Canada To United Kingdom Grand Voyage

Montréal is the largest city in Canada’s Québec province. It’s set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and named after Mt. Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart. Its boroughs, many of which were once independent cities, include neighbourhoods ranging from cobblestoned, French colonial Vieux-Montréal – with the Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica at its centre – to bohemian Plateau.

Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada’s mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada’s mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Saguenay is a city in Québec, Canada. It’s known for Saguenay Fjord, which leads to the St. Lawrence River. The Musée du Fjord has history displays and an aquarium. La Pulperie de Chicoutimi museum charts regional history in an 1800s wood-pulp mill. Exhibits on the area’s huge 1996 floods are on show at the Musée de la Petite Maison Blanche. Ski and bike trails wind through the riverside Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin.

Domain of the Norse thunder god, Thor, and shaped by fire and ice, Iceland’s volcanic landscape is a spectacular collage of lava fields, craters, waterfalls, and imposing mountain ranges. Vast geothermal springs power the spray of geysers, provide residents with the hot water that heats their homes, and fills the warm public pools where locals go to relax and catch up with friends. Visitors are encouraged to join in the fun. Reykjavik itself is a 21st century European city, with fine restaurants, cozy cafes, and intriguing museums and galleries.

Domain of the Norse thunder god, Thor, and shaped by fire and ice, Iceland’s volcanic landscape is a spectacular collage of lava fields, craters, waterfalls, and imposing mountain ranges. Vast geothermal springs power the spray of geysers, provide residents with the hot water that heats their homes, and fills the warm public pools where locals go to relax and catch up with friends. Visitors are encouraged to join in the fun. Reykjavik itself is a 21st century European city, with fine restaurants, cozy cafes, and intriguing museums and galleries.

On a voyage with Azamara®, guests see a night-and-day difference. And when we take you on a dramatic journey across Ísafjarðardjúp Bay to Ísafjörður, Iceland, you’ll experience a lot more day, thanks to long summer days with nearly 24-hours of sunlight and longer stays in port. Nestled in the northwest region of Iceland, tucked away in the North Atlantic, the towering peaks of this unspoiled wilderness welcome you.

Akureyri is considered a city, in fact Iceland’s second largest, even though its total population is only about 18,000. Set on the shores of one of Iceland’s most spectacular fjords, with a backdrop of countryside earth tones and greens and perennially snow-capped mountains, it is quite a sight to behold. Weather patterns here are a bit of a puzzle – only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, summer temperatures can soar to the high 60’s. No surprise then that a main attraction is the Botanical Gardens, where over 2000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without benefit of a greenhouse.

Akureyri is considered a city, in fact Iceland’s second largest, even though its total population is only about 18,000. Set on the shores of one of Iceland’s most spectacular fjords, with a backdrop of countryside earth tones and greens and perennially snow-capped mountains, it is quite a sight to behold. Weather patterns here are a bit of a puzzle – only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, summer temperatures can soar to the high 60’s. No surprise then that a main attraction is the Botanical Gardens, where over 2000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without benefit of a greenhouse.

Tucked away on the northern coast of Iceland along the picturesque shores of Skjálfandi Bay is Husavik—a small fishing community that has garnered a well-deserved reputation as one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world.

Over 23 different species of whale have been recorded in Icelandic waters, with the most common visitors to Skjálfandi Bay being humpbacks, minke, and blue. Blue whales are especially impressive to behold. Known as the largest animal on Earth, a blue whale’s tongue alone can weigh more than an elephant.

Alesund’s architecture is known far and wide. Turrets, spires, and other whimsical Art Nouveau architectural touches give the town its distinctive character like something from a fairytale. The scenic spectacle of the Geirangerfjord, one of Norway’s best-known attractions, is just a stone’s throw from this quaint little town.

Norway’s capital is an intriguing blend of historic and contemporary – its striking new Opera House playing counterpoint to the charming old Damstredet, a narrow, well-preserved street of brightly painted and carved wooden houses. Norwegians are justly proud of their maritime heritage, dating back to the 9th century, when Viking long ships with distinctive curved bows left colonies in their wake across northern Europe, and later sailed on to Greenland and America almost 500 years before Columbus. Some of these intriguing craft can be found amidst the parks of the Bygdøy Peninsula, along with other historic vessels, including Amundsen’s polar ship Fram, and Heyerdahl’s raft, Kon Tiki.

The lovely port town of Haugesund is known as the birthplace of Norway, crowned as such by Viking King Harald Fairhair in the 9th century. Today it’s one of Norway’s principal culture centers, hosting the Norwegian International Film Festival as well as a jazz festival every summer.

The fascinating Viking past of Haugesund comes alive at the Norwegian History Center where re-creations take place on a 7th century Viking farm. And the descendants of renowned Viking ship builders recently completed an exact sailing replica of a dragon ship. If it’s in town, go aboard. Life on the farm was hard; on the sea, unimaginable – no wonder Vikings were so fierce.

Stavanger is a fascinating blend of old and new – from the Middle Ages when Vikings ruled the seas to today’s North Sea drilling platforms that have made Norway one of the world’s leading oil producers. Echoing this duality is the contrast of modern architecture and trendy, stylish cafés with ancient cobblestone walkways, and rows of 18th-century whitewashed wooden houses. As you wander around town, keep your eyes open for the 23 identical cast iron figures by sculptor Antony Gormley that are scattered about. They are six feet tall and all face 10° west.

