The historic cities and diverse landscapes of Northern Europe are within easy reach by cruise ships and make for fascinating cruise holiday destinations.
Cruising the dramatic coast of Norway is an enthralling experience. From Bergen to Tromso and the North Cape, the Norwegian fjords treat the traveller to a spectacle of towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.
Cruising the amazing icescape of a glacier, spotting humpback or killer whales, or sighting the Northern Lights, add up to a magical holiday in one of the most stunning regions of the world. Also check out our extensive selection of Northern Lights and Norway cruises.
Include volcanic Iceland on your cruise itinerary and you’ll be treated to the wonder of the 75-foot-high Geysir, the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall and a chance to bathe in the geothermal waters at the Blue Lagoon.
The towns and cities of Scandinavia and the Baltic States offer a wealth of romance and character. Some, such as Stavanger in Norway, and Bornholm in Denmark, are charming cruise ports with brightly-coloured wooden buildings clustered round a harbour, winding cobbled streets and open-air markets whilst other, grander cities, such as Helsinki, Riga and Tallinn, display their rich heritage in elaborate palaces, imposing fortresses and ornate churches.
A cruise to St Petersburg is well rewarded. Russia’s second city is rich with flamboyant buildings like the magnificent Hermitage Museum (home to one of the world’s greatest art collections) and the decoratively domed churches and imperial palaces overlooking the River Neva.
Copenhagen in Denmark combines the charm of its harbour-side location with the grandeur of a European capital. The tales of Hans Christian Anderson are celebrated with a delightful statue of The Little Mermaid and that fairytale air continues in the lavish decor of the royal palaces that preside over the oldest kingdom in the world.
Elegant and prosperous Hamburg, known as the German Venice, is the gateway to exploring other German cities including beautiful Lubeck, Bremen and Berlin.
Amsterdam possesses the friendliness and easy-going nature of a cosy village and the cultural wealth of an important city. Fine gabled houses overlook leafy canalside streets that are shared by cyclists, pavement cafes and flower stalls. The Belgian city of Bruges is also built on canals, which criss-cross the wonderful medieval heart of this city of chocolate, beer and lace.
There are many exciting options available on a Northern Europe cruise, including short city breaks, voyages into the Arctic Circle and shopping trips to Christmas markets. You could also include cruise destinations in other regions, notably Western Mediterranean cruises and UK cruises.
View our live Northern Europe cruise webcams to see which ships are in port
Take a virtual tour of Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea using our Google Earth cruise and see the ports often visited.
If you do not have Google Earth on your computer go to our Google Earth info pages for a step by step guide |
