Scandinavia, Baltic states and of course the fjords...

Cruises to Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden often involve Baltic states ports and can also include Amsterdam, Stavanger and Gothenburg to give a bumper selection of the best that Northern Europe has to offer all in one voyage. Many cruises encompassing Scandinavian ports also include an overnight stay in St Petersburg in Russia.

And of course let's not forget the fjords. Memsmorising Norwegian landscape packed with natural sights and sounds which are truly breathtaking.

How long?

If sailing from a UK port such as Dover or Harwich you may have a couple of sea days to fully relax and acclimatise on board your ship in preparation for the many destinations to come in an itinerary that is likely to last a minimum of ten nights but more usually will be up to two weeks in duration. But as there’s a lot to pack in, you'll need the time.

However, you can easily fly to meet your ship in either Copenhagen or Amsterdam for a cruise which will run for around seven nights. Whichever option you choose, this kind of destination intensive itinerary is where taking a cruise really comes into its own. Having unpacked just the once, your ship will glide between Europe’s northern capitals without you having to lift a finger, other than to order another well-deserved post-sightseeing cocktail.

When is the best time to go?

The best time to enjoy the fjords is in summer when most major cruise lines visit them from most UK ports. The Northern lights are however, only visible in winter when unfortunately the fjords tend to freeze over and most cruise ships head off to the Caribbean or the Canaries.