Uncover Copenhagen's half-timber villages and tidy farms where pedestrians set the pace, not traffic! With our exclusive luxury cruise, sail in both comfort and luxury for the best luxury cruise experience of your lifetime!

Warnemünde, officially a suburb of Rostock, is a quaint seaside resort with the area's best hotels and restaurants and 20 km (12 miles) of white-sand beach. A longtime summer getaway for families in eastern Germany, it's mainly a place to relax. It is also a major cruise-ship terminal; when multiple ships dock, the town buzzes like a fair, with shops and restaurants open until midnight. The dreifache Anlauf-three ships arriving at once-is celebrated with fireworks.

Århus is Denmark's second-largest city and one of its most pleasant, with a lively arts and college scene. The Århus Å canal runs through the center; once underground, it was uncovered and now has bars, cafés, and restaurants along its banks. The area is busy day and night with people on outdoor terraces and steps by the water. VisitÅrhus offers the Århus Passport, covering bus travel, free or discounted admission to 12 top museums and sights, and tours.

Aalborg, Denmark's fourth-largest city, sits on the Limfjord in northern Jutland and blends Viking heritage with bold contemporary design. Wander the cobbled old town to find Jens Bang's Stone House, an ornate 17th-century merchant's mansion, and lively Jomfru Ane Gade, one of Scandinavia's most famous bar streets. Visit Aalborghus Castle and Budolfi Cathedral, then cross the fjord to Lindholm Høje, a striking Viking burial site where stone ship settings overlook the water. Contemporary highlights include the Utzon Center, designed by Aalborg-born Jørn Utzon of Sydney Opera House fame, and the waterfront promenade lined with sleek glass-and-steel landmarks.

Oslo, Norway's capital, blends old and new: maritime history, art galleries, cafes, modern architecture, palaces, and historic sites. It keeps reinventing itself, from a former prison turned arts hub to revived docklands. Green and progressive, it offers parks, summer sun, and nearby mountains and lakes. Highlights include City Hall and the Nobel Peace Prize, the Royal Palace, the Opera House, and Oslofjord museums with Viking ships.

Oslo, Norway's capital, blends old and new: maritime history, art galleries, cafes, modern architecture, palaces, and historic sites. It keeps reinventing itself, from a former prison turned arts hub to revived docklands. Green and progressive, it offers parks, summer sun, and nearby mountains and lakes. Highlights include City Hall and the Nobel Peace Prize, the Royal Palace, the Opera House, and Oslofjord museums with Viking ships.

Kristiansand is Norway's summer getaway: a lively, green city with old-time charm and cultural energy. Explore Posebyen Old Town's floral timber houses, enjoy festivals, seafood and shopping, and visit the striking Kilden Performing Arts Centre. It's also a great base for Southern Norway's coast-ferries, beaches, islands, fjords, fishing, and fresh air await.

This is Fjordland at its finest. Named by National Geographic Traveler as "the world's most iconic destination," Vik feels like Tolkien wrote it: mists on the mountains, crisp air, silent glassy fjords, and a landscape steeped in Viking heritage, Scandinavian myth, and enchantment. Legend says Vikings and trolls battled on these waters, and Vik's two pretty stave churches stand on sacred Norse land.

Haugesund, on the North Sea, is a charming Norwegian port town founded in the 19th century by herring fishermen. The sea shaped its past and still defines its lively harbor, docks, and fishing boats. Visit the Fishermen Memorial, Our Saviour's Church, and its many restaurants. Known as "the Nordic Cannes," it hosts the Norwegian International Film Festival, Sildajazz, and museums. Nearby, enjoy hikes, beaches, Karmøy Island, and Avaldsnes, with the Nordvegen History Centre and St. Olav's Church.

Stavanger, Norway's energy capital and third-largest city, blends a preserved historic core with dramatic scenery. Fueled by North Sea oil, it's surprisingly charming, with colorful Øvre Holmegate, scenic waterfronts, and the white wooden houses of Gamle Stavanger. Museums cover oil, sardines, and Viking history; Domkirken Cathedral dates to the 12th century. Nearby Lysefjord and Preikestolen offer stunning fjord views, hikes, and helicopter tours.

