Scandinavia & the Baltic Sea

Depart Home City for Stockholm, Sweden/ Embark World Navigator

Depart for Stockholm, Sweden. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided  luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: ARN.

Arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a representative.

Those arriving early will transfer to a group hospitality room at a hotel. After lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby, you will then travel with the group in the afternoon to embark the deluxe World Navigator. Those arriving later will transfer directly to the port for embarkation.

This evening, attend a  Welcome Briefing and lifeboat drill, followed by a dinner on board the ship as we depart Stockholm.

Tallinn, Estonia

This morning (and every morning aboard ship) begin the day with a delicious breakfast. Then spend time at leisure as we sail to Tallinn, Estonia. Explore the ship and take advantage of some of the deluxe amenities. Take in a lecture or enjoy lovely views on deck as we sail.

After a delicious lunch, disembark for this afternoon’s excursion.

Tallinn City Tour. Tallinn’s UNESCO World Heritage-designated Historic Centre (Old Town) has remained virtually unchanged for 600 years. Tour around the ancient city walls, then begin a walking tour of Toompea, the hill on which Tallinn is centered. See the landmark 19th-century Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Toompea Castle. Continue your walking tour down narrow streets and steep stairs to the Lower Town. Walk through the town square to see the 13th-century St. Nicholas Church. Visit the medieval Tallinn Town Hall, the seat of Estonia’s Parliament, which dominates the Town Hall Square and is the only surviving Gothic hall in Europe. Admire the intricately painted main chamber and the guest book, signed by Mikhail Gorbachev and the Dalai Lama, among other illustrious guests. (Active)

Free Time: Enjoy some free time to explore Tallinn after your tour.

Welcome Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and Dinner on board the ship this evening.

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki city tour. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is also known as “Daughter of the Baltic Sea.” Take a panoramic motorcoach tour that includes Senate Square—with its neo-classical architecture of the 1840s—and its surroundings, making up the oldest part of central Helsinki. See the Presidential Palace and Parliament Building, City Hall, Finlandia Hall, the Opera House, Oodi Library and the 17th-century University of Helsinki. Pass by the colorful Market Square in the South Harbor and stop to see the modernist Sibelius Monument, designed by Eila Hiltunen as an artistic homage to Finland’s most famous composer, Jean Sibelius. Visit the subterranean Temppeliaukio Church (only possible if no church services are in progress) called the “Rock Church,” as it was impressively hewn into solid natural bedrock. (Moderate)

Free Time: Take advantage of time at leisure to explore the market square and main shopping streets, Norra Esplanaden and Södra Esplanaden, before returning to the pier to re-embark the ship.

Enjoy lunch on board.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. This afternoon, visit Kiasma, Helsinki’s acclaimed Museum of Contemporary Art. Renowned for its bold architecture by Steven Holl, the building uses light and space to create a unique and immersive art-viewing experience. The museum showcases a diverse and provocative collection of modern and contemporary art from Finnish and international artists, including pieces by Tom of Finland, Kalervo Palsa and Andy Warhol. (Moderate)
• Local Finnish sauna experience. Unwind as you indulge in this quintessential restorative Finnish sauna ritual. The facility includes both a traditional smoke sauna and a wood-burning sauna—each can accommodate about 20 bathers at a time. Both offer direct access to an outdoor seating area and the sea for cooling off after the steam. There are separate changing facilities and showers for men and women; bathing suits must be worn at all times. A guide will accompany the group to provide information and answer questions. (Mild)

Day at Sea

Spend the full day at sea taking in the scenery, enjoying onboard lectures and mingling with fellow passengers. Enjoy three delicious meals and the many luxurious amenities on board.

