North Europe from Hamburg

The biggest port of Germany, a notorious red-light-district and elegant mansions along the Elbe River – it’s all in Hamburg! You can get to know the vibrant city of Hamburg during this great tour! On your way there is much to see: you will pass the downtown Alster Lake and the city’s exclusive residential areas, the Jungfernstieg with its luxury shops and shopping malls, the Renaissance-style City Hall and Stock Exchange, modern downtown architecture, parks and gardens, the TV tower, the exhibition centre, 19th century court buildings and plenty more. Time and traffic permitting, you will have the chance to hop off the bus for photo-stops. You will complete your tour of Hamburg with an outside visit of the city’s famous landmark “Michel” – St. Michaelis Church. The “Kramer Amtsstuben”, a well preserved complex of restored buildings, presenting the living conditions in the early 18th century will be also shown in detail.

The City of Newcastle upon Tyne, to distinguish it from the other Newcastles around the world, is located in the North of England. Founded in Roman times with the name of Pons Aelius, it became famous in the 20th century for its shipyards and coal exports. Today it is a bustling English city where you can breathe the real British atmosphere “”and have some interesting cultural visits. Popular attractions include Keep Castle, a Norman fortress from the 12th century, later transformed into a mediaeval castle; Saltwell Park, a typical Victorian Park with gardens, ponds and a maze of hedges; finally the Millenium Bridge which connects Newcastle to the twin city of Gateshead.

The port of South Queensferry is in Scotland and it’s only a short hop to Edinburgh with our Costa Cruise in Great Britain. South Queensferry is located at the mouth of the River Forth and is joined to North Queensferry by a railroad bridge, an engineering marvel declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in June 2015. South Queensferry is only 16 km from Edinburgh, an ideal destination for an excursion. Similar to Rome, the city sits on seven hills, and its historical districts, the Old Town, the New Town and Edinburgh Castle are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you visit Edinburgh, remember to have a pint of ale in Rose Street or George Street in the New Town, famous for its pubs and lively clubs.

Scotland is a land of mysterious castles, armour and legendary warriors who sprout from the fog on their steeds. Here we visit Invergordon near Loch Ness. The first things you see when you arrive in Invergordon are the endless plains dotted with castles. The port of Invergordon enlivens the city, where there is an almost intimate feel with its cafes, restaurants and the friendliness of its inhabitants. You can take a trip to the unmissable Loch Ness. Visit Urquhart Castle before returning to town and take a look around the Naval Museum. But above all, be enchanted by the architecture of buildings decorated with murals.

Kirkwall is the largest town of Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr, which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall.

The biggest port of Germany, a notorious red-light-district and elegant mansions along the Elbe River – it’s all in Hamburg! You can get to know the vibrant city of Hamburg during this great tour! On your way there is much to see: you will pass the downtown Alster Lake and the city’s exclusive residential areas, the Jungfernstieg with its luxury shops and shopping malls, the Renaissance-style City Hall and Stock Exchange, modern downtown architecture, parks and gardens, the TV tower, the exhibition centre, 19th century court buildings and plenty more. Time and traffic permitting, you will have the chance to hop off the bus for photo-stops. You will complete your tour of Hamburg with an outside visit of the city’s famous landmark “Michel” – St. Michaelis Church. The “Kramer Amtsstuben”, a well preserved complex of restored buildings, presenting the living conditions in the early 18th century will be also shown in detail.

The world has a petroleum museum and it is located in Stavanger in Norway. We can visit the museum during our cruise in the northern seas. Stavanger is Norway’s third largest city and has prospered from its oil activities. Today, it is a pillar of the domestic economy and a key protagonist in the European Community. Dont miss the opportunity to visit the Petroleum Museum, with its unusual modern architecture. Also take the time to climb to the top of Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) to admire the breath-taking view. Youll feel like you’ve travelled back in time when you explore the Gamale, a district full of houses built in white wood.

Norway best expresses its compelling power in the small ports like Flåm, poetically set like a jewel in the fjords. Flåm is a small village of 450 inhabitants situated in the south of the country at the end of one of the inlets of the Sognefjord, the deepest in Norway. Take advantage of the break to get on the train that leads to Myrdal for two hours of breathtaking views amid waterfalls, rivers, fjords and mountains. On your return to the port of Flåm, take a walk along the fjord and be enchanted by the beauty of nature.

The only city on the Swedish island of Gotland, Visby tells its ancient stories of Viking peoples and mediaeval merchants to the tourists who visit its lands. The port of Visby is located at the foot of the hill on which its majestic city walls still stand. Over three kilometres long and dotted with towers, the boundary wall is perfectly preserved and encircles the beautiful historic centre. Taking a cruise to Visby is rather like discovering a place suspended in time, with red-roofed houses decorated with beautiful roses, cobblestone streets, which shops and delicious cafes open onto, and an amazing 15 churches. The 12th century Lutheran Cathedral in Visby is a must-see on your cruise. The ruins of the St. Nicholas’ Church are also very beautiful. Walking down on the promenade towards the port of Visby, you can admire the beauty of the island’s coastline, lapped by the Baltic Sea and dotted with limestone formations known as rauk. Visby tells its ancient stories of Viking peoples and mediaeval merchants to the tourists who visit its lands. Taking a cruise to Visby is rather like discovering a place suspended in time, with red-roofed houses decorated with beautiful roses, cobblestone streets, which shops open onto, delicious cafes and an amazing 15 churches.

The biggest port of Germany, a notorious red-light-district and elegant mansions along the Elbe River – it’s all in Hamburg! You can get to know the vibrant city of Hamburg during this great tour! On your way there is much to see: you will pass the downtown Alster Lake and the city’s exclusive residential areas, the Jungfernstieg with its luxury shops and shopping malls, the Renaissance-style City Hall and Stock Exchange, modern downtown architecture, parks and gardens, the TV tower, the exhibition centre, 19th century court buildings and plenty more. Time and traffic permitting, you will have the chance to hop off the bus for photo-stops. You will complete your tour of Hamburg with an outside visit of the city’s famous landmark “Michel” – St. Michaelis Church. The “Kramer Amtsstuben”, a well preserved complex of restored buildings, presenting the living conditions in the early 18th century will be also shown in detail.