Ijmuiden opens the door to the Netherlands' laid-back North Sea coast and, beyond the dunes and beaches, to the nearby treasures of Amsterdam and Haarlem. From its working harbour and wide seafront, you can explore canal-lined streets, elegant gabled houses, windmills, museums and café culture, all wrapped in the easygoing charm that makes this corner of Holland so appealing.

Dover, England's main cross-Channel port, is 21 miles from France; on clear days Calais is visible. Romans used its natural harbor and built a lighthouse; later the Normans built Dover Castle, used militarily until 1958. Tunnels beneath the castle served in the Napoleonic wars and WWII, and were once planned as a nuclear refuge; they're now open to the public. The port is at Western Docks, 2 miles from town, 85 miles from London, with trains taking about 90 minutes.

Portland, a tied island on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, is linked to the mainland by Chesil Beach. This UNESCO World Heritage coastline offers limestone cliffs, bays, rock formations, pirate lore, castles and lighthouses. Highlights include the red-and-white Portland Bill Lighthouse, Durdle Door, a Tudor castle that hosted Olympic sailing, and Castletown D-Day Centre. Portland stone helped build St Paul's Cathedral and the UN HQ.

Falmouth, on Cornwall's coast, blends sandy beaches, seaside charm, community spirit and a modern arty edge. Recently named the UK's best town to live, it's a lively university town with galleries, independent bookshops, bars and restaurants. Its maritime past lives on at the National Maritime Museum and Prince of Wales Pier. Nearby, the Lizard Peninsula offers dramatic coastal walks, fishing coves and the Lizard Lighthouse. Finish with a Cornish cream tea.

Fishguard, perched on a clifftop in North Pembrokeshire, is a picturesque market town rich in history and local charm. Visit on Saturday for food, crafts and produce, or browse the high street's shops. Famous for the 1797 French invasion-the last invasion of Britain-the peace treaty was signed in the Royal Oak, which still stands in the market square. Enjoy kayaking, walking trails, cycling, boat trips, cafes, Welsh cakes, and the 100-foot Last Invasion Tapestry in the town hall.

Liverpool is inseparable from The Beatles, the Cavern Club, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. A major music city and UNESCO City of Music since 2015, it also boasts football pride, maritime heritage and a vibrant culture, with a big regeneration led by Tate Liverpool. Don't miss the waterfront, the Three Graces, Scouse, the parks and Crosby Beach.

Reborn as a cool modern city, Belfast blends culture, architecture and cosy pubs. Explore the Maritime Quarter and Titanic District, where the Titanic Museum tells the story of the famous ship built here, alongside SS Nomadic and the Maritime Mile. See the Salmon of Knowledge, tour the Peace Lines and murals by black taxi, then visit the light-filled Metropolitan Arts Centre and lively Cathedral Quarter.

Edinburgh is a dramatic, historic capital built on seven hills, crowned by Edinburgh Castle and backed by Arthur's Seat. Its neoclassical streets, gardens, museums, and Scottish Parliament mix old and new. A cultural hub, it hosts the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, has strong food, nightlife, finance, and quality of life, and still evokes Scotland's past through its writers, legends, and views toward the Firth of Forth and beyond.

Edinburgh is a dramatic, historic capital built on seven hills, crowned by Edinburgh Castle and backed by Arthur's Seat. Its neoclassical streets, gardens, museums, and Scottish Parliament mix old and new. A cultural hub, it hosts the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, has strong food, nightlife, finance, and quality of life, and still evokes Scotland's past through its writers, legends, and views toward the Firth of Forth and beyond.

Once a shipbuilding city, Newcastle proudly blends Roman ruins, industrial heritage and innovation. The Angel of the North greets visitors, while Newcastle and Gateshead face each other across the Tyne, linked by seven bridges, including the striking Millennium Bridge. Explore the interactive Discovery Museum and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. With lively Geordie spirit, top restaurants, nightlife, live music, comedy, theatre, clubs and breweries, it's a city full of character.

Southampton, home of Titanic's ill-fated departure, has a long maritime history: Henry V's Agincourt fleet sailed from here, as did the Mayflower, and the Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary began their maiden voyages here. Today it's Northern Europe's cruise capital, with a charming old city, the Sea City Museum, green spaces, Tudor remains, and a walkable centre. Guildhall Square is the hub for culture, food and drink. Nearby: Stonehenge, Salisbury, and the peaceful New Forest.