Riga, Latvia

Enjoy breakfast this morning before disembarking for your chosen excursion in Riga.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Riga city tour. Depart the ship by motorcoach to Elizabetes Street to view Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture in the UNESCO-inscribed Historic Centre of Riga. Continue to view architectural examples of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Eclecticism, Romanticism, Art Nouveau, Neo-Gothic and Neo-Baroque styles. Pass the Latvian National Opera House, city canal and Freedom Monument, and learn about the Baltic Way Footprint Monument. Begin a walking tour. Walk to the Great Guild Hall Square and admire the German-style architecture. Stroll through Dome Square, then see St. George’s Church. Visit St. John’s Church and enjoy a brief organ concert. See the House of the Blackheads, which originated in the 14th century — an integral part of Riga’s rich architectural landscape. (Moderate)
• Jewish heritage exploration. After a brief motorcoach tour of the city, learn of the moving Jewish history that has been lived in Riga, long a multicultural melting pot. Visit some of the important sites and memorial places, including the location of the former Great Choral Synagogue built in 1868, once the city’s largest and most beautiful synagogue. On July 4, 1941, Latvian nationalists, under the direction of Nazi forces, burned down the synagogue with hundreds of Jewish worshippers locked inside. A solemn gray stone marker with the inscription “Magen David” stands where the tragic event took place.

  The Old Jewish Cemetery was where Riga’s Jews were buried from 1725 until 1941, when it was incorporated into the ghetto and became a communal grave for large numbers of those killed. The site was destroyed after the war and is now a memorial park. On the outskirts of Riga, you’ll stand before a tombstone memorial where the Rumbula massacre took the lives of some 25,000 Jewish victims from all over Europe in just a few days during the Nazi terror.

  Return to the city and visit the Museum of Occupation. The museum reveals Latvia’s history from 1940 to 1991, when Riga experienced occupations by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Conclude the tour with a walk through Riga’s Old Town Hall Square. (Active)

Free Time: When your excursion concludes, you will have some leisure time this afternoon. You can return to the ship or stay in town; there will be a shuttle service to and from the ship.

This evening, enjoy dinner on board as the ship departs Riga, sailing toward Liepaja, Latvia.

Klaipeda, Lithuania

Savor breakfast this morning, then disembark for your chosen excursion. Klaipeda is a port city with a strong seafaring identity. It was founded in the 1250s by the Teutonic Knights, who named the settlement Memelburg, later shortened to Memel. Initially, the city was separated from the rest of Lithuania and ruled by Germany. After WWII, Klaipeda was united with Lithuania and called by its Lithuanian name.

Choose one of the following included excursions.

Palanga and Klaipeda.
Begin the day with an excursion to nearby Palanga, a popular sea resort town with soft white-sand beaches, dunes and a wooden pier constructed in the late 1800s. Visit the Amber Museum, housed in the Tiškevičiai Palace, a beautiful Neo-Renaissance structure built in the late 1800s. Through the museum’s fascinating exhibits, learn how amber is formed and why the Baltic is one of the best parts of the world to find it. Particularly interesting are the amber specimens that encase insects and plants. Stroll the Palace grounds and visit the Botanical Garden.
Finish up with a return to Klaipeda for a walking tour of the Old Town, which features German-style, 18th-century wood-framed buildings, winding cobblestone lanes and red-brick port warehouses. Strolling along the tree-lined streets, you’ll see cafes, bars and shops; unusual sculptures are dotted throughout the town. Visit Theater Square, the city’s main gathering spot, which is home to the neoclassical Drama Theater. (Moderate)

The Curonian Spit and Nida.
Take a ferry and a scenic drive to reach the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This unusual 60-mile-long sand dune peninsula ranges from 350 yards wide at its narrowest point to 2.4 miles wide at its widest. The land spit, located with the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Local residents have toiled tirelessly to fight erosion and maintain the spit, which is forested in some areas. Visit the Hill of Witches, a fascinating outdoor sculpture gallery showcasing the local tradition of woodcarving. Continue to Nida, a small fishing village on the Curonian Lagoon. During the walking tour of the village, try local smoked fish and beer. (Active)

After both Traveler’s Choice options, you may stay in Klaipeda’s Old Town for lunch on your own and walk back to the ship afterward. Alternately, return to the ship to have lunch on board.
Return to the ship and enjoy a delicious dinner tonight as we sail for Gdansk, Poland.

