Göta Canal Cruises, 4 days from Göteborg
Göta Canal Cruises 2010
M/S Juno, M/S Wilhelm Tham and M/S Diana
Two Seas - One River - Three Canals - Eight Lakes -Sixty Five Locks | The traditional route from Göteborg to Stockholm or back has been maintained since the shipping company was founded in 1869.
Step aboard 135-year-old M/S Juno, the world's oldest registered passenger carrying ship, on a four-day journey between Gothenburg and Stockholm. The standard may be a bit old-fashioned, but still nostagically luxurious.
Our large and considerate crew are close at hand during the entire trip, and strive to fulfill the wishes of our guests. Our guides speak Swedish, English and German, enabling them to share their extensive knowledge about life on and around the canal and its locks, as well as the sights we pass along the route.
While journeying between the country's two largest cities, you will pass no fewer than 66 locks, eight lakes, three canals, one river and two seas. The cruise includes three nights' on board accommodation with all meals and six cultural stops along the way.
Emphasizing quality, we are proud to offer first-class cuisine and a wide selection of fine wines.
| Departure | 4 days, Göteborg - Stockholm April 30th May 20th, 27th, 29th June 5th, 7th, 16th, 25th July 4th, 13th, 22nd, 31st August 9th, 18th, 27th September 5th |
| Price | Prices in USD Category C (main deck) $1,340 Double cabin per person $840 Extra bed $1,740 Single cabin Category B (shelter deck) $1,840 Double cabin per person $2,740 Single cabin Category A (bridge deck, including champagne, fruit and bathrobe) $2,540 Double cabin per person $3,440 Single cabin EARLY BOOKING SPECIAL: 10 % early booking discount on regular cabin prices if booked by March 1st, 2010. This discount cannot be combined with other offers. |
| Included | Four days and three nights on board, including one night at the quayside Full board: three breakfasts Four two-course lunches Three three-course dinners Six stops of varying duration |
| Not Included | International airfare Transfers Alcoholic beverages Personal items Travel insurance $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Cruise also avaialble in reverse order, Stockholm - Göteborg |
| Tour Options | Please see our offer for all Göta Canal Cruises: "Mini Canal Cruise", 2 days aboard M/S Diana "The Good Life on board", 3 days aboard M/S Diana "From Coast to Coast", 4 days aboard M/S Juno, M/S Wilhelm Tham and M/S Diana "The Great Swedish Cruise", 6 days aboard M/S Juno and M/S Diana |
Day 1 DEPART GÖTEBORG 9.00 am Departure from Gothenburg, Packhuskajen 10
1.15 pm - 1.30 pm Lilla Edet
The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the first lock on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.
2.45 pm - 3.30 pm Trollhättan locks
The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.
3.30 pm - 5.00 pm Trollhättan
The Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful old lock area.
6.00 pm Vänersborg
This is the last town before we head out into Lake Vänern. The "Brinkebergskulle" lock is just before Vänersborg.
6.30 pm - 3.00 am Lake Vänern
44 metres above sea level. Sweden's largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.
10.45 pm Läckö Castle
The Castle was built in 1298 as a bishop's residence. Its golden age was during the reign of Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who transformed it into a baroque castle in 1652.
Day 2 DEPART SJÖTORP 3.00 am - 4.30 am Sjötorp
Here we enter the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Göta Canal. At Sjötorp we have a set of eight locks and also the remains of some old shipyards.
6.10 am - 8.00 am Godhögen-Hajstorp övre
We pass a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. For "early birds" walking is possible from Godhögen to Hajstorp, app. 1.4 km.
9.00 am Töreboda
The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden's smallest ferry, "Lina", which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.
11.20 am The Berg Canal/the Obelisk
An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the canal. This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33.
11.50 am Tåtorp
One of the canal's two hand-operated locks is found at Tåtorp.
11.50 am - 2.00 pm Lake Viken
The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal. If we are lucky we might be able to see the Osprey couple that nests in the same tree here every year.
1.00 pm - 2.00 pm The Spetsnäs Canal/Billströmmen
We steer through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies.
1.50 pm - 2.00 pm Forsvik
Forsvik has a very interesting industrial history. The lock, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group. From here on we will be going downwards!
2.50 pm - 5.00 pm Karlsborg Fortress
We visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built 1819-1909. The guided tour is a journey through time and space, full of surprises and special effects.
5.00 pm - 7.00 pm Lake Vättern
89 metres above sea level. Sweden's second largest and also deepest lake (128 metres deep).
7.00 pm Arr. Motala
It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen's grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal.
Overnight stop.
Day 3 DEPART MOTALA 5.00 am Dep. Motala
6.00 am - 6.30 am Borenshult
Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.
6.30 am - 7.30 am Lake Boren
73 metres above sea level.
7.30 am - 7.40 am Borensberg
Borensberg has another of the canal's hand-operated locks, after which we see the well-known Göta Hotel from 1908. Just past the hotel there is a small gazebo leaning out over a sharp bend in the canal, known as the "Helmsman's Horror".
8.00 am Kungs Norrby, aqueduct
The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 and leads over the national route 36.
10.40 am Ljungsbro, aqueduct
We pass the second aqueduct on our journey. This one was built in 1970.
11.00 am Berg (Heda)
At Berg we pass through a system with a total of 15 locks.
The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden's most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors. The tour guide will take us on a walk (app. 3 km, partly uneven) to see the church and the remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal or take a swim in the warm water of Lake Roxen.
12.00 pm - 1.00 pm Berg (Carl-Johan)
The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. Here we board the ship again before steering out on the lake.
1.00 pm - 3.00 pm Lake Roxen
33 metres above sea level.
3.00 pm Norsholm lock
Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö.
4.45 pm - 5.15 pm Lake Asplången
27 metres above sea level.
6.40 pm - 7.45 pm Carlsborg–Mariehov–Duvkullen
At the lock Carlsborg Övre we have the first of the nine locks taking us down to Söderköping.
8.00 pm - 9.00 pm Söderköping
The idyllic town Söderköping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and interesting history as a spa. Söderköping is yours to explore on your own. Don't forget to try the famous ice cream!
10.20 pm Mem
Passing through the last narrow lock before Slätbaken, an inlet of the Baltic, we leave the Göta Canal. On 26th Sept. 1832, the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family.
10.20 pm - 7.15 am The Baltic
We cross open water for a short bit and then weave through the archipelago in the early morning light.
Day 4 ARRIVE STOCKHOLM 7.15 am - 7.25 am Södertälje
Södertälje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.
7.25 am - 1.50 pm Lake Mälaren
0.3 metres above sea level. Sweden's third largest lake.
9.00 am - 11.00 am Birka
The Viking community of Birka on the island of Björkö is often regarded as Sweden's first town. The town was then an important harbour for international shipping and trade. It was in use for about 250 years and was abandoned before the year 1000. Birka features on UNESCO'S World Heritage list. The archaelogists on the island show us around (app. 3 km, uneven terrain). We also visit the museum.
12.45 pm Drottningholm Castle
Drottningholm Castle, home of the Royal family since 1981, is also found on the World Heritage list. We pass the castle if time admits.
2.00 pm Hammarby lock
The final lock on our journey delivers us from Lake Mälaren into Saltsjön.
2.30 pm Arr. Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen
Our cruise ends at Skeppsbrokajen 103, in the Old Town of Stockholm.
Subject to changes. Note! All times stated are approximate