15 Nights Europe, Northern

Boasting a historical dockyard housing Henry VIII's Mary Rose and Lord Nelson's HMS Victory, Portsmouth has maritime heritage written all over it. Museums aside, the city still lives and breathes the sea?best exemplified in its nautical spirit, cobbled historic district, and sail-shaped Spinnaker Tower viewpoint.

The coastal suburb of Dún Laoghaire is popular for strolls on the East Pier, and locally caught fish and chips. The National Maritime Museum of Ireland has nautical art and artefacts inside a 19th-century sailors' church, while the harbour is a busy hub for fishing, water sports and cruises.

Heralded as one of the worlds friendliest cities, Glasgow is Scotlands cultural capital. Its also Scotlands biggest city, surpassing even Edinburgh. Glasgow experienced a cultural boom from the 18th to 20th century, giving birth to the ornate Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture you see here today. With your Glasgow, Scotland cruise check out Killingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the citys West End. Youll encounter everything from the remains of prehistoric mammals to mind-bending Dali paintings. Explore the citys deeper history in the East End, where youll find Glasgow Cathedral, a monument of 12th-century Gothic design. Glasgow is also a UNESCO City of Music ? stop into one of the 130 music events that are held here each week at venues like the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Liverpools fortunes have historically been tied to shipping. But imports and exports like sugar, spice and tobacco pale in comparison with Liverpools most famous export of all?the Beatles. Relive the hysteria at the Beatles Story Experience, and check out Pauls childhood home, but also leave time for exploring Liverpool Cathedral and the Walker Art Gallery.

Belfast is a thriving, fast-growing metropolitan center thats full of surprises. The city played a key role in the 19th centurys Industrial Revolution, when it was the worlds biggest linen producer. It also had a reputation for ship-building ? the Titanic was built here. Learn more about this claim to fame when you visit the Titanic Quarter and the citys Titanic Belfast attraction. Then, grab lunch on the terrace overlooking Edwardian City Hall, one of the best examples of Belfasts great architecture. Ireland cruises offer you the opportunity to walk among exotic trees in the botanical garden, and reinvent your idea of Irish cuisine at one of the citys upscale, seafood-focused eateries

Siglufjörður is a small fishing town in a narrow fjord with the same name on the northern coast of Iceland. 

Ísafjörður is a town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. Its known for its dramatic landscapes. The old town has wooden houses with corrugated tin roofs built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Westfjords Heritage Museum has exhibits on the town's maritime history, including a collection of old fishing boats. The old hospital, now a cultural center, contains archives and photography

Reykjavik is the beating heart of Iceland. The city was founded in 1786, but its also the site of Icelands first permanent settlement, dating back to 874 AD. Check out the Settlement Exhibition, a combination archaeological ruin and museum based around a 10th-century longhouse, where interactive technology and archaeology reveal historical Iceland. The church Hallgrimskirkja dominates the skyline ? admire its distinctive Expressionist-style architecture designed to mirror the nearby mountains and glaciers during your Iceland cruise. Need relaxation of the highest order? Take the sub-hour drive to the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by volcanic vistas

The capital of Scotland is a prosperous, sophisticated and cultured city that regularly tops the list as Britain's best place to live. The looming Edinburgh Castle, built stop of an ancient volcano, punctuates the medieval Old Town. Arthur's Seat, an 800-foot mountain of bright green and yellow furze, accentuates the Old Town.

Boasting a historical dockyard housing Henry VIII's Mary Rose and Lord Nelson's HMS Victory, Portsmouth has maritime heritage written all over it. Museums aside, the city still lives and breathes the sea?best exemplified in its nautical spirit, cobbled historic district, and sail-shaped Spinnaker Tower viewpoint.