This seaside town is one of Denmark’s main fishing ports, a cute little get-away destination with lovely beaches. In the late 19th century the wild landscape and quality of light drew the attention of artists, who came to paint and take a break from the city. They became quite famous as the Skagen School, and some of their work is featured in the local art museum. Each July the town hosts a major folk festival, with performances by bands from around the world – folk, folk rock, jazz, ballads, blues, and perhaps some never before heard new variations on the theme.

Copenhagen is known as a city of spires: the skyline of its medieval core is punctuated only by the steeples of churches and towers of palaces, though a modern building boom has overtaken other parts of the city. Today’s Copenhagen is known for its excellent quality of life and environmental consciousness – with many parks, it is green both literally and in today’s sense of the word. It is also bicycle-friendly, with bike paths lining almost every major street. After a ride or wander through the old town, stop for a local repast of Smørrebrød, traditional open-face sandwiches, or a mouthwatering Danish pastry.

Once a small, medieval port in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, Wismar is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a walk through the city’s storybook-like streets, and it’s easy to see why: the Wassertor (water gate), is the last surviving medieval gate; the 13th century ruin of St. Mary, Marienkirche, and its towering steeple, is the last remaining original Brick Gothic structure; and the church of St. Nicholas, St-Nikolai-Kirche, is the largest of its kind in Europe. The heart of the old town is Wismar’s Market Place, with architecture as varied as it is beautiful—German Gothic to Romanesque revival to Art Nouveau. Visit the historical museum Schabbellhaus, housed in a former brewery, then make your way back to the picturesque old harbor. Take a boat cruise, admire the reconstructed Hanseatic “Wissemara”, or enjoy a traditional Baltic lunch such as fischbrötchen, a small bag of smoked shrimp.

One of the most important harbors in Europe, Hamburg is proud of its mercantile roots. It was a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, and has been doing business with the world ever since. It is both the wealthiest city in Germany, and its greenest, with many parks and nature reserves, a diverse collection of museums (from the working-class life of the St. Pauli district to the spooky Hamburg dungeon) and galleries (from famous masters to erotic art). Hamburg is also a gateway to Berlin, capital city of a reunited Germany, and home to major monuments and Cold War relics, including a section of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.

One of the most important harbors in Europe, Hamburg is proud of its mercantile roots. It was a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, and has been doing business with the world ever since. It is both the wealthiest city in Germany, and its greenest, with many parks and nature reserves, a diverse collection of museums (from the working-class life of the St. Pauli district to the spooky Hamburg dungeon) and galleries (from famous masters to erotic art). Hamburg is also a gateway to Berlin, capital city of a reunited Germany, and home to major monuments and Cold War relics, including a section of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.

Amsterdam has a personality all its own, including a long time reputation for tolerance. You’ll be thinking of tulips and wooden shoes, perhaps Heineken beer, and some of the city’s past inhabitants: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary hidden in a canal-side house. But do you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice (connecting a jigsaw puzzle of 90 islands), joined by some 1280 bridges (many illuminated by fairy lights at night)? Or that it boasts the oldest stock exchange in the world?

Distinct from other Dutch cities, Rotterdam is creating its own identity as an energetic and dynamic metropolis. Long known for its important port, one of the busiest in the world, it has recently acquired the epithet “Manhattan on the Maas”, as a result of a modern building spree. Establish a frame of reference with a 360° view from atop the Euromast Observation Tower; then investigate some of the city’s striking architectural features. Do not miss the bizarre cube houses, tilted at 45 degrees, and from the outside looking like only Spiderman could live there. It is indeed a city of innovative design.

Antwerp is a stylish and sophisticated city filled with monumental reminders of its prosperous medieval and Renaissance past, currently reinventing itself as an exciting contemporary city. Long a major diamond center, it is now making a name as an important player on the world fashion scene. Belgium has the highest density of Michelin star restaurants in Europe, and Antwerp has become a hot spot for foodies. Numerous urban renewal projects are underway, especially in the arts, including MAS, a new museum of the city and a spectacular architectural achievement, and MoMu, a trendy fashion museum.

Antwerp is a stylish and sophisticated city filled with monumental reminders of its prosperous medieval and Renaissance past, currently reinventing itself as an exciting contemporary city. Long a major diamond center, it is now making a name as an important player on the world fashion scene. Belgium has the highest density of Michelin star restaurants in Europe, and Antwerp has become a hot spot for foodies. Numerous urban renewal projects are underway, especially in the arts, including MAS, a new museum of the city and a spectacular architectural achievement, and MoMu, a trendy fashion museum.

Honfleur is a lively town and a bustling port, where fishermen can be seen hauling in the daily catch. The maritime influence is everywhere evident; even the handsome church of Sainte Catherine has an oak ceiling that resembles the hull of an overturned ship. The charming square surrounding the church gives way to narrow cobbled lanes of half-timbered houses, elegant manors, and tall, narrow town houses. The quality of light has long attracted artists, including a particularly illustrious group, among them Monet, Corot, Turner, Courbet, Millet, Seurat – all of whom stayed at a little thatched inn called the Saint Siméon, now Honfleur’s most luxurious hotel.