British Isles Cruise - from Kiel - 124903

Kiel is the regional capital of Schleswig-Holstein. In this shipyard and maritime town steeped in tradition visitors can take a walk in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air while still having all the amenities of a city close at hand. This combination of closeness to nature and city life gives the residents of Kiel a special attitude to life. With a population of 250,000 Kiel is the cultural and economic centre of the region. Those living in the surrounding area come to Kiel specially to enjoy the varied cultural life with opera and theatre performances, concert halls, a children and youth theatre, museums, exhibitions, free cultural facilities and trendy clubs and eateries. Kiel's signature event is the annual 'Kieler Woche' - the largest sailing festival in the world!

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.

This town with a population of around 8,100 is the ideal starting point for excursions to the Inner Hebrides. It's no surprise that Oban has been a busy holiday destination for 150 years. The natural harbour, from where the ships set off for the islands, is the centre of business. This is also where the majority of the shops are. In addition to MacCaig's Tower, sights include the Oban Heritage Wharf, the Oban Distillery and the 'World in Miniature'.

Ullapool is a fishing town founded around 1800 as a herring port. It lies at the shores of Loch Broom and is the largest town on the North-West coast of Scotland. The harbour promenade by the narrow beach and the white houses along the top is a must-see. The many souvenir and craft shops make it the perfect place for a stroll and some shopping. Hill-walkers can explore the many paths over the nearby hillsides. In addition to fishing and walking, visitors can also enjoy boat-trips and watersports, or even a round of golf.

'The harbour of Rosyth is not far from the city of Dunfermline in Fife, surrounded by picturesque fishing villages that hug the coastline. The area is a golfer's paradise and is even considered to be the home of the sport. Thanks to its central location, Fife is the ideal starting point for a tour of discovery around other parts of Scotland. The magical city of Edinburgh is just a stone's throw away, and it's not far to Glasgow either. To the south, across the famous Forth Bridge, the lowlands with their hilly landscapes enchant the visitor, while in the North and North West you will be captivated by the wild romance of the Highlands.

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.