For its first-ever Northern Europe cruise program set to debut aboard the new Carnival Splendor July 13, Carnival Cruise Lines has assembled nearly 100 different shore excursion choices providing guests an opportunity to explore historic cities in Denmark, Germany, Finland, Russia, Estonia, and The Netherlands.

Carnival Splendor will operate a series five 12-day Northern Europe cruises from London (Dover) July 13 to Aug. 30, 2008. Featured ports on these voyages include Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (two-day call); Tallin, Estonia; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Included among the Carnival Splendor’s nearly 100 different Northern European shore excursion choices are:

• Amalie Palace (Copenhagen) – The winter home of the Danish Royal Family, Amalie Palace was built in 1794 for four different noble families, thus the complex consists of four identical palaces surrounding an octagonal courtyard.  The three-hour tour also includes time for sightseeing opportunities throughout Copenhagen’s legendary cobblestone streets and centuries-old homes and museums.

• Suomenlinna Island Fortress (Helsinki) – Following a 20-minute ferry ride, guests arrive at the Suomenlinna Island Fortress, the largest fortification in Finland which is surrounded by a variety of elegant shops and museums. Built in 1748 and located on a bastion of six rocky islands near Helsinki harbor, the historic fortress has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991.

• Rostock by Land and Sea (Warnemunde) –  On this four-and-a-half-hour tour, guests have an opportunity to marvel at the magnificent architecture of this 800-year-old city, including Europe’s oldest university, the University of Rostock, which was founded in 1419 and distinguished by its ornate Italian Renaissance design. The day also includes a leisurely cruise down the Warnow River and an opportunity to enjoy some traditional German cuisine.

• Hermitage Museum and Gold Room (St. Petersburg) - Originally founded as a private museum to Catherine the Great in 1764, the Hermitage now houses Russia’s largest art collection with more than three million individual pieces, including original works by Da Vinci, Raphael and Titian. Also included in the tour is a visit to the recently restored Gold Room which features Russian, European and Oriental jewelry dating back to the 17th century.

• Rijksmuseum & Sightseeing (Amsterdam) - This historic museum offers one of the finest collection of Dutch paintings in the world, including several classic works by Rembrandt.  Following the museum visit, guests can tour Amsterdam’s famed architectural sites, including the 550-year-old New Church, the Mint Tower, built in 1618, and the 15th century Weepers Tower.

• Medieval Old Town Walking Tour (Tallinn) – Offering one of the finest collections of medieval architecture in Europe, Tallinn features a variety of preserved structures, some dating back to the 13th century.  A highlight of this four-hour tour is a visit to Katarina’s Passage and M??rivahe Lane, a marketplace where guests can purchase hand-made crafts, linens and other items.

Following its Northern Europe cruises, Carnival Splendor will operate a special 12-day western Mediterranean cruise from London (Dover) to Rome (Civitavecchia) Sept. 11-23, 2008, with visits to Le Havre (Paris), France; Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Malaga and Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy.

From Rome (Civitavecchia), the ship will sail on a 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise featuring Naples and Venice (two-day call), Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy.  Carnival Splendor will then operate two Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey cruises round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) Oct. 5 and 17, 2008.  These cruises include visits to Naples, Italy; Marmaris, Izmir (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey, Athens (Piraeus) and Katakolon, Greece; and Livorno, Italy, and an overnight call at Rome (Civitavecchia).

Each of these ports offers stunning architecture, interesting historical sites and attractions, and a diversity of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities. 

On the 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise guests can visit the fabled Montserrat Monastery in Barcelona; Monaco and Monte Carlo in Cannes; the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Livorno; and the village of Fatima in Lisbon. Highlights from the 12-day Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey cruises include the Acropolis in Athens; the Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque in Istanbul; and the Olympia museum and archeological site in Katakolon.

The 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom is also deployed in Europe this summer, operating a schedule of 12-day Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey cruises round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) now through October 25, 2008.