Overview
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Ships
Exploring the Baltic by small ship is the most perfect way to visit this endlessly fascinating corner of Northern Europe. The history of the region is intriguing, with countries vying for commercial and political influence for over a thousand years. This complex past will be brought to life by our onboard Guest Speaker and informative local guides, helping us to gain a greater understanding of both old and new Baltic nations.
Our trip is certainly one of the most comprehensive, visiting as it does Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark and the Netherlands before ending in the UK. We will spend time in the beautiful Scandinavian ports with their unique atmosphere and architecture and discover the Baltic capitals including Tallinn and Riga with their charming Medieval old towns. With the MS Hebridean Sky as our base, we have the advantage of also being able to call into some smaller ports of call which the larger ships in the region are unable to access including the island of Bornholm in Denmark, the Estonian island of Saaremaa, a gem with its Medieval Episcopal castle and timeless countryside and picturesque Mariehamn in Finland with its strong seafaring traditions. Added to this, joining you on board will be a knowledgeable Guest Speaker who, together with the informative local guides, will add much to your experience and knowledge of this fascinating region.
- Travelling with You - Stephen Carr-Smith. Major General Stephen Carr-Smith served throughout much of the Cold War in Europe and then with NATO. On leaving the Army, he worked for a company providing security and mine clearance services in remote and hostile countries. He was also the Senior Military Advisor to an operational analysis company owned by British Aerospace and the Chairman of a company developing opportunities to marry up Russian technology with western finance and production. He was the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (1999-2006), dealing with redress and financial compensation for buyers and sellers of residential property throughout the UK and is now a non-executive director on the Council that runs the National Land and Property Information Service (NLIS). Stephen Carr-Smith was the Honorary Colonel of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) from 1996-2006 – an all women, uniformed volunteer body that has supported the British Army for 100 years.
There are no future departures for this trip at this stage.
show reverse itinerary
Day 1 London to Stockholm, Sweden.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive in Stockholm and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner on board and moor overnight.
Day 2 Stockholm.
This morning we will enjoy a guided city tour which includes the Vasa Museum, built around the 17th century warship which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbour on her maiden voyage in 1628; its discovery 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. Be on deck this afternoon 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.
Day 3 Mariehamn, Finland.
This morning we sail through some of the 6700 islands of the Aland archipelago and 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.
Day 4 Helsinki.
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 will enjoy a private concert of his music.
Day 5 Tallinn, Estonia.
Over breakfast we arrive in the historic maritime city of Tallinn with her awe inspiring city walls and fortifications, narrow Medieval streets and the 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. There will be free time to explore further at your own pace this afternoon before we meet this evening for a concert at the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Day 6 Saaremaa.
After a leisurely morning at sea arrive at Estonia’s largest island which offers a glimpse of a bygone age. Untouched by industry it is a green and very pleasant land dotted with attractive villages in a rolling forested landscape. During an afternoon drive we will visit the lovely capital Kuressaare with its magnificent Medieval castle and stroll through the streets of the enchanting old town. Continue inland on a journey that will take you back in time through a countryside of stone walls, thatched roofs, traditional villages and windmills.
Day 7 Riga, Latvia.
This morning we will explore Latvia’s capital by foot. Founded in the 13th century it became one of the most successful trading cities of the Baltic. Explore the Old Town with its Medieval streets lined with Hanseatic warehouses and punctuated with Gothic and Baroque churches including St Peter Cathedral, the largest Medieval church in the Baltic. Return to the ship for lunch and spend an afternoon exploring independently, maybe see the Art Nouveau district, visit one of the many local museums or the impressive central market housed in an old zeppelin hangar.
Day 8 Klaipeda, Lithuania.
Founded in 1252 by the Teutonic Knights of East Prussia, Klaipeda was annexed by Hitler in 1939 and almost destroyed towards the end of World War II. Arriving at lunchtime we will explore the old town of Klaipeda including a stop in Theatre Square before strolling along the atmospheric narrow streets where in the past craftsmen including shoemakers, blacksmiths and bakers used to live and work. Continue towards the resort town Palanga where, after a walk through the Botanical park, we arrive at a 19th century Neo-Renaissance style mansion which houses the largest Amber Museum in the Baltics. Here we will learn all about “Baltic gold” before returning to Klaipeda where we will enjoy a drink and live music in a nearby restaurant before setting sail this evening.
Day 9 Gdansk, Poland.
Gdansk’s 1000 years of history have left a collection of buildings and monuments designed in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. On a morning city tour we will walk along the cobbled streets of the Royal Way in the old quarter and view the elaborate architecture, including the 15th century merchant’s palace of Artus Court. Also see the pride of Gdansk, Gothic St. Mary’s which is the world’s largest brick church, accommodating some 25,000 worshippers. Alternatively choose a tour to the 13th century Malbork Castle which belonged to the Teutonic Order and at the time was the largest castle in the world. Over the years it has been used as a royal residence as well as a fortress and was renovated after being damaged during World War II. In 1997 it was listed as World Heritage Site by UNSECO and now serves as a museum with grand exhibition halls displaying collections of armory, ceramics, sculptures and spectacular Baltic amber. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon to explore further at your own pace before we meet this evening to enjoy a recital by members of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic at a local venue.
