Stockholm, Sweden The “City That Floats On Water” is built on 14 islands, where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. By ship, Stockholm is approached through an archipelago of 30,000 islands and skerries, fishing villages, thousands of sailing boats and quaint red summer cottages. Cruise ships dock in the city center, just steps away [...]
Stockholm, Sweden
The “City That Floats On Water” is built on 14 islands, where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. By ship, Stockholm is approached through an archipelago of 30,000 islands and skerries, fishing villages, thousands of sailing boats and quaint red summer cottages.
Cruise ships dock in the city center, just steps away from a wealth of cultural treasures, including medieval walking streets, magnificent cathedrals, parks, theaters and open-air and indoor markets — all easily accessible by foot or public transportation. Most Stockholmers speak English.
The beginning or ending port for many Baltic Sea cruises, Stockholm boasts having Scandinavia’s largest airport — with five terminals and more than 60 airlines that fly to and from more than 100 international destinations. Stockholm’s Arlanda International Airport is located 26 miles north of the city with easy train-to-city-center connections on the Arlanda Airport Express.
Excursions around Stockholm include Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town; Steninge Palace and Cultural Center, featuring an 18th century palace and a national heritage stone barn; Uppsala, featuring Sweden’s oldest university and largest cathedral; Mariefred and Gripsholm Castle, with Sweden’s largest portrait collection and the country’s oldest inn; Skokloster Castle, one of Europe’s best-preserved baroque castles; and the Stockholm archipelago, with 30,000 islands, islets and rocks that can be reached by boat from Stockholm’s city center.
Set along the banks of the Thames, London is Europe’s largest city, boasting more than 7 million inhabitants and deserving of at least several days of exploration. Its oldest section, where the Romans first garrisoned, is now its business and financial center, referred to as the City, or the Square Mile where you will also [...]
Set along the banks of the Thames, London is Europe’s largest city, boasting more than 7 million inhabitants and deserving of at least several days of exploration.
Its oldest section, where the Romans first garrisoned, is now its business and financial center, referred to as the City, or the Square Mile where you will also find the Tower of London.
Otherwise, tourist matters fall largely to the city’s social and cultural center, the West End, or to the bars, clubs and restaurants of Soho.
The major museums, such as the Victoria & Albert, are in South Kensington. London boasts many beautiful parks. For recreation and pastoral settings, Hyde Park and Serpentine Lake are perfect, but Kew Gardens in southwest London features an enormous collection of plants, landscaped panoramas, and charming greenhouses.
For history hounds, Buckingham Palace, the royal residence, delivers a glimpse of aristocratic life. Plus, venerable Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral serve as time-tested counterpoints to newer sights like the London Eye and the Millennium Dome.
A picturesque port city, Lisbon frequently shows up on lists of favorite cities to visit, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s small yet immensely charming, characterized by romantic cobblestone streets, mosaic sidewalks, rolling hills and pastel houses. It’s also a diverse city, blending the several cultures that collected here when Portugal was a major [...]
A picturesque port city, Lisbon frequently shows up on lists of favorite cities to visit, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s small yet immensely charming, characterized by romantic cobblestone streets, mosaic sidewalks, rolling hills and pastel houses.
It’s also a diverse city, blending the several cultures that collected here when Portugal was a major colonial power. The oldest part of the city, the Alfama quarter, still retains its medieval feel.
But Lisbon is not stuck in just a relic. The city hosted the grand Expo ’98 and was named European City of Culture in 1994.
Visitors can stroll through old, narrow neighborhoods and find themselves at art nouveau cafés, enjoy a scenic ride on an antique wooden streetcar, or take a steep ride up to Bairro Alto in a turn-of-the-century street elevator.
Must-see sites include Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, St. George’s's Castle, and the impressive Museu Calouste Gulbenkian.
And don’t forget the perfect, fairy-tale ending: a visit to Tivoli, an amusement park and gardens dating back to 1843. You can cover a lot of Copenhagen’s central tourist attractions on foot or by bike (the city even makes 2,500 free city bikes available that anyone can use). From the main cruise pier, Langelinie, the [...]
And don’t forget the perfect, fairy-tale ending: a visit to Tivoli, an amusement park and gardens dating back to 1843.
You can cover a lot of Copenhagen’s central tourist attractions on foot or by bike (the city even makes 2,500 free city bikes available that anyone can use).
From the main cruise pier, Langelinie, the city center is only about a 30- to 45-minute walk, and by walking, you’ll pass Copenhagen’s best-known attractions: the Little Mermaid, the symbol of Copenhagen in the form of a bronze statue of a character from a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale( she really is quite small); Amalienborg Palace, the royal residence since 1751 where you can see the changing of the guard if you pass at noon; and Nyhavn, with its colorful old wooden schooners lining the canal.
