British Isles Cruise - from Reykjavik - 115050

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.

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.

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.

London, a world city with a population of 7.1 million is the capital of the United Kingdom and a city of many faces. Next to the office blocks you can see street musicians who know exactly how to keep passers-by entertained. London boasts many famous museums, such as the Cabaret Mechanical Museum, as well as world-class musicals and some truly unique individuals. This is just as typical of the city by the Thames as the fog, the scandals surrounding the royal family and Buckingham Palace. The range of cultural activities on offer in London is huge and diverse and includes theatres, renowned orchestras and opera perormances. Sights include: the world-famous bell tower "Big Ben", St. Paul's Cathedral, high-end shops in Bond and Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, "Madame Tussaud's" waxworks, shopping at Harrods and Portobello Market, Covent Garden, and the futuristically modern glass palaces.

London, a world city with a population of 7.1 million is the capital of the United Kingdom and a city of many faces. Next to the office blocks you can see street musicians who know exactly how to keep passers-by entertained. London boasts many famous museums, such as the Cabaret Mechanical Museum, as well as world-class musicals and some truly unique individuals. This is just as typical of the city by the Thames as the fog, the scandals surrounding the royal family and Buckingham Palace. The range of cultural activities on offer in London is huge and diverse and includes theatres, renowned orchestras and opera perormances. Sights include: the world-famous bell tower "Big Ben", St. Paul's Cathedral, high-end shops in Bond and Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, "Madame Tussaud's" waxworks, shopping at Harrods and Portobello Market, Covent Garden, and the futuristically modern glass palaces.

The second-largest city in Germany (with a population of 1.8 million) lies at the Elbe and Alster rivers. Due to its location, Hamburg has a dense network of waterways and has more bridges than even Venice! The Hanseatic city is one of the most important economic centres in Germany on account of the overseas port and the media and cultural centre. This city of contrasts has a highly developed entertainment culture that visitors can experience first hand in the legendary 'St. Pauli' area and in Hamburg's many music halls and theatres. The 1,200-year-old city is loved by culture-vultures and scenesters alike, and buildings with ultra-modern shops and bars are sprouting up all over the city between the traditional office buildings. Other attractions include: the "Michel", the entire port development, the "Jungfernstieg", the "Reeperbahn', the TV tower, Hagenbeck Zoo, the warehouse area "Speicherstadt", Mönckebergstraße, St. Jacobi Church and the fish market.