MSC Yacht Club Northern Europe: 5 nights from Southampton with MSC Preziosa
Apr 19, 2026

Le Havre

Le Havre is worth a visit, not only as a stopover on the way to Paris or other inland destinations, but also as one of the great examples of post-war planning. It is a strange and strangely fascinating city, listed by
Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
Wandering through the streets of the seaside town of Le Havre, one might think one had stumbled upon a forgotten outpost of the Eastern Bloc. Obliterated by World War II bombings, the city was completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Perret and, what emerged from the ashes of old Le Havre, is a kind of love letter to concrete: endless rows of blocks of buildings, straight avenues stretching out from the central square, dominated by the 100 m high 'Stalinist Baroque' style cathedral, looks like something straight out of the pages of '1984'.

Walking through the streets of the seaside city of Le Havre, you might think you've stumbled into a forgotten outpost of the Eastern Bloc. Erased by the bombings of the Second World War, the city was completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Perret and, what emerged from the ashes of old Le Havre, is a kind of love letter to concrete: endless rows of blocks of buildings, straight avenues that extend out of the central square, dominated by the 100 m high cathedral in 'Stalinist Baroque' style, looks like something directly from the pages of '1984'.

Zeebrugge

Connected to Bruges by 7.5-kilometer canal, Zeebrugge is a seaside resort that looks to the future.

On the sea front, hotels and cafes offer a warm welcome. Zeebrugge is the most important Belgian fishing port. The Zeebrugge wholesale fish market, located in a modern complex in the inner port, is one of the largest and sophisticated of its kind in Europe. Zeebrugge also has an attractive tourist port that can contain a maximun number of 100 ships. Furthermore, its geographical position is very convenient, near the beautiful city of Bruges, the trendy seaside resort of Knokke and the picturesque village of Lissewege.

On the seafront, hotels and cafes offer their warmest welcome. Zeebrugge is the most important Belgian fishing port. The Zeebrugge wholesale fish market, installed in a modern complex in the inner harbor, is one of the largest and most sophisticated of its kind in Europe. Zeebrugge also has an attractive marina that can accommodate around 100 ships. Furthermore, it enjoys a very convenient geographical position, a few km from the beautiful Bruges, the trendy seaside resort of Knokke and the picturesque village of Lissewege.

Copenaghen

Copenhagen, literally "port of the merchants", is the capital of Denmark and one of the country's most densely populated cities. Originally a city mainly inhabited by fishermen, it became a fundamentally important port for trade.
Copenhagen is a year-round tourist destination and in summer the flow of tourists increases considerably thanks to Northern Europe cruises.

It is very common to add a stay in the city before a cruise, to take in its distinguishing relaxing atmosphere and see what it has to offer. Among its famous attractions you cannot miss the statue of the Mermaid which is located right at the entrance to the port and the Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's largest amusement parks, opened in 1843 and loved by everyone.

Copenhagen (København in Danish and 'Copenaga' in Italian [no source]) is the capital and the most populous city of Denmark with 518,574 inhabitants in the municipality (1,167,569 in the urban area). The city stretches across the islands of Sjælland and Amager and is separated from the city of Malmö in Sweden by the strait of Øresund.

Oslo

Oslo, located in the south-eastern part of the country, is the capital and largest city of Norway. Oslo is a lively city that perfectly blends its rich history with modern urban development, making it a dynamic and attractive place to live and visit.

It was founded around 1040 by King Harald Hardrada and became the capital of the country in 1299 under King Håkon V. The city was partially destroyed by a fire in 1624 and its reconstruction began under the reign of King Christian IV. King Christian IV renamed the city Christiania. The original name, Oslo, was restored only in 1925. Oslo is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, including forests, hills and lakes. Thanks to its beautiful landscapes, it is possible to practice numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and canoeing.

These unique features make the city an ideal destination for nature lovers. The city is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum (dedicated to the works of Edvard Munch, famous for “The Scream”), and the National Gallery. Don't miss the opportunity to visit one of these museums and share your photos with your friends! Every year, Oslo hosts one of the most important cultural events, the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded annually in the city at the City Hall.