Summer in the Baltic Small Ship Cruise

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we set sail this evening.

Skagen is a 600 year old market town in the far north of Denmark where the breathtaking scenery and light have inspired poets, artists and musicians for centuries. The surrounding area has been designated as a rare, authentic natural beauty spot by the Worldwide Fund for Nature. We will visit Grenen, the northernmost point of Denmark where the North Sea meets the Baltic and where the daily movement of sand has created a spit that is constantly moving. See the 14th century Sanded Church named after Saint Laurence, the seafarers’ and Skagen’s patron saint, which sunk beneath the sand in the 18th century leaving only the tower visible today. This afternoon is free to explore the winding alleys of the atmospheric old quarter or enjoy the vibrant marina. Alternatively, visit the local museum to view the artwork of Ancher and Kroyer, both of whom were inspired by the region.

Arrive this morning in the historic port of Helsingor where we have a choice of excursions. In the early 15th century, King Eric of Pomerania built a fortress here to enforce the collection of dues from all ships wishing to enter the Baltic. In the following century Frederick II transformed it into a magnificent Renaissance castle and at the time Kronborg was considered the strongest fortress in Europe. The castle is known to many as ‘Elsinore’ the setting for Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. During our tour we will explore both the castle and the old town. Alternatively, drive to Copenhagen to visit the Palace of Amalienborg with its four identical Rococo buildings which have been the Royal Residence since 1784. Visit the Amalienborg Museum, located in Christian VIII’s Palace and walk through the royal family’s historic offices, marvel at the elegant Gala Hall, still used on special occasions, and discover spectacular artefacts, including the lavish wine coolers in the Fabergé Chamber. After lunch we return to the ship via the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art located in a coastal park on the outskirts of Helsingor. See one of Scandinavia’s largest collections of modern art or discover the sixty sculptures located in the landscaped parkland. Meanwhile, keen gardeners may wish to visit Exillion, a private garden created by Peter Wibroe who set out to create the most beautiful acre of land north of the Alps. The garden draws inspiration from French Baroque, Italian Renaissance and Oriental design, and also includes an English topiary section, an area planted with rhododendron species and a small herb garden.

Spend the morning on Bornholm Island which features a landscape of wheat fields, forests and an attractive coastline dotted with fishing villages. During our island drive we will see the famous 12th century Osterlars Round Church and visit the town of Gudhjem where we can sample smoked herring. We will also see Hammerhaus Castle offering fantastic views of the island’s rugged coastline. Alternatively, visit the charming Enghoj Perennial Garden which has been inspired by the English cottage style with lots of clematises, roses, perennials, boxwood, yew, grasses and summer flowers. The garden features different sections divided by shrubs, fences for climbing plants, a pergola and stone pathways between the beds. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a leisurely afternoon cruising to Poland.

Gdansk’s 1000 years of history have left a rich collection of buildings and monuments in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Our morning city tour will include a walk along the cobbled streets of the Royal Way in the old quarter and the opportunity to admire the elaborate architecture, including the 15th century merchant’s palace of Artus Court. We will also see the pride of Gdansk, Gothic St Mary’s which is the world’s largest brick church, accommodating some 25,000 worshippers. Alternatively, visit the 13th century Malbork Castle, once the seat of the Teutonic Order and, at that time, the largest castle in the world. Over the years it has served as a royal residence as well as a fortress and was restored after damaged sustained during the Second World War. In 1997 it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNSECO and now serves as a museum. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon exploring at your own pace before we meet this evening for a recital by members of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic at a local venue.

After a morning at sea we arrive at Kalmar, one of Sweden’s oldest cities and ports where we berth close to the historical centre. A choice of afternoon tours includes Kalmar Castle, one of the bestpreserved Renaissance castles in Scandinavia and a stronghold of royal power. Originating from the 12th century, the current building reflects the rule of the Vasa Kings who rebuilt it in the style of a Renaissance palace. Alternatively, join an excursion to the UNESCO island of Oland. Visit Stora Alvaret, a vast limestone plateau containing ancient remains, unique flora and fauna as well as Solliden Palace. Built by Queen Victoria of Sweden in 1903, it remains a summer retreat for the Swedish Royal Family and we will have time to explore the extensive gardens and pavilion.

