Reykjavik, Iceland - Iceland's capital and largest city is located on the country's southwest coast at the head of Faxafloi Bay. Settled in 877 AD, Reykjavik has grown into an important seaport and center of government and education with theatres, museums and observatories. Interestingly, this modern city still chooses to use water from nearby hot springs to heat all of its buildings.

Heimaey, Iceland - Some 4,500 people live on Heimaey, a 13-square-kilometer (five-square-mile) island off the southern coast of Iceland. It's mentioned in some medieval Icelandic sagas and was attacked in a Turkish raid in the 17th century, but events that took place on January 23, 1973, really put Heimaey on the map. On that day, the island’s inhabitants woke up to an earthquake and plumes of ash from the volcano Eldfell, followed by lava flows. Most residents were evacuated, while a few remained to defend the harbor by spraying ocean water on the hot molten lava. When the eruption subsided almost six months later, the island had grown by 2.2 square kilometers (0.9 square miles) and half of the town had been destroyed—but the harbor had been saved. Most of the island’s residents returned, and in the years since Heimaey has become known as a dramatic microcosm of Iceland’s remarkable geological activity. The 1973 eruption is the focus of the fascinating Eldheimar museum; among the exhibits is a house that, as in Pompeii, was engulfed in ash. A circumnavigation of the island offers yet another perspective on Heimaey’s remarkable geological history, and its present.

Seydisfjordur, Iceland - Seydisfjordur is an eclectic little town, tucked away at the end of a deep fjord in the east of Iceland. Surrounded by volcanoes, waterfalls, and in summer, green fields dotted with purple lupins, this former hub for herring fishing is a favorite stop on cruises to Iceland.

On a cruise to Seydisfjordur, walk alongside colorful wooden homes and the famous rainbow-painted street leading to the pretty blue church as you enjoy the fresh, crisp air. Immerse yourself in Icelandic art culture, and celebrate Seydisfjordur’s rich history as a creative community. Venture through incredible natural surroundings as you trek to the cascading Gufufoss waterfalls, and wander along the shore looking out for seals and porpoises before continuing on your Iceland cruise.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Invergordon (Inverness), Scotland - Welcome to the Highlands, the wildest and least trammeled region in the entire United Kingdom. Inverness is considered the Highland capital and, while a very small city by international comparisons, it does offer more than a few hours of enjoyment and entertainment with first-class restaurants among its attractions.

Just outside Inverness is a trove of Scottish and Celtic history, myth and natural beauty amid unspoiled glens, mountains, lochs, rivers and more. Most famous among the attractions is no doubt the legendary (and likely imaginary) Loch Ness Monster, though for the less frivolous traveler, the sites associated with Scottish history will hold more appeal. For example, the Culloden Battlefield, where the 1746 stand-off between Bonnie Prince Charlie and the army of the Hanoverian King in London put the nail in the coffin of any Jacobite rebellion—and led to years of Highland repression to ensure no further uprising ensued.

The port of Invergordon is only a short drive from charming villages such as Fortrose with its ancient cathedral ruins or Rosemarkie where the Groam House Museum will show you the remarkable prehistoric art of Scotland's aboriginals, the Picts.

South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland - South Queensferry is the gateway to Edinburgh, the political, commercial and cultural heart of Scotland. Nestled between the Highlands and the Border Hills, Edinburgh is a gracious city noted for its superb skyline, its impressive collection of architecture and its beautiful parks. The streets of the elegant New Town are lined with graceful Georgian buildings, many designed by the great architect Robert Adam. Edinburgh has also exerted a tremendous cultural force on Europe and the English-speaking world. The International Festival has been one of the premier European cultural events for over half a century. Among those who have called the city home are the writers, Robert Burns, James Boswell, and Sir Walter Scott and the philosophers, Adam Smith and David Hume. To stroll the streets of Edinburgh is to experience one of the world's great cities.

Rotterdam, Holland - Rotterdam is Europe's biggest port and one of the Netherlands' great surprises. Hit hard by World War II, the city was rebuilt gradually from the 1950s to the '70s — today, it's a lively, thriving metropolis that's home to a diverse, multicultural population. Get a taste of what the city used to look like at the Old Harbour or Delfshaven, a historic marina that survived the 1940 bombardment. Then, visit one of the many top-class museums, such as Boijmans, Van Beuningen or the Kunsthal in Rotterdam's Museum Park. Take a gander at the extraordinary cube houses and the sparkling market hall. Cruise to Rotterdam to relax at the Kralingse Plas lake and park, and snap a photo of the windmills.