Gdansk, Poland

Savor breakfast this morning before disembarking for your chosen excursion in Gdansk.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Gdansk Old Town walking tour. Begin this guided tour at the grand Green Gate, built in 1568 as a residence for Poland’s monarchs. See the Gdansk port, stroll along the Motława River and view the iconic Gdansk Crane. Walk the Royal Route and the Long Market to see the magnificent Neptune’s Fountain; the 14th-century Artus Court, inspired by Britain’s King Arthur; and St. Mary’s Church, the second-largest brick church in the world. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the Old Town shops and cafes. (Active)
• Solidarity tour. On this guided tour, begin at the entrance to the historic Gdansk Shipyard, where the Solidarity Movement — the first independent trade union in the Soviet Bloc — began in 1980. See the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, which commemorates the deaths of some 45 locals killed while protesting the communist regime. Next, tour the European Solidarity Centre, established to study and foster freedom, democracy and solidarity. This unique, five-story complex includes a museum, an atrium filled with trees and greenery, conference halls, library archives, reading rooms and a rooftop terrace. (Moderate)

Return to the ship for a tasty lunch. Relax onboard this afternoon as the ship departs Gdansk, sailing toward Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copenhagen, Denmark

This morning, enjoy breakfast and free time aboard. After a delicious lunch, embark on your excursion in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen City Tour. On a tour of the welcoming capital of Denmark, drive to the site of the old fish market, Gammel Strand, to embark on a sightseeing cruise through the canals and the port of Copenhagen. Pass major buildings such as Christiansborg Palace, the Naval Church and the Old Stock Exchange before entering the harbor where you will see the ancient Battery Sixtus and the fortress, Three Crowns. Also pass the Little Mermaid statue before entering the canal of Christianshavn, with its fine mixture of ancient warehouses, houseboats and modern architecture. Disembark and drive towards the City Hall Square, where the famous pedestrian shopping area, Strøget, begins. Stop here and spend a little free time exploring the area. (Mild)

Free Time: Spend your afternoon at leisure around Copenhagen this afternoon, if you wish. There will be shuttles provided between the town and the ship.

Return to the ship and enjoy a relaxing dinner on board. The ship departs Copenhagen this evening, sailing overnight to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Helsingør, Denmark

Enjoy a delectable breakfast before disembarking in Helsingør for your chosen excursion.

Helsingør. Also known as Elsinore, this captivating coastal town has a rich history and vibrant culture, making it an ideal destination for history buffs and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike. The enchanting Old Town features cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and charming cafés. With its seaside location, Helsingør showcases lovely views of the Øresund Strait, with Sweden visible just across the water. The charming harbor adds to the appeal.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Kronberg Castle plus tour of Old Town. Step into Shakespearean drama with an afternoon tour of Kronborg Castle, the legendary setting for “Hamlet.” This UNESCO World Heritage site has a long and storied past, beginning as a 15th-century fortress and evolving into a lavish Renaissance palace under King Frederik II. Rebuilt after a fire by King Christian IV, the castle later became an army barracks before its restoration and opening to the public as a museum. Today’s castle visit is followed by a delightful walk through the Old Town. Discover medieval streets and historic architecture around Axeltorv Square and Stengade (Stone Street), now a vibrant merchant quarter filled with boutiques and cafes. (Active)

  Minimum: 20 guests. Not suited for wheelchairs or walkers; there are no elevators within the castle so guests must climb and descend stairs.

• Maritime Museum plus tour of Old Town. This afternoon begins with a delightful walk through the Old Town. Discover medieval streets and historic architecture around Axeltorv Square and Stengade (Stone Street), now a vibrant merchant quarter filled with boutiques and cafes. Wrap up at the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark, located at a former dry dock near Kronborg Castle. The museum, which has been called “one of the eight greatest new museums” by BBC, is an architectural award-winner. Exhibits focus on Denmark’s seafaring history and how it has impacted maritime culture. (Moderate)

  Minimum: 20 guests. Better suited for guests with limited mobility. Elevators are available and guests can do as much or as little walking as they’d like.

Return to the ship and tuck into a delicious lunch. Spend some time this afternoon at leisure on the ship.

Farewell Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Reception and Dinner on board this evening. Raise a glass to your Scandinavian sojourn!

The ship departs Helsingør, sailing overnight to Oslo, Norway.

Olso, Norway| Disembark | Return to Home City

Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to Oslo Gardermoen Airport for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city and go through immigration and customs.