Northern Reflections

Copenhagen, situated on two islands, is the capital and largest city in Denmark. It is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of the famous author Hans Christian Andersen, and also being one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. It has a very high quality of life. Read more about Copenhagen, Denmark

Passengers on ships visiting Berlin typically dock at the north eastern port of Warnemunde and go directly to the capital of Germany that is just a three hour train or coach ride away. Berlin, completely devastated in WW11, has amazingly seen the reconstruction of its sixteenth-century core that exists in the Nikolaiviertel, while nearby stand many rebuilt 19th C buildings from the time of the Second Reich. Little from the Third Reich has been rebuilt, except for the 1936 Olympic Stadium. Read more about Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

Passengers on ships visiting Berlin typically dock at the north eastern port of Warnemunde and go directly to the capital of Germany that is just a three hour train or coach ride away. Berlin, completely devastated in WW11, has amazingly seen the reconstruction of its sixteenth-century core that exists in the Nikolaiviertel, while nearby stand many rebuilt 19th C buildings from the time of the Second Reich. Little from the Third Reich has been rebuilt, except for the 1936 Olympic Stadium. Read more about Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

Sweden’s only baroque city and a UNESCO World Heritage Town, Karlskrona, an outstanding example of a late-17th-century European planned naval city, is an historical navy base at the SE tip of Sweden. The original plan and many of the buildings have survived intact, along with installations that illustrate its subsequent development up to the present day. The city of Karlskrona is spread over 30 islands, Trosso being the main one. Read more about Karlskrona, Sweden

Visby, on the island of Gotland that lies 90km off the SE coast of Sweden, is a medieval town of roses, ruins, narrow winding lanes, and an amazingly well preserved town wall with 27 of the towers still intact. There are also 200 medieval houses as well as several ancient churches, many of which were built in the 12th century. Another attraction is the beautifully restored Cathedral of St Mary’s. Read more about Visby, Sweden

Read more about Mariehamn, Finland

Vaasa lies halfway up the west coast of Finland, facing the Gulf of Bothnia. It was established in 1606 and today its 68,000 population speaks Finnish and Swedish. The present city structures began in 1862 after the old city burned down in 1852. Read more about Vaasa, Finland

Kemi lies at the northern end of the Bay of Bothnia, off the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the river Kemijoki. It is part of the Lapland region of Finland, bordered clockwise by the gulf, Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its deep water harbour is the northernmost for Finland, and just 92 km south of the Arctic Circle. Read more about Kemi, Finland

Kemi lies at the northern end of the Bay of Bothnia, off the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the river Kemijoki. It is part of the Lapland region of Finland, bordered clockwise by the gulf, Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its deep water harbour is the northernmost for Finland, and just 92 km south of the Arctic Circle. Read more about Kemi, Finland

Luleå is the northernmost port in Sweden, on the Bay of Bothnia, the northern branch of the Baltic Sea. Lying just 109km south of the Arctic Circle, this city of 76,000 is the capital of Norrbotten County. Luleå has a large steel industry, and research centre at Luleå University of Technology. Read more about Lulea, Sweden

Sundsvall is a Swedish port in the Gulf of Bothnia, the northern branch of the Baltic Sea. The town became the industrial centre of the Norrland region during the industrial revolution in the 1800s. The city’s history includes being burned down several times, and rebuilt after 1888 using stone. Read more about Sundsvall, Sweden

The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is Sweden's centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of the Nobel Prizes. Read more about Stockholm, Sweden

The city of Stockholm in Sweden spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. Its history stretches over seven centuries, and it is Sweden's centre of art and culture. It is also famous for being the home of the Nobel Prizes. Read more about Stockholm, Sweden