Skagen (said more like skein) is an attractive small seaside town at the tip of Denmark. It attracted a school of artists in the past, it now attracts a lot of visitors including ships like ours and cars which make for traffic jams.

We went to see the impressive Frederiksborg Castle in Hellirød which had to be rebuilt after a monarch set it alight because his mistress felt cold. An important place for Denmark and its nobility - the large chapel had plaques for people honoured by Denmark. The gardens made me think of Wonderland in Once Upon A Time.

We didn't do an excursion in the Faroe Islands, just wandered ashore and admired a petrol station bakers and fish hanging up to dry. Some people who did a coach ride said there was good scenery. The Boudicca was moored right by the Braemar in Runavik. In the afternoon quiz we got our best ever score (15) thanks to sitting with another lady. Patriotic show entitled "Britain Rocks" in the evening included some flag waving, James Bond theme songs, Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia. Not allowed it's said to just carry our own luggage off which we've found useful on the P&O cruises. Also a little worried that we're on a low deck and may have to wait a while as the upper decks get to leave first when we get back to Southampton.

Last but one stop on the Monday was Ruegen Island in Germany - was looking forward to seeing an Oceanarium but not enough other cruisers wanted to so that got cancelled. Instead we had a disappointing tour. We passed by the Prora Colossus which would have been interesting to stop at (this is a vast holiday complex Hitler built but never used, the longest building in the world.)

Next stop was Stockholm where we saw the recovered 300-year old "Vasa" ship which sank on its maiden voyage. The king of the time commanded more guns, so they added an extra gun deck making the ship top-heavy, usual management story. We also went on a tour of old Stockholm, quite crowded. The guide spoke about the troubled history of Sweden, and took us to the square where the Danish King beheaded scores of Swedish aristocrats.

We arrived late in Copenhagen on the Monday due to a power outage on board ship just before we went through the Kiel Canal. This was the only real hiccup on the cruise. So instead of the planned excursion we got a tour of the Copenhagen waterways (very like Amsterdam), a view of the backside of the Little Mermaid, and 2 hours in the Tivoli Gardens. Gardens implied to me something in the garden line to look at. We only found crowds of people, eateries, amusement rides, and flies. Oh by the entrance there was a shop where you could make a teddy bear to your own specifications.

Good friends I knew from Waterbeach moved to live in Denmark. That was enough of a reason for me to go and see Denmark for myself!