Today we visit this once important Hanseatic port on the island of Gotland. Best explored on foot, the beautifully preserved Medieval town snuggles inside 13th century walls, housing 44 watchtowers. In Viking times and several centuries after, the Swedish island of Gotland and especially the city of Visby became a centre of trade in the Baltic Sea and was later designated a World Heritage Site. Walk its streets from the Middle Ages and see its gardens ablaze with flowers, earning the city its nickname ‘the city of ruins and roses’. Later, visit the impressive St Maria Cathedral and wander the paths of the botanical gardens. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore further and maybe see the Viking exhibits at the Gotland Museum. Alternatively, join us for a ride on the Gotland Railway, a historic train travelling along the only remnant of Gotland’s once extensive railway network. Pass peaceful landscapes as we travel through Tule and ending at Roma – a perfect way to admire rural Gotland. Later we drive to the west coast of Gotland, arriving at the fishing village of Gnisvard. We venture into the nearby forest to view a stone ship formation. These boulders, dating back to the Bronze Age, have assumed the form of a ship over 150 feet in length and are presumed to mark a grave or cremation site.

Be on deck this morning as we sail through the many islands of the Swedish archipelago. This is a great sailing area and the islands are peppered with attractive summer homes. We arrive at our central berth this afternoon, our base for the next day and a half where we have a choice of excursions. You might join a city tour including the Vasa Museum, built around the 17th century warship that sank in Stockholm’s inner harbour on her maiden voyage in 1628. The discovery of the Vasa in 1956 and subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in marine archaeology. In addition to the well-preserved, elaborately decorated hull, thousands of items from the ship, including hundreds of sculptures, have been recovered. On our return to the MS Hebridean Sky we will drive through old Stockholm and past the Parliament Building and Royal Palace which overlooks the inner harbour. Alternatively, visit Skogskyrkogarden, the ‘Woodland Cemetery’, created between 1917 and 1940 by the architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz. On a pine-covered ridge, they created a sacred outdoor space with several small chapels that blend in with nature and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. We will also drive to historic Uppsala, one of the oldest cities in Sweden that has played a dominant role in the political, intellectual and historical development of the country. We start with its Medieval cathedral including the Renaissance tomb of Gustav Vasa and continue to the Linnaeus Garden, Sweden’s oldest botanic garden originally laid out in 1655. Spend some time in this beautiful, serene garden designed by Carl von Linne.

Sail this morning into the attractive town of Mariehamn. On an island tour, we will head into the beautiful countryside along scenic roads towards the Jan Karlsgarden Museum where we learn about the island’s farming traditions. We continue to Badhausberget, which provides panoramic views over the town and islands before visiting the fascinating Aland Maritime Museum with its exhibits of model ships as well as highlighting the region’s shipbuilding history. After lunch on board there will be some free time to explore further at leisure before we depart in the early evening and cruise through some of the 6700 islands of the Aland archipelago.

Arrive in the historic maritime city of Tallinn with her awe inspiring city walls and fortifications, narrow Medieval streets and gateways which remain remarkably well preserved. In the Upper Town we will enjoy the views from Dome Hill with the extraordinary vista of domes, spires and gables and see Toompea Castle, once a fortress, and now the seat of the Estonian parliament. Walking to the lower Old Town we will visit the main square where we will find the oldest pharmacy in Europe, the Gothic Cathedral and the 15th century Town Hall. This afternoon we drive to the outskirts of Tallinn to Kadriorg Palace and Park, which were commissioned in 1718 by Russian Tsar Peter I, soon after his conquest of Estonia, in honour of his wife Catherine I. The palace was designed by Italian architect Nicola Michetti. Its magnificent main hall is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture, not only in Estonia but also in Northern Europe. We will visit the art collection housed within the palace and spend time exploring the magnificent park with its fountains, hedges, and flowerbeds, modelled on Versailles. Before leaving we will enjoy a private classical concert.

Arriving in Helsinki over breakfast, our morning city tour will take us to the colourful Market Square, the President’s Palace and the impressive architecture of Senate Square, including the Lutheran Cathedral of Finland and Uspenski Cathedral. We continue to the Sibelius Monument and the impressive Temppeliaukio, the church in the rock before returning to the ship. This afternoon we journey to Ainola, the home of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius situated on the edge of the city on the shores of Lake Tuusula where, after exploring the museum, we enjoy a private concert of his music.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.