Baltic Sea Cruise - from Stockholm - 130052

Stockholm with its fantastic location at the mouth of the Mälaren at the Baltic Sea is a mixture of illustrious beauty and regal splendour, a vibrant modern city with a historical charm. Built over 14 islands, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe. Opulent buildings, park areas, an inner city with countless old alleyways and historic sites and a rich cultural heritage are what make Stockholm so special. In addition, the water in Stockholm is so clean that you can even go swimming and fishing in the middle of the city! The old town is surrounded by beautiful old houses and the royal palace, which has been the home of the Swedish kings and queens since the 12th century. Sights include: Stor Church and Riddarholm Church, the old town, the castle, the parliament building, the town hall, Drottningholm castle, the Wasa Museum with the wreck of the "Wasa" ship and the outdoor museum at Skansen.

Visby's picturesque half-timbered houses nestle enclosed by the 3.6 km long medieval city wall - the only one in Scandinavia The imposing warehouses dating from the Hanseatic area, ruins covered in ivy and the high towers of St. Mary's church all stand taller than the city wall. Visby does not simply dwell on its historic past; it is a very vibrant town with many festivals, a busy yacht and ferry port and a sandy beach directly by the gates of the defensive wall. The sights are close to one another and the best way to explore this old Hanseatic city is on foot. The wide range of cultural activities, festivals and other events, ranging from traditional folk dancing to rock concerts, from mystery plays to avantgarde music, from antiques markets to art exhibitions, mean there is something to suit every taste. Sights include: the city wall, Fornsal museum, St. Mary's church, church ruins.

Oslo, located at the end of the Oslofjord, is the capital city of Norway. Over the past few years Oslo has developed into a modern capital, encompassing more and more neighbouring towns into its urban area. There are a good 50 museums for tourists to visit; some of the most interesting of these are to be found on the 'museum island' of Bygdoy. A stroll through Vigeland Park with its obeslisks and monumental stone figures is also well worth it, as is a vist to the Holmenkollen ski-jump with a stunning view of the city and the Oslofjord. Other attractions worth a visit are the town hall, which appears a litte clumsy from the outside but boasts huge interior frescoes, the fort at Akershus at the eastern side of the port and the cathedral. Oslo has a population of 486,311. The famous Hollmenkollen ski-jump provides a fantastic view of the enchanting capital of Norway. A visit to the historic area of Oslo close to the fort of Akershus is also very enjoyable. Karl Johans Gate between the castle and the parliament with its numerous shops and cafés is the perfect place to take a lazy stroll. Sights include: the Norwegian outdoor museum with its wooden "Stavkirke" on Bygdoy; the Viking Ship Museum with the Oseberg ship; Fram museum with the Polar ship 'Fram' on Bygdoy; Thor Heyerdal Museum with Kon Tiki on Bygdoy; the Munch Museum; the National Gallery; the Arts and Crafts Museum; the Historical Museum; the Resistance Museum; the Gallery of Modern Art; the Maritime Museum; the Zoological Museum; the town hall (Oslo's landmark); the castle; Storting (Houses of Parliament); Vigeland sculpture park in Frogner Park; Akershuscastle, which is medieval in parts; the view from Holmenkollen - the ski-jump and museum; the cathedral (1697); the Defense Museum.

The Venice of the North! Along the canals and waterways and in the winding streets between the stepped gable houses, Amsterdam has a cosy but cosmopolitan flair. Idyllic pavement cafés, lively flea markets, the Anne Frank House, the Rijks- or Van-Gogh-Museum and many, many galleries and shops selling products designed and made by young designers and artists.

Zeebrugge, the largest fishing port in Belgium, is linked to Bruges, of which it is a subdivision, by means of a twelve kilometre long canal. Bruges is well worth a look. Along the long beach promenade there are lots of cafés where you can sit and relax. The fish auction hall at the rear of the harbour is one of the largest and most modern in Europe and can be seen during a tour of the harbour. Zeebrugge also has a yacht marina, with space to accommodate around one hundred ships. Sights include: St. George's Memorial, Pierre Vandamme sea-lock, the diamond museum, the Memling Museum, the Church of Our Lady, the Oldtimer and Motorbike Museum, Minne Water Park, and the home brewery 'De Halve Maan'.

The port of "Le Havre de Grace" was founded in 1517 by François I on the right bank of the Seine estuary. The seafront, the beach and the harbour basin reach right into the heart of the town. The town's image is shaped by the Seine estuary and the port. Le Havre is not only an important trading port, but also has a yacht marina and a beach. The alabaster coast with its tall chalk cliffs stretches north from Le Havre to the Somme estuary. Always connected with the sea, today Le Havre is the fifth-largest European port. Sights include: the port, the town hall, Villa Maritime, the swimming dock, St. Josef's Church, the garden at St. Roch, Malraux museum, and Notre Dame cathedral.

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.