Artic Cruise - from Lisbon - 129010

The white city by the sea, built on seven hills and framed by the natural harbour of "Rio Tejo" was founded by the Phoenicians in around the 9th-7th century B.C.. Today it is the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe. Lisbon is rich in architectural monuments. The Portuguese capital also has a varied and interesting cultural scene with theatre performances, concerts and exhibitions. "Bairro Alto" (the upper city) is well known for its nightlife. Sights include: Jerónimo's Monastery, Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, Comércio Square, São Jorge castle, and "Baixa Pombalina".

The French port of Cherbourg is known on the one hand as a naval base, and on the other as a centre of the fishing industry. Cherbourg is thought to have been built on the site of the Roman camp of Coriallum. The town was badly damaged during the Allied invasion of 1944. Cherbourg was the Allies' first supply port on the continent.

Plymouth, one of the largest sea ports in Great Britain, is of special historical importance: it was here that the Spanish Armada was defeated and England began its rise to become a world power. Great names of English seafaring history are associated with Plymouth, including Sir Fracis Drake and the Mayflower. The picturesque harbour of Plymouth is not the only attraction in this town. 'The Hoe', a park with many monuments, provides an excellent view. At the southern tip of Hoe, the Plymouth Dome provides information about the town's past and present in the form of a multimedia presentation. The climb to Smeaton lighthouse is worth it for the wonderful view of the surrounding area. The Royal Citadel today houses the aquarium of the Marine Biology Association and it is well worth taking a walk from here to the old town of Plymouth. Sights include: artificial snow ski-centre; Tamar Valley Railway Line; Mount Edgcumbe Country Park; Dartington crystal glass factor; the historic part of the town with The Barbican with 16th century style Elizsabethan house and the City Museum.

Located in southeastern Ireland, the small town of Bantry significates an important part of County Cork’s economy. Next to tourism, fishing remained one of the biggest industries. Historical times still have a strong impact on Bantry’s atmosphere. One of the most famous buildings is a stately home called Bantry House & Garden. Visitors can enjoy a tea in the ancient tea room or have a stroll through the beautiful garden. The town centre including Wolfe Town Square is worth a visit as well. In addition to the architectonic sights tourists and locals like to explore the natural monument of Whiddy Island.

The small harbour village Kinsale with its charming little streets and good restaurants is especially popular among tourists during summertime. In October the village and its 4.000 inhabitants invite its guests to the annual Kinsale Gourmet Festival. Athletic and active people will enjoy the possibilities to go sailing or golfing as well as the hiking tracks along the coast and the horse rides that are offered. By bus or during a little hike the Charles Fort can be visited. It invites its guests to learn about the history of the region during a guided tour.

The island capital of Stornoway is on the east coast of the twin islands of Lewis and Harris at the most northerly-westerly tip of the British Isles. One of the most important attractions in the city is Lews Castle, dating from the 19th century, which today is home to a Gaelic-speaking university college. The extensive grounds of Lews Castle are the perfect place to take a stroll. In the spring, rhododendron and gorse bloom in brilliant colours. Martin's Memorial Church in the town centre and several other churches are other must-sees.

Kirkwall is the capital of the northern Scottish island council area of Orkney, where visitors can expect to find a landscape made up mainly of craggy cliffs and strange sandstone formations. The pretty capital and business centre is famous primarily for its whisky distilleries and St. Magnus Cathedral. The cathedral dates from the 12th century and is one of the most beautiful examples of Norman architecture in the British Isles. Other sights include: Tankerness House, a 16th century town house that houses the local history museum of the Orkney Islands, and the Stone Age village of Skara Brae, which is more than 5,000 years old.

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.

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.

The town at the Cromarty Firth got its name from Sir William Gordon of Embo, who built the harbour in 1828. Invergordon is famous for its many distilleries, where the Scottish national drink, whisky, is produced. Sights include: the Natal Gardens, Inverbreakie Raceway, the Storehouse of Foulis, Tain Through Time Museum, Nigg Old Church, the Glenmorangie Distillery, the Dalmore Distillery, The Official Loch Ness Visitors Centre, the Inverness area and the Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

Kirkwall is the capital of the northern Scottish island council area of Orkney, where visitors can expect to find a landscape made up mainly of craggy cliffs and strange sandstone formations. The pretty capital and business centre is famous primarily for its whisky distilleries and St. Magnus Cathedral. The cathedral dates from the 12th century and is one of the most beautiful examples of Norman architecture in the British Isles. Other sights include: Tankerness House, a 16th century town house that houses the local history museum of the Orkney Islands, and the Stone Age village of Skara Brae, which is more than 5,000 years old.

Lerwick is the main port of the Shetland Islands and a cornerstone in the economy and infrastructure of the region. With its ideal location, it is a popular destination for cruise ships en route between Iceland, the Faroe Isles, Norway and Scotland. With the many small islands - home to the Shetland ponies, the Shetland Islands are also a popular destination for day-trippers from Aberdeen and Orkney.

