Cruising Northern Europe
The farthest reaches of the continent are made accessible
by a seafaring vacation
By Andy Dimond
Northern European cruise itineraries can include the British Isles, the northern continental coast, the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. Keep in mind that in the "land of the midnight sun," with its long summer days, the cruising season runs from May through August. There are not as many sailings as for popular cruising destinations like the Caribbean or the Bahamas, so book early if you want to secure a particular ship, departure date or itinerary. You'll find that a cruise is one of the best ways to take in the fascinating sights and cultures of this intriguing region.
It's also one of the easiest, says Cheryl Cunningham, director of special projects and group sales at Vacations To Go. "This part of Europe is normally quite expensive. But if you're going by ship, your food and drinks are going to be included, and your accommodations are taken care of -- you don't have to look for hotels or transportation."
Northern European cruises tend to attract an older and more well-traveled clientele than their Caribbean counterparts. The focus here is on culture and history rather than late-night hot spots. Onboard entertainment and enrichment add to the value as well, covering topics from art appreciation lectures to cooking seminars showcasing local cuisine.
By modern standards, the venerable cities of Northern Europe are relatively close together. This means that an 11-day cruise may spend only two or three days at sea. The rest of the time is yours to explore these varied cultures.
And the cruise lines will help you get the most out of each port call. Most cruise operators have been offering shore excursions in these cities for years and know exactly how to see all the best sights. Now that you know the basics, let's take a look at some of the most interesting shore excursions currently offered.
The rugged Scottish Highlands are a majestic sight from the deck of your cruise ship, but even more so up close. At Invergordon you can walk the halls of ancient castles, or travel north in search of a certain elusive denizen of Loch Ness. At Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, you can tour Skara Brae, Europe's most complete Neolithic village, and see how locals lived in 3000 B.C.
In Norway, many cruise routes take advantage of the spectacular natural beauty of the country's fjords. Thundering waterfalls, pristine glaciers and clear, placid lakes, stunning in their own right, take a backseat to these jagged bays carved into the rock during the Ice Age.
But there's more to Norway than fjords. The capital city of Oslo has much to offer, including Akershus Castle, the Nobel Peace Center and the Edvard Munch Museum. The far northern port of Tromso lies on the Arctic Circle, famous for its views of the northern lights and for two churches: the striking modern Cathedral of the Arctic Sea and Tromso Cathedral, which is both the only wooden cathedral in Norway and the northernmost cathedral in the World. There's also Polaria, a state-of-the-art aquarium that offers a safe, educational glimpse at the Arctic wildlife, including the only group of bearded seals in captivity.
The next country over is Sweden, whose capital, Stockholm, is a popular port of call. Stockholm has more than 70 museums that receive more than 9 million visitors per year. It is also home to the Absolut Icebar, where everything from the walls to the pint glasses is made of -- you guessed it -- ice. A guided boat tour can give you a panoramic overview of the Stockholm Archipelago, but don't expect to see it all: There are more than 24,000 islands here.
In the Finnish capital of Helsinki, shore excursions highlight the city's role as a center of stylish design, including tours of buildings by famous Finnish architects Alvar Aalto, Eliel Saarinen and his son Eero Saarinen (creator of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis). If you're looking for something a little more thrilling, try a white-knuckle ride through Finland's archipelago by speedboat. You'll race through the narrow Kustaanmiekka Strait at 40 knots, and past the star-shaped 18th-century fortresses of Sveaborg. Landing at a scenic spot in the archipelago, you'll catch your breath long enough to enjoy a picnic of fried sausages and Finnish beer.
For many passengers, the most popular port of call on Northern European cruises is St. Petersburg, Russia. Many cruises of the Baltic stop here, often for one or two nights. The must-do attraction is the Hermitage, one of the World's premier museums and home to the largest collection of paintings ever assembled.
With its multicolored onion domes, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood reminds many visitors of the famous St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, but it has its own unique story to tell. The "blood" of its name refers to the assassination of Tsar Alexander II on this site in 1881. The main draw for tourists here is the largest collection of mosaics in Europe, 7,500 square meters of tile.
If you've already seen St. Petersburg, or would just rather check out the capital of modern Russia, a handful of cruise lines now offer excursions to Moscow. After a flight of about an hour, you can take in the palatial fortress of the Kremlin. Luxury line Crystal Cruises offers overnight excursions to Moscow, although this is a pricey proposition that tops $3,000 per person. Another deluxe add-on is a flight on a MiG fighter jet, for daring souls who want to survey the vast Russian plains at twice the speed of sound.
Visiting St. Petersburg or Moscow as part of a cruise itinerary is one of the easiest ways to gain access to these two cities. In Russia, where bureaucratic hassles still occur, your cruise line will provide you with a "blanket visa," meaning there's no need to fill out paperwork.
Tallinn, capital of Estonia, offers the paradox of a picturesque medieval city with a booming cyber-economy. Its Old Town district, containing such historic treasures as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gdansk, Poland, is the birthplace of the Solidarity movement that helped end Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. The city also hosts an annual English-language theater festival to commemorate the visits of Shakespeare's touring company in the 16th century.
Copenhagen, Denmark, is a common endpoint (along with Stockholm) for Baltic cruises embarking from London. You may want to add a day or two in a hotel here, since there's much to see. Begin with a castle tour that visits the National Museum of History at Fredericksborg Castle, and then roam the gloomy halls of Kronborg Castle at Elsinore, inspiration for Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet." If you prefer more modern dramas, tour Nordisk Film, one of the world's oldest movie studios, which has been producing films since 1906. There's also the Carlsberg Brewery if all that touring makes you thirsty.
Many itineraries focus on the British Isles. Typical ports of call are Dublin, Cork, Liverpool and, of course, London. London is one of the most common starting or ending points for Northern European routes, and it's another place you could plan to spend some extra time before or after your cruise. British Isles cruises will sometimes incorporate cross-Channel continental ports such as Amsterdam, Le Havre (with excursions to Paris) or the island of Guernsey.
The number of annual sailings in Northern Europe may be low compared to year-round destinations, but you still have plenty of options. Familiar names like Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line sail these waters, along with small-ship operators like Fred. Olsen and MSC Cruises, and six-star luxury lines like Crystal and Seabourn. The most popular points of departure are London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm, and round-trip voyages are frequently available.
Information: For more information on cruising in Northern Europe, visit Vacations To Go to see hundreds of discounted itineraries, or call (800) 338-4962.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in Summer 2008.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 338-4962 for current rates and details.