£749pp—No-fly 8-nt Germany & Scandinavia cruise inc drinks

Explore Europe's winter landscapes with this 8-night deal from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, which includes ports of call in Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Oslo. You'll travel along the River Elbe, one of central Europe's main waterways, before joining the Kiel Canal, where you'll admire charming towns and villages as you cruise. This £749-per-person package includes drinks throughout and saves up to £150 on current pricing. You can also book trips to Christmas markets in each city with optional excursions for an extra fee. 

What's included

• An 8-night cruise on Balmoral, in an Interior Cabin
• Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a variety of onboard restaurants
• Drinks throughout the cruise, including house beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks
• Onboard activities, including guest speakers, cookery classes, and guided activities like stargazing
• Festive arts, crafts, and guided activities during the cruise

When
Depart from Southampton on 13 December, 2023.

For more information or to book online, visit Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' website. Enter promo code TZOO23 to book at the discounted rate. Alternatively, call 0800 0355 087 and quote the same code.

Itinerary
The cruise begins in Hamburg, the birthplace of the advent calendar and home to a vibrant Medieval centre. Spend time exploring the city to discover its many canals and bridges, of which there are hundreds. Hamburg is also overflowing with excellent museums, such as the main Hamburg Museum, the International Maritime Museum, and the MKG, which houses artefacts from ancient worlds to the present day. 

After an overnight in Hamburg's port, you'll cruise along the scenic River Elbe. You'll then join the Kiel Canal, a 61-mile-long freshwater canal that slices through Germany's countryside. You'll slowly cruise through the canal, allowing you to admire wintery landscapes and charming towns and villages. 

Next, you'll call at Copenhagen, one of Europe's oldest cities. Explore the narrow streets lined with restaurants and shops by yourself. Explore the whimsical Tivoli Gardens, visit the Little Mermaid statue, or head to one of the many cutting-edge restaurants to sample Danish cuisine. 

As you depart Copenhagen, you'll cruise the Oslofjord, lined with dense forests and dotted with small islands. You'll sail past the picturesque village of Hvitsten, the historic family home of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' founding members, brothers Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas Olsen. 

Finally, it's on to Oslo, where you can check out the Norwegian capital's many museums and art galleries—The Guardian says the city's "arts and culture are now among the world’s best". Tuck into hearty stews and delicious Norwegian dumplings at some of the city's eateries, or discover bohemian bars and designer boutiques in the Grünerløkka neighbourhood.  

Optional excursions
You can take part in a variety of optional excursions during the cruise for an extra fee (enquire on booking). Some of the options include: 

• Hamburg... join a history tour or take a trip to the Christmas markets to wander the stalls and immerse yourself in festive traditions, many of which originate from Hamburg. The city's Christmas market is the second largest in Germany and is held at the town hall. The main square is lit with enchanting lights, with festive huts selling everything from culinary delights to Christmas ornaments, and a brass quartet playing Christmas music throughout the day. 
• Copenhagen... take a royal Christmas tour to Christiansborg Castle, the former home of the Danish royal family. Following this, continue to the Cap Horn restaurant in Nyhavn for mulled wine and traditional Danish cakes. Explore the Versterbro neighbourhood and visit a micro-brewery, or tour the city with a knowledgeable guide to search out the twinkling Christmas lights.
• Oslo... join an excursion to Hvitsen for a guided walk. You can also visit the charming Baerums Verk Christmas Market, where you'll definitely find some "hygge" by way of warm mugs of gløgg and pølser (hot dogs). You can also discover historic stories of Christmas or indulge in festive shopping. 

Ship details
Balmoral is the smallest ship in Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' fleet, and Cruise Critic praises the "stylish and friendly" vessel offering "classic small ship cruising with a fresh new look".

Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, and a traditional afternoon tea is served every day, with finger sandwiches, scones, and cakes. If you'd like something special, you can dine at Fred. Olsen's two speciality restaurants for a small supplement—Vasco, which specialises in Goan cuisine, or Colours & Tastes, which serves Asian fusion dishes (£10 per person supplement when pre-booked, or £15 when booked on board).

During the day, you can cosy up in one of the lounges, or visit The Observatory, which has panoramic ocean views. At night, you can watch big-production shows in the elegant theatre, and enjoy dancing after the evening performance. The Morning Light pub is the best spot to grab drinks with new-found friends, and the ship is full of live music, singalongs, and pub quizzes.

Learn all about the European Christmas markets you can visit with optional excursions during the cruise with a talk from expert Helen Bullough. There will also be a talk from maritime expert Mick Gentry, during which you can learn about the Kiel canal ahead of your transit. You can also discover what it takes to captain a cruise ship with Balmoral's very own Captain, or join the navigational officers to find out about chart reading. At night, head out on deck for an evening of stargazing. You'll also get the chance to take part in festive arts and crafts while onboard. 

Sample and learn to recreate European delicacies onboard the ship, including German currywurst, sauerbraten (roast beef), and semmelknodel (bread dumplings), as well as Norwegian haddock and cod fishcakes. In addition to this, you can sample authentic German wines with a wine tasting.

Other options

• Sail in an Ocean View Cabin from £999 per person
• Sail in a Superior Ocean View Cabin from £1199 per person
• Solo travellers can book this deal from £1099

Transfers & baggage
Don't worry about lugging heavy bags—porterage is included between your cabin and the pickup and drop-off points.