Lerwick is the main port of the Shetland Islands and a cornerstone in the economy and infrastructure of the region. With its ideal location, it is a popular destination for cruise ships en route between Iceland, the Faroe Isles, Norway and Scotland. With the many small islands - home to the Shetland ponies, the Shetland Islands are also a popular destination for day-trippers from Aberdeen and Orkney.

Reykjavik, the trading and cultural centre of Iceland at the South-West coast of the island was named "smoking bay" after the famous hot springs of Laugardalur. Today it has a population of around 130,000 - approximately 1/3 of the total population. The capital of iceland has plenty of tourist attractions. A stroll through the old town leads to the main shopping street, Laugavegur, and the pedestrian zone, past the historic Höfdi House (where Reagan and Gorbatschow held their summit in 1986) to the modern basalt church 'Hallgrimskirka'. The church tower offers the best view of the city. Tracing the footsteps of Icelandic history, there are many archaeological finds and artefacts from Viking times on display in the National Museum and art lovers will enjoy the Einar Jonsson Museum with its wonderful sculpture garden.

The Vestmannaeyjar Islands ("Westman Isles") became world famous at the beginning of 1973. A huge volcanic explosion with a stream of lava measuring 1600 m destroyed the majority of the main settlement of Heimæy.The lava flowed through the streets and could only be stopped by the use of waterpumps used to spray sea water onto the hot lava non-stop. This also prevented the loss of the natural harbour of Heimæy. Without it, the main source of income of the island population would have been lost, which would probably have led to the abandonment of the permanent settlement. Sights include: the lighthouse at Storhöfoi, the Hjörleifur valley.

Eric the Red founded the first Viking settlement here in the year 985 and called it Brattahlid (Brattahlíð).

With a population of around 140,000 St. John's is the largest city in Newfoundland and also the oldest city in North America. Since large areas of the craggy island are uninhabitable, the majority of the population lives in the city and in small coastal suburbs. Colorful wooden houses and rustic pubs, particularly in legendary George Street, are St. John's trademark. In the middle of the city is Signal Hill, where the first wireless message from Europe was received in 1901. In the spring visitors are highly likely to be able to see massive icebergs drifting past; in the summer, whales frolic in the bay. It was not far from here that the Titanic sank. Sights include: Newfoundland Museum, the Colonial Building, Arts and Culture Centre, Signal Hill National Historic Site.

With a population of 5,000, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland. The Greenlandic name, Sisimiut, means "foxhole inhabitant". The town has the most northerly port that remains ice-free all year. Accordingly, the fishing industry and the export of prawns are booming. The town is proud to be home to the most modern shrimp factory in the world. Sisimiut is also the first settlement North of the Arctic Circle where the Inuit kept sled dogs for use in the Winter. The museum and the old town with the oldest wooden church in Greenland, which dates from 1775, are particularly worth seeing.

Kangerlussuaq, also known by its Danish name, 'Søndre Strømfjord', lies at the end of the 170 km long Fjord of the same name in Greenland. It is home to the largest airport in the country and the starting point for exploratory and adventure expeditions. The town has been dominated by the American presence since 1941, as Kangerlussuaq was one of the most important stopovers for airforce manoeuvres during World War II. The surrounding area of this town in western Greenland is home to around 4,000 musk oxes - the largest herd living in the wild, and visitors are also likely to see reindeers.

With a population of 5,000, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland. The Greenlandic name, Sisimiut, means "foxhole inhabitant". The town has the most northerly port that remains ice-free all year. Accordingly, the fishing industry and the export of prawns are booming. The town is proud to be home to the most modern shrimp factory in the world. Sisimiut is also the first settlement North of the Arctic Circle where the Inuit kept sled dogs for use in the Winter. The museum and the old town with the oldest wooden church in Greenland, which dates from 1775, are particularly worth seeing.

Greenland's capital city Nuuk is the centre of life in this country - it is the centre for trade, shipping, industry and the administration. With a population of 13,500, Nuuk is the largest city not only in Greenland, but in the whole Arctic region. Over the last 30 years, Nuuk has undergone considerable modern development.

Eric the Red founded the first Viking settlement here in the year 985 and called it Brattahlid (Brattahlíð).

Reykjavik, the trading and cultural centre of Iceland at the South-West coast of the island was named "smoking bay" after the famous hot springs of Laugardalur. Today it has a population of around 130,000 - approximately 1/3 of the total population. The capital of iceland has plenty of tourist attractions. A stroll through the old town leads to the main shopping street, Laugavegur, and the pedestrian zone, past the historic Höfdi House (where Reagan and Gorbatschow held their summit in 1986) to the modern basalt church 'Hallgrimskirka'. The church tower offers the best view of the city. Tracing the footsteps of Icelandic history, there are many archaeological finds and artefacts from Viking times on display in the National Museum and art lovers will enjoy the Einar Jonsson Museum with its wonderful sculpture garden.