Considering a voyage through Northern Europe? Regent Seven Seas Cruises® may offer the perfect blend of cultural discovery, natural beauty and all-inclusive luxury.
“Guests can sail effortlessly between storied capitals and charming seaside towns, enjoying world-class cuisine, personalized service and immersive excursions that make every port feel deeply personal,” says Wesley D’Silva, Chief Commercial Officer. “It’s an extraordinary way to experience the best of the U.K., Baltics and Scandinavia without the logistics of overland travel.”
Regent offers cruises to Northern Europe and many of them include new Baltic and Nordic itineraries with overnight stays so guests can enjoy dinner and evening events in favorite cities like Stockholm and Copenhagen. “Scandinavian cities are among the most welcoming in the world — clean and highly walkable,” D’Silva shares. “Regent’s concierge team and destination experts are always on hand to offer personal recommendations for guests who wish to explore as part of a shore excursion or on their own.”
Many Regent cruises include time in Iceland. One cruise, British Isles Discovery, on Seven Seas Mariner®, starts in Reykjavik on July 17 and visits the Orkney and Hebrides islands of Scotland, the Isle of Man and fishing villages in Ireland before reaching London on July 31. On Regent cruises, most shore excursions, like a circumnavigation of Iceland’s Heimaey Island, the site of a famous volcanic eruption in 1973, are included in your fare. This tour will visit the harbor where the lava eventually stopped and a museum with artifacts from the catastrophe. Along the way you will view Iceland’s rugged coastline and the puffins who thrive there.
Walking through the harbor town of Stornoway in the Hebrides provides an introduction to Gaelic culture, arts and crafts handwoven from local wool. An excursion called Scenic Lewis and the Standing Stoneswill drive you by Lewis Island’s lochs and ancient round cornered Black Houses be fore you reach the Calanais Standing Stones, archeological marvels that rival Stonehenge.
Before the Irish town of Waterford became famous for its carved glass, the neighboring town of Kilkenny was a center for medieval architecture and crafts. An excursion called Kilkenny Castle and Waterford Crystal will take you to the castle and the Waterford Crystal Visitors’ Center, with enough time for you to browse through the Kilkenny Design Center.
Those visiting Northern Europe for the first time, or those who want to revisit favorite memories, can take a quintessential cruise called Storied Scandinavia on Seven Seas Grandeur® that sails from Stockholm on August 29 and returns via Oslo on September 8. A land tour called Highlights of Stockholm will take you by the Royal Palace and other beautiful historic buildings, walk you through old town or Gamla Stan and onto the Vasa, a 17th-century warship that sank into Stockholm’s harbor on its maiden voyage in 1628 and remained there until 1961, when it was raised and restored.
Berlin, Germany, has too much to see in one day, so the ship will stay there for two. Guests can take a variety of city excursions or walk through Berlin on their own with the help of a Regent escort to get them started with maps and suggestions. They can also opt for a day trip to Hamburg or a ride on a narrow gauge railway in nearby Mecklenburg.
All travelers need to spend at least one night in Copenhagen to experience the fairytale-like lights and music of Tivoli Gardens, and this cruise provides just that. In the daytime, guests can immerse themselves in Danish art, architecture and design via specialized excursions, sample Copenhagen’s food and open air markets on their own and, of course, take a canal tour.
A third Regent cruise to Northern Europe with openings next year is called Grand Castles, Modern Marvels. Seven Seas Voyager® leaves London on September 1 and arrives in Copenhagen on September 11, stopping in Belgium, where guests can take a coach ride to Bruges, a charming city known for its collections of Flemish art and its contemporary chocolatiers.
Regent offers a variety of walking and canal tours of Bruges, all of which include stops at some of its world-famous chocolate shops. Guests who want to avoid those calories can choose an excursion that takes them to Ghent instead. A tour called Ghent Delights: Canal Charms and Wonders, takes you through that city’s canals by boat, passing its old guildhalls, monasteries and fish market.
In Oslo, the Vigeland Sculpture Park is the city’s centerpiece and several of Regent’s city tours will take you there. This public park features over 200 works in bronze, granite and iron created by Gustav Vigeland, who lived on the premises. At its center is the Monolith, a 17-meter-high granite sculpture carved into 121 intertwined human figures.
History buffs might prefer a walking tour called Oslo During World War II, led by a local author and historian. The narrator will recount the exile of Norway’s royal family and the acts of resistance by its ordinary citizens.
A stop in the seaside town of Lysekil, Sweden, has an excursion called Seal Safari. Intrepid guests board a small boat that carries them to the Bohuslän archipelago, where huge colonies of seals clamber over the island’s rocks and splash into the sea. Other wildlife sightings may include eiders, osprey, white-tailed sea eagles and porpoises.
Those more inclined toward the artistic can take an Art & Culture in Fiskebäckskil tour. After a ferry ride to the fishing village that was once the home of a famous painter, you can tour the colorful arts community at your own pace.
When Seven Seas Voyager docks in Kiel, Germany, the history lovers on board can take a journey to Lübeck and its perfectly preserved Hanseatic port city known for its Gothic brick-work, marzipan cafes and centuries of maritime trade history.
“Together, the excursions across each cruise bring to life the beauty and contrast of Northern Europe — from Scandinavian design and simplicity to German medieval charm, and the wildlife, art and culture that make this region so special to explore by sea,” D’Silva affirms. “Regent cu-rates enrichment that goes far beyond traditional touring. Onboard, guests enjoy lectures from historians and regional experts, live musical and folkloric performances, and cuisine inspired by regional flavors. Ashore, complimentary excursions offer authentic encounters — whether it’s a private visit to a Viking museum, sampling Scandinavian specialties at local markets or exploring the modern Nordic art scene.”
Regent Seven Seas Cruises® has consistently delivered ultra-luxury travel experiences with the very best value for over thirty years. Aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet®, enjoy unrivaled onboard space, unforgettable shoreside excursions, incomparable culinary experiences, and exceptional Heartfelt Hospitality™.
Our exceptional service begins long before you step aboard. Your Personal Consultant will help you or your Travel Advisor plan your next ultra-luxury cruise vacation.
