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PORTS
DOVER, ENGLAND
ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND
Dover serves as a port for London, which is about 80 miles to the west. Dover is home to the famous White Cliffs of Dover, which are a historic symbol of British pride. Visitors can also see fairy tale castles and imposing fortresses by the sea, explore a Roman house or see a real Bronze Age boat in a high-tech gallery.
Language: English
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Rotterdam's history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte. A major logistic and economic centre, Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport. The near-complete destruction of the city centre in the World War II Rotterdam Blitz. The Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt give waterway access into the heart of Western Europe. The extensive distribution system including rail, roads, and waterways have earned Rotterdam the nicknames "Gateway to Europe" and "Gateway to the World".
Language: Dutch
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Through the North Sea Canal, the city of IJmuiden provides access to Amsterdam from the North Sea with the help of the largest pumping station in Europe. From there, seagoing vessels may reach Amsterdam's harbor, admitting passengers to the capital city of the Netherlands, with its concentric network of canals, its rich history of art, and its restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. The collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam includes paintings by Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as other works of art from the Dutch Golden Age. Meanwhile, the Leidseplein district is the center of Amsterdam's nightlife with bars, dance clubs, and outdoor cafes, many of them right on the canals.
AMSTERDAM (IJMUIDEN), HOLLAND
Language: Dutch
Currency: Euro (EUR)
ZEEBRUGGE, BELGIUM
Zeebrugge sits on the coast of the North Sea, providing the starting point for trips to Bruges, Ghent, and Brussels. It is a 30-minute drive by car or a 10-minute ride by train to Bruges.
Language: Dutch, French, & Flemish
Currency: Euro (EUR)
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
No visit to Sweden's second largest city is complete without a visit to the Kronhuset. Just outside you will find craft shops of the local artisans, called Kronhusbodarna. They will make a souvenir personalized for you! Visit the Botaniska Trädgården, considered to be the world's most beautiful rock garden. The Avenyn is the city's main shopping street. You can also find a number of restaurants mixed in with the shops.
Language: Swedish
Currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Copenhagen is the lively capital city of Denmark with storybook charm. Tourists will want to view the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale; visit Tivoli Gardens, the world-famous amusement park; and witness the changing of the guard at 18th-century Amalienborg Palace, home of the Danish royal family. Another palace of note is the grand Christiansborg Palace, located on the island of Slotsholmen atop ruins of a castle from 1167. Now a government building, the palace hosts the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court and the queen's throne room. Many excursions feature these major attractions as well as the Royal Danish Opera and Kronborg Castle, the setting of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Other outings explore Copenhagen's canals and bustling harbor by boat or kayak, or head to Dragor, a charming fishing village with winding cobblestone streets and seaside restaurants.
Language: Danish
Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)
WARNEMUNDE, GERMANY
Passengers are usually taken by train from the port of Warnemunde to Berlin, 150 miles southeast, but the resort town offers a seaside promenade, white-sand beach, and beer gardens.
In Germany's capital city, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial to see the surviving portion of the barrier, then head to the Brandenburg Gate, which has come to symbolize the city's reunification. Most tours stop at Charlottenburg Palace, situated amid an expansive garden, as well as Bebelplatz square, home to Humboldt University, the State Opera House and an underground installation that honors the authors who were silenced when Nazis burned their books in 1933. Learn about the Holocaust at a memorial to the lost Jews of Europe, and revel in more than 6,000 years of history in the five museums on Museum Island. After browsing the shops along Kurfürstendamm boulevard, duck into a pub for a bratwurst and beer.
Language: German
Currency: Euro (EUR)
EDINBURGH (LEITH), SCOTLAND
Leith is the port for the legendary city of Edinburgh, famed for its architecture and design. The finest architects of the 18th century created this city of majestic buildings and elegant squares and streets. The top excursions here visit the commanding Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House, Royal Mile Road, St. Giles Cathedral and Princes Street. On your own, visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center and the National Gallery of Scotland.
Language: English
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)