Northern Europe Musical Odyssey Cruise

Having made your way to Stockholm, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the pier where your home for the next 10 days, Le Dumont d’Urville, awaits. Take time to settle into your cabin, meet your captain, crew and fellow passengers and get ready to set sail in the evening.

Our first full day is spent at sea, giving you the perfect opportunity to familiarise yourself with all the ship’s facilities. Indulge in a relaxing treatment in the spa (not included), enjoy a spot of shopping in the boutique or take time to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. Head up to the ship’s upper deck and feel the fresh air on your skin as you watch the waves around us, keeping your eyes peeled for any marine life passing by too. There’ll be conferences and shows put on for your viewing pleasure, ensuring that this day with no port of call is still filled with entertainment, relaxation and comfort.

Today we arrive into the Danish capital, Copenhagen, ready to uncover its history, beauty and charm. We have two optional excursions for you to choose from while we’re here. The first takes you on a tour of the city’s highlights, starting at the famous Little Mermaid statue, then onto Rosenborg Castle, home of the treasury containing the gleaming Danish Crown Jewels and Crown Regalia. Next, we’ll snap a photo outside the royal residence, Amalienborg Palace, and visit the impressive Glyptotek art museum. The alternative excursion is a day out to the quaint coastal village of Humlebæk, where we’ll visit the excellent Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The collection here features the work of international artists such as Picasso, Giacometti and Warhol.

We spend today cruising the length of the Kiel Canal, known as Europe’s Panama. This freshwater canal flows for 98 kilometres through the German state of Schleswig-Holstein and is one of the world’s most travelled manmade shipping lanes. By sailing through its waters, it’ll save us around 250 nautical miles (460km), as opposed to travelling around the Jutland Peninsula.

Today, we reach the charming Frisian harbour city of Harlingen, at the mouth of the Netherlands’ Van Harinxma Canal. What was once a centre for whaling still maintains its links to fishing, but these days specialising in shrimp. Its eclectic blend of modern-city vibes, rich heritage and traditional architecture makes it a great place to explore. Visit the local Hannemahuis museum and delve deeper into the history of the area and be sure to visit the impressive lighthouse and beautiful town hall too.

Sailing into the ‘Venice of the North’, you’ll easily see why Amsterdam is considered to be one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe. A network of picturesque canals, the city’s waterways are linked by one delightful bridge after another and lined by the attractive, tall and narrow town houses that have become symbolic of the Netherlands’ capital. There’s an included excursion, today, which takes us to the Dutch Renaissance church, Westerkerk, next to the Anne Frank House. It provides the perfect setting for our private afternoon concert, featuring the Horszowski Trio performing the music of Beethoven. We’ll dock here in Amsterdam for the night.

Waking up in Amsterdam, you’re free to explore the city at your leisure. Spend your time wandering through the different districts; some old, some trendy, some lively, but all wonderful. Or why not join us on one of our optional tours? We’ll discover two of the city’s most incredible museums; the famous Van Gogh Museum – home to the world’s largest collection of his work, and the magnificent Rijksmuseum – the Netherlands’ national museum. The tour ends with a relaxing canal cruise, taking in the sights from the water. Alternatively, join us as we venture out into rural Holland, passing traditional Dutch farms as we go. We’ll stop at the stunning Dutch village of Broek in Waterland, with its twee wooden houses on the water. Next, we’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Beemster Polder and an original 17th century windmill.

Moving onto Belgium, we arrive in the architecturally stunning city of Antwerp. Amble around the ancient city centre and pay a visit to its most staggering attraction, the UNESCO World Heritage Notre-Dame Cathedral that dominates the skyline. There are two optional excursions to choose from today. The first is a guided tour of the city, discovering the Old Town, the Grote Markt, the famous Brabo Fountain and finishing off with a visit to the exquisite Rubens House. The second takes you on a fascinating journey through the Musical Instruments Museum, home to four splendid galleries and over 1,100 different instruments. You could even visit the Museum Mayer van den Bergh, if you prefer, which houses the vast collection of works owned by the art dealer. Be sure to seek out the most famous piece in there is Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s Dulle Griet.

Our last full day of the cruise brings us to Belgian’s coastal city of Ostend. You can spend your time relaxing on one of the many sandy beaches or, alternatively, join us on one of our optional excursions in Bruges. The first is a guided tour of the historical city, renowned for its medieval architecture, great beer and delicious sweet treats in the form of waffles and chocolate. Stroll its narrow, cobbled streets and visit the bustling market square, with its famous belfry tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the impressive Bruges City Hall. After the tour, you can visit the Groeningemuseum, followed by Our Lady’s Church, home to Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child. The second excursion option takes you on a tour of a different kind, discovering all the quaint corners of Bruges on an idyllic guided canal boat cruise.

This morning, our time together comes to an end. We’ll bid the captain and crew farewell and disembark the ship after breakfast, before being transferred to Paris-Charles De Gaulle for your onwards flight.