Secrets of the North Sea

From Denmark’s coasts to the shores of Great Britain, PONANT invites you on a unique journey at the crossing point of the North and Baltic Seas. This timeless 11-day interlude aboard Le Lapérouse takes you on a voyage of discovery of these Hanseatic and Flanders cities, with their rich history and powerful architectural and cultural heritage.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, you can admire the magnificent historic centre of Lübeck, the former capital of the Hanseatic League and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and from Travemünde, climb aboard the legendary Molli steam train built in 1886, which runs on the Baltic coast’s oldest narrow-gauge steam railway from Waremünde. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

From Copenhagen, a city full of art and history, Le Lapérouse heads south to the German coast and the pleasant seaside town of Warnemünde, lying north of Rostock. There you can visit the Hanseatic town and stroll through its narrow streets to discover the pastel-coloured merchants houses of the Renaissance, Saint Mary’s Church and its magnificent town hall. A short distance to the west,Travemünde (at the mouth of the Trave) is a real holiday haven, famous for its golden beaches, its imposing lighthouse,  its architecture and its impressive maritime history.

You now sail down the Kiel Canal to the Netherlands and the port of Harlingen. Once a whaling centre and now a port that specialises in shrimping, this dynamic town offers travellers the chance to admire some fascinating sites and museums.  In Scheveningen, the misty spray of the North Sea speaks of the region's marine legends, while the little cobbled streets of its historic centre reveal their splendid architectural treasures. Then, in Amsterdam, you can stroll through the city of canals and enjoy the hospitality of its inhabitants. The city is famous for its museums, but you will also fall under the charm of the incredible flower market and the superb façades of the beautiful houses.

You now sail along the Belgian coastline, and at the end of the Scheldt River, the port city of Antwerp rises before you. This lively, dynamic city still has magnificent architectural jewels, including the Grand Place, bordered by splendid merchant houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Meanwhile, in Ostend, you can admire the Belle Époque facades of this seaside town, which is highly popular for its light sandy beach, and home to the Kunstmuseum aan Zee, which retraces the history of Belgian art since 1830.

The culminating point comes with London, the cosmopolitan capital of the United Kingdom, with its rich historical heritage and extraordinary artistic avant-garde, after you pass beneath the legendary Tower Bridge.