Kiel, Copenhagen, Southampton, Lisbon

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, was founded in the 12th century and owes much of its charm to the buildings erected by Denmark's monarchs, boasting a treasure trove of late-Renaissance and Rococo architecture. Built on a series of islands and islets, it is laced with graceful canals and boasts some of the most delightful architecture in Northern Europe. During your visit, you will see the fabled statue of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid, a symbol of the city that keeps a thoughtful watch on the harbor, stroll along the old harbor of Nyhavn, lined with cafés, restaurants and 500-year-old gabled houses, browse the superb shops on the world-famous Stroget or view the Rococo palaces lining Amalienborg Square. Best of all, savor the taste of local delicacies while wandering the paths of Tivoli Gardens, one of Europe's most celebrated pleasure gardens.

Southampton is the largest city of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Southampton is a major port.  It was the point of departure for the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on the southwest of the country, has been the main gateway for the rest of the planet for more than 19 centuries. Ships captained by Portuguese explorers like Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, skittered across the globe, hauling treasure home and making Lisbon a global capital. Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies, until 1755, when a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city, leaving intact only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas. Eternally linked to the sea, Lisbon's magnificent harbor is spanned by the longest suspension bridge in Europe. Among the city's landmarks are the iconic Castelo de São Jorge, the World Heritage Sites of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, both built in Lisbon's native Manueline architectural style.