Norway & Great Britain: Leith to Travemünde

Arrive at Edinburgh. Board the Sea Cloud ll and attend dinner as the ship sets sail.

Visit Aberdeen, a beautiful spot which lies in northeast Scotland between the Don and Dee estuaries in the North Sea, a vibrant city with its own unique splendor. Since the 17th century, granite from the surrounding mountains, which takes on a wonderful silvery shimmer in certain lights, has dominated the cityscape. Aberdeen was christened the 'Silver City' thanks to its magnificent buildings and global trade in this gray stone. The 'Auld Toon' is the center of student life. The North Sea has shaped the lives of Aberdonians since time immemorial. Rustic cottages in the old Footdee harbor quarter and the Maritime Museum give an impressive account of Aberdeen's transformation from a shipbuilding and fishing town to the 'oil capital of Europe'. The sea is never far away and a mile-long promenade follows the coastline along the light sandy beach.

Enjoy the ship's luxurious amenities as it sails to Norway.

The port of Stavanger spans an area of mainland and several islands in a spectacular location between the skerries to the south and the fjord landscape to the west. The picturesque old town, with a cathedral dating back to around 1125 when Stavanger was founded and with brilliant white 18th and 19th-century wooden houses, is overlooked by the glass and metal façades of international oil companies. Initially, Stavanger was an important fishing and seafaring center. Subsequently, it became the world's biggest producer of tinned sardines before the extraction of black gold from the North Sea made it a rich oil center and Norway's fourth largest city. Stavenger reinvented itself again as European Capital of Culture in 2008. Nearby are the 612-meter-high Månafossen waterfall, the longest sandy beach in Norway known as the Sola beach, and the Lysefjord with the imposing Preikestolen cliff.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck.

With its countless canals, lakes and harbor basin, water is an essential part of this city. The Inderhavnen (inner harbor) runs through the royal capital of Denmark like a wide river before flowing into the sound. Once the boundary between the western and eastern districts, the harbor quays have now become the heart of the city. Streets, alleyways, parks, and squares all remain from the days when kings had them built. Each period of history has left its mark on the magnificent cityscape which includes several castles. In the midst of modern-day life, you can take a ride on a carousel in the Tivoli Gardens, follow the royal bodyguards with their bearskin hats as they march through the streets, or visit the city's famous magical landmark, the Little Mermaid in the harbor.

Arrive at Travemünde and disembark after breakfast for your continued independent journeys.