White Nights in the Baltic
A voyage from Portsmouth to Stockholm aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
- 29 May 2021
The long sunny days of a Baltic summer are legendary and the perfect time to witness the spectacle of colour and joy that the sun brings to this northern world which, bordered by diverse kingdoms and republics in a relatively contained area, is ideally suited to exploration by ship. Whether it be the grandeur of St Petersburg and its surrounding country estates, the fascinating Baltic states and their capitals with marvellously untouched Medieval quarters or the sheer delight of small Scandinavian ports with their unique architecture, the Baltic offers a real cornucopia of delights which are all accessible from the comfort of the all-suite MS Hebridean Sky.
Having operated voyages in the Baltic for over twenty five years, we believe this in-depth journey offers the perfect balance of time to explore cities, towns and islands during the included excursions combined with some time to relax or explore at leisure. We have included three days in the magnificent city of St Petersburg to discover its many wonders as well as those of other old-time favourites such as Gdansk and Tallinn. We will also visit some smaller ports which the big cruise vessels are unable to access such as Nyborg and the island of Bornholm in Denmark, Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site fortified by well-preserved 13th century walls and Kotka in Finland, a delightful town with a rich maritime heritage. Added to this, joining you on board will be knowledgeable Guest Speaker who, together with the informative local guides, will add much to your experience and knowledge of this fascinating region.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Caledonian Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world. Formerly known as the Sea Explorer, the vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016 before being re-launched as the MS Hebridean Sky.
Itinerary
Day 1 Portsmouth, England.
Embark this afternoon. A transfer will be provided from Portsmouth Train Station to the port at a fixed time. Enjoy a welcome dinner on board this evening as we set sail.
Day 2 The Hague, Netherlands.
Spend the morning at sea before we call into the port of Scheveningen and visit The Hague, the Netherland’s 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 afternoon 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.
Day 3 Kiel Canal.
Spend the morning at sea. In the late afternoon we begin our transit of the historic 61 mile long Kiel Canal. 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.
Day 4 Nyborg, Denmark.
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 remarkable Titania’s Palace dolls house, made up of over 3000 individual components or wandering 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 5 Ronne, Bornholm Island.
Over breakfast we arrive at the peaceful and scenic island of Bornholm - a mixture of wheat fields, forests and an attractive coast dotted with fishing villages. During our morning excursion we explore the highlights of northern Bornholm. We will see the famous 12th century Osterlars Round Church and visit the town of Gudjem where we can sample the smoked herring. Also see Hammerhaus Castle offering fantastic views of the island’s rugged coastline. The afternoon is free to explore the town of Ronne independently.
Day 6 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. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a leisurely afternoon to relax or explore further independently. Alternatively join the guided 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 a World Heritage Site by UNSECO and now serves as a museum with grand exhibition halls displaying collections of armoury, ceramics, sculptures and spectacular Baltic amber.
Day 7 Visby, Sweden.
After a morning at sea we arrive in this once important Hanseatic port. 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 is 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 Viking exhibits at the Gotland Museum and wander the paths of the botanical gardens.
Day 8 Saaremaa, Estonia.
This morning we 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. An island drive will take you back in time through a countryside of stone walls, thatched roofs, traditional villages and windmills before we end at the lovely capital Kuressaare with its magnificent Medieval castle. We will stroll through the streets of the enchanting old town before taking a local lunch. This afternoon you can choose to have free time in Kuressaare before returning to the ship or alternatively join a visit to Vidumae Nature Reserve which is home to many rare plants. Join a hike on the trails, climb the observation tower to enjoy the views from the islands’ highest point or visit the exhibition in the Nature Centre.
Day 9 Tallinn.
Spend the day 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.
Days 10 to 12 St Petersburg, Russia.
We have the luxury of three days to explore this most endlessly captivating of Russian cities. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St Petersburg is a fascinating mix of classic and Baroque architecture on a network of canals. We will be offering a number of tours during our time here including visits to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the wonderful Peterhof Palace and gardens, the fascinating Hermitage Museum, Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin and a canal cruise through the city. In your free time you may wish to join the optional excursion to Yusupov’s Palace, the famed scene of Rasputin’s murder, or attend a folklore show. For anyone wishing to visit the ballet one evening we will be able to assist with bookings once the schedules for the theatres are released, we hope to send details of this 12 weeks prior to departure.
