BALTIC CRUISES

THE BALTIC

Steeped in medieval history, charming architecture and a fascinating culture, a Baltic cruise will open doors for you to new experiences and opportunities that aren’t available just about anywhere. Take for example the delectable variety of cuisine that you’ve never before considered like the traditional Russian beverage Kvass made from bread and sweetened with fruits, or perhaps the Bratwurst sausages whilst you’re in Warnemunde might tempt you - oh and of course how could you not treat yourself to true Belgium chocolates whilst in Bruges? Once you’ve sated your appetite you can walk it all off again as you explore the extraordinary city centres and old towns that have a delightful storybook charm thanks to their whimsical houses and eerily beautiful castles and cathedrals. Soak up the local culture with excursions to see Russian Folk Dancing in St Petersburg or learn about the fascinating history of vikings in Stockholm.

Everywhere you turn, wonder awaits you in the ports of call along a Baltic itinerary; from one of the world’s oldest theme parks in Gothenburg to what was previously one of the world’s tallest buildings in Tallinn. As you learn more about the cruise ports for the Baltic in our guide below, prepare for a serious case of wanderlust as you discover destinations which are simply incomparable to anywhere else in the world.

There are few international cruises that offer as much variety and cultural pursuits as a Baltic voyage. Here are some of the most popular stop-offs from our range of cruises:

RUSSIA

ST PETERSBURG

It’s likely that even before you arrive in St Petersburg, you’ll have an opinion on what it might be like. Read through most online forums relating to this city and chances are good you’ll be warned about pickpockets and it’s likely you may get advised about them from the staff on your cruise ship too. On arrival, you may not instantly be put at ease - after all the port is guarded by uniformed military personnel, however once you’re in the city - your thoughts and opinions will start to dissipate as you take in the spectacular architecture of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Hermitage Museum and St Isaac’s Cathedral.

This intriguing and somewhat mysterious city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great who was inspired by Paris, London and Vienna. In fact, St Petersburg is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North due to its maze of narrow alleys and canals. When you consider that the land was once a desolate swamp, the city before you today is really quite remarkable. There’s a treasure-trove of art and culture in this city and we’d definitely recommend a visit to the Hermitage museum (although it can be quite busy!) as well booking tickets to see an incredible ballet performance at the Mariinsky Theatre (if you’re staying in port for the night).

If you visit between June 11 and July 2 you’ll be rewarded with the White Nights. These few weeks of the year are filled with bright, sunny days and evenings are bathed in a pearlescent glow and the sun barely dips below the horizon. You’ll also find the city is abuzz with concerts, festivals and celebrations as locals revel in this special time of year. Most cruise lines often dock overnight in St Petersburg giving you a full day to explore.

FINLAND

HELSINKI

Helsinki is the largest city in Finland and also the capital. It’s a city of many styles, which could be due to influences from its close neighbour, St Petersburg (just a short train journey away), coupled with contemporary Scandinavian design.

Many of the focal points of the city were designed by Carl Ludvig Engel including Senate Square which is framed by the regal Government Palace, Helsinki University and the cathedral. One of the best places to visit in the city is the National Museum of Finland, which exhibits the Finnish way of life from the past 1000 years. If you’re a bit of a foodie, Helsinki cuisine is very much dependent on the season so as a result much of the ingredients they use are fresh and full of flavour. If you happen to visit in May, try Tippaleivät (May Day Fritters) which look like out of control pretzels!

DENMARK

COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen has a remarkable mix of whimsical attractions which is why we’d recommend adding a few extras nights stay to your holiday package if your cruise begins or ends here. This city is most certainly one for the young at heart with some of the most popular attractions being Tivoli gardens which features an impressive rollercoaster, Asian and Eastern-inspired structures and fairground rides which look simply magical - especially when lit up at night. The whole ambience of Tivoli Gardens is certainly quite eclectic and something you won’t experience anywhere else. If you’re seeking something a little more relaxed, head to Nyhavn where you’ll be welcomed by the sight of colourful clapboard houses lining the harbour. Here you can find several cosy dining spots as well as convenience stores where you can buy a chilled beer and do like the locals do; rest your feet at the quayside and watch the world sail by. Of course, one of Copenhagen’s many claims to fame is that it’s the birthplace of storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. There are several references to the author throughout the city and in particular the Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale House is worth visiting with its imaginative tableaux which guide you through several of his most popular tales.

