European travel: Many people imagine Gdansk, Poland, to be a wasteland of rusted shipyards — but there’s much more to it, including some great sightseeing.

Top 10 things to do in Gdansk, Located near the Baltic Sea and on the Motlawa River, the Polish town of Gdansk is soaked in history and mythology. Also known as Danzig, it played a crucial role ...

Gdansk Crane, from the bow of the steam-powered Sołdek. Geoffrey Morrison. The current crane, rebuilt in 1950s, is part of the National Maritime Museum. Tickets are around $2.50 US (10 złoty).

Gdansk’s cruise season runs from May to September. You will rarely need a jumper ashore in July and August, but the upside of travelling outside summer is that the old town is less busy.