Synonymous with royalty, London is a living testament to the lofty achievements of the mighty kings and queens that have presided over this storied island nation. Witness the changing of the guard at gracious Buckingham Palace, a cherished custom that is both timeless and precisely on time, and tour the Houses of Parliament, the city’s other magnificently ornate center of power and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cross the iconic Tower Bridge on your way to view the utterly dazzling Crown Jewels, which are kept in the once-forbidding Tower of London, another UNESCO site. After refreshing with a pint of beer at a classic English pub, sample the best of contemporary art at the essential Tate Modern, which is housed in a former brick power station. Next door, you’ll find the faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where Romeo and Juliet can keep falling in love for eternity. Stroll through immaculately manicured Hyde Park, shop in tony Covent Garden and take in the entire city from the London Eye observation wheel, as the resonant chimes of Big Ben comfort both Londoners and visitors with time-honored tones known the world over.
A resort nestled in sandy dunes outside the Hague, Scheveningen boasts wide sandy beaches and beautiful seascapes. It is the gateway to The Hague, home of the United Nations and notable monuments including its Gothic-style Binnenhof, seat of the Dutch Parliament, and Noordeinde Palace.
You might begin your exploration of resplendent Amsterdam with a cruise along its meticulously planned network of canals, a UNESCO World Heritage site lined with quintessentially Dutch gabled buildings. Otherwise, do as the locals do and ride a bicycle, as this mode of transportation is so ubiquitous you’ll have no trouble blending in while you’re catching the sights. Amsterdam is an art lover’s nirvana, with a multitude of world-class museums at one’s fingertips, including the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum and the Rijksmuseum, which overflows with masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age. A more sobering experience awaits at the Anne Frank House, where the brief but effulgent life of the endearing Jewish girl concealed during World War II is vividly evoked. Breathe in the restorative scent of fresh flowers at the famed Keukenhof Gardens, revered for their dazzling array of tulips just under an hour away from the city. If you’re here outside of tulip season, fret not, as you’ll still find a breathtaking variety of blooms. And for an essential Dutch experience, visit the quaint town of Zaanse Schans, where timeless riverside windmills spin gently in the breeze.
Thrill to one of the world’s most unique sailing experiences, a transit of the storied Kiel Canal. The idea for a waterway connecting the Baltic and North Seas was conceived by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck during the Danish-German War of 1864, as the Germans were keen to avoid Danish hostility while sailing around the Jutland Peninsula. The ambitious project, however, didn’t come to fruition until 1895 under the auspices of Wilhelm II, albeit right on budget. These days, the canal’s purpose is primarily mercantile. While transiting, look out over a famously flat landscape of well-tended fields, dense forests and quaint villages, and pass under a succession of steel overpasses, including the fascinating Rendsburg High Bridge, both a railway viaduct and a transporter bridge. When you emerge into the open sea, you’ll have the satisfaction of having undertaken a remarkable transit only available to smaller vessels.
The Danish town of Fredericia on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula sits by the shimmering Little Belt, between two coastlines, with incomparable nature. A short stroll into the heart of town, Fredericia is notable for its Danish military history and historic sites, including the protected Fredericia Ramparts, among Northern Europe’s oldest and most well-preserved forts amid an urban park.
There’s much to treasure in glorious Copenhagen, one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities. No visit is complete without indulging your inner child at the Tivoli Gardens, a fantastical amusement park and pleasure garden that melds the atmosphere of 19th-century Europe with recreations of Far East architecture, all amid wonderfully manicured grounds. After paying your respects to the city’s iconic statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, shop to your heart’s content on Strøget, an elegant lane flanked by sophisticated boutiques housed in graceful buildings. Although its exterior is handsomely austere, the interior rooms of the 18th-century Christiansborg Palace are sure to dazzle you with their extravagant stucco ceilings, brilliant chandeliers and gilded furniture. Fast forward to the 19th century at the spectacular Copenhagen Botanical Garden, where innumerable plant species are showcased in absolutely stunning historical glasshouses. Should you have the stomach for it, take in the entire city from the tower of the Church of our Saviour, which must be reached via vertiginous exterior spiral staircase. No matter how you’ve spent your day, a terrific place to wind down is the quayside Nyhavn district, where colorful historic buildings host an eclectic choice of cafés, bars and restaurants.
The town of Lysekil sits on Sweden’s Bohuslän Coast, where the mouth of Gullmarsfjorden faces the open sea. The Stångehuvuds Nature Reserve, affording incredible sea views from its red granite cliffs, are joined by a white lighthouse. In the Old Town, cobblestone streets and café-lined alleyways reveal perfectly manicured houses, several of which bear plaques telling the story of their history. Towering above Lysekil’s skyline, Lysekil Church was built entirely from granite and completed in 1901, in part as a navigation marker for seafarers.
Norway is a land steeped in myth, where irascible gods armed with frost and lightning once inspired Viking clans to plunder foreign lands. These days, genteel customs imported from mainland Europe have softened the country’s hard edges, but traces of an unruly past still abound. The exceptional museums dotting the Bygdøy Peninsula hold some of the city’s foremost attractions, including a thousand-year-old longship that was preserved in mud and the 12th-century Gol Stave Church, an exemplar of Norway’s distinctive wood sanctuaries. No less fascinating is a visit to the 1892 Fram, a legendary ship revered for her vital role in early polar explorations. To witness the evolution of Oslo’s soul, contrast battle-hardened Akershus Fortress, a ruggedly elegant citadel wrapped in nearly impregnable ramparts, with the neoclassical Royal Palace, whose formal exterior encloses sumptuously appointed rooms. You might wish to view Edvard Munch’s iconic The Scream, which hangs in the outstanding Norwegian National Gallery amid priceless European and Scandinavian masterworks. In expansive Frogner Park, wander among Gustav Vigeland’s thought-provoking sculptures, and if you’ve worked up an appetite, choose among the many restaurants and cafés lining the charming waterfront district of Aker Brygge.
Suites & Staterooms
Owner's Suite
From: $ 21,224*
*Single Supplement for this voyage is 200% for Yacht Club Deck 2, 3 and 4. For Commodore, Admiral and Owners Suite, a 200% single supplement rate applies.
Government, Port, Document Issuance, Handling & Service fees: $525 per guest (included)
Please Note: Fares are capacity controlled and may change without notice. The fares are per person based on double occupancy. Single and third person rates are also available. SeaDream Yacht Club strongly recommends that all guests purchase travel insurance.
Yachting Land Adventures & Activities
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Prices are per person, in USD. Duration is in hours.
Testimonials
Everything from service to cuisine was first class. It is truly an experience we will never forget-we will return to take another voyage with you. Jerry & Catherine A.Ohio
You are organizing great trips and you have excellent service. I think I will use your services more in future. Albert R.Illinois