Scandinavian Splendours

London is one of the world’s great cities and two nights here before boarding Celebrity Apex gives you genuine time to explore rather than simply transit.
The 2-night stay is included in your package, giving you time to visit the Tate Modern, Borough Market, the Tower of London or simply walk across Waterloo Bridge at dawn. Day 3 includes the included Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour before your private transfer to Southampton. July in London means long evenings, outdoor dining along the South Bank and the best possible version of a city that rewards every hour spent in it.

A full free day in London before tomorrow’s departure for Southampton and the Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour.
Use today for whatever London means to you — the National Gallery, a West End show, the markets of Portobello Road or Spitalfields, or the extraordinary collection at the British Museum. The hotel’s location will determine which neighbourhoods are closest, and your Cruiseabout specialist can advise on the best use of your time based on the specific property included.

Southampton is Celebrity Apex’s embarkation port and the gateway to the English Channel, but the day begins with your included full-day Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour before your private transfer to the ship.
Stonehenge, the Neolithic stone circle on Salisbury Plain, is one of the most recognisable prehistoric monuments in the world and genuinely more powerful in person than any photograph suggests. Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, has been a royal residence for nearly 1,000 years. Board Celebrity Apex this afternoon and settle in as England fades behind the stern.

A sea day crossing the North Sea as Celebrity Apex heads northeast toward Denmark.
July in the North Sea means long daylight hours — this far north in summer the sun sets late and the light on the water has a particular golden quality that the Scandinavian painters spent their entire careers trying to capture. The Rooftop Garden, the Magic Carpet and the Infinite Veranda staterooms are all at their best on sea days like this, with open sky and open ocean. Copenhagen arrives tomorrow.

Whether strolling through blooming flowers in Tivoli Gardens, witnessing the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace or touring Kronborg Castle—the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet— it’s easy to see why this once-humble fishing village grew to become the capital of Denmark.
Copenhagen is the most liveable and arguably most beautiful capital in Scandinavia, and an overnight stay here gives Celebrity Apex passengers something most cruise visits to the city cannot offer.

A second full day in Copenhagen and the overnight stay means the city is yours at its quietest, before the day-trippers arrive.
Nyhavn, the colourful 17th-century canal lined with painted townhouses and restaurants, is best photographed in the early morning before the crowds arrive. The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art north of the city, combining world-class contemporary art with gardens that run directly to the Øresund strait, is one of the finest art experiences in Northern Europe. The Torvehallerne food market, the Frederiksberg Gardens and the design shops of the Meatpacking District represent the Copenhagen that visitors who stay longer discover and that day-trippers miss entirely.

A sea day in the Baltic as Celebrity Apex crosses toward Finland, and the light changes noticeably as the ship moves further north.
In late July at these latitudes the sun barely sets, and the Baltic in this light, with its islands and skerries visible on the horizon, is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world to spend a day at sea. The Celebrity Apex’s Eden venue and the Rooftop Garden are both excellent in this light.

Helsinki is one of the most architecturally cohesive capitals in Europe, its waterfront and city centre designed almost entirely in the neoclassical style between 1812 and 1850, giving it a grandeur and consistency that older capitals rarely achieve.

Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval city in Northern Europe and one of the most beautiful old towns on this entire voyage, its limestone towers and terracotta rooftops rising directly from the Baltic shore.
The medieval capital of Estonia, Tallinn is a compact maze of cobbled streets, breathtaking scenery and historical buildings.

Explore the city’s art scene by visiting one of the many striking exhibitions, or watch the artists at work blowing glass, quilting or throwing clay.

Take a walking tour up Toompea Hill to Palace Square, where you can visit the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, which dominates the city skyline.

Stockholm is built across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, and arriving by ship into the Stockholm Archipelago — 30,000 islands of granite and pine stretching 80 kilometres out to sea — is one of the great maritime arrivals in European cruising.
No fewer than 50 bridges connect this Swedish capital’s 14 islands to its mainland. Visit the many parks, museums, and palaces or make your way through Gamla Stan, or Old Town, packed with historic buildings, shops, and cafés.

