Regent Seven Seas Cruises®: Seven Seas Grandeur®

Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.

Suggested Private Excursions

Amsterdam: An Introduction to Amsterdam – 4 hours

Amsterdam: Highlights of Amsterdam - 8 Hours

Amsterdam: The Three Sisters, Delft & Den Haag - 8 Hours

Cruising. The North Sea lies between Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Great Britain. The North Sea is quite a rough sea with a lot of activity. The wind, the waves and the seabirds all leave their mark, sailing boats and motorboats parade along the coast, ferry-boats sail to and fro. It is a pageant of light, air and movement.

Dominated by the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, this picturesque city offers shopping on Princes Street, the grandeur of the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral and historic Palace of Holyrood House, where Queen Mary lived and many Scottish kings were wed. Or venture across the moors to marvel at the scenic Highlands.

Suggested Private Excursions

Edinburgh: Royal Edinburgh - 8 hours

Edinburgh: Introducing Edinburgh - 4 hours

The northern part of Scotland, known as the Highlands, ranks as one of the world’s most magnificent scenic spots. Among the main attractions is a landscape of dramatic mountains and forested hills. Invergordon is the port for Inverness and capital of the Highlands. The surrounding countryside offers such famous attractions as the Battlefield of Culloden, Loch Ness, the villages of Tain and Cromarty, numerous historic castles and old established whisky distilleries. Enjoy the picture-perfect scenery and an opportunity to chat with a Highlander eager to introduce you to his fabled land and its rich heritage. Inverness Castle is a predominantly 19th-century edifice perched high above the Ness River. Today’s remains house the Sheriff’s Office. The exhibits of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery may be worth viewing as they provide a good overview of the development of the Highlands. Located 14 miles southwest of Inverness the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition tell the legend of the monster from 565 A.D. to the present.

Situated on Loch Broom and only 59 miles from Inverness, Ullapool is the largest settlement in Wester Ross. It was purpose built as a herring station to a Thomas Telford design in 1788. It is also an excellent base from which to explore the Northwest Highlands. Most of the main roads north of here have been upgraded over the years, and staying in Ullapool and using it as a touring base is now a viable and attractive option.

The Orkney Islands are different from mainland Britain and reflect the original 9th century Viking settlement. In addition to Norse heritage are remains of prehistoric monuments such as Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets winding around medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney artifacts is housed in 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions include Maes Howe, Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village Skara Brae. Rock circles, cairns, standing stones, ancient tombs and prehistoric villages are scattered about, gaining these islands international recognition. Only the walls and tower of the 12-century residence, Bishop's Palace, stand. The top of the tower affords a great view of the cathedral and across Kirkwall rooftops. Earl's Palace dates from 1600. Its style blends medieval fierceness with elements of French Renaissance architecture - featuring dungeons, massive fireplaces and magnificent central hall. A good mile south of town is Highland Park - the "most northerly legal distillery in Scotland."

The name Stornoway comes from the Norse for "Steering Bay", an indication of the early origins of the town. As the best natural harbor in the Western Isles it was a focus for development, and Stornoway Castle was built as early as 1100 by the MacNicol family. Today's Stornoway is a busy, attractive town and the largest settlement in the Western Isles. The shape of the town is defined by the harbour, which partially surrounds it. Visit an interesting range of shops pleasantly different from the usual outlets colonising most UK High Streets. Visitors to Stornoway should be aware that Sunday observance is strong here. Most transport links to Lewis and Harris, and within them, do not operate on a Sunday. Most shops, petrol stations, cafes, pubs, visitor attractions are closed on Sundays, as are at least some public toilets.

Greenock - a town slightly west of Glasgow - has a waterfront surrounded by hills and is composed of a bustling industrial area and a residential area with a 19th-century flavor. Glasgow's top attraction, the Burrell Collection, was amassed by wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell before it was donated to the city and is now housed in a prize-winning museum in Pollok Country Park. This collection includes everything from Chinese porcelain and medieval furniture to paintings by Renoir and Cézanne. Visit the granite cross above town, a proud memorial to French sailors who fought in the Battle of the Atlantic and lost their lives. Enjoy a short ferry ride to the Scottish Highlands. Explore the statue, scientific library, museum, and the Watt School of Engineering, Navigation, Radio, and Radar that commemorate James Watt (discoverer of steam power) who was born in Greenock. Travel to Glasgow and visit George Square, Glasgow's oldest public square. Shortbread is a traditional recipe of Scotland and should not be missed.

Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey and a busy ferry port. The town has a number of interesting attractions and is a bustling shopping and visitors area. Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and,of course, sailing facilities. Couple this with wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and you can easily lose yourself and relax for a few days. A day trip by ferry to sample the wonderful Dublin is easily achievable.
Anglesey has a number of both historic and prehistoric sites close-by. The maritime museum in Holyhead is well worth a visit with exhibits on 100 or so shipwrecks that have taken place in the vicinity. Stroll' down to South Stack Lighthouse.

Douglas has been the capital, principal port, and ferry terminal of the island since 1869, the island itself having become a Crown possession in 1828. It gets its name from the Dhoo and Glass Rivers. Douglas, which developed around smuggling, now has light industry, tourism, the seat of the island's parliament, the Tynwald and House of Keys (oldest parliament in the world). Douglas boasts Castle Mona (1804), and the Tower of Refuge (1832), as well as the impressive Manx Electric Railway (1893) and Douglas horse-drawn trams (1876), both of which are still in service. Located along the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man and its wooded hills and jagged coastline offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. The island was once occupied by Celts who left behind Iron Age forts and huts. Though Romans never settled here, it is believed Celtic Christianity was introduced by St. Patrick and flourished from the fifth century to eighth century when Vikings conquered the island. On the island visit the Calf of Man bird sanctuary, and Castle Rushen at Castletown, the former capital.

No information currently available.

Le Havre is the gateway for optional tours to Paris, the "City of Light." See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. In Le Havre itself, visitors can explore at leisure and learn something of the French "art de vivre." Visit fish and vegetable markets, public parks, modern architecture, a long seaside promenade and a vast beach.

Le Havre is the gateway for optional tours to Paris, the "City of Light." See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. In Le Havre itself, visitors can explore at leisure and learn something of the French "art de vivre." Visit fish and vegetable markets, public parks, modern architecture, a long seaside promenade and a vast beach.