Northern countries Cruise - from Southampton - 125474

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.

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'.

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.

Norway's number one holiday destination - that's what the people in Kristiansund proudly call their city. Kristiansund is known not only for its attractive location at Skagerrak, the must-see fjord coastline with its skerries offshore and the attractive hinterland; the city also has the greatest number of sunshine hours per year in all of Norway. Kristiansund has lots to offer both in the cultural and the educational sphere. A stroll through the city centre reveals the strict rectalinear street plan. The streets look like a chess board, reminiscent of the American cities, although on a much smaller scale. It was in Kristiansund that town planners first came up with this idea. The reason for the striking arrangement of the streets is the planned construction of the city. At the time it was founded in the Middle Ages, this type of layout was the ideal. Old, well-restored wooden houses, which today are under preservation order, are a reminder of Kristiansand's past. The marketplace in the centre, surrounded by the cathedral, the town hall, the city hall and Wergeland park forms the genteel suburb of the city.

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.