Baltic

Zeebrugge is a subdivision of Bruges, it literally translates to ‘Bruges by Sea’. The port area itself is mainly industrialised which is why the main destination here is Bruges. To reach Bruges, it’s around 30 minutes by bus and fares are approx £2. Bruges is a beautiful city, especially the centre which has an almost medieval-fairytale look about it. Go here in late November and most of December and you’ll be rewarded with the Bruges Christmas market which looks simply magical.

Copenhagen has a remarkable mix of whimsical attractions which is why we’d recommend adding a few extras nights stay to your holiday package if your cruise begins or ends here. This city is most certainly one for the young at heart with some of the most popular attractions being Tivoli gardens which features an impressive rollercoaster, Asian and Eastern-inspired structures and fairground rides which look simply magical - especially when lit up at night. The whole ambience of Tivoli Gardens is certainly quite eclectic and something you won’t experience anywhere else.

Oslo is one of the world’s largest capital cities, but it’s also the least densely populated city in Europe. Fewer visitors tend to visit Oslo than Copenhagen and for this reason you could find it one of the most peaceful cities you’ve ever visited. Oslo is also quite a beautiful city, there’s parks aplenty and also some incredible architecture - particularly that of the Opera house which is designed to appear as though it’s emerging from the Bjorvika waterfront. This contemporary structure is the largest cultural building in Norway, gaining the title from the Nidarosdomen cathedral in Trondheim, built in 1300! Cruise ships dock right in the heart of Oslo meaning you have just a short walk to the city centre from port.

Tallinn is a simply stunning city and the best way to appreciate the beauty of the Old Town, Toompea Castle and Kiek de Kok is from Patkuli Viewing Platform. One of the tallest spires in the city is that of the cathedral of Alejandro Nevsky which once was one of the tallest buildings in the world. The Old Town of Tallinn is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and archaeologists have traced human settlements here from almost 5,000 years ago. On arrival in Tallinn, head to the town square, this is the hub of the Old Town. Here you’ll find pleasant cobbled streets and narrow side alleys to explore.

Helsinki is the largest city in Finland and also the capital. Many of the focal points of the city were designed by Carl Ludvig Engel including Senate Square which is framed by the regal Government Palace, Helsinki University and the cathedral. One of the best places to visit in the city is the National Museum of Finland, which exhibits the Finnish way of life from the past 1000 years.

Situated at the end of Kiel Fjord, Kiel is quite a fitting cruise destination as it’s one of the main maritime centres of Europe. It hosts numerous sailing and regatta events every year including Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. If you want to time your visit to coincide with this event then look for itineraries visiting here in the last full week of June. Kiel is also the home of the busiest artificial waterway in the world (Kiel Canal) as well as the German Navy’s Baltic Fleet.

Dating back to 1200, Warnemünde was previously a small fishing village. It’s located, as the name suggests, near the river Warnow. Today however, it’s a pretty seaside resort in the city of Rostock. There’s still a bustling fishing trade that’s operated out of Warnemünde and during the summer season, there’s also a regatta which sees the arrival of numerous ferries and sailing boats heading to and from Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Time your visit in August for the Hanse Sail Rostock and you’ll experience some of this four-day festival that welcomes dozens of tall sailing boats to the port with a celebration of fireworks, markets and special events. 

Spread out over 14 islands on Lake Mälaren is Sweden’s capital, Stockholm. The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is a prime example of how ancient buildings can be beautifully preserved; it’s a delightful labyrinth of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways lined by tall, colourful buildings. This part of Stockholm dates back to the 13th century and the architecture is heavily influenced by North Germany. The large, scenic square at the centre of the Old Town is called Stortoget and it’s surrounded by old merchant’s houses as well as the Stockholm Stock Exchange building. Aside from Gamla Stan, the waterfront locations around Stockholm are also notably picturesque.

If you’ve booked a cruise with us here at Cruise Nation, then it’s likely you’re travelling on a larger cruise ship. This means you’ll dock right next to the impressive 6,000m2 Volvo museum which is one of the most noted attractions in the city. The Volvo factory was first founded here back in the 1920’s and by 1927 the first Volvo car rolled off the production line. Gothenburg is also known as Little London due to its similar culture and style of living. This is thanks to Gothenburg’s industrialisation in the 1800’s which led to many UK residents moving to the city to benefit from the new, profitable opportunities.

Helsingborg is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and you’ll see beautiful red brick buildings with traditional copper roofing, long since oxidised and now a brilliant shade of mint green after decades of withstanding the elements. From the moment you step foot off your cruise ship you’ll see the fascinating history this destination has to offer with Karnan castle within clear sight and walking distance of the port. Just across the waterway (Oresund) from Helsingborg is the city of Helsingor in Denmark.