Day 13 Kotka, Finland.
Built on the site where the River Kymijoki meets the Baltic Sea, picturesque Kotka has a long seafaring tradition. This morning we will explore the history of the region and visit the Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge which was built in 1889 for Alexander III, the future Emperor of Russia who used it as a summer home. It is now a living museum situated in a stunning nature reserve on the river. Continue to the Maritime Centre Vellamo where local guides will enlighten us about the maritime and cultural heritage of the region. The afternoon is free to explore the old city from our central berth.
Day 14 Helsinki.
Arriving in Helsinki over breakfast a 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 vessel for lunch. 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 15 Mariehamn, Aland Islands.
Be on deck this morning as we sail through some of the 6700 islands of the Aland archipelago before sailing into the attractive town of Mariehamn. Explore the island on an afternoon drive where we will head into the beautiful countryside along scenic roads towards the Jan Karlsgarden Museum where we learn about the islander’s farming traditions. At Badhausberget enjoy panoramic views over the town and islands before we visit the fascinating Aland Maritime Museum with its exhibits of model ships as well as highlighting the region’s shipbuilding history.
Day 16 Stockholm, Sweden.
We cruise this morning through the many islands of the Swedish archipelago. This is a great sailing area and the islands are peppered with attractive summer homes. Arrive over lunch in the city and spend the afternoon on 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.
Day 17 Stockholm to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
29 May to 14 June 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £7795 | £7495 |
Byrd Deck Superior Suite | £8095 | £7795 |
Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £8395 | £8095 |
Mawson Deck Corner Suite | £8795 | £8495 |
Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £9195 | £8895 |
Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £9495 | £9195 |
Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | £10695 | £10395 |
Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | £10195 | £9895 |
Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | £10495 | £10195 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHKS15082
Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel from Stockholm to London • 16 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Group visa in Russia • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, optional excursions in St Petersburg.
Hebridean Sky
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Caledonian Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world. Formerly known as the Sea Explorer, the vessel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in Sweden in Spring 2016 before being re-launched as the MS Hebridean Sky.
Travelling with You
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Professor Martyn Rady
Martyn Rady is Professor of Central European History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, a part of University College London. He has written books on German, Hungarian and Romanian history, and has edited and translated some of the leading texts for the history of Hungary – most recently the earliest Hungarian chronicle, written in Latin about the year 1200, and an eye-witness account of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241. He has broadcast extensively on television and radio, discussing subjects ranging from contemporary politics in Central Europe to vampirism and the history of the Habsburg Monarchy.
Professor Martyn Rady will be on the following tour dates: 29 May to 14 June 2021 -
Neil Horrocks
Neil has been at sea full-time since 2001, a year after he graduated in Pure Maths from the University of Manchester. Working his way up through the cruise industry led him to experience everywhere from the Arctic to Antarctica. He developed a passion for small-ship cruising and was delighted to lead his first Noble Caledonia cruise in January 2014. Now full-time with Noble Caledonia, he has experience of ocean and river cruising, and enjoys the variety of cruises and expeditions that Noble Caledonia offer. Equally adept at destination cruising or zodiac landings, Neil is very much an all-rounder, as well as being an accomplished pianist with a keen sense of humour and eye for detail. When not at sea, Neil lives in the southeast corner of England and tries to enjoy following the misfortunes of his football team, Brighton & Hove Albion, and is an active volunteer on the much-loved Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway.
Neil Horrocks will be on the following tour dates: 29 May to 14 June 2021
Tour Extensions
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If you wish to explore Stockholm in more depth after disembarking the MS Hebridean Sky, we are offering a two night hotel extension.
Stockholm
Prices per person based on double occupancy
14 to 16 June 2021 Category Price Twin £645 Single £945 Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation with breakfast, Tour Manager, gratuities, transfers.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Itinerary at a glance
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- Gdansk (Gdynia), Poland
- Klaipeda, Lithuania.
- Riga
- Saaremaa, Estonia
- Tallinn
- St Petersburg
- Helsinki, Finland
- Stockholm, Sweden
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000