Northern Europe from Southampton Cruise

Day 1 - Southampton

Arrive: Sat 09 October 2021 / Depart: Sat 09 October 2021 at 16:00

The port of Southampton can trace its origins back to a Roman settlement on the banks of the River Itchen where Bitterne stands today. However, the Saxon settlement of Hamwic or Hamtun on the opposite shore of the Itchen is where Southampton’s early identity really starts to take shape. Unfortunately the wealth of this fledgling Saxon port attracted the attentions of Viking raiders who were, to say the least, bad for business. However, the die had been cast and Southampton traded through good times and bad until, by the early 19th century, paddle steamers started running regular services to France. A century and a half later the first car ferries plied the same routes helping to further popularise the idea of foreign leisure travel that the White Star liners and the glamorous Southampton built flying boats had helped to pioneered. Although the great liners were literally overtaken by the era of cheap jet travel, they never entirely disappeared and, gradually, modern cruising started to become more accessible and more popular. Today Southampton has three cruise terminals to copy with the unprecedented comings and goings of today’s massive cruise ships.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Hamburg

Arrive: Mon 11 October 2021 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 11 October 2021 at 18:00

Day 4 - Rotterdam

Arrive: Tue 12 October 2021 at 18:00

Day 5 - Rotterdam

Depart: Wed 13 October 2021 at 18:00

Day 6 - Zeebrugge

Arrive: Thu 14 October 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 14 October 2021 at 18:00

Day 7 - Le Havre

Arrive: Fri 15 October 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 15 October 2021 at 22:00

Founded in the 16th century, Le Havre on the English Channel, at the mouth of the River Seine in Normandy, is one of the largest seaports of France. Although badly damaged in World War II, LeHavre retains several old buildings, some of them restored after1945. The impressive modernist St Joseph church, Town Hall and seafront Fine Arts Museum are musts, while the Musee deI Ancient Havre and the Gothic Cathedral are among surviving echoes from the city's past.

Day 8 - Southampton

Arrive: Sat 16 October 2021 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 16 October 2021

The port of Southampton can trace its origins back to a Roman settlement on the banks of the River Itchen where Bitterne stands today. However, the Saxon settlement of Hamwic or Hamtun on the opposite shore of the Itchen is where Southampton’s early identity really starts to take shape. Unfortunately the wealth of this fledgling Saxon port attracted the attentions of Viking raiders who were, to say the least, bad for business. However, the die had been cast and Southampton traded through good times and bad until, by the early 19th century, paddle steamers started running regular services to France. A century and a half later the first car ferries plied the same routes helping to further popularise the idea of foreign leisure travel that the White Star liners and the glamorous Southampton built flying boats had helped to pioneered. Although the great liners were literally overtaken by the era of cheap jet travel, they never entirely disappeared and, gradually, modern cruising started to become more accessible and more popular. Today Southampton has three cruise terminals to copy with the unprecedented comings and goings of today’s massive cruise ships.