Festive Germany and Scandinavia

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Bergen’s historic waterfront, UNESCO-listed Bryggen, is graced by colourful gabled buildings that hark back to its days as a member of the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic Museum, housed in one of the old warehouses, features antique furnishings for an insight into merchant life. The wharf neighbours Bergen’s old town of characterful 17th to 18th-century wooden houses that adorn cobbled lanes and attractive squares.

Included excursion

Enjoy a tour of Bergen, or take a transfer to the city’s little Christmas market and browse the stalls for edible treats and handmade gifts at your leisure.

Optional excursion

Enjoy a funicular ride to the top of Mount Floyen to admire the winter view.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1900.

Stavanger is a multifaceted city that reflects its progression from a prosperous fishing port to an industrial centre for shipbuilding and oil. Its charm lies in Old Stavanger where cobbled lanes weave past white-painted wooden cottages and boutique shops stocked with local handicrafts.

Included excursion

Explore Stavanger on an included excursion or visit the Christmas market at Byparken where the cathedral provides a historic backdrop.

Optional excursion

Cruise the Lysefjord and see the iconic Pulpit Rock.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0800. Depart 2300.

Oslo’s roots reach back to the Viking era when Harald Hardrada, in 1040, established a trading place at the head of the Oslofjord. It is a compact city packed with sights, including theatres, art galleries and museums. The festive atmosphere will fill the air at this time of year, the streets will be decorated with twinkling lights. Vigeland Sculpture Park has 200 pieces made by the artist after which it is named. Landmark sights the Opera, Nobel Peace Centre and City Hall can be seen from the waterfront.

Included excursion

Explore Vigeland Sculpture Park on an included excursion.

Optional excursion

The Fram and Kon-Tiki Museums tell stories of Norwegian ocean expeditions.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The cosmopolitan Danish capital is an eclectic mix of architectural styles which attest to its long history. Attractions include Tivoli Gardens, characterful Nyhavn Canal graced with 17th-century houses, the Baroque-inspired Christiansborg Palace and Rococo Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Danish Royal Family. The Little Mermaid Statue, which has been plucked straight from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy-tale of the same name, graces the waterfront. The city’s Christmas market is located in the heart of Copenhagen, where the air is filled with the tempting aromas of Danish Christmas doughnuts and mulled wine.

Included excursion

Enjoy an included city tour.

Optional excursion

Visit Tivoli Gardens and its festive markets.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0800. Depart 2300.

Straddling the Warnow River on Germany’s north coast, Rostock was part of the Hanseatic League during the 13th century, and Warnemünde is its main port. At the heart of the city is the pedestrianised New Market Square, home to Renaissance merchants’ houses, the 15th-century Town Hall with an 18th-century Baroque façade, the Cultural History Museum, and 14th-century St Mary’s Church, with its famous Astronomical Clock.

Included excursion

An included excursion visits Rostock and its festive markets.

Optional excursion

Take a ride on ‘Molli’, a narrow-gauge steam train that journeys along the tram tracks of Bad Doberan.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1900.

Set at the entrance to the Baltic and the Kiel canal, the 60-mile waterway that links the North Sea to the Baltic, the city of Kiel has a rich maritime history and shipbuilding tradition. Its most popular attractions include the 13th-century St Nicholas’ Church and a Maritime Museum displaying model ships and nautical instruments in a former fish auction hall. The Hindenburg Embankment alongside the waterfront is another highlight. From Kiel, you can visit medieval Lübeck, famed for its marzipan.

Included excursion

Enjoy an introduction to the city during an included excursion.

Optional excursion

Visit medieval Lübeck.

Arrive 0800. Depart 2300.

Established in Viking times, Aarhus has a strategic position on the Jutland peninsula and has long been an important centre for trade with Germany and the Baltic countries. Today, the city is celebrated for its thriving culture scene, having previously been recognised as a European Capital of Culture. Aarhus has an array of art galleries and museums, such as the ARoS Art Museum and underground Viking Museum where you can learn more about the local history.

Included excursion

Explore Aarhus on an included excursion.

Optional excursion

Visit Den Gamle By, an open air museum telling the story of Christmas through the years in Denmark.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0800. Depart 2000.

Germany’s second largest city and Europe’s second largest port, Hamburg was one of the core founders of the medieval Hanseatic trading league. Key attractions include the city hall, Alster Lake in the heart of the city, the art deco Kontorhaus, Europe’s first commercial district and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s Christmas markets have an impressive setting in front of the historic City Hall and an extended visit to Hamburg provides plenty of time to browse the stalls.

Included excursion

An included excursion offers an introduction to the city.

Optional excursion

Visit the Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway system.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.