I travelled the world as a cruise ship captain for 20 years - my favourite destination is a European hidden gem

A former cruise ship captain has shared one of the 'best destinations to visit' in Europe - and it happens to be a hidden gem unfrequented by crowds of tourists.

After more than 20 years at sea, cruise and cargo ship captain Nico Berg has seen just about every corner of the world - but there's one place that has left a lasting impression on him.

He considers Germany's Hamburg one of Europe's must-see destinations, especially for travellers looking for something a little less obvious than Rome or Paris.

In an interview with Wine Traveler, the former German-owned AIDA Cruises captain said nothing compares to travelling up the Elbe in the morning and entering Hamburg Port.

The Elbe River, which flows through the Czech Republic and Germany before reaching the North Sea, was a favourite route for Nico.

At 680 miles long, the river winds past mountain ranges, countryside, and eventually into the heart of Hamburg - a journey he calls unforgettable.

He described the 'amazing' views when the ship docks in front of the curve of the harbour piers, with the sun rising behind the historic Hamburg Michel church.

Nico added: 'Although I'm at home all over the world as a seafarer, Hamburg always gives me a feeling of coming home. When our ship leaves Hamburg Port, tourists stand along the Elbe and excitedly wave at us.'

The former captain recommends the Speicherstadt, or 'City of Warehouses,' for first-time visitors.

This sprawling area of canals and red-brick warehouses was once a customs-free tranding zone, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Speicherstadt spans 260,000 square meters, making it the largest warehouse complex in the world.

To get an up-close view, the best way is to take a small barge and cruise through the maze of narrow waterways.

Today, Speicherstadt is its own active hub, boasting an array of museums, spice shops and a massive model railway display.

Remarkably, the district still handles coffee, cocoa and electronics just like it did it did a century ago.

Nico also recommends Hamburg's quirky and historic St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel, opened in 1911, which runs beneath the river and is open to both pedestrians and cyclists.

He also urges visitors to visit the city's legendary Fish Market, which has been running every Sunday morning since 1703. Early risers can expect everything from live music to fresh seafood.

Meanwhile, a woman who has spent 3,000 nights at sea has revealed the destinations that every cruise passengers should try and sail into.

Joy Howe, 78, from Malvern in Worcestershire, says her daughter led her to her first holiday at sea following the death of her husband, Michael, when she was just 49 - and she hasn't looked back since.

After tentatively boarding her first cruise 27 years ago, she swiftly found her sea legs and says that by the time she was halfway through her first voyage, she'd already booked her second trip - and has now visited six continents and 58 countries.

The cruise expert says her lengthiest voyage was a round-the-world extravaganza that saw her take in Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, India and Malaysia.