Although we appreciate that many guests will choose to explore the city alone, this tour is for those of us who enjoy seeing the sights from the comfort of a coach, and who value the services of a fully qualified, English speaking guide to enlighten us.

Our canal cruise will be followed by a visit to Haarlem – capital of the province of North Holland, and known as the home of well known Dutch painter Frans Hals.

We travel by coach to the windmill village Zaanse Schans – a name deriving from the defending wall (schans) which was erected at the end of the 16th century for the war against the Spaniards.

Although we appreciate that many guests will choose to explore the city alone, this tour is for those of us who enjoy seeing the sights from the comfort of a coach, and who value the services of a fully qualified, English speaking guide to enlighten us. We shall also visit the famous Van Gogh Museum.

In 1942 the Frank family went into hiding in Amsterdam. The younger daughter, Anne, kept a diary which was published in 1947 and the secret annex the family hid in can be viewed on a visit to their former home.

Our tour combines a short walk through central Amsterdam with Dutch Gin tasting on a canal cruise.

For those who have visited Amsterdam before or just prefer to do their own thing, this tour is perfect.

This tour will allow us to sample some of the tastes of Bornholm – including herring, wine and beer.

Dueodde Golf Course is situated near Bornholm's best beach on the south coast, bordered by woodland, open landscape, fertilise agricultural land and grazing pasture.

We will have a short transfer to the bike rental shop to collect our equipment and prepare to set out on a route of approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles).

This is a scenic tour through the picturesque farmlands of the tiny Baltic Island belonging to Denmark. Travelling by coach we go into Rønne before crossing the island through Almindingen – one of the largest forest areas in Denmark.

Welcome to Rønne – ‘the capital city’ of Bornholm with approximately 14,000 inhabitants and an important trading port and ferry hub in the Baltic.

This is a scenic tour across the island to two of the loveliest fishing villages. Our knowledgeable guide will tell us about this special corner of Denmark and way of life here.

Gotland has approximately 50 miles (80 kilometres) of shoreline, making it an ideal area for fishing. Our tour will allow us to try our hand at spin fishing. Our expert fishing guide will save us a great deal of time and frustration, as well as providing us with an insight into the charming island.

We begin our tour with a drive along the coast up to Högklint, for a spectacular view of the Baltic Sea and the walled city of Visby itself – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From Visby on the west coast we will travel south east across the limestone plateau of which the island is comprised, towards the centre of Gotland. Proceeding through the agricultural districts of Träkumla, Vall and Atlingbo, we shall stop a while at Mästerby to visit one of the 92 fine medieval churches in the area.

This tour is for anyone wishing to experience genuine Gotlandic nature and culture.

This Cathedral tour takes us to Kazan Cathedral, St Isaacs and the Cathedral of St Peter & St Paul.

Rasputin, labelled ‘Mad Monk’ by historians, was born in 1869 in Siberia and arrived in St Petersburg in 1911. Within a few years he had become one of the most influential men in government circles.

For those guests wishing to venture away from St Petersburg, without much walking, this tour is ideal.

The history of Russian choreographic art goes back more than two and a half centuries, although foreign masters played an important role in the establishment and evolution of Russian ballet.

This guided tour will take us to the State Hermitage Museum, where we will visit the department housing approximately 106,000 items representing the art and culture of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and Italy as well as ancient settlements on the Northern Black Sea coast. The pieces range in date from 2000 BC to the 4th century AD. The large collection of Greek and Italian painted vases (approximately 15,000 pieces) and Etruscan art are well known both in and outside Russia.

THIS TOUR WILL OPERATE FOR VISTAS ANTIQUE THEMED CRUISES ONLY

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A drive of approximately one hour will transfer us to Peterhof – the town of palaces, fountains and parks and the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian Tsars.

This is our opportunity to visit St Petersburg’s most famous museum, the Hermitage – Russia’s largest collection of art, with over 2.8 million works.

St Petersburg is a city to explore fully – this tour will give us the chance to get up close to it, as we walk through part of the city on this walking tour.

A short coach ride and then a 30-minute journey by hydrofoil will take us to Peterhof – one of the summer residences of the Russian Tsars – 18 miles from St Petersburg. It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Peterhof was conceived by Peter the Great to rival Versailles in splendour.

This is our opportunity to visit St Petersburg’s most famous museum, the Hermitage, and also have access to the Gold and Diamond Rooms in order to view the unique works found here.

This tour takes us to Catherine Palace and Park. Our coach journey will take approximately one hour to reach Pushkin – formerly known as Tsarskoye Selo (or Tsar’s Village) – which is located 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of St Petersburg.

This excursion gives us the opportunity to go ashore and enjoy some time to explore and indulge in a little retail therapy. Our coach will take us to a recommended store where a variety of items can be purchased.

A short transfer will take us to the Cathedral of Resurrection on Spilled Blood – one of the most noted landmarks of St Petersburg. For many years this splendid Cathedral was closed to the public but opened again in the late 1990’s as a museum, after a 25 year renovation.

Nothing can really adequately prepare us for what we may see and hear on this tour - it is best to bring along an open mind and heart, as well as a sense of curiosity.

St Petersburg boasts over 66 rivers and canals. Winding through the city, a boat tour gives a better understanding of the city’s character and beauty.

We will have the opportunity to enjoy a ballet performance at the St Petersburg State Musical Theatre, also known as the Palace Theatre, which is located in one of the most picturesque parts of St Petersburg – the Arts Square.

A drive of approximately one-hour will transfer us to Peterhof – the town of palaces, fountains and parks – the most brilliant of all the summer residences of the Russian Tsars, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Peterhof was conceived by Peter the Great to rival Versailles in splendour. Indeed, several hours could be spent enjoying the extravaganza of the dazzling fountain display.

Since the time of Catherine the Great, the staterooms of the Winter Palace were opened for evening receptions organised by the Tsarina for her friends and foreign guests. The rooms for these receptions she called her ‘hermitage’ – a place where she could forget about state affairs and the hardships of a monarch.

This tour will give us an interesting insight into the Russian Tsars’ lives. We will see the most beautiful of the St Petersburg summer residences – Catherine Palace, and the most mysterious and unusual Palace of Pavlovsk.

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Catherine Palace ranks high on the list of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Rastrelli designed the lavish palace in 1752 for Empress Elizabeth, who named it Catherine Palace in honour of her mother, Catherine I, who originally owned the estate. The stunning turquoise, white and gold Baroque façade stretches 300 metres (1,000 feet) and is adorned with a profusion of atlantes (sculpted figures), columns, pilasters and ornamental window framings. Rastrelli used 100 kilograms of pure gold for the exterior gilding.

As well as a leisurely boat ride, this tour will take us to the Peter and Paul Fortress which is situated on a small island in the Neva River delta.

A visit to St Petersburg is always a rewarding and unforgettable experience. By European standards it is a young city – in 2003, St Petersburg celebrated the 300th anniversary of its foundation – yet wherever we look there are reminders of an eventful history.

We leave the harbour and drive through the cultural centre of Tallinn, viewing some of the highlights of Estonian architecture. Approaching the Old Town we will get fascinating views of the medieval city wall with its fairy tale turrets.

Departing from the harbour, we travel through Tallinn’s cultural heart towards Toompea (Cathedral Hill). We shall stop near the foot of the medieval tower named Pikk (or Tall) Hermann, which stands guard over the National Parliament in this, Estonia's capital.

Just four miles from Tallinn's city centre is a fascinating museum that recreates village life of 18th and 19th century rural Estonia.

Arriving at the lake on the edge of Kadriorg Park, we will walk up to the Mikkel Museum which is located in a renovated building of the Palace kitchen. We will have a guided tour of the Museum, seeing the small but exquisite collection of porcelain, wooden icons and paintings. They belonged to an Estonian art collector, Johannes Mikkel, who donated his collection to the museum.

