Best Of Scandinavia Cruise 11 nätter • Copenhagen, Denmark till Stockholm, Sweden • Jewel of the Seas

If you’re planning a cruise out of Denmark, tack on a few days ahead of your vacation to explore this beautiful northern capital. A foodie, art and culture capital, Denmark offers endless discoveries for every kind of traveler — not to mention a wonderful blend of historic charm and cool modern design. But first things first — the best way to start your day when you visit Denmark is with a Danish pastry from Conditori La Glace, the city’s oldest confectioner’s shop. Afterward, you can visit the colorful quay district of Nyhavn and see where the writer Hans Christian Andersen lived and worked. For a bit of natural beauty and tranquility, take a stroll along the leafy pathways of the Frederiksberg Gardens. Or get your fix of history and culture during the changing of the Royal Guard at the stately Amalienborg palace, home of the Danish royal family.

Denmark's second largest city dates back to the Viking Age. Explore the Latin Quarter, the Old Town and the many museums before enjoying a world-class meal. Stroll through the Tivoli or the Botanical Gardens. Or hop on a bike with the wind in your hair and discover why this city routinely crops up as one of the happiest in the world.

Unwind in Warnemunde, a German fishing town along the Baltic Sea with a relaxed pace of living. Walk down stretches of white sandy beaches, or take a stroll down the promenade. Enjoy fresh seafood that was probably caught hours earlier. Check out the distinctive lighthouse, and stroll the seaside Alte Strom promenade with its quaint shops and beer gardens perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Once you've arrived in Gdansk, your first order of business is to check out the Old Town. Walk Long Street (Ulica Dluga) and the Long Market (Dlugi Targ) to admire the reconstructed 17th-century buildings and the old city gates. Polish kings once traveled this route in royal processions. Several of Gdansk's historic buildings have been turned into museums — and don't miss St. Mary's Basilica, reputed to be the world's largest brick church.

Enjoy the otherworldly beauty of Lithuania's Curonian coast from the moment you hit shore. Discover the intricate architecture of Klaipeda's Old Town — the timber framing technique you'll find here is one of the oldest architectual styles in Europe. Ascend the remnants of 13th century Klaipeda Castle and delight in delectable Lithuanian food, from Cepelinai potato dumplings to tender sea bass caught fresh just offshore.

Sweden's most alluring island resort is adorned with sandy beaches and medieval heritage. Stroll along the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, lined with picturesque and brightly painted cottages, shady arches and colorful flowers. Enjoy magnificent views of the Baltic Sea on the Strandpromenaden, a five-kilometer walking and biking path. Discover fossils and stalactites in Lummelundagrottan, Northern Europe's longest caves, a short drive north of Visby.

Visiting the Latvian capital of Riga is like stepping into a fairy tale. The mix of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles make the city an architecture enthusiast's dream location. The best way to see the city? By wandering down the charming cobblestone streets.

Get to know the fairy-tale castles and cobbled streets of Tallinn's medieval Old Town. Or take a rejuvenating escape to one of the idyllic Baltic Sea beaches just outside the city center. Visit the Kunstimuuseum — Kumu, for short — the largest art museum in the Baltics, with Estonian art dating from the 18th century through the Soviet era. Check out Tallinn's two great churches: the ornate St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St. Mary the Virgin, with its 14th-century medieval foundations and 18th-century Baroque tower.

Situated in the middle of an archipelago, Stockholm is Sweden's cultural and political center. Stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets in the oldest part of Stockholm and along the Skeppsbron dock. Take your time to shop in the cool boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. In summer, join the locals for a swim in Stockholm's clean inner-city waterways.

As you explore Stockholm — the stylish Swedish capital, built across 14 islands connected by 57 bridges — you'll notice water and green space are never far away. Stroll through Gamla Stan, the colorful medieval Old Town, with its imposing royal palace and looming cathedrals. Browse the little shops and art galleries that line the narrow streets, or take a break in one of the many trendy cafes. Visit the large City Hall, the site of the Nobel Prize banquet, with its austere brick exterior accented by playful Venetian turrets and decorated balconies. Don't miss the grand Vasa Ship Museum — you'll see an almost-intact 17th-century warship — and Skansen, the world's first open-air museum, both located on the island of Djurgarden.