Port guides
Filter 2,777 cruise ports by region or search by name — each links to its guide and the cruises calling there.
Ports in Northern Europe & Baltic
482 ports
Fredericia
Denmark · Northern Europe & Baltic
The Danish fortress town of Fredericia in Eastern Jutland boasts an intriguing medieval and military past, stretching back to the Thirty Years’ War. Founded by Frederick III in 1650, the old ramparts and historic fortifications can be seen on a stroll through the delightful town centre, and are peppered with statues, cannons and gates. The Prince’s Gate – the main gateway into the town until 1925, the Old Town Hall and the iconic Foot Soldier Statue are all worth discovering. The town is now a major barracks, and home to the Royal Danish Army's Signals Regiment. A blue-flag beach is a short distance from the town centre, as is the Gunpowder Tower, built in 1675 and said to be the town’s oldest building. From Fredericia visitors can tour the fairy-tale city of Odense, which is home to the fascinating Hans Christian Andersen Museum, the beautiful, gothic-style Sankt Kunds Cathedral and Funen Village – a unique open-air museum showcasing what life was like in 18th and 19th century Denmark. Billund, the home of Lego, is also easily accessible..
8 cruises
Kemi
Finland · Northern Europe & Baltic
Kemi is a town on Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland. It’s known for the massive Sampo icebreaker, a giant ship built to ply the Arctic waters. At Kemi’s harbor is the SnowCastle, a seasonal carved-ice complex. Kemi Lutheran Church is a Gothic Revival structure with an ornate, red-brick exterior. To the north, Bothnian Bay National Park has old fishing huts, rare plants and abundant birds, including Arctic terns.
8 cruises
Lorient
France · Northern Europe & Baltic
The Brittany town of Lorient is a fusion of heritage and landscapes. Its houses, beaches and quays point to the conquest of India and the East Indies, deep-sea fishing, the Second World War and the restored pride of the Celtic nations A former German U-Boat base, Lorient played a huge role in the Second World War and was a primary target for Allied bombing raids. Today’s rebuilt city is awash with post 1950's architecture and a number of museums and galleries to explore. Close to Lorient harbour, the Cité de la Voile (City of Sailing), is a modern interactive exhibition with giant audio-visual presentations that highlight the city’s importance in shipbuilding, fishing and, now, ocean racing. With its proud Celtic connections, a glorious mix of kilts, Breton bagpipes, Irish fiddles and Galician pipes, come together at the annual Festival Interceltique. Away from Lorient, a trip across the water to Port Louis offers up the National Maritime Museum and French East Indies Company Museum. Housed in 16th century military buildings, these museums are rare examples of Lorient’s original architecture and are must-visit sites.
8 cruises
Saaremaa Island
Northern Europe & Baltic
Located in the centre of the Baltic Sea, Estonia's largest island revels in its isolation. The territory has been inhabited for over 8,000 years, but stone-walled house with their thatched roofs give this island a unique character. Amongst the numerous sights are Angla Windmill Hill; Mustjala cliff; the 17th century Bell Tower at Kihelkonna; the manor house at Loona; the ruins of Maasi Castle; and the Mihkli Fram Museum at Viki.
8 cruises
Skarsvag
Norway · Northern Europe & Baltic
For those who like to travel far (very far) off the beaten track, then you have found your Nordic nirvana in Skarsvag. Large, sparsely populated (there are just 60 human year round residents), and a joy to all those who revel in stark, unbridled beauty, Skarsvag also enjoys the auspicious title of being the world’s most northerly fishing village. But rolling hills, prolific birdlife and arctic fjords aside, Skarsvag is above all famous for its proximity to the North Cape. View less Found on the island of Magerøya, the most northernmost point of Europe above the arctic circle is a bucket list basic. Stand beneath the massive metal globe and gaze out onto the Barents Sea, where the only land between you and the North Pole is the Svalbard archipelago. This is truly the land of the midnight sun – in fact, you are so far north that the sun doesn’t even dip beneath the horizon between May and mid-July. The island’s famous bird cliffs are quite spectacular, and home to thousands of puffins, gannets and cormorants. Those willing to hike to cape Knivskjellodden, the northernmost point on Magerøya, will be rewarded with stunning cliff face views of the North Cape Plateau. Before leaving, head into the impressive North Cape Hall for exhibitions on the North Cape’s history. Travellers have been visiting since 1664, when Italian priest Francesco Negri arrived, so there are some tales to tell! More intriguingly, a tunnel has been hewn into the rock, leading down to the cliff face, complete with a chapel.
