St. Petersburg & The South Baltic Sea 2010
12 days / 11 nights, Southbound:
Stockholm - Cruise the Baltic Sea - St. Petersburg - Tallinn - Gotland / Visby -Copenhagen | Cruise Russia and the Baltic Sea aboard the state-of-the-art Le Boreal... and enter the realm of Vikings and czars! Take in the sweep of history from Scandinavian capitals to glorious St. Petersburg as this voyage from Stockholm to Copenhagen and Russia cruises the Baltic Sea aboard the state-of-the-art yacht 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 | Southbound from Stockholm, July 9th, 2010 |
| Price | From $6,590 per person plus airfare |
| Included | 2 nights Stockholm, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel 7 nights Cruise, Le Boreal 2 nights Copenhagen, Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Cabin category selection of your choice 11 x Breakfasts 7 x Luncheons 9 x Dinners Private Shore Excursions – $1154 Value! Cocktail hour All-day soft drinks Wine with dinner aboard ship Privately guided visit through The State Hermitage Museum Special entrance to Catherine's Summer Palace in Pushkin Russian cultural evening Service charges Applicable fuel surcharges Taxes & porterage Airport transfers Gratuities to ship staff |
| Not Included | Airfare & airport taxes Transfer between airport/hotel/ ship/train or bus station Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items Alcoholic beverages $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Cruise operates both South from Stockholm and North from Copenhagen. Sightseeing is similar. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends following breakfast at 7 AM; you will be provided with transportation to the Copenhagen Airport. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-in. 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 Tauck 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 SOUTHBOUND
• Indicates days of cruising
Day 1 ARRIVAL STOCKHOLM (D) Tour begins at 6:00 PM at Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. Upon arrival of your flight, a transfer is included from the Arlanda Airport to the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel in the heart of Stockholm. Meet your fellow travel companions at the welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 DISCOVERING STOCKHOLM (B) Sightseeing in Stockholm with a local guide 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 3 • STOCKHOLM'S CANALS - VASA MUSEUM - EMBARKATION (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. Board the new Le Boreal to launch one of Tauck's popular Baltic Sea and Russia cruises.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Aboard Le Boreal
Day 4 • BALTIC SEA - HELSINKI (B, L, D) Following Le Boreal's arrival in seaside Helsinki, Finland, a sightseeing excursion shows you Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Market Square, and Sibelius Monument dedicated to the great Finnish composer. Visit the Temppeliaukio Church, or Church of the Rock, a modern design hewn out of solid granite. Later, you may want to check out the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, and the Fortress of Suomenlinna.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 • INSIDE THE HERMITAGE (B, L, D) Your journey aboard Le Boreal to the Baltics and Russia cruises to the glorious city of St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia. Today, take a privately guided tour of The State Hermitage Museum - set within Catherine the Great's Winter Palace and housing one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world - at the best time to avoid the crowds. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, Western European art, and golden treasures. Attend a Russian cultural event this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 • CULTURAL CAPITAL ST. PETERSBURG (B, L, D) A guided tour of St. Petersburg 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.You'll also see the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood. Explore more of St. Petersburg on your own this afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 • CATHERINE'S SUMMER PALACE (B, L, D) After a stop at the Victory Monument, tour Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Tsarkoye Selo), 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. Enjoy Russian folkloric entertainment at lunch today. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 • EXPLORING TALLINN (B, L, D) Le Boreal arrives in 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 with your local guide; view St. Nicholas Church and admire the 13th-century Toompea Castle, Estonia's traditional seat of power. Explore Tallinn as you please for the rest of the day; a shuttle is available to take you from the city to the ship. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 • BALTIC SEA ABOARD LE BOREAL
(B, L, D) Launching in May 2010, the innovative Le Boreal sets a new standard in cruising - and as your voyage through the Baltic Sea and Russia cruises to Copenhagen, 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. Please join us for the Captain's farewell dinner on board this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 DISEMBARKATION COPENHAGEN (B) Disembark Le Boreal in Copenhagen, Denmark, as one of Tauck's popular Baltic Sea and Russia cruises draws to a close. During a city sightseeing tour, see the Danish crown jewels on a visit to Rosenborg Palace, built in Dutch Renaissance style, and explore 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 11 ROSKILDE - VIKING SHIP MUSEUM (B, L, D) Journey today to Roskilde - Denmark's religious, cultural, and political center from the Viking times through the Middle Ages - for a visit to the Vikingeskibshallen (Viking Ship Museum), featuring five ships from the 11th century that were discovered in the 1960s. Share memories of a remarkable cruise with your fellow guests at tonight's farewell dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12 HOMEWARD BOUND FROM COPENHAGEN (B) This most extraordinary of Baltics and Russia cruises ends in Copenhagen. A transfer from the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel to Copenhagen Airport for your flight home is included. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast