Cruise Itinerary

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.

Situated on the southern tip of Norway, Kristiansand is a place for all ages. Explore Dyreparken, a gigantic zoo, as well as numerous beaches and historical landmarks. Christiansholm Fortress, constructed in 1672, speaks to the early history of Norway with its picturesque stone martello towers and cannons pointing out to sea. Beautiful Kristiansand Cathedral, with its elegant, vaulted wooden ceiling and 230’ (70 m) steeple tower is a classic example of Neo-Gothic architecture built in 1645. While walking some of Kristiansand’s quaint and picturesque city streets, one can visit the fish market, a showplace of Norway’s seafood wealth with many open-water tanks. A highlight of a visit to Kristiansand is lovely Ravnedalen Park, constructed in 1874 as a Romantic-style, riverside garden set in a deep valley gorge, surrounded by awe-inspiring cliffs and waterfalls. Many exotic imported plants such as magnolia, cypress and rhododendron line the garden pathways, while some of Norway’s largest native spruce trees can be admired throughout the park.

Oslo, The capital of Norway is situated at the head of Oslo Fjord surrounded by forested ridges. Oslo is the seat of the Norwegian Government and Parliament, and the Royal Palace is situated at the end of Karl Johan Street-the main street of Oslo. The citys many astonishing features are unusual for a European capital. The city limits wilderness areas as well as an array of restaurants. Oslo abounds with sights of interest, such as museums, parks, urban districts with listed buildings and a well-developed array of shops.

It's easy to assume that Aarhus stands in Copenhagen's shadow - Aarhus after all is the second largest city in Denmark, and its university is both the country's second oldest and second largest. Yet Aarhus boasts singular virtues and charms. Despite a relatively modern cityscape, Aarhus is the oldest city in Scandinavia, mentioned in Icelandic sagas and chronicles. Excavated glass pearls and rune fragments date the city to centuries before its official founding in 770. Aarhus also boasts a lively cultural scene with an acclaimed International Art & Culture Festival in late August. It is also rich in parks and green areas. Located on Jutland's east coast, Aarhus is surrounded by dense forests, and provides easy access to Denmark's scenic Lake District west of the city and it also holds the queen's summer residence beautifully set at the rim of the forest overlooking the sea. Originally constructed in the 12th century, Aarhus's Domkirke is one of the great cathedrals in Scandinavia. Its immense copper spire stands over 300 feet high, making it - ironically - the second tallest bell tower in Northern Europe.

Split by lakes and surrounded by sea, an energetic and hip waterside vibe permeates Copenhagen, one of Northern Europe’s most user-friendly (and trendy) capitals. Copenhagen city centre is waiting to be enjoyed on an MSC Northern Europe cruise excursion. It’s a welcoming, compact city with a centre largely given over to pedestrians (and cyclists) and an emphasis by day on café culture and top-notch museums.The historic core of the city is Slotsholmen, originally the site of the twelfth-centurycastle and now home to the huge Christiansborg complex. Just across the Slotsholmen Kanal to the north is the medieval maze of Indre By (“inner city”), while to the south the island of Christianshavn is adorned with cutting-edge architecture in addition to the alternative enclave of Christiania. North-east of Indre By are the royal quarters of KongensHave and Frederiksstaden, while to the west the expansive Rådhuspladsen leads via Tivoli Gardens to Central Station and the hotspots of Vesterbro and Nørrebro. Just off hectic Vesterbrogade outside the station is Copenhagen’s most famous attraction, Tivoli, an entertaining mixture of landscaped gardens, outdoor concerts and fairground rides. A shore excursion on your MSC Northern Europe cruise can be the opportunity to discover Helsingør’s Kronborg Castle too. The present castle dates from the sixteenth century when it jutted into the sound as a formidable warning to passing ships not to consider dodging the toll, and it remains a grand affair, enhanced immeasurably by its setting; the interior, particularly the royal chapel, is spectacularly ornate. Beneath the castle are the casemates, gloomy cavernous rooms that served as soldiers’ quarters during times of war.

The red and yellow clapboard houses of Skagen occupy a substantial spit of sand at Denmark’s most northerly reaches. Many people visit Grenen, the scenic end point of the dunes where two beaches meet. The light in the area has attracted and inspired many artists and craftsmen, and you can see the results in the Skagen Museum, and in the local shops filled with pottery and glassware.

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.