Southampton to Copenhagen Cruise

Day 1 - Southampton

Arrive: Wed 27 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 27 May 2026

Standing on a triangular peninsula formed at the place where the rivers Itchen and Test flow into an eight-mile inlet from the Solent, Southampton has figured in numerous stirring events and for centuries has been of strategic maritime importance. It was from here that the Pilgrim Fathers departed for America in the tiny Mayflower in 1620 and many great ocean liners, such as the Queen Mary and the Titanic have followed since. The image of the thousand-year-old city was greatly blemished by the bombing during World War II and postwar planning caused changes almost beyond recognition.

Day 2 - Portland, Dorset, UK

Arrive: Thu 28 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 28 May 2026 at 19:00

Day 3 - Falmouth Harbour,Antigua

Arrive: Fri 29 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 29 May 2026 at 18:00

With 365 beaches to choose from, it's said that Antigua has a sandy escape for every day of the year. The sheltered twin bays of English Harbour hold an ever-alluring appeal and draw a beauty-seeking flotilla of yachts to drop anchor in their calm waters. Strap on scuba gear, crunch through paths of dense jungle, or soar up above to volcanic peaks in a helicopter - the choice is yours. Whether you seek adventure, or simply want to take it easy with a paperback and the song of the waves – a beautiful island of sun, sea, and sand lies before you. As the name implies, there's an unrestrained British Colonial influence here, and Horatio Nelson's name is imprinted deep into Falmouth's story. Walk in his footsteps at Nelson's Dockyards - the gorgeously restored, working Georgian dockyard. The colonial spirit is an evocative throwback to this important 17th-century Royal Navy base. Museums tell the story of the British exploits in the West Indies, and the life of Nelson - who lived here for three years. Clarence House is also close by, and the 200-year-old residence continues to draw visits from British royals to this day. This being Antigua, there's no shortage of jaw-dropping beaches and bathing opportunities. Take to pearly-white sands or explore the Pillars of Hercules – a set of smooth, rounded columns of rock that plunge dramatically into the waters below. Pigeon Point Beach is a ravishing amalgam of blues and pristine white sands, where turtles and stingrays glide through patches of coral reefs. Enjoy the best views of the naturally coddled bays of English Harbour by rising to Shirley Heights. Sunset is thrilling from this elevated vantage point, as reds and pinks spill across the skies.

Day 4 - Fishguard(Wales)

Arrive: Sat 30 May 2026 at 08:30 / Depart: Sat 30 May 2026 at 18:30

Perched on a clifftop and stunningly picturesque, Fishguard is considered the very heart of North Pembrokeshire. A small market town that almost seems untouched by time, you’ll find clusters of quayside cottages, family businesses selling local produce and plenty of Gaelic charm! Market day falls on a Saturday and although principally food, there are some stalls selling local arts and crafts too. If you are not lucky enough to be visiting on market day, the pretty high street has some lovely shops where you can easily while away a couple of hours. Known internationally as the place of the last invasion of Britain when the French landed in 1797, the village heaves with history. Historians will of course already know that the two-day invasion soon failed and the peace treaty was signed in the Royal Oak pub in the market square. Over 200 years later the pub still stands and is perhaps one of the best places to soak up the local charm! The real stars of the show here however are the lovely surroundings. The calm waters are perfect for kayaking while walkers will love the national parks that are filled with signposted trails for all levels of ability. Cyclist of all levels will also be pleased; Fishguard and its surroundings do have a few hills, but also lots of straight roads that offer a gentle visit of the stunning landscape. If staying on the water is more your style, then boat trips to see the rest of the lovely coastline can be easily organised in port. If all the activity gets too much for you then why not enjoy a delicious local welsh cake in one of the pretty cafes or head to the town hall and have a look at the 100 foot long Last Invasion Tapestry, a humorous and entertaining story in a Bayeux tapestry style of the 1797 invasion of mainland Britain.

