Sometimes, new terrain is closer than you think. Board the HANSEATIC spirit and discover diverse island worlds for new perspectives on Northern Europe. Start your cruise in Aberdeen, the city of flowers and granite* from the tropical winter garden in Duthie Park to the medieval old town. Your excursion to Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle* takes you to the summer residence of the British Royal Family, while the castle and gardens of Crathes* tell of the House of Burnett and the art of horticulture.

Natural forces are the secret masters of the around 70 Orkney islands. The Old Man of Hoy, a rocky needle almost 140 m (459 ft) high, defies the primeval force of the Atlantic, mighty and yet fragile. The former Viking settlement of Stromness is also worth a visit. The excursion to the Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae and Skaill House* takes you in search of great civilisations - from the Neolithic stone circle to the Stone Age village and a 17th-century manor house. When you go birdwatching on Orkney*, countless puffins, kittiwakes and guillemots will send your pioneering spirit soaring as they show off their flying skills on the beautiful, jagged coast.

Even Europe has some undiscovered island treasures. See for yourself on the Isle of Noss, one of the Shetland Islands. A visit will give you the opportunity for birdwatching. Lerwick's typical architecture is rich in granite. Visit the archaeological site of Jarlshof*, which bears witness to the everyday lives of the Stone Age people and Vikings, or join a local photographer to focus on natural photography on Shetland*. The HANSEATIC spirit will stay here overnight, allowing you to explore the striking sights of Lerwick's historic streets into the evening. When you land in the Zodiacs for hikes, the uninhabited Isle of Mousa will offer snapshots of the lives of seals and grey seals. Look out for the equally isolated nests of the puffins and northern gannets on Fair Isle.

The Scottish mainland will surprise you with nature's unexpected creativity: thanks to the Gulf Stream, a range of exotic plants bloom in Inverewe Garden. Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle* tell of the heyday of the clans and a mythical, indestructible sea creature. An alternative hike to Loch Maree* through oak and pine forests provides a beautiful space for contemplation and the joys of nature. Or go fishing for lobster in the foothills of the Highlands*. A local skipper will ensure that you enjoy some good fishing.

The Isle of Lewis shows just how diverse Scotland can be. Whale and dolphin watching in the North Minch*, the strait between the Inner and Outer Hebrides, brings you closer to the biodiversity of the Atlantic. A scenic tour to Harris* will present you with never-ending photo opportunities: rugged mountains, calm lakes, idyllic beaches and sheep. The island's own pure new wool is the secret to the quality of the wool cloth produced here. The origins of the stone circles of Callanish* remain a mystery - go on a journey around 4,000 years back in time.

Iceland may be rooted in the present, but it will still envelop you in its mystical power. At the end of a deep fjord, the fishing village of Seydisfjordur and its historic wooden buildings invite you to go for a walk. Or go for a hike into the Vestdalur Valley* and marvel at the diverse plants and thundering waterfalls. The region's magical side is revealed in Bakkagerdi. Legend has it that the queen of the elves reigns over the bird-inhabited cliffs where countless puffins learn to fly. Thanks to its long fishing tradition, Djupivogur in the eastern fjords still has a close connection to the sea and is the starting point for a glacier adventure to Vatnajokull*, Iceland's largest and most famous ice field.

Bizarre lava formations, grassy hills and steep cliffs: Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands, is an explorer's paradise. A scenic flight over volcanoes and waterfalls* indicates nature's creative power. Volcanic activity also determines your cruise off Surtsey - the final, impressive piece in the kaleidoscope of contrasts on your cruise.