Europe Comes Alive!
2007 Brings New Excitement to Our Favorite Ports-of-Call
London
Along with London’s many famous attractions, 2007 will see the re-opening of the revitalized British Film Institute, the grand opening of the spectacular O2 entertainment complex, the “Grand Départ” of the Tour de France, the opening of four new galleries at the Royal Observatory, a special exhibition in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and the arrival of the celebrated “Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.”
Amsterdam
Visit Rembrandt’s home and then tour the Rijksmuseum for the final celebrations of Rembrandt’s 400th anniversary year and enjoy the many offerings of 2007’s “Amsterdam, Feel the Rhythm.” The world-famous Nederlandse Opera offers a program of beautiful productions in the Muziektheater, including Puccini’s classic “Madame Butterfly.” And renowned dance groups such as the Kirov Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgarter Ballett and the Nederlands Dans Theater will be performing throughout the year.
Copenhagen
In the city of the Little Mermaid, explore Tivoli Gardens, where lantern-lit trees and lush flowers surround theatres, walking paths, carnival rides and fine restaurants. Visit Kronborg, one of northern Europe’s most important Renaissance castles, known from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and stroll through Amalienborg Palace.
Stockholm
The culture capital of Scandinavia and home of the Nobel Prize, Stockholm celebrates the long days of summer with the Stockholm Jazz Festival, the Tango Festival, and an assortment of galleries and museums. Sample new music, international cuisine, world-renowned design exhibitions, along with flower shows, Swedish National Day in June, and the famous three-day Midsummer celebration.
Barcelona
For architecture buffs, Barcelona means Antoni Gaudí. Palau Güell, with its whimsical rooftop chimneys and mosaics is scheduled to re-open after being closed in 2005 for renovations. Festival del Grec presents a summer extravaganza of music, dance and theatre in June. And be sure to leave some time for the Picasso and Miro museums in this art-filled city!
Lisbon
With the hypnotic sounds of “Fado” melodies as a background, historic Lisbon is surrounded by quaint fishing villages where little seems to have changed for hundreds of years. But 2ist century Lisbon also offers a full array of jazz, dance, theatre, film, books, fashion and music festivals throughout the year.
Rome
The historic attractions—the Vatican, the Colosseum—are enough to keep anyone busy in Rome, but there’s much more to see this year. Estate Romana is a summer festival of arts and culture held at venues throughout Rome, while the fall’s Roma Europa Festival presents modern art, theatre, music and dance, and the Roma Jazz Festival continues a tradition started in 1876.
Venice
More than a city of canals and bridges, Venice is a thoroughfare of culture. The world-renowned 52nd International Art Exhibition, directed by Robert Storr, will take place from June to November, while the 64th Venice Film Festival gets underway in September. Teatro La Fenice, the most important opera house in Venice and one of the most elegant theaters in Italy, has re-opened its doors, fully restored following a fire over 10 years ago.
Athens
The 2,000-year-old Odeon of Herod Atticus, at the foot of the Athens Acropolis, welcomes the five-month long Hellenic Festival of theatre, musical performances, ballet, opera and classical Greek dance. The Lycabettus Hill contemporary arts festival includes contemporary jazz, pop, rock and dance shows in an open-air hilltop theatre, complete with magnificent views across Athens. To savor the warmth and energy of the Greek people, don’t miss the Traditional Greek Dance Festival.
Where will you cruise this summer?
Mediterranean & Greek Isles
From the noble historic center of Athens, to the dynamic blending of old and new in Venice, Rome, Istanbul and Barcelona, to the elegant glamour of Monte Carlo, the Mediterranean is as beautiful, romantic, and rewarding as any destination on earth. And because there are so many ships cruising the Med, you enjoy a wide-variety of itineraries. Whether you want to spend concentrated time in the Greek Isles, focus on exploring the coast and islands of Italy, experience Croatia’s pristine Dalmatian Coast for the first time, or explore the entire region from Barcelona to Kusadasi, there is an itinerary that allows you to see what you want.
Norwegian Fjords & The Baltic
Oslo is a sophisticated capital with something for everyone: wonderful cafés, theater and shopping, excellent museums and the vast Vigeland Sculpture Park. In Tallinn enjoy charming Old Town with its cobblestone streets, Gothic cathedral and Baroque palace. Sweden's capital, Stockholm, is a necklace of 14 islands strung together by more than 50 bridges. Park-filled Helsinki, Finland, is known worldwide as the birthplace of great modern architects and is filled with their visionary structures. The shops of contemporary Copenhagen display stunning wares. From its islands in the Neva River, St. Petersburg soars into a skyline of remarkable onion domes. With its extraordinary museums, palaces, cathedrals, gilded and domed skylines and broad boulevards, St. Petersburg can only be described as truly majestic.
British Isles
Visit the famous museums, libraries, shops and pubs of London, Dublin, and Edinburgh. See the countryside, cathedrals, bridges that have inspired poetry, the white cliffs of Dover, the dramatic seaside towns of Ireland and Scotland.
