England, Germany and Belgium: North Sea Heritage and History

Arrive in Edinburgh and transfer to the city center. Known throughout time for its hill fort, and now the iconic Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s capital offers a variety of experiences throughout its streets. Explore the city at your own pace before embarking the ship in the afternoon. 

Spend the day exploring the estuaries and beaches of Northumberland, the northernmost county in England, home to more than 400 different bird species. Once a medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom encompassing parts of present-day northern England, this region is rich in striking coastlines and estuaries of the Tyne and Tweed rivers, as well as the ancient cities protecting the area for millennia.

Spend a relaxing day sailing across the North Sea. Join your captain and crew on the Bridge and learn about the trade route to the Hanseatic cities or attend a presentation led by one of your naturalists. Take advantage of the amenities on board such as a rejuvenating spa treatment with your wellness specialist.

Arrive in Germany on the remote island of Heligoland in the North Sea, a destination that has seen many different rulers throughout the ages. Sitting approximately 38 miles from the entrance of the River Elbe and 29 miles off the coast of mainland Germany, Heligoland boasts a unique landscape of red sandstone cliffs, bird colonies that include northern gannets and seal haul-out sites. It's such a small island that there are no private vehicles, and all areas are accessible by walking. Heligoland also happens to be the home of one of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions' renowned ship captains, Oliver Kruess. The next day, navigate up the Weser River into the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. A bustling trade center in the famous Hanseatic League, the modern city continues this rich tradition while protecting the architecture and grandeur of the past, most notably the Town Hall and the 13th-century St. Peter's Cathedral. Choose to uncover Hanseatic history, visit tranquil countryside windmills or take an active bike ride on a network of trails outside the city center. <br />

This morning, you’ll enter northeastern Netherlands through an estuary in Friesland, a region settled by German tribes since the 4th century, controlling lands from Bremen to Bruges. Harlingen sits at the meeting point of the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea—the world’s largest unbroken intertidal zone—and the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands’ largest lake. Choose between exploring the charming streets of one of the oldest seaports in the Netherlands or venturing to the Afsluitdijk Wadden Center to learn about the innovation projects continuing in the Wadden Sea and controlling the waterworks of the Netherlands.

Ostend is the North Sea gateway into Flemish Belgium, or Flanders. Rich in intangible cultural heritage, Flanders offers a wide range of subjects to explore—from beer brewing dating back to the Middle Ages and fascinating folklore to captivating arts and religious traditions. The city of Bruges, known as the “Venice of the North,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with Gothic architecture and serene canals. You’ll discover this city’s historic wonders on foot during a panoramic walking tour past the Belfort Bell Tower and City Hall. As part of the day, you’ll also have the choice to visit the Beguinages, a series of UNESCO-designated, enclosed communities once home to a religious order of nuns that offer insight into 17th-century spiritual and urban life.

After crossing the English Channel, arrive in East Sussex, known for its rich medieval history, stunning ivory coasts and quaint villages that are approximately 1,000 years old. Spend the day exploring coastal trails that trace these ivory shores with their iconic chalk cliffs, wandering through narrow passages of ancient castles and battlefields or soaking up village life along idyllic winding lanes.

Disembark in Portsmouth after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.