Rick Steves Scandinavian & Northern European Cruise Ports

by Rick Steves, Cameron Hewitt

Set sail and dive into Europe's magnificent port cities with Rick Steves Scandinavian & Northern European Cruise Ports! Inside you'll Rick's expert advice on making the most of your time on a cruise and fully experiencing each city, with thorough coverage of 18 ports of callPractical travel strategies including how to choose and book your cruise, adjusting to life on board on the ship, saving money, and traveling economically and ethically Self-guided walks and tours of each port city so you can hit the best attractions, sample authentic cuisine, and get to know the culture, even with a short amount of timeEssential logistics including step-by-step instructions for arriving at each terminal, getting into town, and finding necessary services like ATMs and pharmacies Rick's reliable tips and candid advice on how to beat the crowds, skip lines, and avoid tourist trapsHelpful reference photos throughout and full-color maps of each cityUseful tools like mini-phrasebooks, detailed instructions for any visa requirements, hotel and airport recommendations for cruise access cities, and what to do if you miss your shipFull list of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, the Port of Gdynia, Gdansk, Sopot, Warnermunde, Rostock, Berlin, Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, the Norwegian Fjords, Flam and the Nutshell, Geirangerfjord, Amsterdam, the Port of Zeebrugge, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Southampton, Portsmouth, Dover, Canterbury, London, Le Havre, Honfleur, the D-Day Beaches, Rouen, ParisMaximize your time and savor every moment with Rick's practical tips, thoughtful advice, and reliable expertise.Heading to the Mediterranean? Pick up Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

1150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2018

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tour book with great information about cruises and the many ports and histories of the nations. I had been on one cruise before, but it was Hawaii. My nine days in the Baltic Sea, beginning in Copenhagen, as well as information on making the most of that city, were enhanced by Steves' information. The book helped me select excursions, even thought Steves would like people to explore on their own. Yet, language is a barrier. Also time is limited.

I enjoyed the remains of medieval sections of cities, which also had modern sections. My time in Tallinn with local guides, friends of my companion, was very special since we could visit places that were special to them. I am ready for visits to certain cities and country, but at a slower place. This cruise was a great introduction and the book enabled me to make the most of it.

[tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cant wait for our trip! Found a few wild things that Rick doesnt include...will try them out in June!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just perfect

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking Day Finland 2025

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is very well written, the ports for Norway are the biggest and most recognized. Anyone can find information about these ports from another source. What I needed was information about the smaller Norwegian ports and what was available in the smaller towns. This is information I was hoping to get from Rick Steves, because it was not available elsewhere. However, this will come in handy on our next cruise to other Scandinavian ports, St. Petersburg and Berlin.

[Janie Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked it out from the library— read and took notes for our summer cruise. Then decided I needed too much of it so I bought the kindle version to carry with me more easily. Great information!