NORWAY

OSLO

Oslo is one of the world’s largest capital cities, but it’s also the least densely populated city in Europe. Fewer visitors tend to visit Oslo than Copenhagen and for this reason you could find it one of the most peaceful cities you’ve ever visited. Oslo is also quite a beautiful city, there’s parks aplenty and also some incredible architecture - particularly that of the Opera house which is designed to appear as though it’s emerging from the Bjorvika waterfront. This contemporary structure is the largest cultural building in Norway, gaining the title from the Nidarosdomen cathedral in Trondheim, built in 1300! Cruise ships dock right in the heart of Oslo meaning you have just a short walk to the city centre from port. However, it’s worth getting the Hop on Hop off bus which stops at the cruise port. This takes you around the main attractions of the city including the Kon-Tiki Museum, Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Viking Ship Museum. If you have enough time, you can catch the train (around 1 hour journey) to Holmenkollen Ski Museum which is the most popular visitor attraction in Norway. There’s an incredible view from the top of the ski jump as well as a virtual simulator and exhibits of ski and snow sport memorabilia through the ages. You can buy tickets from your nearest 7-11 store and take Metro Line 1 from City Hall.

ESTONIA

TALLINN

Tallinn is a simply stunning city and the best way to appreciate the beauty of the Old Town, Toompea Castle and Kiek de Kok is from Patkuli Viewing Platform. One of the tallest spires in the city is that of the cathedral of Alejandro Nevsky which once was one of the tallest buildings in the world. The Old Town of Tallinn is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and archaeologists have traced human settlements here from almost 5,000 years ago. On arrival in Tallinn, head to the town square, this is the hub of the Old Town. Here you’ll find pleasant cobbled streets and narrow side alleys to explore. Despite its historical links, Tallinn is also a pioneer in utilising innovative technology and it has been listed among the top 10 most digital cities in the world. On this note it’s worth mentioning that Tallinn has a great website for visitors, showing you plenty of things to do plus events which are happening in and around the area that may be of interest. When you dock in Tallinn, you are most likely to dock in the Old Harbour where you can walk to the city centre (it’s around 500 metres), however sometimes the ship docks in the cargo harbour (Muuga Harbour) which is approximately 17km from Tallinn and you can use the taxi and shuttle buses at the port to reach the city.

GERMANY

WARNEMÜNDE

Dating back to 1200, Warnemünde was previously a small fishing village. It’s located, as the name suggests, near the river Warnow. Today however, it’s a pretty seaside resort in the city of Rostock. There’s still a bustling fishing trade that’s operated out of Warnemünde and during the summer season, there’s also a regatta which sees the arrival of numerous ferries and sailing boats heading to and from Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Time your visit in August for the Hanse Sail Rostock and you’ll experience some of this four-day festival that welcomes dozens of tall sailing boats to the port with a celebration of fireworks, markets and special events.  Warnemünde is around 2 and ½ hours by train to Berlin and many cruise passengers tend to use this opportunity to visit the German capital. Realistically this might not leave you much time in which to explore so we’d recommend spending your time exploring the port city and Warnemünde in particular. There’s charming red brick buildings and plenty of grand architecture dating back to before World War II. Looking out over the city of Rostock you’ll notice the spires of three churches in particular, one of them being St. Peter’s which was previously one of the world’s tallest buildings. Once in the city, head to the pedestrian zone Kropeliner Strasse, which is lined with shops, bakeries and restaurants. From here it’s easy to walk to the Cultural History Museum which reportedly holds a splinter from the Cross of Christ.

KIEL

Situated at the end of Kiel Fjord, Kiel is quite a fitting cruise destination as it’s one of the main maritime centres of Europe. It hosts numerous sailing and regatta events every year including Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. If you want to time your visit to coincide with this event then look for itineraries visiting here in the last full week of June. Kiel is also the home of the busiest artificial waterway in the world (Kiel Canal) as well as the German Navy’s Baltic Fleet. If you plan to do some shopping whilst on your cruise then Kiel is a great destination for this as you can find many speciality items like hand carved wooden toys from the Erzgebirge Mountains, Meissen China and musical instruments.

