Europe: France, Germany & Belgium

Protected from the frequent storms of the English Channel by the Isle of Wight, Southampton has survived a turbulent history to serve as a principal port of the United Kingdom today. Pay homage to one of the most famous ships to sail these shores at the Mayflower Memorial. Visit the stoic walls of Bargate and the Tudor House Museum.

Hop on a tour bus to the City of Light to experience the magic of Paris. Stroll down the Champs-Elysées as you nibble on a croissant. Take photos of beautiful Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Montmartre and all the other iconic places of Paris lie 120 miles up the Seine from the port of Le Havre. Or explore the charms of Le Havre, spend the day at Monets Giverny or explore Rouens Old Market Place, where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431.

The ultimate European city, Brussels has tons of museums, fountains, gardens and great shopping. Stroll the Old Town area to see St. Hubert Arcades and its shops, as well as Butchers Street with its plethora of restaurants and cafes and the Grand Place with its Baroque guild houses.

History, culture and architecture intertwine in Amsterdam among its narrow lanes and numerous canals. Featuring more bridges than Venice, enjoying a canal tour is a great way to take in the many sights of Amsterdam (and get some great photo ops). Art lovers wont want to miss the Van Gough Museum and the Rijksmuseum while history buffs will want to make time for the Anne Frank House and the Amsterdam Museum.

Its been more than two decades since the walls came down and Berlin became unified in many ways, including the pursuit of joy. Germanys capital city is a city that balances cosmopolitan chic with a liberal undercurrent of creativity and cool. Famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag fascinate. The elegant Bavarian Quarter amazes.

Nestled along the beautiful Elbe River lies exquisite Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany. You can barely tell that this illuminated metropolis traces its history to the year 831. And while there are plenty of modern buildings to see, like the highly anticipated Elbphilharmonie along the water, its Hamburgs older culture that can be most exciting. Try a visit to the Fish Auction Hall and Market, an open-air market thats been hawking local wares since 1703. Your visit promises authentic local culture, because its not just a market. Its a neighbourhood scene, a great place to absorb local colours. And that means you might be lucky enough to catch the occasional rock band playing there in the morning, alongside locals selecting their evening meals from the catches of the day. Model enthusiasts shouldnt miss the spectacular Miniatur Wunderland, a massive model exhibit that leaves visitors speechless with its detail and realism. Of course, theres historic architecture all around and a lovely botanical garden at Park Planten un Blomen. With something for everyone, theres no question youll have a guten tag in Hamburg!

The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is filled with canals, cobbled squares and copper spires. But dont let the historic appearance fool you. This is also Scandinavias most cosmopolitan city. Certainly you can relive medieval times in The Latin Quarter, but you can also enjoy some of Europes finest shopping, museums, cafes and nightlife prior to your cruise around the Baltics. Explore more of Copenhagen on a European cruise!