This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

The northwest corner of Europe—the part of the continent where the Baltic and North Seas meet—is rich in history, both medieval and modern, and an ideal destination for reflection on what earlier experiences of war and peace can teach us about dealing with current issues of international security. Joining you on this voyage from Copenhagen to London, are two distinguished experts on these issues, including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis. They will share insights into such topics as concerns about the unity of the NATO alliance and the hopeful signs of continued commitment to cooperation in pursuit of the goals of freedom and democracy.

From Copenhagen, Le Champlain sails south to the northern coast of Germany, where you spend the first two days of your voyage in the Baltic seaports of Warnemünde and Wismar. This is the heart of the area once dominated by the Hanseatic League, and you may tour a number of towns—Lübeck, Rostock, and Wismar itself—whose well-preserved Old Towns (two of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites) speak to the wealth produced by the League's monopoly of trade.

The third day of cruising is spent navigating the 61-mile-long Kiel Canal, which cuts across the Jutland Peninsula and connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Two hundred and fifty nautical miles are saved by using the canal instead of sailing around the peninsula.

Harlingen is your first port of call in the country of The Netherlands, 25% of which has been reclaimed from the sea via terps, dikes, windmills, and lake-draining. One of the most ambitious of these reclamation projects is the Woudagemaal steam-powered pumping station—built in the 1920s, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and still in operation. Here you will learn about an early version of water management technology that will become increasingly important as sea levels around the world rise.

As the official capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to a Royal Palace that hosts state visits and official receptions. A guided visit to the Palace will focus on its role in international politics and cultural exchange, but you will also be drawn to the elegance of its architecture and to artworks that recall the splendor of the Dutch Golden Age. A second possibility for your time in Amsterdam is a tour of the Dutch Resistance Museum, chronicling the hard work and heroism of the Dutch struggle against totalitarian rule during World War II. Alternatively, choose to enjoy a cruise through Amsterdam’s famous canals, or visit the world renowned Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum.

The Hague, which is home to the Dutch Parliament and the residence of the royal family, is also home to the International Court of Justice, housed within the Peace Palace, which you may explore on a guided tour. Or you may travel to nearby Rotterdam Harbor to see a floating dairy farm, that is both a demonstration of the practicability of sustainable farming in an intensely urban environment and a vision of the future. A third option for the day is to visit the 18th-century windmills at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site and another example of Dutch mastery of the art and science of water management.

Antwerp is your gateway to Brussels and to a choice of tours of two institutions crucial to and depicting the history of the security of Europe and of the broader Atlantic world. A visit to the European Parliament, the legislative branch of the European Union, will introduce you to its work seeking to advance the common interests of its 27 member countries. Or you may prefer a guided tour through the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, a collection spanning more than 10 centuries of military and technological history. Alternatively, stay in Antwerp and explore the city’s historic Diamond District.

From the Belgian port of Ostend, enjoy a walking tour of the exquisitely preserved medieval town of Bruges. Two other possible excursions focus on sustainability—one on the promise of wind power at the North Sea Offshore experience; the other a visit to Agrotopia, a state-of-the-art urban farm in the town of Roeselare. Alternatively, you may travel to nearby Raversyde, home to the remnants of the Atlantic Wall, a massive network of bunkers and tunnels built by the Germans and used in both World Wars.

Dunkirk offers a choice of museums with displays on various aspects of the city's World War II history. The Dunkirk Museum focuses on Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied Troops in 1940, while the Blockhaus d'Éperlecques and La Coupole tell the story of German military installations during the Occupation.

On the final day of the voyage, Le Champlain sails from Dunkirk at midday, across the English Channel and up the Thames River, reaching London Bridge late in the evening, where the ship remains docked overnight before disembarkation in London the next day.

Extend Your Stay!

Cruise Plus Option

Combine your World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London with a 6 night small-group touring package including Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, the Cotswolds and Bath.  Walk in the footsteps of famous poets and philosophers in Oxford University, visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home of Anne Hathaway, marvel at the ancient Roman Baths and admire the beauty of the spectacular Cotswolds.  View the Extended Package here. 

