Holland America Line: Zuiderdam

Originally a fort built by the U.S. Army in 1838, during the Second Seminole War, Ft. Lauderdale has little left of its warlike past. Instead the city welcomes visitors with broad beaches and an easy pace of life, plus convenient air and water connections that make the city a perfect place to visit.

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Praia di Vitoria is modern town with an old center, laced with narrow streets and traditional homes. The harbor is extensive and is accented by the small, pleasant crescent beach nearby. In the old center, visit the Igreja Martriz Santa Cruz to see the imposing facade and 15th century  architecutre. Intricate wood carvings can be found within the church, as well as alabaster sculptures and the original medieval fountain. Inland from Praia di Vitoria, visi the caves of Algar do Carvão, a protected nature reserve featuring deep caves with unique formations.

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Cobh’s landmark Cathedral clings miraculously to the town’s steep slopes as they sweep down to the sea of Cork Harbour. That was also the last bit of Irish soil millions of Irish had under their feet before emigrating from here across the oceans in the last century. This tragic part of the nation’s history as well as Cobh’s historic and maritime story is brought alive in the splendid Interpretative Centre.

Suggested Private Excursions

Cobh - Cork/Blarney Shore Excursion - Full Day Tour

Cobh's Highlight's Shore Excursion - Cobh/Midleton - Full Day Tour

Falmouth is a resort and port in south-western England. The harbor is popular with pleasure craft and Falmouth has several boat-building yards and a major ship repair yard. The Pendennis and St Mawes castles face each other across the Roads. They were built by Henry VIII in the 16th century to guard the entrance to the Roads; the protection they offered played an important part in Falmouth's development as a port. Falmouth was one of the most important ports in Great Britain after 1698, when packet ships, fast, heavily armed sloops, sped across the oceans from Falmouth carrying post, royal messages, and bullion to all parts of the world. The packet service brought great prosperity to Falmouth, and the town's fortunes declined when it was transferred to Southampton. However, after the construction of the railway in 1863, Falmouth gained a new lease of life as a resort town.

Cherbourg is built on the probable site of the Roman camp of Coriallum. By the 11th century the community was known as Carusbar or Carusburc. It was sacked by the English in 1295, but it withstood several English sieges during the following two centuries. Projects for the fortification and improvement of the harbour were initiated in the 17th century. In 1758 Cherbourg was captured by the British, and its port facilities were destroyed; they were restored in a long-term project begun in the 1770s and completed in the mid 19th century. During World War II the city was occupied by the Germans in 1940, and it suffered heavy damage while being recaptured by the Allies in 1944. From here visit Arromaches, the Normandy Beaches and Mont St Michel.

Zeebrugge is an important port city in Flanders, connecting Belgium’s intricate railway and canal transportation systems. It is the gateway to medieval Bruges, one of northern Europe's most picturesque old cities and Brussels with its tree-shaded boulevards, splendid parks, imposing monuments, and beautiful buildings.

Amsterdam is one of the world's best hangouts, a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves; BMWs give way to bicycles; and triple-strength monk-made beer is drunk in gleaming, minimalist cafes. Amsterdam has many fascinating neighbourhoods to explore, from red light sleaze to bohemian chic to stately grandeur. The landscape is riddled with graceful bridges and eccentric churches, the air laden with carillon chimes. Most attractions are within the canal belt, so sightseeing is a breeze.

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Set on the scenic southern tip of Norway, at a magical spot with more sunshine than anywhere else in Scandanavia, little Kristiansand is Nature’s playground. Its spacius, ice-free harbor is ringed with thousands of tiny islands, a haven for swimmers, boaters and sport fishermen. Along the waterfront, in the silent Christiansholm fortress, and the charming houses of the historic center, you’ll find a peaceful serenity.

Lined by woods and beaches, Aarhus (Arhus) invites you to enjoy its many attractions. Best known and treasured is probably the open-air museum ``the Old Town'' with more than 60 half-timbered houses, all carefully removed from their original sites throughout the country and restored here. The Prehistoric Museum of Moesgaard contains ethnographical and archaeological collections. Old Aarhus has narrow streets and alleys where many old houses converted into art shops, pottery workshops, galleries and cafes. Aarhus is the city where the Danish Royal family spends many holidays. With a magnificent view of the Park, Bay of Aarhus, and Marselisborg Woods the site is one of the best in Denmark. Aarhus has a rich cultural life all year. The beautiful Concert Hall adds new dimensions to the wide choice of cultural events. Aarhus is above all the City of Music.

Warnemünde is the gateway to Germany's capital. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November of 1989 was a conspicuous and symbolic end to the era of the "Iron Curtain". For 45 years, Berlin had existed as a city divided. Today, with the Brandenburg Gate open once more, Berlin thrives with new life, yet it is not quite totally reunited. Like twins who've been separated for many years, it will take awhile to get to know one another again. From the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden leads to the heart of old Berlin with its Prussian palaces and monuments. Venerable Humboldt Universitat nurtured some of Germany's greatest thinkers, including Hegel, Einstein, the Brothers Grimm, and Karl Marx. Wander through Spandau Zitadelle, a medieval fortress surrounded by placid waters, where the 13th-century Juliusturm Tower guards long-dead stories of past glories. For a taste of Berlin's creative side, sample the cafes and clubs of Kreuzberg.

