Around the British Isles from Hamburg - 12 nights, July 2013

Established by Charlemagne, Hamburg owes much of its architecture to the rebuilding done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after a massive fire. World War II also inflicted severe damage, but the city's medieval character is still evident thanks to post-war restorations. Water is a wonderful feature here – as you’ll notice when you arrive along the River Elbe, investigate quirky historic districts by canal and glide past highly desirable addresses lining the Alster lakes.

The United Kingdom's premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The port serves as your gateway to Southern England’s magnificent historic sites, national landmarks, charming villages as well as the great metropolis of London. Southampton is the ideal starting or ending point for a memorable voyage.

This gorgeous city drapes its Georgian charm across seven scenic hills. Fancy a regal stroll? Proceed in stately fashion along Edinburgh’s renowned and historic Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyrood House and take in the views from that historic hilltop castle. It’s a visit fit for a king.

Soak up the unmistakable Scottish Highlands, shrouded in myth and folklore. Amidst conical hills and verdant glens, seek out Loch Ness and scan its glassy surface for the legendary ‘monster’. Visit Culloden Moor where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated, Cawdor Castle – forever linked with Macbeth – and regional whisky distilleries bearing their own famous names.

Kirkwall possesses a Norse heritage that stretches back almost a century; indeed the Vikings laid the first foundations for St Magnus Cathedral – the most northerly in Britain – built from yellow and red local sandstone. You can also learn the history of the radio at the Wireless Museum and sample the island’s peaty single malts at the Highland Park Distillery.

Liverpool was the former home of Cunard Line. The Cunard Building, the Royal Liver Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building – all on Pier Head – are often described as the city’s ‘Three Graces’. Liverpool is vibrant and modern with a taste of the 60s! Take a ferry across the Mersey for stunning harbour views. Or embark on a Magical Mystery Tour commemorating the city’s most famous sons.

Fortified against invasion for centuries, Guernsey is dotted with castles and coastal defense forts. During World War II, the Channel Islands were the only part of the United Kingdom occupied by the Germans. This quaint harbour whose narrow, cobbled streets and granite houses rise in tiers on the hillside is actually the isle of Guernsey's capital.

The United Kingdom's premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The port serves as your gateway to Southern England’s magnificent historic sites, national landmarks, charming villages as well as the great metropolis of London. Southampton is the ideal starting or ending point for a memorable voyage.