Baltic & Western Europe Combination Cruise: Helsinki, Glasgow & Bordeaux

Lively, cosmopolitan Stockholm sports an appealing mix of modern Scandinavian architecture and trendy restaurants with fairytale palaces watched over by a Board of Beauty, responsible for preserving the city.

Helsinki is a blend of traditional and modern architecture and design, interwoven with the beauty of nature and a few quirky, purely Finnish touches—such as a church built inside a giant chunk of granite.

While in Tallinn, visit St. Olav’s Church, once the tallest building in the world (at least until 1625); then pull up a chair at one of the cafés in the charming town square, heart of the city for 800 years.

Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its winding, wobbly lanes are beautiful to wander through.

Walk the cobblestoned Old Town in Klaipėda and you’ll see its German heritage in the half-timbered architecture, beginning at Theatre Square where Hitler once spoke.

Gdańsk is a 1,000-year-old port city on the Baltic coast of Poland, which, together with the city of Gdynia and the town of Sopot, makes up the metropolitan area Trójmiasto otherwise known as “the Tricity”.

Known for its rich maritime history and beautiful archipelago, Karlskrona is a town where history, culture, and natural beauty come together.

Boasting numerous picturesque fishing villages and medieval churches, the island of Bornholm and its capital city of Ronne appears to have gotten somewhat lost in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland.

Copenhagen is known as a city of spires: The skyline of its medieval core is punctuated by the steeples of churches and towers of palaces, though a modern building boom has overtaken other parts of the city.

An idyllic seaside town on Sweden’s western coast, Helsingborg is a study in contrasts: a cosmopolitan and forward-thinking city with a remarkably well-preserved old town that offers a compelling glimpse into its medieval Danish roots.

Copenhagen is known as a city of spires: The skyline of its medieval core is punctuated by the steeples of churches and towers of palaces, though a modern building boom has overtaken other parts of the city.

To discover Edinburgh take a walk down The Royal Mile for Edinburgh Castle, the Stone of Destiny and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; but for those itching to get out on the links, there’s no better place than this.

To discover Edinburgh take a walk down The Royal Mile for Edinburgh Castle, the Stone of Destiny and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; but for those itching to get out on the links, there’s no better place than this.

Urban life and natural splendor intersect in the Granite City's stunning green spaces, lush Victorian gardens, ornate architecture, and sandy beaches.

Boasting a dramatic landscape of hills, glens, beaches, and waterfalls, Ullapool is one picturesque fishing village. It’s known as the gateway to the Northern Highlands, but with its natural wonder, fascinating history, rich culture, and fresh seafood, why not stay?

Northern Ireland’s second largest city, Derry’s ancient walls hide a saga of strength and struggle. Today this emerging cosmopolitan city is complete with quaint restaurants, hearty pubs, and fantastic independent shops. Walk along river Foyle and take in the stunning Peace Bridge. Tour the city’s ancient walls and explore its historic buildings. Or, travel to the Counties Londonderry and Donegal for a bounty rolling hillsides and natural splendor.

Start your adventure in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow which is overflowing with historic landmarks and a vibrant culture. The distinct architecture is reminiscent classic 19th-century fused together with modern early 20th-century dubbed ‘Glasgow Style’. The checkerboard layout makes the city easy to navigate with lively street entertainment around every corner.

In the early 1900’s Belfast had the world’s largest shipyard; now the city and riverfront are undergoing a transformation, but many Victorian and Edwardian buildings still sport the carved heads of royalty.

Dublin offers a wealth of historic sites dating back to a 1,000-year-old Viking village (including pubs that are almost as old), and as one might expect of the Irish, there is a tale to be told about every one.

As Ireland’s only dedicated cruise terminal, Cobh was the departure point for 2.5 million of the six million Irish people that immigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950, and to this day, it remains a popular port of call for cruise liners from all over the world.

Nestled in the mouth of a wooded estuary, Fowey (pronounced Foy) is still very much a working china-clay port as well as a focal point for the sailing fraternity. Increasingly, it's also a favored home of the rich and famous. Good and varied dining and lodging options abound; these are most in demand during Regatta Week in mid- to late August and the annual Fowey Festival of Words and Music in mid-May. The Bodinnick and Polruan ferries take cars as well as foot passengers across the river for the coast road on to Looe.A few miles west of Fowey are a pair of very different gardens: the Eden Project, a futuristic display of plants from around the world, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a revitalized reminder of the Victorian age.

Step into the vibrant city of Portsmouth. Explore iconic ships like the HMS Victory at the National Musuem of the Royal Navy. Or wander through Gunwharf Quays, a lively waterfront destination filled with designer outlets and trendy restaurants.

The walled city of St. Malo is a quaint maze of fine old buildings, museums and cafés serving Breton specialties of crepes and cider, where you can stroll along the ramparts and walk the cobblestone streets.

Since the 14th century, Bordeaux’s fortunes have been tied to viticulture, resulting in a city of classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and fine mansions financed by the almighty grape.

Since the 14th century, Bordeaux’s fortunes have been tied to viticulture, resulting in a city of classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and fine mansions financed by the almighty grape.

Since the 14th century, Bordeaux’s fortunes have been tied to viticulture, resulting in a city of classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and fine mansions financed by the almighty grape.

If Bilbao wasn't quite a household name, it was transformed with the opening of Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in 1997; now it’s a tourist mecca and showcases the Basque love of food, wine and laughter.

Follow the Cider Trail—a guided tour to some of the best cider houses and restaurants in the city—to get a taste for this important cultural tradition. Gijón has the distinct honor of having the largest number of bakeries per capita in all of Spain. It’s rumored that the best croissant in all the land can be found in this charming city as well.

Located less than 20 miles from the north Portuguese border, the city of Vigo dates back to the Middle Ages, while still offering an array of modern-day activities and is the gateway to Santiago de Compostela.

At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies the city of Porto, known mostly for its port wine, but with origins dating back to the 5th century, there is plenty to see such as the Ribeira neighborhood along the river.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world and its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians; today it’s renowned for an active culture of festivals, art and fashion.