St. Petersburg & The Baltic Sea 2010
12 days / 11 nights, Northbound:
Copenhagen - Gotland / Visby - Tallinn -St. Petersburg - Cruise the Baltic Sea - Helsinki - Stockholm | "Destined to be a Best-seller!"
Take in the sweep of history from Scandinavian capitals to glorious St. Petersburg as you cruise Russia and the Baltics aboard the state-of-the-art Le Boreal. Enjoy a privately guided visit to The State Hermitage Museum; a tour of Catherine the Great's Summer Palace; walking tours of Helsinki and Tallinn; and two-night stays at 5-star hotels in Copenhagen and Stockholm!
| Departure | Northbound from Copenhagen July 2nd, 2010 |
| Price | From $6,590 per person plus airfare |
| Included | Two nights in Copenhagen, premier hotel in city center Two nights in Stockholm, premier hotel in city center All gratuities to cruise director, ship staff aboard Le Boreal and local guides and drivers Private Shore Excursions – $1154 Value! Privately guided visit Hermitage Museum Tour of Summer Palace of Catherine the Great in Pushkin Special Russian cultural evening Cocktail hour All-day soft drinks Wine with dinner aboard ship 11 x breakfasts 7 x lunches 9 x dinners Service charges, Applicable fuel surcharges Taxes & porterage Airport transfers |
| Not Included | Airfare & airport taxes Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items Alcoholic beverages $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. While Russia usually requires a citizen of the U.S. to obtain a visa for entry, a U.S. citizen traveling aboard Le boreal as a Tauck guest who participates in a validated escorted shore excursion is no longer required to do so. International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to the cruise line prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied. |
| Tour Options | We can book your international air for travel originating in the United States, subject to availability; inquire upon booking for special airfares that may be available. |
ITINERARY NORTHBOUND
• Indicates days of cruising
Day 1 ARRIVAL COPENHAGEN (D) Tour begins at 6:00 PM at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Welcome to Denmark! A transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport to Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen in the heart of the Danish capital. Meet your fellow travel companions at tonight's welcome cocktail reception and dinner in your center-city hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 COPENHAGEN - PALACES - NYHAVN (B) On a Copenhagen sightseeing tour, see the Danish crown jewels and other treasures at Rosenborg Palace, built in Dutch Renaissance style, and visit the colorful district of Nyhavn. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the city as you please; wonderful Tivoli Gardens and the fashionable pedestrian area of Stroget are a short walk from your landmark hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 • ROSKILDE - EMBARKATION (B, L, D) 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 Le Boreal and set off to cruise Russia by way of the Baltic Sea. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Aboard Le Boreal
Day 4 DAY AT SEA (B, L, D) Launching in May 2010, the innovative Le Boreal sets a new standard in cruising - and as you sail the Baltic Sea en route to Tallinn, Estonia, you'll have an entire glorious day at sea to check out all the amenities this sleek, state-of-the-art yacht offers... including fine dining in the elegant Le Restaurant Gastronomique or the casual Le Grill Restaurant... cocktails and music in three stylish lounges... informative lectures and entertainment in Le Théâtre... a workout in the fitness center, and much more.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Aboard Le Boreal
Day 5 • ANCIENT TALLINN (B, L, D) Dock in the walled city of Tallinn for a day of discovery in the age-old capital of Estonia, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Accompanied by your local guide, 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 • CULTURAL CAPITAL ST. PETERSBURG (B, L, D) Cruise Russia and arrive in the glorious imperial city of St. Petersburg. 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, what the czar called his "window on the west"; inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral - with its tall golden spire - contains the tombs of all the Russian czars. Explore more of St. Petersburg on your own this afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Day 7 CATHERINE'S PALACE - RUSSIAN CULTURE (B, L, D) 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 Romanovs - you'll immediately notice the ornate blue-and-white ornamental façade; lavish interiors feature gilded wall carvings and intricate ceiling murals, and opulent touches including silk wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and marble chimneys. This evening, attend a Russian cultural event.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 • THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM (B, L, D) Take a privately guided tour of The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg today, 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 Le Boreal continues to cruise Russia and the Baltic Sea.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 • CRUISE THE BALTIC SEA - HELSINKI
(B, L, D) Helsinki, Finland's capital and "city by the sea", surrounded on three sides by water, welcomes you for a day of exploration that's sure to be among the highlights of your cruise. See historic Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and the extraordinary Temppeliaukio (Rock) Church on a guided sightseeing tour.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 DISEMBARK IN STOCKHOLM (B) Bid the crew of Le Boreal adieu as you disembark the yacht 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 - VASA MUSEUM (B, D) A cruise through Stockholm's canals reveals the city's remarkable islands, as well as its seafaring past. This great maritime heritage is also brought to life during your visit to the fascinating 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, then share impressions of your memorable cruise at this evening's farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 12 HOMEBOUND FROM STOCKHOLM (B) Tour ends: Stockholm. A transfer from the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel 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