The Ultimate World Affairs Package

For the Ultimate experience, cruise with Ponant on the World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London, followed by the 6 night small-group tour package outlined in the "Cruise Plus Option" above.  Then, join us for an incredible river cruise on the Seine.  Start with an after hours visit to Churchill's War Rooms where he strategized World War !!, see some iconic London sites then board the Eurostar bound for Paris.  Then cruise the Seine with incredible stops along the way such as Monet's gardens and a private evening function at a chateau before reaching the beaches of Normandy.  View the Ultimate Package here.

This exclusive package combines PONANT's World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London with a Back-Roads Touring itinerary from London.  The World Affairs themed voyages are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

The northwest corner of Europe—the part of the continent where the Baltic and North Seas meet—is rich in history, both medieval and modern, and an ideal destination for reflection on what earlier experiences of war and peace can teach us about dealing with current issues of international security. Joining you on this voyage from Copenhagen to London, are two distinguished experts on these issues, including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis. They will share insights into such topics as concerns about the unity of the NATO alliance and the hopeful signs of continued commitment to cooperation in pursuit of the goals of freedom and democracy.

From Copenhagen, Le Champlain sails south to the northern coast of Germany, where you spend the first two days of your voyage in the Baltic seaports of Warnemünde and Wismar. This is the heart of the area once dominated by the Hanseatic League, and you may tour a number of towns—Lübeck, Rostock, and Wismar itself—whose well-preserved Old Towns (two of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites) speak to the wealth produced by the League's monopoly of trade.

The third day of cruising is spent navigating the 61-mile-long Kiel Canal, which cuts across the Jutland Peninsula and connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Two hundred and fifty nautical miles are saved by using the canal instead of sailing around the peninsula.

Harlingen is your first port of call in the country of The Netherlands, 25% of which has been reclaimed from the sea via terps, dikes, windmills, and lake-draining. One of the most ambitious of these reclamation projects is the Woudagemaal steam-powered pumping station—built in the 1920s, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and still in operation. Here you will learn about an early version of water management technology that will become increasingly important as sea levels around the world rise.

As the official capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to a Royal Palace that hosts state visits and official receptions. A guided visit to the Palace will focus on its role in international politics and cultural exchange, but you will also be drawn to the elegance of its architecture and to artworks that recall the splendor of the Dutch Golden Age. A second possibility for your time in Amsterdam is a tour of the Dutch Resistance Museum, chronicling the hard work and heroism of the Dutch struggle against totalitarian rule during World War II. Alternatively, choose to enjoy a cruise through Amsterdam’s famous canals, or visit the world renowned Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum.

The Hague, which is home to the Dutch Parliament and the residence of the royal family, is also home to the International Court of Justice, housed within the Peace Palace, which you may explore on a guided tour. Or you may travel to nearby Rotterdam Harbor to see a floating dairy farm, that is both a demonstration of the practicability of sustainable farming in an intensely urban environment and a vision of the future. A third option for the day is to visit the 18th-century windmills at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site and another example of Dutch mastery of the art and science of water management.

Antwerp is your gateway to Brussels and to a choice of tours of two institutions crucial to and depicting the history of the security of Europe and of the broader Atlantic world. A visit to the European Parliament, the legislative branch of the European Union, will introduce you to its work seeking to advance the common interests of its 27 member countries. Or you may prefer a guided tour through the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, a collection spanning more than 10 centuries of military and technological history. Alternatively, stay in Antwerp and explore the city’s historic Diamond District.

From the Belgian port of Ostend, enjoy a walking tour of the exquisitely preserved medieval town of Bruges. Two other possible excursions focus on sustainability—one on the promise of wind power at the North Sea Offshore experience; the other a visit to Agrotopia, a state-of-the-art urban farm in the town of Roeselare. Alternatively, you may travel to nearby Raversyde, home to the remnants of the Atlantic Wall, a massive network of bunkers and tunnels built by the Germans and used in both World Wars.

Dunkirk offers a choice of museums with displays on various aspects of the city's World War II history. The Dunkirk Museum focuses on Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied Troops in 1940, while the Blockhaus d'Éperlecques and La Coupole tell the story of German military installations during the Occupation.