Day 5 - Belfast

Arrive: Sun 31 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 31 May 2026 at 19:00

Reborn as a cool, modern city, Belfast has successfully left its troubles behind, emerging as a hotbed of culture and architecture, where the comfort of a cosy pub is never far away. Take a voyage of discovery in its maritime quarter, home to a celebrated museum dedicated to the most famous ship ever built, which was constructed right here in the city’s shipyards. A walk across the Lagan Weir Footbridge brings you to Belfast’s fascinating Titanic District – an area of the city devoted to its rich ship-building heritage. The state-of-the-art Titanic Museum brings the story of the doomed vessel to life, and is the largest museum dedicated to the infamously ‘unsinkable’ ship. Wind up a nautical-themed ramble along the Maritime Mile with a visit to SS Nomadic, the smaller cousin of the Titanic, and a ship which serves as a fascinating time capsule back to the pomp and grandeur of the Titanic, while also telling its own stories of service in both World Wars. There’s just enough time to give the 10-metre long Salmon of Knowledge sculpture a quick peck for luck, before continuing to explore. A stark barbed wire and graffitied sheet metal barrier marks an abrupt scar through the city’s residential areas. The Peace Line was constructed during the height of the Troubles, when Belfast was plagued by sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics. Nowadays, you can jump in a black taxi tour to see the colourful murals and living history of the walls, which stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace. After exploring the city’s historic divisions, a reminder of Belfast’s uniting creativity can be found at the Metropolitan Arts Centre – a seven-storey tall building, which invites light to gloriously cascade inside. The Cathedral Quarter is a cobbled blend of flower-adorned pubs, restaurants and theatres, and venues where music spills out onto the streets at night, and many a pint is cheerily shared.

Day 6 - Liverpool

Arrive: Mon 01 June 2026 / Depart: Mon 01 June 2026

Who can say Liverpool without thinking of The Beatles? Home to the fab four, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and the Cavern Club, this northern English city is undoubtedly one of the most important places on the 20th-century music scene. Even UNESCO agrees - Liverpool became a City of Music (one of only 19 in the world) in 2015. So understandably, it’s bursting with pride. View less Not only for its most famous former residents but also its football team, its maritime heritage and its thriving cultural scene (it was Capital of Culture in 2008). A huge regeneration project over the past two decades has seen Liverpool blossom from being a below-par northern English city to a somewhere buzzing with charm. The arrival of the Tate Liverpool paved the way – quickly followed by the restoration of some 2,500 plus listed buildings (that’s more than any English city outside London). The waterfront revitalisation came next with bars, clubs, galleries and independent boutiques, giving Liverpool some of the best dining and shopping there is. Don’t leave here without tasting Scouse – a traditional beef stew – and from where Liverpudlians draw their nickname “Scousers”. Culturally speaking, Liverpool is “bang on” as Scousers would say. The three Graces (named after the Greek goddesses of charm, beauty and creativity) line the waterfront and are responsible in part for Liverpool’s second UNESCO gong as a World Heritage Site. Further afield, the lovely parks and Crosby Beach offer a welcome respite from the urban hub.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Lerwick, Scotland

Arrive: Wed 03 June 2026 / Depart: Wed 03 June 2026

Adrift between the Scottish and Norwegian coasts, the craggy Shetland Islands form the most northerly point of the British Isles. Sprawling across 100 islands, connected by sandy bridges and crisscrossing ferries, explore the highlights of this scenic archipelago outpost. With incredible Neolithic history, spanning 5,000 years of human heritage, these islands, which sit just shy of the Arctic Circle, are an isolated and immense treasure trove of history and thrilling scenery. Look out over dramatic coastline from atmospheric Iron Age towers.

Day 9 - Invergordon

Arrive: Thu 04 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 04 June 2026 at 18:00

Invergordon is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen.

