EXPLORING THE BALTICS HISTORIC
WATERWAYS ITINERARY:
DAY 1 — U.S./Fly overnight to St. Petersburg, Russia
DAY 2-5 — Petersburg/Embark Ship
St. Petersburg, with its grand palaces, canals and parks, is
an illustrious start to our journey. We check in to the
five-star Grand Hotel Europe and spend three days exploring St.
Petersburg’s imperial luxuries and artistic bounty: the
Hermitage, with its renowned art collections, the grandiose
Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter the Great’s
Summer Palace at Petrodvorets, with its gilded fountains and
grand cascade, and the opulent palace of Catherine the Great at
Pushkin. On one evening, dinner will be on your own with the
option to attend a musical performance at Catherine’s private
bijou theater in the Hermitage. On Day 5 we are the first guests
to embark National Geographic Explorer, docked in sight of the
grand Hermitage Museum. With champagne in hand, we gather on
deck for the ship’s thrilling departure from St. Petersburg
along the Neva River. In the evening, we meet our fellow guests
and staff members at a welcome reception and dinner. (Day 2: D;
Day 4: B,L; Days 3 & 5: B,L,D)
DAY 6 — Tallinn, Estonia
Our first stop is the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, known for
its awe-inspiring city walls and narrow, well-preserved medieval
streets. Our walking tour includes the scenic Old Town (a World
Heritage Site) and Town Hall Square, where a new breed of
entrepreneurs have proudly opened an array of shops, cafes and
galleries. A highlight is the vista from Dome Hill of Tallinn’s
picturesque assortment of spires and gables. Our ship will
remain here late into the evening, so those who wish may have
dinner ashore or continue exploring on your own. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 — Helsinki, Finland
After a leisurely morning at sea, we make a scenic approach
to Helsinki, tying up right in town. The Russian influence on
Finnish architecture is immediately evident on our guided walk.
Highlights include the magnificent Cathedral Tuomiokirkko, the
busy open-air market and a ferry ride to the Suomenlinna
Fortress (a World Heritage Site), located on a group of islands
which strategically dominate the sea approach to the city. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 — Swedish Archipelago
Today we wind our way through the enchanting islands of the
archipelago. At Bullerö Nature Reserve an afternoon of swimming,
hiking and kayaking works up our appetites for a feast of local
salmon. And in true Swedish tradition, a sauna and a dip in the
cool Baltic Sea round out the day. (B,L,D)
DAY 9 — Stockholm
The city that “floats on water,” Stockholm is built on 14
islands. Our exploration begins with a Zodiac cruise along
Stockholm’s scenic canals. A guided walk takes us through the
cobbled streets of the Old Town Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace and
the famed Vasa Museum with its remarkable 17th-century warship,
raised virtually intact in 1961.(B,L,D)
DAY 10 — Visby, Gotland, Sweden
During the Viking Era, and for several hundred years
onwards, the island of Gotland and especially the city of Visby,
became a center of trade in the Baltic Sea. Visby is a
well-preserved, walled city (a World Heritage Site) with streets
from the Middle Ages and gardens ablaze with flowers, earning
the city its nickname “the city of ruins and roses.” See the
superb Viking exhibits at the Fornsal Museum and explore the
botanical gardens. (B,L,D)
DAY 11 — Riga, Latvia
A beautiful Hanseatic city dating from 1201, Riga is
dominated by its jumble of eclectic architecture from many
periods. The historic city center is a World Heritage Site,
recognized as having the finest collection of art nouveau
buildings in Europe. We explore the Old Town and 14th-century
Riga Castle. (B,L,D)
DAY 12 — At Sea
Time at sea to hear talks about the Baltic’s intriguing
history and exciting future. (B,L,D)
DAY 13 — Gdánsk, Poland
Homeland to our notable guest speaker Lech Walesa, Nobel
Peace Prize winner and former President of Poland, Gdansk is
known as the birthplace of Solidarity. We dock at the historic
shipyards with its moving Solidarity Monument, and stroll the
red-brick inner city with its old merchant’s houses and
15th-century Artus Court. (B,L,D)
DAY 14 — Christiansø & Bornholm Islands, Denmark
Land by Zodiac at tiny Christiansø for a morning of
reflection and photography in this artists’ village that now
occupies the site of an 18th-century castle. Continue to verdant
Bornholm, rich in natural history, and see the ruins of ancient
Hammershus Castle. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 — Lübeck, Germany
Today we explore lovely Lübeck, designated a World Heritage
Site and once the medieval capital of the Hanseatic League,
Europe’s first Common Market. A boat ride along the canals gives
us an overview of the Hanseatic and Renaissance architecture.
After lunch, join a guided walk exploring this culturally rich
city. (B,L,D)
DAY 16 — Copenhagen, Denmark/Disembark/Home
After breakfast, disembark in Copenhagen and have a brief
stop to see and photograph the famed statue of The Little
Mermaid en route to the airport for flights home. (B)
Ask about our optional extension in Moscow.
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