 | About Copenhagen Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, this popular Danish cruise port has a fairytale magic all of its own.
Discover it in the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel, and stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees. Or in the shops and cafés of Stroget, Europes longest pedestrianised shopping street.
Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics – and at Kronberg Castle – the former Elsinore of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. |
 | About Helsinki Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer but it is also the country’s main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals.
The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are also just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago.
Helsinki is a compact city - ‘a pocket-sized metropolis’, as it was once described – so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring ‘pub tram’ and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront.
After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts. |
 | About St Petersburg Ships usually stay overnight in St. Petersburg; after all the jewel in the Baltic’s crown deserves no less, for here – on the broad banks of the River Neva and in the magnificent palaces and churches which characterise the city’s skyline - you will find Russia at its most dramatic, flamboyant and captivating.
Put the Hermitage Museum right at the top of your sightseeing list; its magnificent buildings and palaces contain the world’s most comprehensive collection of art and sculpture, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Gaugin, Rembrandt and Matisse.
The city’s other treasures include the Yusupov Palace (where ‘the mad monk’ Gregori Rasputin was dramatically murdered in 1916); Catherine the Great’s palace (with its breathtaking 978-foot white, gold and blue façade); St Isaac’s Cathedral (which has marble walls studded with semi-precious stones); the onion-spired Church of Spilled Blood and the battleship Aurora, whose guns signalled the start of the Russian Revolution. |
 | About Tallinn Estonia’s cruise port Tallinn is also a fascinating medieval capital. This multi-faceted jewel of a city and its architecture – a legacy of Teutonic, Polish and Russian rule – will have your eyes on stalks, from the spectacular onion domes of the Nevski Russian Orthodox Cathedral to the Baroque Toompea Castle (home of the Estonian Parliament) and the elaborate Gothic façade of the 13th century Raekoda, Europe’s oldest town hall.
The magnificent St Mary’s Cathedral, with its display of more than 100 coats of arms, is also worth a visit – but do take time out just to stroll the winding streets and cobbled squares of the city’s atmospheric old town, where you will find exquisite amber jewellery, fine lacework and gorgeous woollen jackets at bargain prices.
Visit the workshops in Catherine’s Passage to watch artisans creating leatherwork, jewellery and ceramics, or simply retire to a pavement café and relax while enjoying alfresco performances from brass bands, string quartets and strolling players. |
 | About Bruges Understand that Zeebrugge literally means Bruges-on-Sea and you immediately appreciate why this ferry port is also Belgiums major cruise port. A medieval jewel on the North Sea, the charming city of Bruges is just 10 miles away.
Sometimes called the Venice of the North because of the picturesque criss-crossing canals on which you can enjoy fascinating and romantic boat rides, Bruges actually has a character all its own.
Although it has all the facilities of a modern city - smart shops, restaurants, bars and hotels - these are all found behind the centuries-old facades and weathered gables of the historic buildings at the citys heart.
Bruges is rightly famous for its exquisite lacework, tasty chocolate and huge range of local beers while, from Zeebrugge, you can also visit another historic city, Ghent, the capital Brussels, and historic battlefield sites such as Waterloo and Ypres. |