I am hooked! Cruising Northern Europe with Celebrity Cruises, now this is the way to see the world! The thought of unpacking your suitcase once and having the Celebrity crew pampering your every move is absolute holiday bliss! Along with the part I really love where you go to bed in one country and waking up in another after being wined, dined and entertained all night… holiday perfection!
Cruising gives you a taste of a country which helps you decide what destinations to go back to and spend more time in. It’s also a great way to get out and see places that you thought you would never travel to like Tallinn, Estonia or Akureyri in Iceland.
We chose to explore Northern Europe during August with Celebrity Cruises and wow what a brilliant experience. Booking two fourteen night cruises back to back meant we visited nine different countries and stopped at thirteen different ports. We were super lucky as we had two nights in Stockholm, Dublin, St Petersburg and Reykjavik.
Explore Russia and Scandinavia
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a beautiful postcard historic town. You just need to walk around the streets to appreciate the history and architecture. You can arrange organised tours but we wanted to get lost and soak up the atmosphere. We were so glad we did as we found the cutest little bakery Le Pain Quotidien, make sure you pop in for a cake, brunch or tea!
Also, a great spot to visit is the family-run De Halve Maan Brewery. As we all know Belgium is famous for its chocolate, so you must try some. We found gigantic chocolate crackles and marshmallow chocolates! They were delicious.
Stockholm, Sweden
In case you didn’t know, Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and there are many elements to this beautiful city which perfectly combines both the old and the new. You will have fun exploring the fascinating sights of Stockholm like Gamla Stan, Vassa Museum and Stortorget. Make sure you take the time to sit back and enjoy Fika! To find out more about the art of enjoying Fika stop by Stockholm: What to see in one day.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the fun-filled capital of Denmark not only is it full of exciting things to see and delicious treats to eat but it is also home to the fabulous Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli is an amusement park that opened back in 1843 and still offers visitors that yesteryear charm and atmosphere. For more great things to see and do in Copenhagen including where to have lunch in Tivoli, where to eat delicious treats on Strøget and to hear about the dark past of Nyhavn check out Copenhagen: what to see in one day.
Tallinn, Estonia
As you wander through Tallinn’s old town the medieval buildings and cobbled stone streets transport you right back to the Middle Ages. There is plenty to see and do in the Unesco World Heritage site but personally, I recommend sitting in a piazza and soaking up Tallinn’s unique charm, character and atmosphere.
We had lunch at Pulcinella where we ate delicious pizza and enjoyed watching the world go by. Don’t fill up too much though as you will want to try gelato from the Gelato Ladies –totally recommend the Pavlova gelato – Yum! I loved visiting Tallinn and will certainly visit again.
St Petersburgh, Russia
Wow, this is a must-see city, it’s just captivating. The history, architecture and elaborate palaces alone make it draw-dropping for any visitor. My advice is to pay the extra money and book a full-day private tour with a guide as this allows you to design your own itinerary and also skip the long queues. Check out St Petersburg, Russia: What to see in two days
Berlin, Germany
There are no words to describe the Reichstag building. You have to experience it for yourself to appreciate the unique experience of having champagne at the top of the cupola while overlooking the Brandenburg Gate. Visiting the Reichstag was an absolute highlight of my cruise and my birthday present from my mum and dad. Make sure you also check out the Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and Hotel Adlon where all of the A-listers stay like Brad Pitt, Renee Zellweger and Ashton Kutcher. You may remember it more from the time Michael Jackson held Baby Blanket over the verandah.
Looking for more information on the Celebrity Silhouette?
Back to Back Cruising with Celebrity Cruises
Explore Iceland and Ireland
St. Peter Port, Channel Islands
Guernsey’s capital is a beautiful island where you can stroll around the cobblestone streets with coloured flags hanging down the laneways. We shopped for Guernsey fudge which is creamy, delicious and made with the famous Guernsey milk. Make sure you buy a few extra boxes as they are a great gift to give the family back home! If you are a history buff you have to visit the German Naval Signals Headquarters which looked after German signal traffic in WWII. This was fascinating and there is even a real Enigma encryption machine that was left behind that you can see.
Cork (Cobh), Ireland
Cobh is the colourful and cheerful seaport town of Cork and is most famous for being the last stop for the RMS Titanic. With so much to see and do in Cobh and its surrounding areas, it is hard to choose what sites you should see when you only have one day. There are shops, pubs, cathedrals, Titanic memorabilia, castles and quaint seaside towns that you just can’t miss. Check out my post on the Top Things to See and Do in Ireland to see what you can fit into one day!
Waterford, Ireland
Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city dating back to 914 AD. It is also home to the world-famous Waterford Crystal factory that has been crafting crystal since 1783. This is a pretty port city that offers restaurants, pubs, museums and the Waterford Greenway Trail! This is an old railway that has been converted into 46 km of bike riding or hiking fun.
Dublin, Ireland
The lively capital of Ireland will not disappoint any traveller. This is a city that is full of delicious eats, many many pubs and distilleries that are full of history, music and Ireland’s iconic drink – Guinness! Check out Eight fun things to see and do in Dublin to see more great places you can visit in Dublin.
Akureyri, Iceland
Akureyri sits at the base of the Eyjafjörður Fjord. It has two main claims to fame, the first being that it is known as the capital of the North and the second that it’s Iceland’s second-biggest city. There is so much to see and do in and around this town and Celebrity Cruises offer great day trips that cover many aspects of this phenomenal landscape. To see some great pics and hear about Akureyri’s waterfalls, some stinky mud and the ridiculous amount of mosquito-like bugs then check out my Iceland post.
Reykjavík, Iceland
This is a perfect port to explore some of Iceland’s iconic attractions like the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle and the South Coast including the very impressive Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Iceland’s surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful and the ever-changing weather conditions add to the atmosphere and adventure. We booked a private tour to make sure we could see as much as possible during our two-day visit to Reykjavík and I would recommend this option to everyone! To see all of our stops in Iceland check out Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle and Iceland’s South Coast.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
It is hard to believe that Belfast was once a troubled place and considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world as today it is simply beautiful. This is also a great port to book a private tour and get out of the city to experience the Giants Causeway a UNESCO World Heritage site, the spectacular greenery and castles that are so typically Irish. To see more places to visit in Northern Ireland check out Exploring Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Thoughts, opinions and photos shared about Cruising Northern Europe with Celebrity Cruises are entirely my own.