On the final day of the voyage, Le Champlain sails from Dunkirk at midday, across the English Channel and up the Thames River, reaching London Bridge late in the evening, where the ship remains docked overnight before disembarkation in London the next day.

After disembarking, we've included a night at the beautiful Wellington by Blue Orchid in central London, perfect for exploring the city and the meeting spot for your tour the following day.  The next 5 nights are spent with a small-group tour of a maximum of 18 people, walking in the footsteps of famous poets and philosophers in Oxford University, visiting the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home of Anne Hathaway, marvelling at the ancient Roman Baths and admiring the beauty of the spectacular Cotswolds.  See the itinerary tab for a complete day-by-day description of the tour and inclusions.

The beauty of touring with Back-Roads is the slower pace, the expert tour guides, the luxury mini coach and the smaller groups - no crowds, no queues to get on and off a large bus!

Upgrade Your Stay:  The Ultimate World Affairs Package

For the Ultimate experience, cruise with Ponant on the World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London, followed by the 6 night small-group tour package outlined in the Continental Currents package.  Then, join us for an incredible river cruise on the Seine.  Start with an after hours visit to Churchill's War Rooms where he strategized World War !!, see some iconic London sites then board the Eurostar bound for Paris.  Then cruise the Seine with incredible stops along the way such as Monet's gardens and a private evening function at a chateau before reaching the beaches of Normandy.  View the World Affairs: The Ultimate Experience here.

Ultimate Cruising is delighted to bring you World Affairs: The Ultimate Experience .  This package has been carefully curated by our Ultimate Cruising team to bring together three unique travel experiences: a luxury cruise, small-group tour and a beautiful, luxury river cruise. This is no ordinary itinerary!

Part One - Copenhagen to London
You'll begin your journey aboard Ponant's Le Champlain for an incredible World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London.  

The northwest corner of Europe—the part of the continent where the Baltic and North Seas meet—is rich in history, both medieval and modern, and an ideal destination for reflection on what earlier experiences of war and peace can teach us about dealing with current issues of international security. Joining you on this voyage from Copenhagen to London, are two distinguished experts on these issues, including former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis. They will share insights into such topics as concerns about the unity of the NATO alliance and the hopeful signs of continued commitment to cooperation in pursuit of the goals of freedom and democracy.

From Copenhagen, Le Champlain sails south to the northern coast of Germany, where you spend the first two days of your voyage in the Baltic seaports of Warnemünde and Wismar. This is the heart of the area once dominated by the Hanseatic League, and you may tour a number of towns—Lübeck, Rostock, and Wismar itself—whose well-preserved Old Towns (two of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites) speak to the wealth produced by the League's monopoly of trade.

The third day of cruising is spent navigating the 61-mile-long Kiel Canal, which cuts across the Jutland Peninsula and connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Two hundred and fifty nautical miles are saved by using the canal instead of sailing around the peninsula.

Harlingen is your first port of call in the country of The Netherlands, 25% of which has been reclaimed from the sea via terps, dikes, windmills, and lake-draining. One of the most ambitious of these reclamation projects is the Woudagemaal steam-powered pumping station—built in the 1920s, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and still in operation. Here you will learn about an early version of water management technology that will become increasingly important as sea levels around the world rise.

As the official capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to a Royal Palace that hosts state visits and official receptions. A guided visit to the Palace will focus on its role in international politics and cultural exchange, but you will also be drawn to the elegance of its architecture and to artworks that recall the splendor of the Dutch Golden Age. A second possibility for your time in Amsterdam is a tour of the Dutch Resistance Museum, chronicling the hard work and heroism of the Dutch struggle against totalitarian rule during World War II. Alternatively, choose to enjoy a cruise through Amsterdam’s famous canals, or visit the world renowned Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum.

The Hague, which is home to the Dutch Parliament and the residence of the royal family, is also home to the International Court of Justice, housed within the Peace Palace, which you may explore on a guided tour. Or you may travel to nearby Rotterdam Harbor to see a floating dairy farm, that is both a demonstration of the practicability of sustainable farming in an intensely urban environment and a vision of the future. A third option for the day is to visit the 18th-century windmills at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site and another example of Dutch mastery of the art and science of water management.

