Cruising the Baltic Sea: Copenhagen to St. Petersburg

Arrive in Copenhagen and transfer to your luxury vessel. Join fellow guests for an evening welcome reception.

Brimming with everything from high-design shops and stylishly dressed locals to royal palaces housing Viking treasures, Copenhagen is at once effortlessly cool, eclectic and richly cultural. Enjoy an early, guided panoramic drive of the city that includes a stop at Christianborg Palace and a walk through Amalienborg Palace Square. At Amalienborg, view its four identical classical façades, octagonal courtyard and equestrian statue of King Frederick V. Originally designed for high-ranking aristocrats, the palace became the residence in 1794 for Denmark’s Royal Family — some of whom still reside here today, under the watch of the Royal Guards. Return to your elegant ship and enjoy the afternoon cruising toward Poland.

Today in Gdansk, choose from several expertly led shore excursions. Perhaps take a guided walking tour through Old Town, seeing the Golden Gate, Artus Court, Gdansk Town Hall, St. Mary’s Church and Neptune’s Fountain before strolling along the Mołtawa River. Alternately, visit the Museum of the Second World War, take a scenic countryside drive and pay an introspective visit to the Stutthof concentration camp. Or, you may instead learn about the Solidarity Movement, seeing the Brick Gothic Srodmiescie district, visiting the European Solidarity Center, and seeing where the August Agreements were signed. Finally, choose to visit the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, followed by a lunch of local specialties. Back on board your luxury cruiser, attend a talk on board by Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Poland Lech Walesa, followed by cocktails and a meet-and-greet.

Disembark in Klaipeda and choose an excursion ashore. You may visit Zemaitija National Park, taking in panoramas from atop Cidabras Hill. Proceed to a local farmstead, where you discover Samogitian traditions and sit down to an authentic lunch. Continue to the Cold War museum, a former Soviet missile base. Or, instead choose to remain in Klaipeda and take a walking tour of Old Town, seeing the old castle grounds, German-style warehouses and Theatre Square with its Simon Dach Fountain. Cap the day with a private visit to the new Museum 39-45. Alternately, learn about local fishermen and the peculiarities of shipbuilding in the village of Dreverna. Cruise its harbor by reisekahn (antique Curonian sailboat).

Arriving in Stockholm, choose from one of several excursions ashore. Perhaps take a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), seeing Storkyrkan cathedral and Stortorget. Then, visit the Royal Palace. Alternately, explore Stockholm City Hall, its iconic spire featuring the Swedish national coat of arms. You may instead see a 17th-century Swedish warship and recovered artifacts at the Vasa Museum, followed by a drive through Gamla Stan. Or — from the rooftop of the Old Parliament House — take a thrilling, guided walk above the city. Finally, you may partake in a Nordic food experience, sampling Swedish specialties from local purveyors.

Continue exploring Stockholm, perhaps visiting Drottningholm Palace and Theater, and seeing the exotic Chinese Pavilion and gardens. Alternately, take an art tour, starting at Milles Garden. Proceed to Waldemarsudde, former home of landscape painter Prince Eugen. See his work and collection of Swedish turn-of-the-19th-century art. This afternoon, you may choose from a guided rooftop walk above Stockholm, a visit to the Vasa museum or a guided stroll through Old Town.

Disembark in Tallinn and choose from several shore excursions. Take a guided walking tour of the city’s Old Town, admiring Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and vistas from atop Dome Hill. Then, see Toompea Castle and the main square, home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Town Hall. End the day sampling local, medieval dishes at a neighborhood restaurant. Alternately, leave the city behind for the beautiful Estonian forests and take a bog walk. Or, instead drive past Tallinn’s Old Town en route to Lahemaa National Park, where you taste Estonian vodka or herbal teas alongside local nibbles at Palmse Manor. Continue to Sagadi Manor and the Forestry Museum.

Spend two days choosing from custom-designed excursions in Helsinki. Perhaps take a panoramic tour, seeing Embassy Park and Helsinki Cathedral in Senate Square. Continue along Mannerheim Street — Helsinki’s main thoroughfare — and see the Parliament House; National Museum of Finland; Finlandia Hall, the stadium that hosted the 1952 Olympics; and the new Opera House. Then visit the unique, underground Temppeliaukio Church and see the Sibelius Monument. Alternately, explore medieval Porvoo, which includes a guided cruise along the Porvoo River and parts of the Gulf of Finland archipelago. At Haikko Manor, sit down to a waterfront lunch. Return to Helsinki for a brief city tour, stopping at Sibelius Park and Senate Square before passing the Market Square, Uspenski Cathedral and the Presidential Palace. The next day, choose from additional Helsinki excursions, such as a privately guided boat tour with a visit to the Fortress of Suomenlinna, and a Finnish sauna experience and nature walk.

Bid farewell to your ship and crew and disembark in St. Petersburg for three days of exploration. You may see the famous Impressionist collection at the Hermitage General Staff Building, including works from Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Matisse. Visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral, adorned with ornate mosaics, icons, and columns of malachite and lapis lazuli. Should you prefer, visit Peter and Paul Fortress as well as the Fabergé Museum. Finally, you can partake in a cooking class, where you prepare brilliantly hued Russian borscht alongside a local chef. Then, check in to your luxurious hotel, where your luggage awaits. Gather early this evening to pay an after-hours visit to the opulent Hermitage Museum, seeing its collection of artwork from the Stone Age to modern times.

Enjoy further exploration of St. Petersburg for the next two days. Gain early access to Rococo-style Catherine Palace and see its storied Amber Room. Continue to Peterhof, viewing the breathtaking Grand Cascade. Stroll through the park and see the palace of Monplaisir before returning to St. Petersburg by private hydrofoil. Alternately, either view the Impressionist collection at the Hermitage Museum, followed by a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral; or visit Peter and Paul Fortress and the Fabergé Museum. This evening, enjoy a private farewell dinner in a palace, complete with live entertainment. The next day, select from the excursions you may have missed or enjoy time exploring on your own.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on A&K’s group extension to Moscow.