Visby is the finest medieval walled city in Scandinavia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Gotland that feels genuinely unchanged from the Hanseatic trading era when it was one of the most prosperous cities in Northern Europe.
Picturesque cobblestone streets, Medieval architecture and preserved city ruins make Visby, Sweden a must-see destination during a Scandinavian cruise. Visby is quaint but not provincial. As the capital of the island of Gotland and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Visby a popular tourism spot in Sweden and home to a population of less than 25,000 people. In August, Medieval Week attracts plenty of visitors from all over Sweden, so you can expect the city to bustle and glow brightly in summer. The other months of the year, it’s a little quieter, but no less quaint.

During a few hours stopped in Visby, you can visit several of the town’s major sights. The 12th-century city walls make a stunning vista for both photo ops and panoramic views of Visby. Stroll around the 150-year-old botanical garden. Spend time in the square of Stora Torget, where people watching and romantic cafes will capture your heart. If you’re curious about the history of Visby, stop in the Gotland Museum to discover more about the island, including tidbits on how the Vikings began their settlement in the Medieval period. There’s truly no wrong way to experience Visby on a cruise.

A sea day heading southwest through the Baltic back toward Denmark, and Celebrity Apex’s remarkable range of onboard experiences comes into its own.
Le Petit Chef, Celebrity Apex’s unique table-top 3D dining experience, is worth reserving for a sea day evening. The Magic Carpet, the cantilevered deck structure that moves between floors and functions as a restaurant, bar and boarding platform, is unlike anything on any other cruise ship at sea.

Aarhus is Denmark’s second city and, many Danes would argue, its most liveable, a university town with a vibrant food and culture scene that sits on the Jutland peninsula facing the Kattegat strait.
The ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, crowned by a circular rainbow panorama walkway on its rooftop, is one of the finest contemporary art museums in Scandinavia. The open-air Den Gamle By (The Old Town) museum reconstructs Danish urban life across four centuries with extraordinary detail. The Latin Quarter in the city centre, with its independent shops and restaurants, is the most appealing street-level experience in the city.

Oslo sits at the head of the Oslofjord and the approach by sea, past wooded islands and summer cottages on both sides of the fjord, is one of the most beautiful coastal arrivals in Northern Europe.
Sailing through the Oslo Fjord, you feel this city’s seafaring heritage come alive.Learn about the exploits of the Vikings in the city’s magnificent Viking Ship Museum.Wander through the fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park.

Kristiansand is Norway’s southernmost city and its sunniest, a compact coastal town of white wooden houses and a natural harbour that feels more Mediterranean than Arctic during a July visit.
On the southern tip of Norway lies the country’s fifth-largest city. Kristiansand is full of family fun and is a haven for outdoor adventure seekers. Kids of all ages will love Dyreparken zoo and amusement park, and the charming Fiskebrygga is home to a lively fish market, gourmet restaurants, and open air concerts. Stick your toes in the white sand of Bystranda Beach in the city center or venture just outside downtown to explore trails, fjords, and much more.

A final sea day returning through the North Sea to Southampton, and 14 nights of Scandinavian exploration begin to settle into memory.
From London and Stonehenge to the overnight in Copenhagen, the medieval streets of Tallinn, Stockholm’s archipelago, Visby’s ancient walls, Oslo’s fjord arrival and the clean Norwegian coastline at Kristiansand — Celebrity Apex has covered Northern Europe’s finest capitals and hidden gems in a single connected voyage. The Tuscan Grill, Le Grande Bistro and the Martini Bar are all excellent companions for a final evening before disembarkation tomorrow.

Celebrity Apex returns to Southampton this morning and your Scandinavian Splendours journey draws to a close.
Your London pre-cruise hotel, the Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour, 14 nights across nine ports from Copenhagen to Kristiansand, the Classic Beverage Package, unlimited Wi-Fi and all savings are included in the price you paid. Ask your Cruiseabout specialist about post-cruise London hotel options if you wish to extend your stay before flying home.
Southampton is a bustling port city bursting with history as well as shopping opportunities, great restaurants and superb pubs. Nearby you’ll find the quaint town of Windsor, where you can visit the many boutiques of High Street or enjoy a tour of historic Windsor Castle.