For a cruise to be named Scandinavian Cities and Fairytales seemed at first, excuse the pun, a little overboard - but that’s until I experienced the charm, warmth and endless stories Northern Europe has to offer.

The trip, aboard Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ flagship cruise ship Magellan, started at Tilbury in Essex which, thankfully, is just minutes away from Kent, offering an alternative to the busy Port of Dover.

The first of its five stop-offs is Amsterdam – a city which has everything from world famous museums including the Van Gogh to the Red Light District – but I’ll leave the latter to your imagination.

The ship then whisks passengers to Hamburg in Germany where the walking tour is a must, thanks to the city’s bold architecture which runs throughout.

For me, though, the fairytale started playing out the moment I stepped foot in Helsingborg, Sweden. The roads were neat and tidy and everywhere I turned seemed to offer yet another photo opportunity – but I hadn’t seen anything until I arrived at the gates of Sofiero Castle.

A former Royal summer home, it offers lunch with a view, an historical exhibition and plenty of photo opportunities to send your Facebook into overdrive.

For anyone that’s been on a cruise before you’ll know by this point you tend to get that ‘end of the holiday’ blues creeping up on you.

That’s where the rest of the trip works so well. It’s simple: one country, two cities. First stop: Copenhagen, home of fairytale master Hans Christian Andersen.

If you’ve never been before I’d highly recommend the canal tour which offers a flavour of some of the most iconic sites including the Little Mermaid statue, while still leaving you with plenty of time to explore – and Tivoli Gardens has to be top of the list.

A site filled with water fountains and flowers offers the perfect picnic spot but you can swap relaxation for thrill in a matter of minutes thanks to its amusement park.

Last but by no means least is Aalborg which was a particularly special experience as this year marks 30 years since the Magellan sailed from the city’s port after being built there.

The cruise is fantastic value.

The standard ocean view cabins are small yet cosy although with two bars, a nightclub and a spa being just some of the things on offer – you won’t be spending as much time there as you may have planned.

While CMV targets retirees, the range of facilities on board means younger passengers could never fall short of things to do. However a strict no under-16s rule applies.

After being left stunned by most of the sights I saw, it’s fair to say this particular cruise brings those fairytales we’ve heard over and over just a little bit closer to reality.

The eight-night Scandinavian Cities & Fairytales cruise aboard the Magellan departs from London Tilbury on Thursday, October 1, costing from £499 per person.

For more information call 0844 998 3941 or visit www.cruiseandmaritime.com.