Cruise Itinerary

Welcome to Edinburgh, the administrative and cultural capital of Scotland. The present city had its origin in the 11th century.Towards the end of the Middle Ages, Edinburgh's development prompted the construction of two walls to encircle the settlement and to protect her citizens. Adversely, the walls inhibited expansion and contained the city for almost 250 years. After Scotland was joined with England in 1707, defense was no longer a key issue and the city began to spread beyond the protective walls. Edinburgh entered its golden age in the late 18th century and emerged as one of Europe's great intellectual capitals. Dominating the city from atop Castle Rock is the oldest and most prominent surviving structure, Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile links the castle with the 16th-century Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of the Queen when she visits Edinburgh. The Throne Room and the State Apartments, with their rich tapestries and period furnishings, are of particular interest. While major historic monuments are found in the Old Town, Georgian architecture characterizes the New Town, which is the heart of the city. Princes Street marks the dividing line between the old and new sections. Shops, hotels, clubs and restaurants line its northern side; the southern side is flanked by Princes Street Gardens. Edinburgh is first and foremost a cultural and educational center. Its university, the largest in Scotland, was founded in 1583; it became a famous center for medical studies. The city is also noted for its excellent galleries and museums as well as the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the International Festival. The distance between Edinburgh and Rosyth is 14 miles, requiring a driving time of approximately 45 minutes.

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 Warnemünde quarter in Rostock is a famous German seaside resort that you can visit when you reach the German coasts on your MSC cruise of northern Europe. At the mouth of the river Warnow, in the Baltic Sea, Warnemünde will surprise you with its villas, hotels and the large white and silver beach. Its heart is Am Strom, next to the port, where the homes of old captains and fishermen have been turned into coffee shops and boutiques. With an excursion during the cruise, you can continue towards Schwerin. Surrounded by lakes and with a fairytale Schloss that tickles the imagination, the town represents a pleasant surprise, given by the architecture and spirit of a historic capital. Continuing the excursion you can admire Lubeck, one of the few cities along Europe's northern coasts that preserves the glory of medieval times. For more than two centuries the standard bearer of the Hanseatic League, this was one of the wealthiest and most powerful of European cities, the Venice of the Baltic. The commercial opulence is best expressed in its architecture: from the oldest Rathaus in Germany to the churches with the tallest bell-towers to the merchants’ mansions. Lubecca is the first city in Northern Europe to be included in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 1987. Finally, you should not leave out a visit to the cosmopolitan Berlin, the largest and liveliest city in Germany. Amongst the monuments to visit are the Brandebourgh Gate. Situated close to the Reichstag, the seat of the German parliament, the monument, designed on the model of Athens’ Acropolis, was built as the city’s arch of triumph in 1791 and soon became the symbol of unified Germany. The Brandenburg Gate looms over the ornamental gardens in Pariser Platz which extends eastwards towards the wide, tree-lined Unter den Linden avenue, that means “Beneath the linden trees”, flanked by shops and cafés.

Riga, Latvia’s capital, is set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava. It's considered a cultural center and is home to many museums and concert halls. The city is also known for its wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture and medieval Old Town. The pedestrian-only Old Town has many shops and restaurants and is home to busy Livu Square, with bars and nightclubs

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn was called Reval until the 20th century. The port's ideal maritime position has always been a temptation to other nations and won it a position in the Hanseatic League. This cross-cultural history gives Tallinn a special ambience that visitors appreciate. The main attraction is the Old Town. Perched on a low hill by the shore, its fortification walls, worn cobbled streets and 13th-century buildings make it one of the purest medieval towns in all of northern Europe. With about a half-million inhabitants, Tallinn comprises almost a third of Estonia's population. Outside of town there is rich dairy land and along the coast stretch expansive sand beaches.

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn was called Reval until the 20th century. The port's ideal maritime position has always been a temptation to other nations and won it a position in the Hanseatic League. This cross-cultural history gives Tallinn a special ambience that visitors appreciate. The main attraction is the Old Town. Perched on a low hill by the shore, its fortification walls, worn cobbled streets and 13th-century buildings make it one of the purest medieval towns in all of northern Europe. With about a half-million inhabitants, Tallinn comprises almost a third of Estonia's population. Outside of town there is rich dairy land and along the coast stretch expansive sand beaches.

When your cruise docks at Klaipeda, on Lithuania's Curoanian coast, you might feel as if you've stepped into another world. One of Europe's best-kept beach secrets, Klapeida is as much about pristine scenery as it is the intricate Fachwerk architecture of its charming Old Town. Here you'll find the Curonian Spit sandbar and the sparkling Curoanian Lagoon just behind it. The smell of fresh sea air will invigorate you as you ascend the 13th-century remains of Klaipeda Castle with Baltic cruises. Later, dig into a plate of fish dumplings at a charming portside restaurant.

Welcome to Edinburgh, the administrative and cultural capital of Scotland. The present city had its origin in the 11th century.Towards the end of the Middle Ages, Edinburgh's development prompted the construction of two walls to encircle the settlement and to protect her citizens. Adversely, the walls inhibited expansion and contained the city for almost 250 years. After Scotland was joined with England in 1707, defense was no longer a key issue and the city began to spread beyond the protective walls. Edinburgh entered its golden age in the late 18th century and emerged as one of Europe's great intellectual capitals. Dominating the city from atop Castle Rock is the oldest and most prominent surviving structure, Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile links the castle with the 16th-century Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of the Queen when she visits Edinburgh. The Throne Room and the State Apartments, with their rich tapestries and period furnishings, are of particular interest. While major historic monuments are found in the Old Town, Georgian architecture characterizes the New Town, which is the heart of the city. Princes Street marks the dividing line between the old and new sections. Shops, hotels, clubs and restaurants line its northern side; the southern side is flanked by Princes Street Gardens. Edinburgh is first and foremost a cultural and educational center. Its university, the largest in Scotland, was founded in 1583; it became a famous center for medical studies. The city is also noted for its excellent galleries and museums as well as the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the International Festival. The distance between Edinburgh and Rosyth is 14 miles, requiring a driving time of approximately 45 minutes.