8 cruises
Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Northern Europe & Baltic
More than 600 miles (nearly 1,000 kilometres) from Denmark’s west coast lie the Faroes, a triangle of eighteen windswept islands, seventeen of which are inhabited. Only 48,500 people plus some 70,000 sheep roam these remote lands. Much of the islands’ heritage reflects a medieval past, beginning with the arrival of farmers from western Norway who settled here in the 9th century. Evidence of this Scandinavian heritage is preserved through centuries of isolation; ancient structures can still be seen in villages clustered around old churches.
8 cruises
Westman Islands
Iceland · Northern Europe & Baltic
Vestmannaeyjar (Western Islands) is an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast, formed by underwater volcanic eruptions. The youngest island, Surtsey, was formed in 1963. Heimaey is the largest and only inhabited island. It has 2 volcanoes, Helgafell and Eldfell. Interactive displays at Eldheimar Museum, in Heimaey Town, chronicle Eldfell’s devastating 1973 eruption, when some 400 buildings were destroyed.
8 cruises
Belle-Ile-en–Mer, France
Northern Europe & Baltic
It’s not hard to see how Belle-Île got its name – the beauty of this island is found in the magnificent coastline, which varies between unspoilt beaches and dramatic cliffs, with the occasional quaint townships in between. Brittany’s largest island lies south of Quiberon, in the Morbihan department, and is divided into four communes: Le Palais, Sauzon, Bangor and Locmaria. Le Palais is the island’s hub, with pastel-coloured buildings housing bakeries, cafes and shops, and an imposing citadel overlooking the harbour. Sauzon is a pretty fishing village at the top of Belle-Île close to the magnificent La Pointe des Poulains – a magnificent area of rocky coastline dominated by a lighthouse. Locmaria in the southeast has some excellent beaches, while Bangor is a great place to start for those looking to explore the island’s wild coast in the south-west. Despite its turbulent history, with numerous pirate attacks and a brief period of English occupation in the 1700s, Belle-Île today is a tourism hotspot, enticing visitors with its natural beauty.
7 cruises
Bristol
UK · Northern Europe & Baltic
From the clock over the historic Exchange with dual minute hands – for Greenwich Mean Time and local meridian time – to a street so steep that locals tie up their parked cars when it gets icy, Bristol is a city you won’t soon forget. Birthplace of renowned graffiti artist Banksy, Bristol displays the anonymous artist’s work on buildings and landmarks and in museums alongside the work of other graffiti artists, as the city nurtures this unconventional expression. After shopping along Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft, said to be the largest collection of independent shops in Europe, quench your thirst with a craft beer or cider at a local pub.
7 cruises
Caen
France · Northern Europe & Baltic
Caen is a port city and capital of Calvados department in northern France's Normandy region. Its center features the Château de Caen, a circa-1060 castle built by William the Conqueror. It stands on a hill flanked by the Romanesque abbeys of Saint-Étienne and Sainte-Trinité, which both date from the same period. The multimedia Mémorial museum is devoted to World War II, the 1944 Battle of Normandy and the Cold War.
7 cruises
Cliffs of Moher
Northern Europe & Baltic
“They go to the cliffs of Moher rising out of the mist” … these words, written by great American poet Wallace Stevens, immortalised the cliffs of Moher in the best way imaginable. Romantic, wild, mysterious and beautiful, the cliffs of Moher are to Ireland what poetry is to prose. Located at the south western edge of County Clare, the 300-million-year-old cliffs stretch for 14 km. They are by far the country’s most visited landmark, welcoming an astonishing 1.5 million visitors annually. The vistas are exceptional, and understandably the pride of Ireland. On a good day you can see for miles: all the way to the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, the caves, O’Brien’s tower and of course the many miles of cliffs themselves. Birdwatchers will be doubly blessed, as Moher is designated as a UNESCO Geo Park and enjoys a Special Protection status. Get your binoculars at the ready as the cliffs are filled with thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Kittiwakes, as well as the largest mainland colony of Puffins. The beautiful cliffs are rich with history and legend. Two theories surround why Irish Politician Sir Cornelius O’Brien commissioned his eponymous tower in 1835. The most common belief is that so he (and others) could benefit from the stunning views the cliffs have to offer. The more salacious believe that the tower was a place away from prying eyes for O’Brien to bring his lady friends! Whatever the reason, today the viewing platform on the roof still offers one of the best coastal views there is.
