From the Viking era to the Middle Ages to the flowering of European culture, this Baltic Sea cruise takes in the sweep of history from storied Scandinavian capitals to magnificent St. Petersburg, Russia. As you cruise Russia and the Baltics, see ancient castles, crown jewels, 13th-century ruins at Visby, ornate palaces, Viking ships, and Old World masterpieces. In St. Petersburg, take in The State Hermitage Museum and Catherine the Great’s beloved Palace. Also explore the historic cities of Copenhagen, Denmark; Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Spend the seven-night cruise portion aboard the upscale, 700-guest Regent Seven Seas Voyager, offering suites with private balconies.
Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen
Tour begins at 6:00 p.m. at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Upon arrival of your flight, a transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport to Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Meet your fellow travel companions at the welcome cocktail reception and dinner in your center-city hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Mermaids in Copenhagen
On the city sightseeing tour, see the Danish crown jewels at Rosenborg Palace, built in Dutch Renaissance style. Visit colorful Nyhavn, and see The Little Mermaid statue commemorating Hans Christian Andersen’s book. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore the city.
Meals: Breakfast
• Day 3: From Viking ships to your cruise ship
Travel to Roskilde, Denmark’s religious, cultural, and political center from the Viking times through the Middle Ages, and visit the Viking Ship Museum featuring five ships from the 11th century that were discovered in the 1960s. Returning to Copenhagen, board Regent Seven Seas Voyager and set off to cruise Russia and the Baltic region.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 4: Medieval Visby on Gotland Island
Explore the island of Gotland, Sweden. Take a walking tour of the fortified medieval town of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the Botanical Gardens and Almedalen Park.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 5: Ancient Tallinn
Discover the walled city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. Stroll through narrow cobblestone streets and the main Market Square of Old Town. Admire the 13th-century Toompea Castle, Estonia’s traditional seat of power. Enjoy lunch with time to wander afterwards.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 6: Treasures of St. Petersburg
Cruise Russia and arrive in the glorious city of St. Petersburg, the country's cultural capital. A guided tour of city sights includes the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress, built in the 18th century as the core of Peter the Great’s new capital. Inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral, with its tall golden spire, contains the tombs of all the Russian czars.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 7: Catherine Palace & an evening of Russian culture
In St. Petersburg, take advantage of early visits to the city’s most revered sights to avoid crowds. Tour Catherine Palace in Pushkin, the Rococo summer residence of the czars – you'll immediately notice the ornate blue-and-white ornamental façade; lavish interiors feature gilded wall carvings and intricate ceiling murals, and myriad room decors including silk wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, marble chimneys... In the evening, attend a Russian cultural event.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 8: The State Hermitage Museum
Take an early morning guided tour of The State Hermitage Museum, housing one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, Western European art, and golden treasures. Pursue your own interests in the afternoon, and then set sail once again, as Seven Seas Voyager continues to cruise Russia and the Baltic Sea.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 9: Helsinki, "City by the Sea"
Visit Helsinki today, sure to a highlight of your Russia cruise. See historic Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and underground Temppeliaukio (Rock) Church.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: All about Stockholm
Disembark ship in Stockholm, which is strategically positioned on 14 islands. Sightseeing includes City Hall, where Nobel Prize festivities take place, and a walking tour along the cobbled streets of medieval Gamla Stan, or Old Town. Spend the remainder of the day as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Canal cruise, ancient ships
Take a cruise through Stockholm’s canals to the Vasa Museum, featuring the impressive Vasa, an ornate royal warship that sank in the harbor following its launch in 1628 and was raised in 1961. Enjoy a free afternoon, and share trip impressions at the evening farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 12: Baltic good-byes
Tour ends: Stockholm. A transfer to Arlanda Airport for your flight is included. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
This tour is also offered Southbound
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