Silver Nova: 18-Night Europe - Northern

Stockholm is Sweden's capital and the largest city in Scandinavia, built across 14 islands where Lake Malaren meets the Baltic Sea. The approach by cruise ship through the Stockholm Archipelago, a chain of roughly 30,000 islands stretching 80 kilometers east of the city, is consistently rated one of the most scenic port arrivals in Europe.

Finland's design-forward capital welcomes cruise ships to a port near the Market Square and the iconic Helsinki Cathedral. The city is known for its Art Nouveau architecture, contemporary design district, and the historic Suomenlinna sea fortress accessible by ferry.

Tallinn's remarkably well-preserved medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cobblestone streets, Gothic spires, and the Toompea Castle all walkable from the cruise port. The city offers excellent craft markets, medieval restaurants, and Baltic charm.

Warnemunde is a seaside resort town at the mouth of the Warnow River on Germany's Baltic coast, serving as the cruise port for the Hanseatic city of Rostock and, more importantly for most passengers, as the gateway to Berlin, about 230 km (2.5 hours) to the south.

Copenhagen cruise port is the main cruise gateway to Scandinavia and one of the most important embarkation ports for Baltic and Norwegian fjord itineraries. The city has three cruise terminals.

Molde is a small Norwegian town of about 32,000 people on the Romsdal coast, known as the "City of Roses" for the roses that bloom along its streets in summer. It sits on the north shore of the Romsdalsfjord in western Norway, with panoramic views of 222 snow-capped peaks (the "Molde Panorama") across the fjord on clear days.

Bergen cruise port is Norway's largest and the main gateway to the Norwegian fjords. The city sits on the country's western coast, surrounded by seven mountains and a network of deep, narrow fjords carved out by glaciers over thousands of years.