Northern Europe
Introduction
Northern European countries, like Ireland, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Poland and a
host of others, are all charismatic and diverse. From grand-scale edifices like
the Edinburgh Castle and the Nidaros Cathedral, to casual diversions like Irish
pubs and sea-bordered parks, Northern Europe is home to some of the most
sought-after attractions in the world.
When cruisers become overwhelmed by museums and churches, there is no better
place to turn to than the natural environment. Norway offers stunning fjords,
lakes and waterfalls, and both the English and Irish countryside are emblazoned
with swelling hills, verdant pastures and craggy forests.
Of course, time must be reserved for shopping. From the pulsating streets of
Picadilly Circus in London to the stoic roads of St. Petersburg, Russia, craft
shops, boutiques, jewelry stores and galleries are close at hand.
Getting Around
When traveling to Northern Europe follow the same guidelines you would when
traveling to Mediterranean Europe. In short, use a guide. A guide will help you
consolidate several days' worth of sightseeing into several hours, and
transportation, which can be a bear, is usually prearranged. |
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If
you been to Europe, you might have a good feel for which attractions are really
worth a visit and you may even have a beat on off-the-beaten-path highlights.
For such people, feel free to plot your own itinerary, but do so before you
arrive at port.
Examples of shore excursion opportunities in Northern
Europe include:
Shopping Districts
- Shop for glassware, stainless steel and elegant
gifts in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Haggle over the prices of flowers, vegetables,
fruit, souvenirs and gifts at the Torget in Bergen, Norway.
- Purchase reputed Waterford crystal when you
visit Dunmore East, Ireland.
Nature Trips
- Stand in awe before the Giants' Causeway,
million-year old rock formations in Belfast, Ireland that have stood as a
natural rampart against Atlantic storms.
- Travel via train through some of the most
beautiful stretches of countryside in southern England.
- Trek to Geirangerfjord, Norway's most popular
fjord, and view snow-capped mountains whose sheer cliffs usher cascading
waterfalls.
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City Tours
- Explore Tallinn, Estonia and see St. Bridget'
Convent, St. Kaarli's Church, the Estonian Opera and Pirita, site of the 1980
Olympics.
- Journey to Dublin and take in the Customs House,
the National Gallery, Trinity College, the National Museum and Moore Street
Market - famous for its boisterous pubs.
- Observe the Tower of London, Big Ben,
Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace during a tour of London.
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Cultural Attractions
- Witness acrobatic Siberian Cossack dances,
Ukraine choral singing and live balalaika music at the world-renowned St.
Petersburg Music Hall.
- Head to Diamondland in Antwerp, Belgium and
watch cutters at work and learn how diamonds are valued.
- Tour the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin and
sample renowned whiskey, scotch and bourbon.
Religious Structures
- Tour Trondheim, Norway and view the 12th century
Nidaros Cathedral, one of the finest and largest Gothic structures in
Scandinavia.
- Visit the famous Rock Church of Helsinki,
Finland, a grandiose modern-day structure composed of bedrock and quarried
stone.
- See the Church of the Spilled Blood in St.
Petersburg, a marvelous Old Russian-style church built on the spot where Emperor
Alexander II was assassinated.
Museums
- Marvel at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, a
world-famous landmark built in 1798 that houses 5,000 paintings, 30,000
sculptures and 17,000 historical objects.
- Stop at "The Story of Berlin" museum, which
depicts the divided history of Berlin, the Prussian era, the roaring twenties
and the Third Reich.
- Travel to the Museum of Viking Ships in Oslo,
Norway, a marvelous exhibit of massive, wooden century-old wooden vessels.
| Enhance
your travel to Northern Europe by reading about its culture, people and history
in these novels: |
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Broke Through Britain - Peter Mortimer
Home Truths, A Jaunt Around the Decaying Heart of England - Bill Murphy
The Kingdom by the Sea - Paul Theroux
Orchid Fever, a Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust & Lunacy - Eric Hansen
Two Degrees West, An English Journey - Nicholas Crane
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