Cruise and Maritime Voyages

The largest city in Scandinavia, capital of Denmark for over 600 years and home to the world’s oldest monarchy, Copenhagen is the most charming of Baltic cities. Beautiful parks and gardens, attractive 17th and 18th century buildings, grand castles and the elegant Amalienborg Palace – home to the reigning Queen Margrethe II, grace the city that is laced with a labyrinth of winding canals. Cafes and restaurants spill out of brightly coloured townhouses onto the cobblestone streets in historic Nyhavn. The atmospheric waterfront area is a popular meeting place along with the world’s oldest entertainment park Tivoli Gardens.

Finland’s capital is a vibrant, modern city, yet very much in harmony with the surrounding nature. Its centrepiece is the majestic Senate Square lined with elegant neo-classical buildings and the impressive Lutheran Cathedral with white Corinthian columns and five green cupolas. A striking exception to Helsinki’s general architectural style is the Russian Orthodox, onion-domed Uspenski Cathedral, which stands on a hill at the end of Market Square and dominates the city skyline. Built into solid rock Temppeliaukio Church is also somewhat unusual. Museums are plentiful with the National Museum of Finland, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design Museum amongst the most notable.

Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in 1703 as his ‘Window on the West’. Drawing inspiration from Europe, the Russian Tsar and his successors created an extraordinary city on the banks of the River Neva with opulent palaces, ornate churches and splendid parks all part of the supremely elegant architectural ensemble. The magnificent Hermitage and its priceless treasures of art, grandeur of Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin and gilded fountains in the gardens at Peterhof illustrate the lavish lifestyle of Russia’s former ruling elite. The birthplace of Russian ballet, St. Petersburg is the perfect place to take in the performing arts.

Approached through an archipelago of some 24,000 islands and islets, Sweden’s stately and spacious capital is itself built on 14 islands connected by some 50 bridges. Founded in 1252, Stockholm grew up around Gamla Stan. The charming Old Town is a maze of medieval alleys and tiny lanes lined with 16th century buildings some of which feature wrought-iron signs symbolising ancient craft workers’ guilds. A delightful mix of parkland and forest, Royal Djurgården is Stockholm’s city park. The island is home to the magnificent Vasa Museum housing a salvaged 17th century Swedish warship that sunk on its maiden voyage.

Encircled by wooded hills and the peaks of Ekeberg, Holmenkollen and Grefsenkollen, Oslo lies at the head of the beautiful Oslofjord. With its medieval Akershus Fortress, modern City Hall and cutting-edge Opera House, Norway’s capital is an engaging mix of old and new. The Cathedral, Parliament House and National Theatre are all found in the city’s main thoroughfare, Karl Johans Gate, which runs through the centre up to the attractive Royal Palace. The marvellous Viking Ship Museum and Kon Tiki Museum tell of Norway’s rich seafaring history, or you can visit the remarkable Vigeland Sculpture Park.

The capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall sits almost exactly in the centre of Mainland, dividing the island into East and West. The magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral, a legacy of the town’s rich Viking heritage, dominates Kirkwall’s skyline. In its shadow, the town is a cluster of grey stone buildings lining narrow, flagstone streets. Excursions explore these beautiful islands whose history can be traced back some 6,000 years through Neolithic standing stones and the magnificent archaeological site of Skara Brae. Modern day Orkney is a hive of creative activity and its craft workshops are perfect for a special souvenir.

Set around its picturesque natural harbour and fringed by high ground and cliffs, charming Portree is the main town on the beautiful Isle of Skye. The impact of Skye’s stunning scenery is spectacular. The soaring peaks of the Cuilins, undulating heather moorland, small lochs and gently flowing streams form a wonderful backdrop to optional excursions featuring crofting villages, and iconic castles with both colourful and poignant history. On the outskirts of Portree, the Skye Heritage Centre and Aros Experience bring to life the history of the island and give an insight into the life these Highland communities lived.
 

Lying at the mouth of the River Lee, Cobh has one of the best natural harbours in the world. Known as Queenstown until 1922, it was the departure point for thousands of Irish emigrants to America and the last port of call of the Titanic. The ‘Queenstown Story’ is a wonderful exhibition telling of this rich maritime history. From Cobh’s waterfront, streets lined with brightly coloured houses climb the steep slope of a hill, which is crowned with the imposing St Coleman’s Cathedral. A charming little town, Cobh is a gateway to the city of Cork and excursions to Ireland’s legendary Blarney Castle.