Day 10 Karlskrona, Sweden.
After a morning at sea we return to Sweden and the charming town of Karlskrona on the island of Trosso. Its unique layout and the well-preserved dockyards dating back from the 17th and 18th centuries, have placed Karlskrona on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This afternoon choose to either explore the area on land, including the Maritime Museum and Vasa Shed from where the Vasa was constructed and launched in 1778. Alternatively take a boat trip across to the Kungsholm Fortress, built in 1689 to protect the harbour. We will have time to explore the towers and also the small botanical garden with plants from throughout the world collected during the Navy’s sea training cruises and returned to Kungsholm.
Day 11 Ronne, Bornholm Island, Denmark.
We arrive into Ronne this morning which will be our base for the day. During our morning excursion we explore the highlights of northern Bornholm. Bornholm Island is a mixture of wheat fields, forests and an attractive coast dotted with fishing villages. On an island drive we will see the famous 12th century Osterlars Round Church and visit the town of Gudhjem where we can sample the smoked herring. Also see Hammershus Castle offering fantastic views of the island’s rugged coastline. The afternoon is free to explore independently.
Day 12 Nyborg, Funen Island.
Arrive today on the island of Funen and the small town of Nyborg. Being in the centre of the country it was chosen as Denmark’s first capital city from 1183 to 1413 and it was in Nyborg Castle that the first Danish Constitution was signed. We will leave the town this morning to visit the fairytale Egeskov Castle. Built in 1554 it is one of the best preserved Renaissance moat castles in Europe and is surrounded by one of Denmark’s finest gardens. Spend the morning exploring the rooms of the castle and see the remarkable Titania’s Palace dolls house, made up of over 3000 individual components. Alternatively wander along the garden paths. Return to the ship for lunch and the afternoon is free to explore Nyborg, maybe see the impressive castle, walk through the pretty town with its well preserved historic buildings or learn about the local gin industry at the distillery.
Day 13 Kiel Canal, Germany.
In the very early hours we begin our transit of the historic 61 mile long Kiel Canal and sail from the Baltic into the North Sea. Kaiser Wilhelm I set the first foundation stone in place on June 3, 1887 in Brunsbuttel, and the final stone was laid by Kaiser Wilhelm II on June 21, 1895, in Holtenau. Today, the Kiel Canal is one of the busiest man-made waterways in the world. Depart the canal mid-morning and spend the remainder of the day cruising.
Day 14 The Hague, Netherlands.
This morning we will call into the port of Scheveningen and visit The Hague, the Netherlands’ third largest city. A stately, regal place it is filled with mansions, green boulevards and parks, and some of the most stunning palaces and museums. On our tour this morning we pass the Peace Palace and explore the historical Binnenhof on foot. Also visit the delightful Mauritshuis Museum, the unique 17th century palace that houses “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” and “The Goldfinch” as well as many other world famous paintings by the Dutch Masters. Return to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon at sea.
Day 15 Portsmouth, UK.
Arrive this morning. Transfers will be provided to our London departure airport and Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station at a fixed time.
Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Hebridean Sky
Hebridean Sky has always been known for its effortless elegance, impeccable service and atmosphere of charm and camaraderie. Now we add increased adventure options and an on-site Passenger Service Re…
Hebridean Sky
| Length | 90 metres |
|---|---|
| Built/refurbished | 1992/2016 |
Hebridean Sky has always been known for its effortless elegance, impeccable service and atmosphere of charm and camaraderie. Now we add increased adventure options and an on-site Passenger Service Representative. Hebridean Sky is the perfect blend of luxury and adventurous exploration. Is it a luxury ship? An adventure ship? It’s both! The vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016.
ONBOARD DINING
Great expeditions require great food! We are pleased to offer daily changing breakfast, lunch and dinner menus with an emphasis on providing well balanced and nutritional cuisine. Our team of international chefs has boat loads of creativity and you are sure to experience a variety of interesting dishes throughout your voyage. The restaurant is located on Deck 2 and our service team looks forward to providing a memorable dining experience.
IMPECCABLE SMALL-SHIP AMENITIES
Returning from excursions, passengers enjoy complimentary refreshments, afternoon tea and all-day coffee in The Club, a gracious space for relaxation, surrounded by panoramic windows. Other Sea Explorer features include:
- Library with Internet access
- Lounge with audiovisual facilities
- Dining room
- Wraparound sun deck with Jacuzzi
- Exercise room
- Medical facilities with available doctor
- Elevator serving all passenger decks
- Swimming/zodiac platform
All Voyages Include:
Up to Two Pre-Voyage Hotel Nights
Complimentary Wine or Beer with Dinner
Certified Emergency MD and Clinic
World Class Cuisine
Live Entertainment
Complimentary Coffee/Tea station
Voyage Photographer
Dedicated Passenger Service Manager
Complimentary Expedition Jacket
Please note deck plan may vary.
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