At Nyhavn, you can hop a 50-minute canal cruise to see Copenhagen from the perspective of the water with a 60-minute guided canal tour (tours depart hourly from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.). From Nyhavn walk across Kongens Nytorv square at the end of the harbor to join Europe’s longest pedestrian street, Stroget. The locals refer to Strøget as the “walking street.”
This is the heart of Copenhagen, and along its main thoroughfare, as well as the adjacent alleys, you’ll find great shopping and dining. On the pedestrian street, you’ll find some of the city’s most popular shops: Illums Bolighus, featuring Danish design, and the flagship stores of Royal Copenhagen porcelain and Georg Jensen silver – all purveyors to Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark.
Whether you’re in Copenhagen for the day or several days pre- or post-cruise, be sure pick up a Copenhagen Card, which gives you free entrance or discounts to more than 60 of Copenhagen’s most popular museums and attractions. The card is valid for either 24 or 72 hours. You may purchase cards at Copenhagen airport, at major train stations, and at most hotels.
With the card, you’ll gain free entrance to attractions such as the National Museum (highly recommended) and the Thorvaldsens Museum, featuring sculptures by Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770- 1844), one of Europe’s most renowned artists in his day.
Among the attractions and activities where reduced rates are offered: Canal Tours, Tivoli and Open Top bus tours. Open Top Tours leave from Langelinie Pier approximately every 20 minutes. These are sightseeing buses that you may hop on and off as you please. The tour around the city takes about 80 minutes. Purchase tickets from the bus driver.
Cruise ships also dock at Freeport Terminal. Should your ship call here, it’s about an hour’s walk into the city center. Best to jump on a shuttle into the city center. All of this activity will leave you famished, and even if you’re not hungry, you’ll be tempted by Copenhagen’s wonderful restaurants.
It’s futile to make specific recommendations – there are so many good restaurants in Copenhagen – but you must at least try the Sport Cake or another dessert at Konditori La Glace, near Stroget.
For lunch, be sure to try the Scandinavian specialty, Smorrebrod, an open-faced sandwich of sorts, and for a traditional Danish dinner, go to Peder Oxe, situated on one of the city’s most beautiful squares, Grabrodretorv (Grey Friar’s Square), just off Stroget. Or dine by candlelight at Saint Gertrud’s Kloster, situated in an old monastery that is lighted only by candles – 1,200 of them.
Copenhagen has many hotels in or near the city center. Cruise lines offer pre- and post-cruise packages that include transfers and accommodations. The beauty of these packages is that they offer seamless travel experiences. Next time, come and stay for a few days.
As the capital of Catalonia and one of Europe’s most captivating cities, Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore on foot, strolling La Rambla through the outdoor markets and the brilliant flowers. Barcelona is home to the ambitious architecture of Antonio Gaudi, whose stunning and fantastic buildings are scattered all around the city center. Some [...]
As the capital of Catalonia and one of Europe’s most captivating cities, Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore on foot, strolling La Rambla through the outdoor markets and the brilliant flowers.
Barcelona is home to the ambitious architecture of Antonio Gaudi, whose stunning and fantastic buildings are scattered all around the city center. Some of the most famous and impressive can be seen along Passeig De Gracia where you will find La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. The Gothic Quarter is famous for its historical landmarks and bohemian atmosphere.
Other popular attractions include the elegant Santa Maria del Mar, the scattered ruins of the old Roman Wall, the Moderniste architecture of Exiample, and the Museu Picasso, which features the artist’s Blue Period.
The restaurants are superb, and live music performances are almost always scheduled for the Palace of Catalan Music, a beautiful building.
When cruise ships call on Athens, most travelers scramble up the Acropolis, and even if there were no Parthenon, the trip to the Acropolis is worthwhile for the commanding view of Athens and the temples below. Athens is one of the safest capital cities in the world, so with common sense always at your [...]
When cruise ships call on Athens, most travelers scramble up the Acropolis, and even if there were no Parthenon, the trip to the Acropolis is worthwhile for the commanding view of Athens and the temples below.
Athens is one of the safest capital cities in the world, so with common sense always at your side, feel free to get out and walk, especially at night.
The extensive collections on display at the National Archaeological Museum in the heart of Athens are captivating. Set aside several hours for a trip through the many centuries of Greek history and culture.
A great afternoon trip from Athens, Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon is as much a favorite with the locals as it is with the tourists. A superb spot for sunsets, it provides a classically Greek moment against the ruined monument along with a terrific sea view.