Day 10 - Edinburgh

Arrive: Fri 05 June 2026 / Depart: Fri 05 June 2026

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 12 - Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam)

Arrive: Sun 07 June 2026 / Depart: Sun 07 June 2026

IJmuiden is a small port city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is the main town in the municipality of Velsen which lies mainly to the south-east.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Stavanger, Norway

Arrive: Tue 09 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 09 June 2026 at 19:00

Located on the west coast of southern Norway and, with a population of 100,000 the country's fourth largest city, Stavanger is something of a survivor. While other Norwegian coastal towns have experienced serious decline because of the precarious fortunes of fishing, Stavanger has over the years grown into one of the country's most dynamic economic power bases, thanks to the creation of a merchant fleet, fish canning, shipbuilding and, more recently, the oil industry. With more than 3,000 foreign oil business people residing here who have made English virtually the first language, Stavanger is often referred to as the “Oil Capital of Norway.” To support the offshore oilfields, the port serves refineries and is also involved in the construction of oil rigs. Today's Stavanger is a charming blend of fishing village and modern city, sprinkled with parks, gardens and lakes. The elegant old town with its 12th century cathedral deserves a closer look, and the Canning and Maritime Museums are well worth a visit. Along the length of the harbor, on Torget, is a small daily market with colorful stands of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Teeming water tanks on the quayside hold a variety of fresh fish. The area around the eastern side of the harbor makes up the town's shopping district, a bright mix of spidery lanes, pedestrian streets and white-timbered houses that occupy the site of the original settlement of medieval Stavanger. Outside of town, one can take a trip to the top of Pulpit Rock and other fine lookout points to enjoy the magnificent view. In addition, a worthwhile trip can be made to Utstein Kloster, which was founded in the 13th century and is Norway's oldest and best preserved abbey.

Day 15 - Rosendal

Arrive: Wed 10 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 10 June 2026 at 17:00

Rosendal, with its mountains and waterfalls, is one of Norway’s more romantic villages. Cut off from the rest of the world by high mountains and the Folgefonna National Park, and home to just 800 year round inhabitants, to say the village is in a little world of its own is no exaggeration! While Rosendal might lack for urban excitement, you certainly couldn’t want to find a more beautiful setting. View less Soaring mountains peaks, narrow winding fjords, impressive waterfalls and the third largest glacier in Norway are all par for the norm here, as are breathtaking glacier views and some of the freshest air you’ll ever experience. The village was famously a wedding present to Ludvig Holgersen Rosenkrantz’s daughter in 1658. Rosenkrantz was the wealthiest man in the country at the time, owning over 500 farms all over western Norway. The great manor house built shortly after the wedding still stands, along with beautifully maintained gardens that were added 300 years later. The house is a wonderful reflection of the different periods styles of the various illustrious owners and restoration has been painstakingly carried out. The oldest rooms are still decorated as they were in the early 19th century while the library is the only 17th century room in Norway kept in its entirety, complete with the original rich French tapestry from the 1660’s. No visit to this little village would be complete without a taste of local life. Pop into a tea shop for a traditional griddlecake, enjoyed amid splendid waterfront views.

Day 16 - Vik

Arrive: Thu 11 June 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 11 June 2026 at 19:00

Make no bones about it, this is Fjordland at its finest. Named by the National Geographic Traveler magazine as "the world's most iconic destination", legend has it that Vikings and Trolls battled on these very waters and the pretty stave churches – of which Vik has two – are built on sacred Norse land. Vik is a place that could have been written by Tolkein; a mysterious land where mists roll off the mountains, the air is crisp and the silent, glassy Fjords are definitely the ruler of the kingdom.

Day 17 - At Sea

Day 18 - Kristiansand, Norway

Arrive: Sat 13 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 13 June 2026 at 18:00

Day 19 - Skagen

Arrive: Sun 14 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 14 June 2026 at 18:00

Skagen is the northernmost town in Denmark, at the tip of Jutland on the Kattegat strait. It became a holiday resort at the end of the 19th century and a colony for artists and writers. Painters and poets were the first to see the light - literally. Particularly the Skagen Group of painters made the place famous.

Day 20 - Oslo

Arrive: Mon 15 June 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 15 June 2026 at 18:00

The capital of Norway since 1299, Oslo is the nation's largest city. Located on an island-studded fjord, with its forest-clad hills and lakes in the hinterland, Oslo provides recreational opportunities that few capital cities can match. According to historians, the city was founded in 1050 by Harold III. In later years, Hakon V declared Oslo the capital of Norway and built Akershus Castle. As the country's capital, Oslo is the royal residence, seat of government, Supreme Court, and also the site of Norway's oldest university. Through its 950-year history, the city suffered many fires, including an especially devastating one in 1624. As a result, Oslo presents a mixture of several architectural styles. Visitors will find a full range of activities among the numerous galleries, museums, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters. With a fairly compact city center, many of Oslo's attractions can be reached on foot; ferryboats departing from the harbor can easily reach the Bygdøy peninsula.

