The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Skagen is a world of windswept beauty, a finger of reef where sun-bleached dunes meet swathes of pastel sky. Denmark’s most northerly town on the tip of the peninsula is famed for fishing (you won’t find a tastier shrimp salad on homemade rye), while its poetic seascapes and luminous evening light has inspired many an Impressionist artist. Skagen’s main attraction is the sandy Skaw (after which the town is named) at Grenen Beach – a tapered spit where two worlds literally collide. Here, the north seas of Skagerrak and Kattegat meet, crashing together in the middle, but always look separate. While standing for the obligatory photograph with a foot in each sea, you’ll often spot whales and seals, and in springtime follow the swoop and fall of hundreds of rare migrating birds. Such natural beauty is the inspiration for many local artists. Browse their wares in the abundant galleries, jewellery and craft shops.

The 587 square kilometre Danish island of Bornholm lies in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Its geologically diverse landscape combines features found on close neighbours Sweden, Finland and Denmark; from craggy bedrocks in the north, to white sand beaches and sand dunes in the south.

Alongside the Baltic Sea, on the beautiful west coast of Lithuania lies Klaipėda. This cruise destination is brimming with bays and beaches, an interesting array of sand dunes, shops and shipyards offering something to suit every taste. The lovingly restored old town bring cruises to Klaipėda a unique atmosphere and allure. Antique lampposts appear on every corner and half-timbered buildings stand much as they did 100-200 years ago, among stone-paved sidewalks and cosily hidden courtyards. At its heart is Teatro Square named after the ornate Neoclassical theatre building on its northern side. Embark on one of our Klaipėda cruises and treat yourself to a truly exclusive experience.

A small but perfectly formed Hanseatic town, no wonder Visby is described as the ‘Pearl of the Baltic’ or, even more evocatively, as the ‘town of roses and ruins’. This popular Swedish cruise port on the west coast of the Baltics largest island, Gotland, was once a Viking trading post but it later developed into the Baltics main Hanseatic centre between the 12th and 14th centuries. Embark on one of our cruises to Visby and you will discover more than 200 warehouses and wealthy merchants stone dwellings from that time remain within its two-mile long medieval walls, making it the best-preserved fortified commercial settlement in northern Europe and earning it World Heritage site status. From here, your Visby cruise tour will take you on a stroll through rose-scented alleyways to the lovely Botanical Gardens. Visby bring cruises here a mixture of ancient and modern, with plenty of lively cafes and interesting shops to go with the living history and fascinating selection of museums.

Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer. Exploring the fascinating sights of Helsinki, cruise guests will discover the city is also the country’s main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals. The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago. Highlights of cruises to Helsinki also include some of the traditional Finnish building in the Senate Square and the North Harbour. Helsinki is a compact city – ‘a pocket-sized metropolis’, as it was once described – so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring ‘pub tram’ and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront. After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts.

Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer. Exploring the fascinating sights of Helsinki, cruise guests will discover the city is also the country’s main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals. The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago. Highlights of cruises to Helsinki also include some of the traditional Finnish building in the Senate Square and the North Harbour. Helsinki is a compact city – ‘a pocket-sized metropolis’, as it was once described – so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring ‘pub tram’ and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront. After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts.

Warnemünde is your gateway to all things Hanseatic, which means that many of the most popular excursions offered from Warnemünde cruises provide a fascinating tour through living medieval history. Nearby Rostock still emanates some of its former glories as a major Hanseatic city. Its pedestrianised old town is full of narrow atmospheric streets, cutting between impressive centuries-old buildings. City Hall, in the New Market Place, is particularly impressive, but the 15th century St. Marien Church, with its astronomical clock, is Rostocks true focal point. From Warnemünde-Rostock, your cruise tour takes you to the magnificent 700-year-old brick cathedral of Bad Doberan is only 10 miles away. Railway buffs will love the antique railway that runs from there to the beach resort of Heiligendamm, which is 30 minutes steaming away – through landscapes of charming villages, coastal scenes and the beautiful Doberan Linden Alley.

Understand that Zeebrugge literally means Bruges-on-Sea and you immediately appreciate why this ferry port is also Belgium’s major cruise port. A medieval jewel on the North Sea, the charming city of Bruges is just 10 miles away. Sometimes called the Venice of the North because of the picturesque criss-crossing canals on which you can enjoy fascinating and romantic boat rides, Bruges actually has a character all its own. Although it has all the facilities of a modern city – smart shops, restaurants, bars and hotels – these are all found behind the centuries-old facades and weathered gables of the historic buildings at the city’s heart. Bruges is rightly famous for its exquisite lacework, tasty chocolate and huge range of local beers while, from Zeebrugge, you can also visit another historic city, Ghent, the capital Brussels, and historic battlefield sites such as Waterloo and Ypres.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.