THIS TOUR WILL OPERATE ONLY FOR VISTAS ANTIQUES THEMED CRUISES

The only golf club in Estonia, which has been designed by the well known Swedish architect Ake Persson. It is difficult to classify the golf course at first sight, which spreads over 162 hectares.

Tallinn is unique among other European cities as its medieval town wall, with numerous towers and bastions, has survived remarkably well despite the town’s stormy history. As well as the medieval fortifications, this tour will also allow us access to the underground bastions of the city.

Leaving the pier we will circle the Old Town, getting a view of the medieval city wall and the castle. We pass through the cultural centre of Tallinn with its theatres, concert halls and shops.

This tour covers the city districts of Södermalm, Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Östermalm, and Djurgården – each having its own special character. We will travel through Gamla Stan – the enchanting medieval Old Town – passing the Royal Palace overlooking Stockholm’s inner harbour where a short photo stop is made.

Our ship’s overnight stay will allow us to enjoy a panoramic evening tour of Stockholm.

Including most of the main sights of the city, such as the medieval Old Town, Gamla Stan, with the Royal Palace overlooking the inner harbour, the City Hall and Lake Mälaren our driving tour will give us a good overview of Stockholm.

Our city tour also includes a ride on the new Stockholm attraction – SkyView – with amazing views across the city from the gondola.

The Championship King’s Course is the epitome of Scandinavian golf, with pine forests surrounding this undulating course. Granite and natural water features are an integral part of this tough test of golf designed by one of the best-known names in Swedish golf, Anders Forsbrand, in association with European Golf Design.

We leave the pier to begin our tour, which will let us experience the world’s first permanent ice bar. We will first visit Stockholm's oldest quarter – the Old Town (Gamla Stan). Here we witness the historic elegance of the exterior of the dominating Royal Palace, combined with the possibility to stroll along the narrow, twisting alleys and cobblestone streets.

Nature and careful planning have combined to make Stockholm one of the world’s most attractive capitals. Water plays an important part in city life, and no fewer than 50 bridges of every shape and size link Stockholm’s 14 islands.

From the pier, our tour commences with a drive up to Fjällgatan, for a splendid panoramic view of the city and the inner harbour. We then descend to cross to the island of Gamla Stan, where the enchanting, medieval Old Town is located.

The Swedish warship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and it was magnificently raised in 1961. Our tour will take us to the Vasa Museum and allow us to view the Vasa and learn about the ship and its history.

What was life like in the Viking ages? Our visit to the Viking Exhibition at the Museum of National Antiquities will show us about their lives and travels. More than 4,000 objects from the Viking era are on display.

During this Norway cruise from the UK, we will cruise to Aalborg were we will be able to join a coach and enjoy a 20 minute drive north of the city for our first stop Lindholm Hoje – a Viking site just outside the city. It is one of the most important ancient monuments in Denmark.

We leave the pier in Aalborg and drive south on the motorway to the town of Hobro. Here we will visit one of the oldest of the so-called Ring Fortresses built in Denmark around 980 AD. It is presumed they were all built by the same builder - the Danish King Harald Bluetooth.

Danes consume an average of 90 litres of beer per person annually which places them firmly in the top 10 of European beer lovers. And, although Aalborg is most famous for its production of Aquavit, there is little doubt that they love their beer too. Pubs, bars and cafés are generously represented and Aalborg is famous throughout the land for Jomfru Ane Gade (Virgin Ane Street) – an entire street dedicated entirely to pubs, bars, restaurants and night clubs.

Our walking tour will show us the main sights of Aalborg. Over the years, the city has developed into one of the busiest trading centres in Denmark. Activity and prosperity have left their mark on the city’s architecture and many of the old buildings still function as natural elements in the townscape.

The small fishing village of Skagen is Denmark’s northern most town and can trace its origins back to the 13th century. For centuries fishing trade alone sustained the small community and as late as 1890 there were no roads connecting the small town to the rest of Denmark. But for the past 100 years tourism has overtaken the fishing trade, making Skagen a very popular holiday destination for its unique nature, climate and culture and sometimes doubling or tripling the 8,000 strong population over summer.