Located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Hamburg will fascinate you from the moment you first set eyes on its elegant and austere buildings looking onto the port, one of the largest in Europe. When you reach this destination on an MSC Cruise of Northern Europe, you can get a taste of its glorious history. Hamburg is a cosmopolitan, wealthy and fashionable city, with an aggressive economy, that still prides itself of the title “free Hanseatic city”. It has, in fact, never cut its umbilical cord with maritime trade that has its heart in the port where your cruise liner will be waiting for you. Many tourist come here to visit the Reeperbahn, the red light district, but if you want to take in the atmosphere of the city, you shouldn’t miss an excursion to Speicherstadt (Warehouse Town), where the cobbled streets, gables and turrets combine to make the area on the other side of Zollkanal (Tax Canal) a world apart from the city opposite. Another city icon, St Michaelis, at the western edge of the city centre by Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse, is Hamburg’s iconic church and no wonder. More than any other building, the “Michael” mirrors the city’s irrepressible spirit. Burned down after a lightning strike in1750, it was rebuilt in Baroque style under Ernst Georg Sonnin but it again accidently caught fire in1906. In 1945, the Allies obliterated the roof and decor of church number three. Reconstructed again to Sonnin’s plans, it is now the finest Baroque church in North Germany. Probably the most gratifying attraction during an excursion on an MSC Cruise is the scenery you can admire from one of the best views over Hamburg: the 360-degree panorama takes in Speicherstadt, the container port and shipping on the Elbe, the Alster lakes, and the five spires of the churches and Rathaus.

Ålesund is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Ålesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation has given the town its distinctive like something from a fairytale. Ålesund has a beautiful setting across several islands stretching out into the sea, and is situated at the very entrance of the world famous Geirangerfjord. The town has a unique appeal to travellers and tourists, providing a wide range of sights and activities. A stroll through the town centre reveals colourful and charming architecture

The village of Honningsvaag is just 1,200 miles fromthe North Pole, visitors can stand on the 1,000 feetcliffs at Europe’s northernmost point, the NorthernCape, to see the incredible natural phenomenonknown as the “Midnight Sun”, where the sun shinesall night, hanging low above the Arctic Ocean.

Tromso was known as the “Paris of the North” inthe 19th century, because people of the area appearedfar more cosmopolitan than foreign touristshad expected them to be. The city center has thebiggest concentration of historic wooden housesnorth of Trondheim. Some of the houses date backto the 17th century. Tromso is the largest city abovethe Artic Circle and invites visitors to enjoy nightlifein the light of the “Midnight Sun”.

Founded in 997 by Olaf I of Norway, the Viking proponent of the conversion of Norway to Christianity, Trondheim was the capital of the country for over two hundred years and takes its name from the fjord on the shores of which it was erected. Doing an MSC cruise to Northern Europe, you will be able to visit what remains of the city’s medieval centre and admire the vivacious university life. The imposing Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral) dates back to the 12th century and was a pilgrimage site throughout the entire Medieval period. It is an impressive Gothic structure of grey-blue rocks with a main façade decorated in minute detail, “protected” one either side by two proud bell towers. What we see today is the result of meticulous restoration lasting one hundred years that was completed in 1970. The Gamle Bybro (the Old Town Bridge), also called the Portal of Luck, was constructed to allow access to the Kristiansten Fortress, which is situated on a hill from where a splendid view can be enjoyed. From the bridge, it is also possible to spot the Bryggen, the characteristic commercial buildings erected between the 18th and 19th centuries along the banks of the Nidelva River. The Ringve Museum with its permanent exhibition dedicated to music and to musical instruments from all over the world is of particular interest. In these rooms, you will be able to learn the history of the pianoforte but also of modern musical genres such as rock and pop. The museum’s botanical gardens, opened all year round, are spectacular. They boast 2000 different plants: medicinal herbs, ornamental flowers, evergreen trees… To get an overview of the city, it is best to take a bus tour, during which you will be able to see the city’s sites of interest and the typical cheerfully coloured buildings facing the blue of the sea while comfortably seated.

Molde has been a popular destination for touristssince the late 19th century. Nestled between theRomsdal Mountains and southern Norway’s surrealstretch of western coastline, Molde is known asthe “Town of Roses” originating from the numberof large gardens and flowers that sit amongst thepredominantly wooden architecture. Every July,Molde is host to the oldest international jazz festivalin Europe. Music greats like Miles Davis, BB King andRay Charles have performed at the festival.

A jewel of a city set among seven sweeping hills and close to some stunning fjords, Bergen is Norway’s second-largest city. A lively university town, Bergen is steeped in culture and offers an inspiring mix of the ancient and the modern. The city is pleasantly compact and features a labyrinth of cobblestone streets as well as green and verdant areas perfect for rest and relaxation.

Kristiansand is the biggest city on the South Coast, and the southernmost city in Norway. It is a charming city, retaining many of the 17th century buildings from its founding days by King Christian IV. The town is home to some of the best beaches in Norway. The Renaissance style is readily apparent in the strict street plan of the area called Kvadraten (“The Square”). “Posebyen”, the oldest section of town, boasts tiny, but charming houses in the traditional style of the area. The name comes from the French word reposer, meaning to sleep, from when soldiers were billeted in private homes. The Norwegian concept of the southern idyll conjures up islets and skerries and small white houses with lush gardens nestled between rocky coastline knolls. The same building style characterises the other southern towns as well. One of the region poets claimed that people’s close contact with the sea has given them webbed feet and hospitable, good-natured temperaments.

Located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Hamburg will fascinate you from the moment you first set eyes on its elegant and austere buildings looking onto the port, one of the largest in Europe. When you reach this destination on an MSC Cruise of Northern Europe, you can get a taste of its glorious history. Hamburg is a cosmopolitan, wealthy and fashionable city, with an aggressive economy, that still prides itself of the title “free Hanseatic city”. It has, in fact, never cut its umbilical cord with maritime trade that has its heart in the port where your cruise liner will be waiting for you. Many tourist come here to visit the Reeperbahn, the red light district, but if you want to take in the atmosphere of the city, you shouldn’t miss an excursion to Speicherstadt (Warehouse Town), where the cobbled streets, gables and turrets combine to make the area on the other side of Zollkanal (Tax Canal) a world apart from the city opposite. Another city icon, St Michaelis, at the western edge of the city centre by Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse, is Hamburg’s iconic church and no wonder. More than any other building, the “Michael” mirrors the city’s irrepressible spirit. Burned down after a lightning strike in1750, it was rebuilt in Baroque style under Ernst Georg Sonnin but it again accidently caught fire in1906. In 1945, the Allies obliterated the roof and decor of church number three. Reconstructed again to Sonnin’s plans, it is now the finest Baroque church in North Germany. Probably the most gratifying attraction during an excursion on an MSC Cruise is the scenery you can admire from one of the best views over Hamburg: the 360-degree panorama takes in Speicherstadt, the container port and shipping on the Elbe, the Alster lakes, and the five spires of the churches and Rathaus.