Hamburg & Rotterdam

Discover Southampton’s maritime history at the SeaCity Museum or see impressive works in the city’s art gallery. Jane Austen used to walk Southampton’s city walls and you can too, stopping at the Tudor House Museum along the way. Go all nostalgic over vintage cars at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu or see King Arthur’s fabled Round Table at nearby Winchester, the ancient capital of England.

Known in German as Tor zur Welt — the Gateway to the World — Hamburg is Germany’s most cosmopolitan metropolis. Come here to stand before architectural landmarks, like the towering neo-renaissance Hamburg Rathaus and the baroque Church of St. Michael. Cruise to Germany to experience the lively restaurant and bar scene along the River Elbe, and take in the maritime scenery of Hamburg Harbor, Europe’s third-busiest port. Steep yourself in international influence in the Sankt Pauli district, which has a Chinatown that dates back to the 1890s. Or delight in the distinctly German character of Moenckebergstrasse, with its classic churches and old-school European vibe.

Rotterdam is Europe’s biggest port and one of the Netherlands’ great surprises. Hit hard by World War II, the city was rebuilt gradually from the 1950s to the ’70s – today, it’s a lively, thriving metropolis that’s home to a diverse, multicultural population. Get a taste of what the city used to look like at the Old Harbour or Delfshaven, a historic marina that survived the 1940 bombardment. Then, visit one of the many top-class museums, such as Boijmans, Van Beuningen or the Kunsthal in Rotterdam’s Museum Park. Take a gander at the extraordinary cube houses and the sparkling market hall. Cruise to Rotterdam to relax at the Kralingse Plas lake and park, and snap a photo of the windmills.

Discover Southampton’s maritime history at the SeaCity Museum or see impressive works in the city’s art gallery. Jane Austen used to walk Southampton’s city walls and you can too, stopping at the Tudor House Museum along the way. Go all nostalgic over vintage cars at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu or see King Arthur’s fabled Round Table at nearby Winchester, the ancient capital of England.