BELGIUM

ZEEBRUGGE

Zeebrugge is a subdivision of Bruges, it literally translates to ‘Bruges by Sea’. The port area itself is mainly industrialised which is why the main destination here is Bruges. To reach Bruges, it’s around 30 minutes by bus and fares are approx £2. Bruges is a beautiful city, especially the centre which has an almost medieval-fairytale look about it. Go here in late November and most of December and you’ll be rewarded with the Bruges Christmas market which looks simply magical. The market takes place in Simon Stevinplein square and features an ice skating rink, big wheel and plenty of market stalls where you can find locally made products and cuisine. However, even if you’re not here in season for the Christmas market, Simon Stevinplein square is still worth visiting. The square is named after the Flemish mathematician Simon Stevin who was reportedly born in Bruges. Surrounding the square you’ll find several chocolate shops and cafes serving the finest Belgian chocolates and baked treats of anywhere in the city. Just 5 minutes walk from Simon Stevinplein is Grote Markt (Market Square), another particularly pretty area of the city where traditional buildings line the square looking just like gingerbread houses. From the square you can easily see the imposing Belfry of Bruges and the grand Provincial Court.

SWEDEN

STOCKHOLM

Spread out over 14 islands on Lake Mälaren is Sweden’s capital, Stockholm. The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is a prime example of how ancient buildings can be beautifully preserved; it’s a delightful labyrinth of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways lined by tall, colourful buildings. This part of Stockholm dates back to the 13th century and the architecture is heavily influenced by North Germany. The large, scenic square at the centre of the Old Town is called Stortoget and it’s surrounded by old merchant’s houses as well as the Stockholm Stock Exchange building. Aside from Gamla Stan, the waterfront locations around Stockholm are also notably picturesque. If you feel like a good walk to stretch your legs then you could head to the ekoparkken which stretches for 6 miles in a glorious stretch of green against the bustling city backdrop. It’s worth noting that Stockholm is quite an expensive city, if you’re spending time here pre or post cruise then consider purchasing a Stockholm Card which gives you access to several attractions, galleries and museums for a one-off price of $92.21 (£65.21).

GOTHENBURG

If you’ve booked a cruise with us here at Cruise Nation, then it’s likely you’re travelling on a larger cruise ship. This means you’ll dock right next to the impressive 6,000m2 Volvo museum which is one of the most noted attractions in the city. The Volvo factory was first founded here back in the 1920’s and by 1927 the first Volvo car rolled off the production line. Gothenburg is also known as Little London due to its similar culture and style of living. This is thanks to Gothenburg’s industrialisation in the 1800’s which led to many UK residents moving to the city to benefit from the new, profitable opportunities. After earning considerable wealth following their relocation, several of these citizens donated some of their fortune to the city which resulted in the hospital, library and university being built. There are several points worth visiting in Gothenburg including Liseberg, a theme park, which dates back to 1923 and includes many traditional-style rides including Balder, one of the world's biggest wooden rollercoasters! A few streets away from the town square in Gothenburg, you’ll find Haga which is one of the oldest pedestrian streets in the city. Lining the street are traditional-style wooden clapboard houses as well several cafes and shops. If you do decide to have a coffee break or a “fika” as the locals call it, head to Cafe Husaren which is famous for its giant cinnamon buns.

HELSINGBORG

Helsingborg is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and you’ll see beautiful red brick buildings with traditional copper roofing, long since oxidised and now a brilliant shade of mint green after decades of withstanding the elements. From the moment you step foot off your cruise ship you’ll see the fascinating history this destination has to offer with Karnan castle within clear sight and walking distance of the port. Just across the waterway (Oresund) from Helsingborg is the city of Helsingor in Denmark. One of the most popular activities for visitors to Helsingborg is to take the 15-20 minute ferry journey across to Helsingor to see Kronberg Castle that was constructed between 1220 - 1230 and which has been expertly preserved. If you’re interested in spending some time shopping in Helsingborg you can visit the Vala shopping centre near the downtown area or alternatively if you’d like to do some more sightseeing you can take a short taxi ride to Sofiero Castle just outside Helsingborg. The castle is beautiful and the gardens around it are exquisite.

Each of these fabulous destinations offers something unique and captivating. Whether you travel in summer - or in the heart of winter - you will be guaranteed to experience some of the most inspirational natural scenery in Europe.

Nearly all of the mainstream cruise lines have ships sailing the Baltic region such as:

• P&O Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Royal Caribbean
• Norwegian Cruise Line

NEED TO KNOW

VISAS AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

If St Petersburg is on your itinerary and you plan to depart the ship of your own accord to explore, you will need a visa. The method of obtaining these can be quite complicated and costs around £155pp. If you are departing the ship and have booked an excursion with a local operator, you will not need a visa but you will need proof of your booking with that operator to pass security. If you are planning to depart the ship for an excursion organised by your cruise line, you will not need a visa. Here at Cruise Nation we strongly recommend booking excursions provided by your cruise line for this port of call.

As with visiting any destination, it’s recommend that you are up to date with routine vaccinations before visiting Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

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