Copenhagen was a fishing village until the middle of the 12th century; it grew in importance after coming into the possession of Bishop Absalon, who fortified it in 1167. Because of its harbor, it soon became a place of commercial importance and received municipal rights about the middle of the 13th century. It was repeatedly attacked by the Hanseatic towns. The city was chosen for the capital in 1443 by Christopher III, or Christopher of Bavaria. During 1658-59 it withstood a severe siege by the Swedes under Charles X. In 1807 the city suffered great damage, and hundreds of persons were slain, when British naval vessels bombarded the city to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon. During World War II Copenhagen was occupied by German troops from April 1940 until May 1945.

Don't miss the opportunity to tour into Berlin, which has visibly flourished since the fall of the Wall in 1989. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Brandenburg Gate and "Checkpoint Charlie" are all here. In the Western sector, browse the lively Kurfurstendamm for snazzy clothing stores, delicate hand-painted porcelain and a snack of beer and bratwurst.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn fronts a bay on the Gulf of Finland dominated by Toompea, the hill over which it has tumbled since the Middle Ages. The aura of the 14th and 15th centuries survives intact in central Tallinn’s jumble of medieval walls and turrets, spires and winding cobbled hills; it’s judiciously restored and fascinating to explore. Tallinn is also a national capital with government buildings, a university, entertainment and modern styles on its streets.

St. Petersburg lies on the river Neva, and is built on 42 islands, criss-crossed by rivers and canals and connected by 350 bridges. The river flows to the Gulf of Finland. St. Petersburg experiences the ‘white nights’ of summer when the sun barely sets. Guests participating in any of the listed excursions, or making private arrangements for tours or the theater via the Holand America Tour Desk on board do not require individual Russian Visas. Individual visas are required if you choose to go ashore independently. These must have been obtained prior to embarking the ship.

Helsinki is laid out with spacious streets interspersed with many gardens and parks. Architecturally, Helsinki is a mixture of old and modern styles, with the old senate house and the Suurkirkko, or Great Church, representing the older buildings, and the railroad station, designed in 1918 by the Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, as a notable example of modern architecture. Helsinki is the cultural and commercial, as well as the political, center of Finland. The University of Helsinki has been in the city since 1828, when it was moved from Turku, where it was founded in 1640. The National Museum of Finland, the opera, and several theaters, presenting works in both Finnish and Swedish, are located here.

The city of Stockholm, built on 14 small islands among open bays and narrow channels, has been dubbed the “Venice of the North.” It is a very civilized city, full of parks, squares, and airy boulevards. It has its modern section too, but in the center you are never more than a few minutes walk from twisting medieval streets and waterside walks. The first written mention of Stockholm dates from 1252, when a powerful regent, Birger Jarl is said to have built a fortified castle here. It was this strategic position, where the calm fresh waters of Lake Malaren meet the salty Baltic Sea that prompted King Gustav Vasa to take over the city in 1523.

Kiel Firth and its beaches provide the venue for the spectacular Kiel Week regatta, the famous annual sailing event and public festival. From the 67-metre-high tower of the town hall in the centre of Kiel, you can enjoy views of the firth and the town, including the Hindenburgufer promenade, ministerial buildings, Kiel Institute for World Economics and the marina, as well as the Hörn bridge, a miracle of technology right in the town centre. Or simply stand by the harbourside and soak up the nautical atmosphere.