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Tallinn's many occupations over the centuries have resulted in a cultural mix and unique ambiance of this maritime city. Old Town's cobbled streets and 13th-14th century buildings attract thousands of visitors annually who admire the city’s heritage of medieval buildings, the imposing City Hall, the Orthodox Cathedral, Toompea Castle and Oleviste Church. See former guild houses, including the Great Guildhall of the medieval Hanseatic League. Other attractions include impressive Town Hall Square with 15th century Gothic Town Hall, and numerous Gothic churches including Toomekirik. Toompea Castle has fine views over Tallinn. In Hirve Park, Estonians have rallied recently in protest of foreign occupation. "Tall Herman" and "Fat Margaret" are two towers among the remnants of the original defense walls. The "Fat Margaret" tower now houses a Maritime Museum on Tallinn’s history as a busy port. Other museums include: The House of Knights on Toompea Hill which displays Estonian art from the 19th and 20th centuries; the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art.

Often referred to as "Pearl of the Baltic," this neat city is known for impressive architecture, wide boulevards, and beautiful harbor. Grand Senate Square, dominated by exquisite Tuomio Church and onion domes of Russian Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral, is an example of neo-Classical, Empire-style impressive architecture. Visit the lively harborfront market and Temppeliaukioa Church (Rock Church), which was created in the 60's from man-made and natural materials. Finland’s musical heritage comes alive in great Finlandia Hall, designed by renowned architect Alvar Aalto. Finland’s beloved composer, Jean Sibelius, is remembered by a beautiful monument on Helsinki’s outskirts. Helsinki has good museums displaying everything from art to architectural design. Open-air Museum - the small wooded island of Seurasaari - has a collection of vernacular buildings assembled from all over Finland which provide insight into how country folk lived until recently. Suomenlinna Fortress is the largest in the world and often called Gibraltar of the North.

Stockholm is Sweden’s strikingly elegant and beautiful capital. Stockholm, noted for its outstanding architecture, is one of Scandinavia’s most attractive cities. In addition to its many man-made monuments, Stockholm boasts natural beauty - with one-third of the city’s total land area devoted to parks. As the country’s major city, Stockholm offers a wealth of monuments and sites, fine museums, and a rich culture. There are also hundreds of excellent restaurants, as well as a great selection of trendy boutiques and exciting nightclubs. Visitors should start their exploration of Stockholm with the Gamla Stan, the Old Town on Stadsholmen; an island in the center of the city, it has retained its medieval charm. The maze of narrow, cobbled streets, full of art studios, boutiques, antique shops, nightclubs and bars, is best explored on foot.

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Suggested Private Excursions

Kayak Tour in Stockholm´s Archipelago with transfers and lunch – 8,5 hours

Today a thriving holiday resort, Visby on the Baltic island of Gotland has become famous as 'the town of roses and ruins' - a living relic of a medieval heyday when this Hanseatic port vied in riches and fame with the great capitals of mainland Europe. Now its narrow cobbled streets and ruined churches reside behind the two-and-a-half mile 13th century city wall, a haunting monument to a lost glory. Gotland and Oland are part of the Baltic islands off the southeast coast of Sweden. Gotland is a blend of old and new with its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Hoards of coins and other treasures found on the island indicate its importance in maritime trade as far back as the Bronze Age. Gotland was nominally Swedish as early as the 9th century but long remained autonomous. In the Middle Ages Visby was a rich and important member of the Hanseatic League and had many splendid churches and elaborate fortified walls. Gotland was conquered by Denmark in 1361 and returned to Swedish rule in 1645.

Green Bornholm island is a favorite escape for Danes in the summer. The sea is blue, the sun is warm, the fields are bright with flowers, and the island is blessed with picturesque, round, whitewashed churches. On a bluff overlooking the sea: a ruined castle. For lunch, try local smoked herring.

Kiel is a city in north central Germany, in Schleswig-Holstein, a port on the Baltic Sea, at the eastern entrance of the Kiel Canal. The city has been noted as a port since the 10th century because of its excellent harbor, which is a tideless fjord. The city has a university and is a popular centre for pleasure boating. In 1284 Kiel became a member of the Hanseatic League. In 1773 it came under Danish rule, and in 1866, as part of Schleswig-Holstein, it passed to Prussia. In World War I the city was the headquarters of the German Imperial Fleet, and in World War II its important naval base was heavily bombed by the Allies. Here you can visit Eutin, the Holstein lakes, the Shipping Museum and further afield the City of Schleswig, Gottorf Castle, Lubeck and Hamburg.

Wonderful Copenhagen is a city of bridge-spanned canals, copper-roofed buildings and manicured parks. This famous Baltic seaport is one of Europe’s loveliest capitals and the seat of the oldest monarchy in the world. Copenhagen is a focus for commerce, culture, industry and cosmopolitan atmosphere. The locale of Hans Christian Andersen’s enchanting tale of The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen is known as Denmark’s fairy-tale city. Its impressive theaters, museums and churches are of interest to many visitors; the best-loved attractions include the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, the Langelinie Harbor with its Little Mermaid statue and the busy shopping promenade known as Strøget.

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Amsterdam is one of the world's best hangouts, a canny blend of old and new: radical squatter art installations hang off 17th-century eaves; BMWs give way to bicycles; and triple-strength monk-made beer is drunk in gleaming, minimalist cafes. Amsterdam has many fascinating neighbourhoods to explore, from red light sleaze to bohemian chic to stately grandeur. The landscape is riddled with graceful bridges and eccentric churches, the air laden with carillon chimes. Most attractions are within the canal belt, so sightseeing is a breeze.