EMPIRES OF EUROPE Cruise Line Ponant Ship Le Champlain Package Departs 25 Aug 2026 Other Dates
Package Duration 22 Nights Embark Ship Copenhagen, Denmark Disembark Ship London, (Tower Bridge) England Enquire 22 Night Cruise & Stay from Copenhagen to Lisbon
Cruise & stay from
AU $ 23,379Per person
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This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.The northwest corner of Europe—the part of the continent where the Baltic and North Seas meet—is rich in history, both medieval and modern, and an ideal destination for reflection on what earlier experiences of war and peace can teach us about dealing with current issues of international security. Joining you on this voyage from Copenhagen to London, are two distinguished experts on these issues, including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis. They will share insights into such topics as concerns about the unity of the NATO alliance and the hopeful signs of continued commitment to cooperation in pursuit of the goals of freedom and democracy.From Copenhagen, Le Champlain sails south to the northern coast of Germany, where you spend the first two days of your voyage in the Baltic seaports of Warnemünde and Wismar. This is the heart of the area once dominated by the Hanseatic League, and you may tour a number of towns—Lübeck, Rostock, and Wismar itself—whose well-preserved Old Towns (two of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites) speak to the wealth produced by the League's monopoly of trade.The third day of cruising is spent navigating the 61-mile-long Kiel Canal, which cuts across the Jutland Peninsula and connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Two hundred and fifty nautical miles are saved by using the canal instead of sailing around the peninsula.Harlingen is your first port of call in the country of The Netherlands, 25% of which has been reclaimed from the sea via terps, dikes, windmills, and lake-draining. One of the most ambitious of these reclamation projects is the Woudagemaal steam-powered pumping station—built in the 1920s, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and still in operation. Here you will learn about an early version of water management technology that will become increasingly important as sea levels around the world rise.As the official capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to a Royal Palace that hosts state visits and official receptions. A guided visit to the Palace will focus on its role in international politics and cultural exchange, but you will also be drawn to the elegance of its architecture and to artworks that recall the splendor of the Dutch Golden Age. A second possibility for your time in Amsterdam is a tour of the Dutch Resistance Museum, chronicling the hard work and heroism of the Dutch struggle against totalitarian rule during World War II. Alternatively, choose to enjoy a cruise through Amsterdam’s famous canals, or visit the world renowned Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum.The Hague, which is home to the Dutch Parliament and the residence of the royal family, is also home to the International Court of Justice, housed within the Peace Palace, which you may explore on a guided tour. Or you may travel to nearby Rotterdam Harbor to see a floating dairy farm, that is both a demonstration of the practicability of sustainable farming in an intensely urban environment and a vision of the future. A third option for the day is to visit the 18th-century windmills at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site and another example of Dutch mastery of the art and science of water management.Antwerp is your gateway to Brussels and to a choice of tours of two institutions crucial to and depicting the history of the security of Europe and of the broader Atlantic world. A visit to the European Parliament, the legislative branch of the European Union, will introduce you to its work seeking to advance the common interests of its 27 member countries. Or you may prefer a guided tour through the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, a collection spanning more than 10 centuries of military and technological history. Alternatively, stay in Antwerp and explore the city’s historic Diamond District.From the Belgian port of Ostend, enjoy a walking tour of the exquisitely preserved medieval town of Bruges. Two other possible excursions focus on sustainability—one on the promise of wind power at the North Sea Offshore experience; the other a visit to Agrotopia, a state-of-the-art urban farm in the town of Roeselare. Alternatively, you may travel to nearby Raversyde, home to the remnants of the Atlantic Wall, a massive network of bunkers and tunnels built by the Germans and used in both World Wars.Dunkirk offers a choice of museums with displays on various aspects of the city's World War II history. The Dunkirk Museum focuses on Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied Troops in 1940, while the Blockhaus d'Éperlecques and La Coupole tell the story of German military installations during the Occupation.On the final day of the voyage, Le Champlain sails from Dunkirk at midday, across the English Channel and up the Thames River, reaching London Bridge late in the evening, where the ship remains docked overnight before disembarkation in London the next day.
BIG SAVINGS PLUS BONUS TOTAL 3 NIGHT STAYS!Book early and save - current savings on this departure include..Twin PR4 Prestige Balcony was $25,748- your special price from $23,379*ppTwin PR4 Prestige Balcony was $26,908- your special price from $24,419*ppTwin DS6 Deluxe Suite was $38,618 - your special price from $34,919*ppSingle PR4 Prestige Balcony was $26,665 - your special price from $24,339*pp______________EMPIRES OF EUROPE Cruise, & Stay package includes: - BONUS 1 night luxury accommodation in Copenhagen including breakfast- 19 night cruise on Ponant's Le Champlain from Copenhagen to Lisbon- BONUS 2 nights luxury accommodation in Lisbon including breakfastPONANT cruise inclusions:- All inclusive from arrival to departure- Fine dining in all the restaurants- All drinks in restaurants, bars and minibars (excluding premium beverages)- 24-hour room service- Butler service in some suites- Unlimited internet access onboard- Evening events, shows, and other entertainment- Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna, depending on the ship- One included excursion per person, per day, and per port, led by local guides*- All port and security fee_______________ CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS: - A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.- Engaging lectures and discussions onboard with two leading experts on international affairs, including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis.- Two days of exploration of the history of the Hanseatic League in UNESCO World Heritage sites in Rostock, Lübeck, and Wismar.- Passage through the Kiel Canal linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.- Visits to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and to the famed medieval town of Bruges.- Visits to important organizations of international cooperation and military history, including the International Court of Justice in The Hague and the European Parliament and Royal Military Museum in Brussels.- Key sites associated with World War II, including the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Atlantic Wall, and Dunkirk.- A focus on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy throughout the cruise.- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.- Engaging discussions onboard with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts.- UNESCO World Heritage sites en route: Mont-Saint-Michel, Tower of Hercules, Santiago de Compostela, and Historic Centre of Oporto.- An opportunity for remembrance at historic Omaha Beach and the World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.- A visit to the magnificent Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.- An exploration of the Christian pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela.- A chance to savor the famed wines of Porto.
