Azores, Normandy & Baltic Explorer - V228A

Fort Lauderdale is a city on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. in the state of Florida. As well as being a major yachting centre, it has a large and intricate canal system that results in its also being known as the ‘Venice of America’. While once home to a series of forts, today there are three forts named ‘Fort Lauderdale’. Read more about Fort Lauderdale, USA

The largest town in the Portuguese Azores Islands and capital of the island Sao Miguel, Ponta Delgada is built on gently rising ground between green hills. With its many churches, its trim white houses and the lush gardens on its outskirts, it presents an attractive spectacle to visitors arriving by sea. The marina at Ponta Delgada also welcomes many yachts and private sailors from around the world. Boasting many impressive churches and convents, visitors are constantly reminded of its wealthy and illustrious past, when the port was a crucial staging post between Europe and the New World during the15th and 16th centuries. Read more about Ponta Delgada, Portugal

Brest is a city of the Bretagne region in NW France, located on the western tip of Brittany. The city is an important port and naval base. The city of Brest does not have much remaining historical architecture, apart from a few select monuments such as the castle and the Tanguy tower. This is due to the British and American bombing of the town during WWII, in an attempt to destroy the submarine base built in the harbour. Read more about Brest, France

Cherbourg is a coast town of Normandy, France, on the English Channel. Of special note is that Cherbourg was the first stop of the Titanic after leaving England. Also of note are the massive man-made sea walls and the ever-busy piers. While many passengers visit the Normandy beaches, the Saire Valley, Cap de la Hague, or Mont Saint Michel from Cherbourg, a 15 minute walk or short ride in a shuttle bus takes visitors to the township that is best known for its aquarium, parks and museums. Read more about Cherbourg, France

Le Havre is a city in the NW of France, situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River and 170 km from Paris. Best known for being the ferry terminal for the English Channel crossings, it should not be quickly dismissed. This city was devastated during WWII, but was rebuilt in modernist style and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The innovative use of concrete, blended with the sheer sense of space, with the sea visible at the end of almost every street and open public space and expanses of water at every turn, it can be exhilarating. Read more about Le Havre, France

Le Havre is a city in the NW of France, situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River and 170 km from Paris. Best known for being the ferry terminal for the English Channel crossings, it should not be quickly dismissed. This city was devastated during WWII, but was rebuilt in modernist style and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The innovative use of concrete, blended with the sheer sense of space, with the sea visible at the end of almost every street and open public space and expanses of water at every turn, it can be exhilarating. Read more about Le Havre, France

The port city of Zeebrugge is a harbour town at the western end of the Belgian coast and a subdivision of the city of Bruges - one of the best preserved cities in Europe - for which it is the modern port. The new port has reinvigorated the city as an art and tourist centre for northern Europe. Upon visiting Bruges you will immediately notice that this city has always carefully cherished its architectural and artistic treasures from the past, but what makes Bruges so unique though is the way it deals with this past today. There is something for everybody. Read more about Zeebrugge, Belgium

Rotterdam - located at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea - is the largest port in Europe, and a perfect starting point for excursions to the cities of Holland. Few cities rebounded as quickly as Rotterdam following the Nazi invasion, which levelled the medieval heart of town, burning most of it to the ground. Today some of Europe's most bold contemporary architecture, such as the unique Cube Houses, can be found amid classic 18th and 19th C buildings in this, the greatest comeback city in the world. The city also houses the 186 m tall Euromast that has long been a major tourist attraction. Read more about Rotterdam, Netherlands

Copenhagen, situated on two islands, is the capital and largest city in Denmark. It is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of the famous author Hans Christian Andersen, and also being one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. It has a very high quality of life. With many colourful buildings dating back to the early 18th century, medieval cobbled streets and canals just a stone's throw away from ultra-modern waterfront architecture, and a street plan that dates back to the Middle Ages, it simply captures the imagination of all visitors. Read more about Copenhagen, Denmark

Passengers on ships visiting Berlin typically dock at the north eastern port of Warnemunde and go directly to the capital of Germany that is just a three hour train or coach ride away. Berlin, completely devastated in WW11, has amazingly seen the reconstruction of its sixteenth-century core that exists in the Nikolaiviertel, while nearby stand many rebuilt 19th C buildings from the time of the Second Reich. Little from the Third Reich has been rebuilt, except for the 1936 Olympic Stadium. Today the city is a mix of beautiful historical buildings and some truly amazing modern architecture. Read more about Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

Tallinn, capital of Estonia, is dominated by the amazing 13th century Toompea Castle towering over the rest of the city. Having always been the seat of power in Estonia, it is appropriately home to the country’s Parliament today. Tallinn was named the European Capital of Culture in 2011, and its Medieval city centre, the most amazing part of Tallinn, truly must be explored. Take any street and be astounded at the impressive guild houses, picturesque wells, boutiques, monasteries, churches and restaurants. Read more about Tallinn, Estonia

St Petersburg is a federal city located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In everyday speech the locals refer to it as simply Peter. It is the second largest city in Russia and is regarded as the most ‘Western’ city of Russia, as a large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located here. They make a striking contrast with the historically older buildings, such as the Peter and Paul Fortress built in 1703. Read more about St Petersburg, Russian Federation

St Petersburg is a federal city located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In everyday speech the locals refer to it as simply Peter. It is the second largest city in Russia and is regarded as the most ‘Western’ city of Russia, as a large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located here. They make a striking contrast with the historically older buildings, such as the Peter and Paul Fortress built in 1703. Read more about St Petersburg, Russian Federation

Read more about Helsinki, Finland

The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is Sweden's centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of the Nobel Prizes. You can get to just about all of Stockholm’s many wondrous sites on foot, or you can take a boat trip that will give you a different facet of Scandinavia’s largest and undoubtedly most beautiful city. Read more about Stockholm, Sweden

The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is Sweden's centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of the Nobel Prizes. You can get to just about all of Stockholm’s many wondrous sites on foot, or you can take a boat trip that will give you a different facet of Scandinavia’s largest and undoubtedly most beautiful city. Read more about Stockholm, Sweden

The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is Sweden's centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of the Nobel Prizes. You can get to just about all of Stockholm’s many wondrous sites on foot, or you can take a boat trip that will give you a different facet of Scandinavia’s largest and undoubtedly most beautiful city. Read more about Stockholm, Sweden

Aarhus is the second largest city and principal port of Denmark, and is situated on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical centre of Denmark. The cruise port is within walking distance of the city centre. One major tourist attraction in Aarhus is The Old Town, which is not actually an old part of the city itself, but a collection of historic Danish buildings gathered from all around the country. It is also an Open Air Museum, a living and breathing experience of what it was like to live and work in a Danish town as it was in the old days. Read more about Aarhus, Denmark

Rotterdam - located at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea - is the largest port in Europe, and a perfect starting point for excursions to the cities of Holland. Few cities rebounded as quickly as Rotterdam following the Nazi invasion, which levelled the medieval heart of town, burning most of it to the ground. Today some of Europe's most bold contemporary architecture, such as the unique Cube Houses, can be found amid classic 18th and 19th C buildings in this, the greatest comeback city in the world. The city also houses the 186 m tall Euromast that has long been a major tourist attraction. Read more about Rotterdam, Netherlands