Day 21 - Aalborg, Denmark

Arrive: Tue 16 June 2026 at 12:01 / Depart: Tue 16 June 2026 at 22:00

Denmark’s fourth largest city comes with what Danes do best – Viking landscapes, modernist architecture, superb local food and lots (and lots) of good beer. Starting with number one, visitors to Aalborg will need to experience the strange otherworldliness that is Lindolm Hoje. One of Scandinavia’s best preserved Viking burial sites, the impressive site was covered over by a sand dune in around 1000 AD, thus preserving the stone markings. Archaeologists from the National Museum began a proper excavation of the site in 1889 but it wasn’t until 1958 that the site’s potential was fully realised. Widely considered be the most notable of ancient landmarks in Denmark, no visit to Aalborg is complete without a visit here. History lovers will want to continue their tour of this pretty Danish town by not missing out on Voergaard Castle - one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Denmark. The castle houses an extensive and unique collection of European art and furniture, including works by Goya, Rubens, Raphael and El Greco, together with treasures from the personal belongings of Napoleon 1, Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette. If you prefer your landscapes more urban than historical, then not to be overlooked is Aalborg’s architecture. Think a Jon Utzon (the man behind the Sydney Opera House) cultural centre, one of the best concert halls in Europe and a repurposed power plant, and you have culture galore at your fingertips. If all that has made you hungry then expect a gastronomic voyage with anything from fine dining to a covered street food market. Washed down by a locally produced beer – of course! Aalborg is home to six microbreweries so visitors are spoilt for choice.

Day 22 - Aarhus

Arrive: Wed 17 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 17 June 2026 at 18:00

Aarhus is a city in Denmark on the Jutland peninsula’s east coast. Den Gamle By is its old town open-air museum, with centuries-old timbered houses. Nearby are the greenhouses of the Aarhus Botanical Garden. In the center, the multistory ARoS art museum shows global contemporary works

Day 23 - Warnemunde

Arrive: Thu 18 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 18 June 2026 at 21:00

Warnemünde, an attractive seaside suburb of Rostock, serves as a departure point for trips to Berlin and the Baltic Coast. The Alter Strom (Old River) was the estuary of the Warnow River and, until 1903, the sole entrance to the port. This area has been renovated; the small fisherman’s cottages flanking the river now house pubs and cafés, shops and boutiques.

Day 24 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive: Fri 19 June 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 19 June 2026

Effortlessly cool and down to earth, Copenhagen is a contemporary, clean and classy highlight of Scandinavia. A city built to be liveable, Copenhagen has refused to compromise, resulting in a forward-thinking metropolis that’s green and clean. Swim in the waters of Havnebadet Islands during summer, or shelter from winter’s bite by snuggling in beside a roaring open fire during winter. You can even hop on a train to Sweden, traversing the famous span of a Nordic Noir star - the Öresund Bridge. It takes just a touch over half an hour to step off the train in Malmö. There’s only one way to truly explore Copenhagen and that’s on two wheels. Easy bike hire schemes will get you moving across this flat city, designed with bikes at the forefront of the mind. Choose a model with electronic assistance to take the strain out of any journey, giving you the freedom to whizz around and explore the modern angular architecture of the centre, and the pastoral colours of Nyhavn waterfront. Head out to the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale - the strikingly-restrained statue is the perfect landmark for Copenhagen; unshowy, self-assured and utterly irresistible. The Danish concept of hygge is very much alive here, and you’ll feel that warm cosy feeling as you visit cafes illuminated by the warm glow of hanging filament bulbs, and stuffed to the brim with thick, dusty books. Home to mega-brewer Carlsberg, Copenhagen is also a city for hop enthusiasts, and there is a thriving craft brewing scene to sample. Danish Smørrebrød sandwiches are a must try, or for something a little more substantial, settle in for a culinary voyage and try a taster menu – the city’s restaurants are littered with Michelin stars.