Secrets of the old world

ADVERTORIAL

According to research, awe-inspiring experiences have the power to make us feel more connected to the world. So, it's no surprise that travelling to new corners of the globe, encountering different people and places, and experiencing what diverse shores have to offer provide us with a sense of belonging. For many, cruising is the best, and only, way to do this. From UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iceland, to the charming streets of Copenhagen, a Northern Europe cruise is the ultimate journey to discover the world's most breathtaking sights – here's how to do it all with Norwegian Cruise Line® (NCL):

NCL are the best kept secret in cruising, offering an immersive cruise experience like no other, with a range of itineraries for every kind of traveller through Europe and across the entire globe, sailing to over 400 destinations worldwide. Voted Europe's Leading Cruise Line at the World Travel Awards for 17 years in a row, NCL offers plenty of choice in Northern Europe, providing spectacular dining experiences and onboard entertainment plus the award-winning Mandara Spa®.

NCL offer a wide range of Northern Europe destinations that will ignite your wanderlust. What's more, they offer a choice of seven embarkation ports for extra convenience, including Helsinki, a brand-new home port for the cruise line in 2026. When you travel with NCL on any Europe cruise you'll get to fully immerse yourself in the destinations you visit with late stays and departures past 7:30pm at 68 different ports across the 2025/26 seasons. This means you can marvel at the sunset in ports such as Santorini, Mykonos or Dubrovnik then explore the picturesque, historic streets after dark, taking advantage of exploring after the tourist crowds leave. You'll also get to wake up in a new destination nearly every day of your cruise with 50 overnight stays across seven European countries offered in 2025/26 including Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and more.

NCL specialise in providing immersive shore excursions at ports that deliver more than the obvious (and busy) ports other cruise lines visit. Discover hidden gems like Stord in Norway aboard Norwegian Star for the first time from 2026, allowing guests to discover its striking natural beauty and unusual Viking history. NCL's excursions go far beyond the norm, offering tours based on your interests (like food and wine) that allow you to really immerse yourself in the local culture.

From June to October 2026, Norwegian Sun will offer a full Baltic season with seven-to-10 day sailings where guests can embark in Copenhagen or Helsinki and visit a port nearly every day in destinations across Germany, Poland, Sweden and more. NCL's nine-day cruise to the Baltic offers a chance to see Northern Europe's true hidden gems. You'll stop in Klaipeda, Lithuania, the country's third-largest city which has strong Russian, Swedish, and German influences that are evident throughout. Walk through its stunning ancient squares and see where the waters of the Baltic lap at its shore at some of Europe's most beautiful beaches. You'll also discover the secret charm of the city of Gdynia. The largest city in Northern Poland is gorgeous and often completely uncrowded. Walk along its picture-perfect waterfront and visit nearby Gdansk's historic Old Town.

You'll also get to take an enchanting journey deep into the life of Europe's most famous fairytale teller, Hans Christian Andersen, on a shore excursion in Copenhagen. Here, you'll behold the inspiration for some of history's most beloved fables, such as The Little Mermaid. You'll get to explore the 17th Century Nyharn District where Andersen wrote some of his best work, and the Royal residence, Amalienborg Palace, where he spent time.

NCL's new Northern Europe cruises also offer once-in-a- lifetime experiences to places highly sought after. On NCL's 11-Day Northern Europe cruise to Iceland, Norway and Belgium you'll get to travel on one of the highest mountain roads in Iceland – a road that's only open for a limited time each year. You'll head to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Thingvellir before driving through the dramatic Kaldidalur Valley, deep into Iceland's interior aboard a Super Truck driven by an expert local driver. This kind of tour provides a thrilling and completely unique ride into rarely seen sections of Iceland's spectacular interior: a huge bonus for adventurous cruisers.

The collection of 2025 & 2026 itineraries offer many new opportunities to journey across Europe, with a choice of 10 ships sailing over 280 voyages to 117 ports across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Greek Isles.

You can choose from 20 ship sailings to over 400 destinations with NCL including Europe, Hawai'i, Alaska, Asia & more. Ready to set sail? Elevate your cruise holiday to a whole new level, contact your travel agent, call 1300 255 200 or visit ncl.com to book.