7 cruises
Portrush
UK · Northern Europe & Baltic
Portrush is adjacent to the stunning North Antrim coastline. Here lies the medieval Dunluce Castle ruins. Perched picturesquely at the edge of a rocky outcropping high above the sea, the castle is dramatically surrounded by terrifyingly steep drops, which the early Christians and Vikings would have considered a very important security feature. The castle and surrounding areas have been frequently used for the filming of “Game of Thrones”.
7 cruises
Travemunde
Northern Europe & Baltic
Travemünde is a relaxed Baltic Sea resort and a port for Scandinavian ferries. Seafood restaurants dot the banks of the Trave River as well as the Strandpromenade overlooking Travemünde Beach and the Bay of Lübeck, and stalls sell fish sandwiches at the Fishermen’s harbor. The Alter Leuchtturm is a brick lighthouse from 1539 housing a maritime museum, and the 4-masted sailing ship Passat is open for guided tours.
7 cruises
Farne Islands
Northern Europe & Baltic
His favourite place in the UK to see nature at its best, is how David Attenborough described the Farne Islands. The scatter of small islands begins 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) off the Northumberland Coast. The islands are dolerite which formed from liquid rock cooling underground. Softer overlying rock has eroded to leave hard rounded columns and fissured dolerite cliffs. The treeless landscape makes viewing of the island wildlife and history easy, even from a boat. The Farnes are cared for by the National Trust.
6 cruises
Hebrides, Scotland
Northern Europe & Baltic
In Scotland, arrive in Stornoway and begin an unforgettable Hebridean adventure. The harbor town is the portal to discovering a dramatic island landscape and it's the epicenter of Gaelic culture. Prehistoric standing stones dating back millenniums and Iron Age brochs are just some of the amazing sites you can take in. Stornoway is the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, and it's a harbor town which comes with plenty of charms of its own. Get introduced to Gaelic arts, literature and music and island traditions at the town's arts hub and at the new museum, or browse independent shops for locally-made crafts and unique gifts. See skilled islanders produce Harris Tweed, luxury hand-woven wool which has been crafted on the island for generations.
6 cruises
Heligoland
Northern Europe & Baltic
Heligoland is a small archipelago in the North Sea. A part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein since 1890, the islands were historically possessions of
6 cruises
Inverness
Northern Europe & Baltic
The Scottish Highlands are home to famous battles, historic castles and to an even more famous legendary sea monster: Nessie of Loch Ness. Explore Inverness' picturesque riverside on foot. You'll pass by the 18th-century Old High Church and the Castle of Inverness, built of red sandstone in 1863 on the site of an 11th-century fortress. Join a Loch Ness cruise to explore Culloden Battlefield, a windswept moor where the Jacobite's last stand took place in the 1760s. Seeking even deeper roots? See a 4,000-year-old burial site built by neolithic farmers at the Clava Cairns. Before you depart, toast your adventure with a wee dram of single-malt Scotch whisky, savoring its distinctive peaty aromas.
6 cruises
Kalundborg
Denmark · Northern Europe & Baltic
Kalundborg is a Danish city with a population of 16,268, the main town of the municipality of the same name and the site of its municipal council. It is situated on the northwestern coast of the largest Danish island, Zealand, on the opposite, eastern side of which lies the capital Copenhagen, 110 km away.
6 cruises
Lauterbach
Northern Europe & Baltic
The island of Rügen and especially the place Lauterbach have a lot to offer. Wonderful beaches, unique landscapes, the chalk cliffs and the racing Roland, a nostalgic train that goes all the way to the mainland, can be experienced here. Of course there are also seaside resorts such as Binz and Sellin. Since the island is not very big, you can visit and get to know all the places in one day. One has wonderful views from the cliffs. Lauterbach is a small, dreamy place.
6 cruises
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Regions are derived from each port’s coordinates. Sailing counts reflect active upcoming departures, refreshed through our scheduled feed.
