Sail on one of our Europe adventure cruises through eight countries united by the Baltic Sea, encountering fascinating cultures and long-neglected histories. These unique cultural travel expediences allow you to discover fairytale castles and the “city of ruins and roses,” before delving into the European capitals of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg, where we spend three nights at the superb Grand Hotel Europe. Each of the capitals has an Old Town, and the buildings have been beautifully restored; especially moving are those of Tallinn and Riga, flourishing in the 21st century. The great cities and Hansa towns of Lubeck and Gdansk are balanced with peaceful island stops for nature walks, where the vitality of summer enhances your educational travel cruise experience.

Taking a zigzagging route, the National Geographic Explorer follows in the wake of the Vikings from Norway to the northern isles of Scotland and the remote Faroe Islands, including a near circumavigation of Iceland. We'll discover striking juxtopositions: Stone Age sites at Orkney, the stunning geology of Iceland's glaciers, bubbling mud pools and geysers. The crisp maritime architecture of Bergen, Norway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the rugged terrain and turf-roofed houses of the Faroes.