13-Day Jewels Of The Baltic Cruise

Day 1 - Rotterdam

Arrive: Sun 05 May 2024 / Depart: Sun 05 May 2024 at 15:00

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way. Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look - city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde - home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city - where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Stavanger, Norway

Arrive: Tue 07 May 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 07 May 2024 at 15:00

Stroll cobbled lanes in the Old Quarter, restored thanks to North Sea oil money. Feeling fearless? Cruise Lysefjord to sail under Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock), a huge cube that looms 1500 feet above your boat.

Day 4 - Oslo

Arrive: Wed 08 May 2024 at 10:00 / Depart: Wed 08 May 2024 at 17:00

At the head of Oslofjord, Norway's handsome capital is the logical first stop in Scandinavia. Thor Heyerdahl's raft, Kon Tiki, recalls a voyage between Easter Island and Tahiti to prove a theory about the earliest colonization of Oceania. Watch the changing of the palace guard; ferry to the open-air Folke Museum with its 12th-century stave church

Day 4 - Scenic Cruising Oslo Fjord

Day 5 - Arhus

Arrive: Thu 09 May 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 09 May 2024 at 17:00

Denmark’s second city often seems to sit modestly in the shadow of its better-known big sister. But this picturesque town of winding canals and cobbled streets has many of the capital’s charms without its crowds of tourists. As well as dictating its waterside confines, Århus’s location on the east coast of the Jutland Peninsula yields a rich natural bounty that the city’s restaurateurs have exploited with aplomb. Dishes such as caviar and wood smoke at Frederikshøj, or rye and rabbit ravioli at Restaurant Substans, have helped win a clutch of Michelin stars for the region’s pioneering chefs and cement it as a frontrunner of the New Nordic food scene; its affordable street food offerings are no less exciting.The city also holds its own on the design and architecture front, boosted by its 2017 designation as a European Capital of Culture, which resulted in a collection of waterside developments that are architecturally innovative, but anchored by a simple and pleasing Danish aesthetic. In short, this is a city in which to relax, imbibe, and enjoy both the bracing Danish sea air and a touch of laid-back metropolitan class.

Day 6 - Warnemunde

Arrive: Fri 10 May 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 10 May 2024 at 22:00

Inseparable from its modern history, Berlin decidedly features it. In the former Soviet/American/British sectors are the Berlin Cathedral, Checkpoint Charlie, Unter den Linden Boulevard and the stunning Brandenburg Gate. In the Western sector, browse the lively Kurfurstendamm for snazzy clothing stores, delicate hand-painted porcelain and a snack of beer and bratwurst.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Tallinn, Estonia

Arrive: Sun 12 May 2024 at 10:00 / Depart: Sun 12 May 2024 at 23:00

Medieval walls and towers still stand tall in Tallinn's Old Town. Stroll and shop along cobblestone streets, walk up to the Baroque palace in the Upper Town, look out over the red roofs to the Baltic below, drop in at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to find inspiration in the gleaming mosaics and icons. Crisp, gorgeous linen is a local specialty—find yours at a small store near the town hall square.

Day 9 - Helsinki, Finland

Arrive: Mon 13 May 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 13 May 2024 at 16:00

Shaped by its bays and off-shore islands, Helsinki is one of Europe's most scenic capitals. Take an archipelago cruise, walk the esplanade shopping streets, hear a Sibelius concert, or tour across the Arctic Circle to Lapland, home of Santa Claus, reindeer and the Midnight Sun

Day 10 - Stockholm

Arrive: Tue 14 May 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 14 May 2024 at 17:00

There's so much to see in charming Stockholm, sprawled on 18 islands, often called the "Venice of the North." Cruise the sparkling waterways and navigate narrow, medieval streets. Watch the snappy changing of the guard at the Baroque Royal Palace and sail into Viking history with a visit to the awesome Vasa Museum. Work up an appetite so you can do justice to a lavish smorgasbord.

Day 10 - Cruising Stockholm Archipelago

Day 11 - Visby, Sweden

Arrive: Wed 15 May 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 15 May 2024 at 15:00

Barely able to claim that it has emerged from the Middle Ages, Visby is a jumble of immaculate cobblestone streets winding this way and that—purposely confusing for any invaders who actually made it over the medieval walls. Right! Consider exploring by bike, then you'll have every excuse to refresh yourself with an icy aquavit or stop for Scandinavian treats at a killer bakery in town.

Day 12 - Ronne, Bornholm

Arrive: Thu 16 May 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 16 May 2024 at 17:00

Medieval capital of Bornholm Island, rich in history. Marvel at Viking relics and 12th-century fortress churches.

Day 13 - Kiel, Germany

Arrive: Fri 17 May 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 17 May 2024 at 16:00

A university town, naval base, and Germany's largest passenger port, Kiel offers the perfect blend of urban charm, culture and history. Kiel also serves as your gateway for Hamburg, a beautiful port city on the Elbe River. Spend a delightful day exploring St. Michael's baroque church, the St. Pauli District, and the gardens and cafés around Alster Lake. Sample shore excursions: Hamburg – Germany’s Gateway to the World; Medieval Lüneburg by Horse & Carriage.

Day 14 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive: Sat 18 May 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 18 May 2024

Copenhagen is one of the easiest European capitals to fall in love with. The sights of old buildings, cobbled streets and the tower- and turret-dotted skyline lend fairy-tale charm—this was, after all, the home of author Hans Christian Andersen. But make no mistake: This is a thoroughly modern city with international clout. Restaurants around the world draw inspiration from the New Nordic cuisine pioneered by Noma and other Copenhagen restaurants, while Danish design from this century and the last is universally admired and coveted. Urban planners flock here to try to work out just how the city remains so livable and yet so functional, and despite its wealth of old buildings, Copenhagen’s not locked in the past; there are also thrilling examples of modern architecture. Copenhagen is a city that’s easy to find things to do and explore on foot or by excellent public transport, where everyone speaks perfect English, the food is fresh and innovative, and there’s plenty of locally brewed beer—which, of course, is best enjoyed sitting by the water on a sunny day.