Our final port of call on this unforgettable cruise was Copenhagen, Denmark.

After all the historical sites and museums we had seen over the past few days (gorgeous as they were), we decided to do something a little different in Copenhagen.  In this lovely city, we opted for a short overview tour, with a destination of Tivoli Gardens and Amusement Park.

Copenhagen is beautifully scenic, as we saw in our drive by Rosenborg Castle, dating from the early 1600’s, and through the heart of the modern city.

Tivoli Gardens and Theme Park is situated right in the center of the city, and has been in operation since 1843.  Besides being a magnificent collection of gardens, fountains, lakes and pavilions, Tivoli is Denmark’s oldest amusement park, with old-fashioned rides and attractions, dining areas and shops. It was a delightful day in the sun, mingling with the local residents.

After a few hours at Tivoli, a short walk brought us to the waterfront where we boarded a flat boat and cruised through the canals of the city.  Our boat ended up at the harbor, where we got a quick look at the Royal Danish Yacht, and “The Little Mermaid”, the iconic statue commemorating writer, Hans Christian Anderson’s famous fairy tales.

We proceeded on past the various docked oceanliners to our docking point and the end of our tour.  Unfortunately, we had a bit of a problem here when one of the local fishing boats was berthed in our designated area.  He wouldn’t move, and the captain of our little sightseeing craft was just as stubborn, so we ended up colliding.  No one was hurt, but there was a lot of yelling and a few tense moments. 

Always taking care of her passengers, however, our ship sent someone to resolve the matter, and soon we were back aboard our home-away-from-home.

With only one more day at sea before we were back to our starting point in Amsterdam, everyone tried to pack in as many shipboard activities as possible, get that last-minute, duty-free shopping done in the ship’s shopping arcade and (yuck!) pack up all the dirty clothes.

Dinner on that final night is an extra-special occasion, with the waiters serenading the passengers, and lots of picture-taking and fun.  The evening’s entertainment also included a show put on by the ship’s officers, waiters, bar-tenders, room stewards, and anybody else who could be persuaded to perform.

With instructions to have your suitcases outside your door before going to bed, all that’s left to do is exchange addresses with your new friends, while you party all night long!  After all, you can always sleep on the plane!

If you’re planning a vacation, give cruising a chance.  Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime exotic cruise, a few days in the Caribbean, or something in between, cruising is a great way to get away from it all and let yourself go!  Whatever you do on your next vacation, have a great time!