Star Pride, Scottish Lochs & Norwegian Waterways ex Amsterdam to Reykjavik

22 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Reykjavik aboard Star Pride.

Highlights of this cruise:

Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands is built around a concentric network of canals spanned by over 1000 bridges.One of the most attractive ways of viewing the city is on a canal tour. Many of the houses date back to The Netherlands' golden age in the 17th century. These narrow-fronted merchants' houses are characterised by the traditionally Dutch ornamented gables. The oldest part of the city is Nieuwmarkt, located near the first canals - Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht - built to protect the city against invasion.

Amsterdam is famous for its liberalism regards soft drugs and its thriving sex industry. The city has also long been a centre of diamond cutting and it is still possible to see diamond cutters at work. Boasting 53 museums, 61 art galleries, 12 concert halls and 20 theatres, Amsterdam also has a booming cultural life.

Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a town on the coast of Belgium, a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés and beach.

In Zeebrugge's old fish market area, along the old quays, you will find lots of fish restaurants, fish stores and enjoyable pubs. The maritime theme park "Seafront Zeebrugge" extends in and around the building of the old fish market. Seafront Zeebrugge is especially famous for its real Russian submarine, which can also be visited.

Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, part of the United Kingdom, located in the Central Belt region of the country. Watched over by the imposing Castle - the symbol of the city - Edinburgh combines medieval relics, Georgian grandeur and a powerful layer of modern life with contemporary avant-garde. You are able to see the whole of Edinburgh from the top of Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano which is one of Edinburgh's top tourist attractions.

The throbbing night-life centre of the Scottish north, Edinburgh - "the Athens of the North" is also a feast for the mind and the senses, playing host to great restaurants, shops and an unequalled program of city festivals throughout the year. Hogmanay - the Scottish New Year - kicks off the festivities, which culminate in the high summer with the Tattoo, the International and the Fringe, amongst many others.

The Old Town area of Edinburgh, with its crowded testaments, stands in complete contrast to the highly organized grid of Edinburgh's New Town area. The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1995. There are stunning views from almost every street and many popular tourist attractions throughout Edinburgh.

Lerwick
Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands, found more than 160 km (100 miles) off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is by far the UK's northernmost town, being closer to Bergen in Norway than to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen.

Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring and white fish seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port. The harbour is also busy with vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.

Lerwick is a fascinating place at any time of year. In summer, its waterfront is brightened by yachts and cruise liners from ports around the North Atlantic. In winter, the harbour is a refuge for all kinds of craft and the twists and turns of Commercial Street defeat the wildest weather.

There's a wide choice of good places to eat, pubs and clubs to suit most tastes and some of the most advanced indoor leisure facilities in Britain. Lerwick is also an excellent place to sample Shetland's internationally celebrated musical heritage. The islands are best known for their fiddle music, but there's a wealth of talent embracing a wide range of styles.

Reykjavik
Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, directly east of Greenland, Iceland is Europe's westernmost country and the second largest island in the North-Atlantic ocean. Its capital, Reykjavik holds practically half of Iceland’s entire population, perhaps not surprising considering how little of the country is actually habitable. As such it is the country’s unrivalled cultural and economic centre surrounded by a vast wilderness of mountains and glaciers.

The city’s highlights are mostly found in central Reykjavik: lining Old Town and Lake Tjornin are attractive tin houses, some of the more historical buildings, and many of its restaurants and nighttime hotspots. Its nightlife is legendary, with all-night street parties in summer and a huge club scene year-round. The nearby surrounding wilderness offers walking trails at Videy Island or the lava area at Heidmork, is definitely worth a visit. At "Smoky Bay" you can see geothermal steam rising from the ground. Harnessed to heat the city, these smoke signals can be seen along with any number of natural wonders, half an hour out of town.