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Northern Europe - a Top Destination for Cruising
Northern
Europe perennially tops lists of favorite destinations
for North American travelers. Those who have been there
look forward to returning. Those who have not, dream
of going.
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A Cruise Ship passing through the top of Geirangerfjord
, Norway |
There
are plenty of good reasons for this popularity. The
many cities in this prosperous and sophisticated corner
of the world include London, Paris, St. Petersburg and
others. Its landscapes include the rugged beauty of
Norway and Finland, the flower fields of the Netherlands
and the greens of Ireland. The architecture includes
modern masterpieces as well as ancient churches and
castles.
And
of course, the art, music and literature of this region
form a large part of the cultural fabric of the western
world. These also are the heartlands of golf, tennis,
auto racing, equestrian sports, soccer and many of the
world's other favorite sports and championships.
Summer
is the high season for cruises in this part of the world,
however, some lines offer year-round sailings from ports
in Great Britain and Norway.
Who
Cruises There
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With
the Cruise Guide for Worldwide Destinations, you
can view today's top cruise lines and where they
sail. To find the cruise(s) that suits you best,
select a region below. |
London
-
Although some small luxury vessels actually sail up
the Thames River to tie up in the heart of London, larger
vessels dock at nearby Tilbury, Harwich or Southampton.
Wherever the ship is, the action is in London Town.
The
British Museum -
If there is a master repository of the history of the
world's civilizations, this must be it. Collections
built through the long history of the British Empire
and the work of some of the greatest scholars have created
a museum that could not possibly be explored completely
in a single lifetime.
Kings
and Castles - London's many royal buildings embody the history and
traditions that continue today in this constitutional
monarchy. Among those open to the public is the famous
Tower of London on the banks of the Thames, which dates
back to the 11th Century. Tours allow visitors to see
where the great and the notorious were once imprisoned
and executed and to view the priceless Crown Jewels.
Great
Walks - A stroll through the city's Bankside along the Thames
takes tourists past the new re-creation of Shakespeare's
Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern art gallery, the medieval
Southwark Cathedral and a lively shopping and entertainment
district. Other prime locations for leisurely walks
include the legendary Hyde Park and the stately Victoria
Embankment, which leads to the Houses of Parliament.
St.
Petersburg - Although this great city shows the wear and tear it
endured as Leningrad during the decades of the Soviet
Union, its essential grandeur shows through.
The
Hermitage - Originally a palace of the czar, this vast building
now houses one of the world's greatest art collections.
It is, in fact, a work of art in itself, and no visit
to St. Petersburg would be complete without a visit
to this extraordinary museum.
The
Summer Palace - A short trip from the city, this country home, built
for Peter the Great, and its surrounding grounds provides
a glimpse into the opulence and elegance of the Czar's
court. The tour also takes visitors through the rural
countryside outside St. Petersburg.
Nevskiy
Prospekt - St. Petersburg's main thoroughfare and the heart of
its lively shopping and entertainment district, this
broad avenue is lined with shops carrying the names
of world-famous designers, art galleries, restaurants
and nightclubs. The street also crosses over the canals
that earned St. Petersburg the title "Venice of
the North."
Norwegian
Fjord - Not exactly fit for the definition of a port call, but
a series of scenic transits and stops at villages and
cities, the Norwegian Fjords treat visitors to spectacular
scenery and a first-hand view of the life, culture and
history of the land of the Vikings.
(source: CLIA) |
