Transatlantic Cruise - from Copenhagen - 114324

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.

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.

This city with its 500,000 inhabitants is a real economic metropolis. It is home to the world centre of the diamond trade, the second largest port in Europe and various other industries and trade fairs. The second-largest city in Belgium boasts many attractions, such as the cathedral, which dates from the 14th -16th century, the market, the 16th century town hall and the fort of "Steen" dating from the 12th century. Other attractions include the "Royal Museum of Fine Arts", the Rubens house from the early 17th century and the international port.

The port of Dover is just 28 km from France. 14 million passengers pass through here on the journey between the British Isles and the French mainland. But what Dover is most famous for is its beautiful white cliffs, upon which, hardly visible, stands the largest fort in England. Other sights include: Dover Castle and the lighthouse.

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 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.

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.

Ísafjörður comprises several districts stretching from the end of the Fjords on the Northern side to the original settlement, where the harbour is. On the other side of the fjord is the airport - although really it is nothing more than a runway with a tiny check-in building. Although all of the fjords in the North-West are losing inhabitants to more prosperous areas, Ísafjörður has been successful in keeping its residents and has even recorded a slight growth in population, to around 3,500. The town was founded as a settlement for the Hanseatics and later taken over by the Danes. Ísafjörður is an excellent example of the development of Icelandic architecture. There are five listed buildings in Ísafjörður - all of which were built in the 18th century. The oldest house dates from the mid-18th century, the most recent from 1788. Four of the houses are in Neostikaupstaour and one is in Haestikaupstaour. Other sights include: the museum

Akureyri, located at the end of the 90 km long Eyjafjördhur is by far the largest city in the country outside the capital, with a population of 14,500. Akureyri is the transport and cultural hub of the North. The main economic elements are: fish processing, ship-building yard, the export port and some light industry. Akureyri is famous for its pleasant climate, i.e. little rain and warm summers. The Fjord location at the foot of mountains measuring up to 1,400 m high and "an extraordinary amount of vegetation" in the cityscape contribute to its reputation as the most beautiful city on the island so one might almost forget that it lies just 100 km South of the Arctic circle. The old part of the city, "Fjaran", with nostalgic wooden buildings, is to the South of the modern city centre. Sights include: the ice cathedral, Museum of Local HIstory, the Nonni house and the Botanic Gardens.

'The port of Gaspé is the capital of the Canadian peninsula of the same name. The main attraction of this town, which has a population of 17,000, is a memorial made of huge stone slabs to commemorate the discovery of the region by Jaques Cartier.

Cap-aux-Meules is one of the twelve Magdalen Islands. The archipelago is situated 200 kilometers away from the Canadian mainland. Its population is French speaking as Magdalen Islands belong to the province of Québec. Each year numerous visitors arrive at Cap-aux-Meules, pushing tourism to the most important economic field. Visitors can admire astonishing wild nature. Long sandy beaches and red sand rocks mark the landscape. A brought species richness can be found. Besides, Cap-aux-Meules’ architecture impresses with colorful wooden houses.

The historic city of Sydney with its Scottish flair is the gateway to the National Park and the natural paradise that is Cape Breton. Long mountain roads through the highlands of Cape Breton provide breathtaking views of a unique landscape. You will often see moose (Canadian elks) during walks and you might even be lucky enough to see the whales cavorting near the coast. Nova Scotia's third-largest city is also home to the oldest Catholic church in Cape Breton, St. Patrick's, as well as numerous golf courses and a historic steel works, which helped the city prosper in the 19th century.

Halifax is not only the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia but also has one of the largest ports in the world. The city not far from Montreal is known for its many galleries and museums; it also hosts a great many cultural and musical events. Behind the harbour lies the picturesque coastal landscape. There are several historic buildings that house small shops, restaurants and the Museum of Natural History, which has an exhibition about the Titanic. Other sights include: "Citadel Hill", the parliament, "Spring Garden Road Region", the public gardens and Point Pleasant Park.

Boston, capital of Massachusetts and the gateway to New England, is laden with history but at the same time vibrant and bursting with energy. Indeed, Boston - with a population of just over half a million - is one of the most interesting cities in America in terms of both history and culture - as well as one of the most beautiful. Unlike most major cities, it still has countless historical buildings and areas, and is among the architectural must-sees of America. Historic buildings, picturesque cobbled streets and relaxing parks meet with modern high-rise buildings, giving a surprisingly harmonious overall effect. A section of the Berlin Wall can be viewed at the harbour, from where you can also set off on a whale-watching trip.

New York - the huge, vibrant city by the Hudson River and the unofficial capital of the world - is without a doubt one of the most fascinating cities in the USA. Around 12 million residents from all over the world call New York home. The city is divided into five districts, Manhattan being the heart of the city and the most famous district. Probably just about anyone coming to New York thinks first of Wall Street, Broadway, the Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue and the many museums, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. All of this can be found in New York City, indeed in the "small" district of Manhattan. "The Big Apple", as the city is also known, is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, from rich to poor - the ultimate city of contrasts. The subject of many songs, and yet more literature, New York is in a constant state of flux. It is a centre for the economy, the arts and architecture that each of the 25 million visitors annually will experience differently, but which captures the imagination of every single one of them.