When is the best time of year to take a Northern Europe cruise?

The summer months (June-August) are the mildest, offering more comfortable cruising conditions at the cost of being the busier "summer vacation" period. However, if it's the magic of the Northern Lights you wish to see, cruise between October and April: you'll have to wrap up extra warm, but the sight is worth it.

What countries does Cunard visit in Northern Europe?

Cunard currently visits Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia. Discover these exciting destinations and the ports waiting to be explored on our dedicated ports page .

Northern Europe and Scandinavia cruises

Our Northern Europe cruises introduce you to welcoming towns and cities, many with intriguing medieval roots. You can also explore dramatic Scandinavian landscapes of geysers, fjords and glaciers under summer’s Midnight Sun.

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Explore Northern Europe

Discover our cruises to picturesque Amsterdam and otherworldly Iceland, and learn about the fascinating cities, towns and landmarks that we visit in Northern Europe.

Where we sail in Northern Europe

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Discover Amsterdam

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Discover Iceland

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The cool charm of Northern Europe

Grand imperial cities, a string of welcoming capitals and stunning wildernesses define Europe’s northern reaches.

Be inspired

Northern Europe is a place of ancient myths, stunning scenery, and breathtaking adventure. Here are some of our favorite places to visit, presented to you for exploration from home.

A Lofoten island escape

Found well within the Arctic Circle, these Norwegian islands are home to soaring mountain peaks, charming fishing villages, and exciting Viking history.

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Starry, starry night

Join John Maclean, astronomer and award-winning astrophotographer, on an exploration of the sought-after sights of the mysterious aurora borealis.

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An Icelandic odyssey

Explore a land of fire and ice, of thundering waterfalls and dense forest, mirrored lakes, and snow-capped mountains. Iceland is truly a land of legend.

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More destinations to explore

Norway and Norwegian fjords

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Northern Lights

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Frequently asked questions about Northern Europe cruises

The Icelandic city of Reykjavik, the colorful Norwegian town of Bergen and the culture-rich cities of Copenhagen and Helsinki are all near the top of any destination list for this region. Also notable are the Faroe and Lofoten Islands: both are scatters of largely untouched land with small villages and stunning views, but each have their own distinct identities. Finally, if you venture further northwards and into the Arctic Circle, you may glimpse one of the most famous sights of all: the Northern Lights. The deck of a Cunard Queen is the perfect place to view such a spectacle.

If you're visiting the region in the summer, be sure to pack light layers, as the weather can be very variable. Don't forget your umbrella or waterproof jacket as rain isn't uncommon. The temperature on board remains pleasant all year round, so you can still bring your finery for those Gala evenings. In the winter months, bring plenty of warm clothes, plus hat, scarf and waterproof, as the weather can be quite cold, and still wet. No matter when you visit, comfortable shoes are a must for exploring ship and shore.

At the time of writing, we currently have itineraries sailing to these ports. However our bookable itineraries do change, so keep checking our cruises to see if we visit your favorite locations. You can also read more about our ports on our dedicated page.

The British Isles: Donegal (from Killybegs) and Dublin (Ireland); Bass Rock, Isle of May, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Lerwick (Scotland); South Cornwall (England); St Peter Port (Guernsey).

Denmark: Aarhus, Bornholm, Copenhagen, Elsinore.

Sweden: Gothenburg, Visby.

Finland: Helsinki.

The Netherlands: Amsterdam.

Belgium: Bruges.

France: Cherbourg.

Poland: Gdynia.

Germany: Hamburg, Kiel.

Lithuania: Klaipeda.

Russia: St Petersburg.

Estonia: Tallinn.

Iceland: Akureyri, Eijafjordur, Isafjordur, Reykjavik.

Faroe Islands: Torshavn.

Norway: Ålesund, Kristiansand, Leknes (Lofoten Islands), Narvik, Nordfjordeid, Olden, Oslo, Tromso, Trondheim, Andalsnes, Bergen, Bodo, Flaam, Geiranger, Haugesund.