Antwerp is your gateway to Brussels and to a choice of tours of two institutions crucial to and depicting the history of the security of Europe and of the broader Atlantic world. A visit to the European Parliament, the legislative branch of the European Union, will introduce you to its work seeking to advance the common interests of its 27 member countries. Or you may prefer a guided tour through the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, a collection spanning more than 10 centuries of military and technological history. Alternatively, stay in Antwerp and explore the city’s historic Diamond District.

From the Belgian port of Ostend, enjoy a walking tour of the exquisitely preserved medieval town of Bruges. Two other possible excursions focus on sustainability—one on the promise of wind power at the North Sea Offshore experience; the other a visit to Agrotopia, a state-of-the-art urban farm in the town of Roeselare. Alternatively, you may travel to nearby Raversyde, home to the remnants of the Atlantic Wall, a massive network of bunkers and tunnels built by the Germans and used in both World Wars.

Dunkirk offers a choice of museums with displays on various aspects of the city's World War II history. The Dunkirk Museum focuses on Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied Troops in 1940, while the Blockhaus d'Éperlecques and La Coupole tell the story of German military installations during the Occupation.

On the final day of the voyage, Le Champlain sails from Dunkirk at midday, across the English Channel and up the Thames River, reaching London Bridge late in the evening, where the ship remains docked overnight before disembarkation in London the next day.

We've included a night in London at the beautiful Wellington by Blue Orchid, ready to meet your tour group the next day.

Part Two - Touring the heart of England
Step into storybook England, where Oxford enchants with its ‘dreaming spires’ and Bath inspires with its Roman and Georgian architecture.  Walk the streets where famous poets and writers have studied, trace Shakespeare’s footsteps in Stratford-upon-Avon as you visit his timbered childhood home and visit Anne Hathaway's house. Indulge in the sweet and savoury delights of high tea in the charming Cotswolds. And pause in Lacock Abbey, where hushed cloisters whisper of movie magic and centuries past. 

On this 5-night tour, you'll enjoy leisurely start times, the services of an expert tour leader and tour driver, luxury minicoach transportation, 8 meals throughout the journey and the company of a maximum of 16 other guests.  Highly personal, immersive and touring a comfortable pace without the crowds!

On arrival back in London, the third part of your journey begins.

Part Three - Cruising the Seine
Continue your incredible journey with a fabulous 12 day experience beginning with two nights in London where you'll discover iconic landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.  Then, a special after-hours visit to Churchill's War Rooms - the underground "nerve centre" where Winston Churchill strategized World War II campaigns and the Allied route to victory.

Next, journey from London to Paris by way of a River Seine cruise filled with exclusive experiences... Private tasting tours, from wine to cheese to chocolate... discover treasured Parisian landmarks, steeped in history, culture and art... and return home with tales of adventures that become more exciting with each retelling.

Wind through fishing ports and medieval towns, tasting Normandy cuisine, visiting the D-Day invasion beaches of Normandy, finding the deep essence of calvados, pausing in ancient abbeys and the picturesque haunts of Impressionist painters, dining at a chateau in Rouen, exploring cobblestone lanes, walking in Monet's garden at Giverny (with exclusive early access without the crowds!), visiting Van Gogh's muse in Aubers-sur-Oise, a visit to a private castle, and incomparable Paris... well, riverboating seems like the only way to go! Private tasting tours, from wine to cheese to chocolate... a tale of two cities you'll want to tell over and over again.

This package has been carefully curated to blend three incredible experiences with unique synergy to form a seamless 28 day itinerary.  

Book by 30 November 2025 and Ultimate Cruising will also include a A$500 per person air and land credit to be used towards international airfares or additional touring.

Please note: This package is strictly subject to availability.  The itinerary relies on all three tour components being available therefore we urge you to book as soon as possible.  Pricing is based on 25% discount with Ponant and lead in cabin grades.  Please ask about about upgrades.