British Isles Cruise - from Southampton - 131852

Southampton is the largest port in Great Britain. It is from here that the Mayflower set sail for the New World, as commemorated by the Mayflower Memorial. The town's landmark is the 'Bargate', a city gate built by the Normans. Southampton is also known as the entertainment capital on the South coast. Cinemas, theatres, museums, bars and pubs, art galleries and all kinds of watersports attract thousands of visitors.

Cobh is one of the islands in the harbour of Cork. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, it represents an important part of Irish history. It was from there that two and a half million of the six million Irish emigrants who were forced away during the potato famine of 1848 to 1850 left from. Only a few returned. But Cobh was also the port for the rich - this was the Titanic's last port of call before she set off across the Atlantic to her fate. Following a visit by the Queen in 1849, Cobh was re-named "Queenstown" but got its old name back in 1921. Sights include St. Coleman's cathedral, Queenstown/Cobh Museum, the Wildlife Park, the Botanic Gardens and the Golf Club.

The port of Waterford is in the south of the Emerald Isle. Two cathedrals, various exhibitions at the town hall and interesting glassworks await visitors to this small Irish town.

The capital of the Isle of Man is Douglas, home to around a third of the island's population. The highlight in this harbour town is the beautiful Victorian "Gaiety Theatre". The Isle of Man has been in English hands for 650 years, but is politically independent, with its own government, its own parliament and its own judicial system. The island also has its own language, based on the Celtic language of Manx. It seems almost as if time has stood still on this island, above all if you look at the untouched countryside. The streams run clear, the landscape is unspoiled and the beaches are clean. The Isle of Man is home to a huge variety of insects and birds. Looking at the Victorian housefronts of Douglas is like stepping back in time. Life on the island still centres around agriculture.

The Scottish port of Greenock is just a kilometre from Glasgow with views of the Scottish Highlands. Greenock has excellent shopping facilities in the form of the Braehead Shopping Centre and the large Ikea store. Sights in Glasgow include: the Gallery of Modern Art, the Cathedral, the Police Museum, the Mitchell library, the Transport Museum, Tollcross Park, and the Scotland Street School Museum.

Aberdeen is a town built almost entirely from granite - even the roads. This Scottish town is one of the most important ports for the oil industry of the North Sea and has the largest off-shore oilfields in the world. Aberdeen's busy harbour also has a picturesque fish market. Close by the main street, Union Street, you will find the "Castlegate", the late medieval Provost Skene's House and the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which has an important collection of pre-Raphaelite and modern Art. Other attractions inlude the City Chambers, Marischal College, St. Machar Cathedral, Seaton Park and the Brig o'Balgownie.

Leith is the name of Edinburgh's port. Proud Edinburgh Castle, where visitors can view the regalia of the Scottish kings, stands tall over the city. From here you can go down the Royal Mile to the medieval old town with its impressive houses. This fine street leading from the castle is a real "high" street. Well-preserved medieval buildings line the cobble stoned streets, so steeped in history, that lead down to Holyrood Castle. St. Giles cathedral lies on the way, the cathedral of John Knox and "Kill Joy", the great Scots of the Reformation. It was here that Knox preached his "Book of Discipline", which became one of the foundations upon which the Scots presbyterian church was built.

Copenhagen is not only the capital of Denmark, but also the most multifaceted city in Scandinavia. A quarter of all Danes live in and around Copenhagen and yet the city remains, essentially, clearly laid out and easy to navigate. The massive bridge over the Bresund connecting Denmark with Sweden means Copenhagen has become an even more important hub in Scandinavia in the new millenium. Visitors from all over the world come to Copenhagen to have fun at Tivoli, to see the mermaid, the changing of the guard at the Queen's castle and much much more besides. Sights include: Vor Frelser Kirke (Our Saviour's Church), the round tower, the town hall, the little mermaid, Tivoli, the commodity exchange, Denmark's Royal Library, Thorvaldsen Museum, Amalienborg castle, and Tycho Brahes Planetarium.