dip below the horizon, Honningsvåg should be illuminated throughout the evening spent here. It's an awe-inspiring setting in northernmost Norway, surrounded by dense forests and fjords, inhabited by reindeer and held sacred by the indigenous Sami people. One of the world's most memorable, otherworldly experiences is standing atop the precipitous North Cape, the late-night sun eerily hanging over the Arctic Ocean. There is even a museum in town devoted to the North Cape. The area is also famous for the Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve, where literally millions of arctic birds flourish during the summer nesting period.

26 cruises

St. Thomas, UK

Northern Europe & Baltic

Charlotte Amalie is a city and cruise ship port on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas. It is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its Danish colonial architecture includes Blackbeard’s Castle, a 1600s watchtower. The 99 Steps ascend to the tower, which has panoramic views. The 17th-century Fort Christian is now a museum with art and artifacts. East of town, the Skyride aerial tram climbs to Paradise Point.

26 cruises

Straubing

Germany · Northern Europe & Baltic

26 cruises

Isle of Eigg

Northern Europe & Baltic

Eigg is one of the Small Isles in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It lies to the south of the Isle of Skye and to the north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Eigg is 9 kilometres long from north to south, and 5 km east to west. With an area of 12 sq mi, it is the second largest of the Small Isles after Rùm

25 cruises

Isles of Scilly

UK · Northern Europe & Baltic

Nestling in the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, at the south west tip of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly form a small British island chain whose climate, landscapes and lifestyle are unlike any other and seem to have come straight from an Enid Blyton story. Here, everything resembles a tropical paradise. The long sandy beaches run alongside lush green meadows teeming with semi-exotic flowers, whilst the ruins of ancient castles loom from the tops of the hills. Veritable havens of peace that inspired the legendary Avalon of King Arthur, they are today listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the rugged coastline plays host to wildlife that is as varied as it is exceptional, including the very rare Atlantic grey seal.

25 cruises

Willemstad, Kinderdjik, Netherlands

Northern Europe & Baltic

Kinderdijk is a village in the the Netherlands' South Holland province, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills and 3 pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land). Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area, leading to the main visitors center and museums in preserved working windmills.

25 cruises

St. Helier

Jersey · Northern Europe & Baltic

St Helier, Jersey's capital and administrative centre, stands in St Aubin's Bay on the southern side of the island. The town is named after Jersey’s most famous saint who lived and preached in the island in the 8th Century. The affluent town has a vibrant atmosphere, definitely British but with a distinct French and influences. Many streets carry old French titles and many shop fronts still display the names of their island founders. The paved town center boasts a huge variety of stores, shops, restaurants and cafés. Stroll along the harbor and marina and watch the comings and goings of ferries, yachts and small fishing vessels. St Helier offers a wide range of museums including the Jersey Museum, Island Fortress Occupation Museum, and the award-winning Maritime Museum. On a rocky islet in the bay stand Elizabeth Castle and the Hermitage. There are also a number of beautiful parks including Les Jardins de la Mer, in the newly created Waterfront area.

24 cruises

Vlissingen (Zeeland), Netherlands

Northern Europe & Baltic

24 cruises

Harlingen

Netherlands · Northern Europe & Baltic

Lying at the mouth of the Harinxma canal in the Frise province of the Netherlands, Harlingen has always had a very close relationship with the sea. Once a whale fishing centre and today a port specialised in shrimp fishing, its dynamism has transformed it into a modern city which also offers travellers museums and sites of interest. The local museum, the Hannemahuis, is housed in an 18th Century dwelling and presents a collection of regional furniture and objects retracing the history of the city. The lighthouse and the city hall with their typically Dutch architecture also deserve a visit.

23 cruises

Keukenhof Gardens

Northern Europe & Baltic

Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens, situated in the municipality of Lisse, in the Netherlands. According to the official website, Keukenhof Park covers an area of 32 hectares and approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the gardens annually.

23 cruises

Rathlin Island

Northern Europe & Baltic

Rathlin Island is an island and civil parish off the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's northernmost point.

23 cruises