Deckplan
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
A voyage from Stockholm to Portsmouth aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
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.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive in Stockholm and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner on board and moor overnight.
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. After some free time we sail in the late afternoon through the many islands of the Swedish archipelago. This is a great sailing area and the islands are peppered with attractive summer homes.
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. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon cruising through some of the 6,700 islands of the Aland archipelago.
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.
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 private concert at the Church of the Holy Spirit.
After a relaxing morning at sea 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. 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.
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.
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.
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 a 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.
Spend a morning cruising before we arrive into Ronne. During our afternoon 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 Gudjem where we can sample the smoked herring. Also see Hammerhaus Castle offering fantastic views of the island’s rugged coastline. On our return to Ronne we have some free time and will sail late for anyone wishing to have an evening ashore.
Germany’s largest island was developed as a holiday resort in the 19th century and today still retains much of its nostalgic charm. This morning we will make our way to the train station in the seaside resort of Binz. Here we will join the Rasende Roland, the magnificent steam train with a track length of 24.2 kilometres. At a top speed of 30 kilometres per hour we will meander through the magnificent countryside to the Royal Town of Putbus. Built in 1804 in the Classicist style with white houses surrounding a central circus and also the rose gardens, stable house and church we shall spend some time exploring with our local guides. Alternatively travel to the north of the island and the Jasmund National Park, the smallest in Germany and home to ancient beech forests and gleaming white chalk cliffs which tower up to 120 metres above the Baltic Sea. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, we will walk the paths learning about the endemic flora and fauna before taking in the views from the Koenigsstuhl (King’s Chair).
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. Our morning is free to explore the town, 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. After lunch we 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 afternoon exploring the rooms of the castle and see the remarkable Titania’s Palace dolls house, made up of over 3000 individual components or wandering along the garden paths.
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.
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.
Arrive this morning. Transfers will be provided to our departure London airport and Portsmouth Harbour train station at a fixed time.
21 August to 4 September 2024 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £7495 | £7295 |
Byrd Deck Superior Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £7995 | £7795 |
Mawson Deck Corner Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: SCHKS210824
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel from London to Stockholm • 14 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Martin Sixsmith is a writer, presenter and former television correspondent. He was the BBC’s Western Europe Correspondent for four years in the 1980s, reporting on the development and enlargement of the European Union. In the 1990s, Martin was the BBC’s correspondent in Warsaw, Moscow and Washington. Between 1997 and 2002 he worked for the British Government as Director of Communications and Press Secretary to several cabinet ministers.He worked as a consultant on the BBC2 political sitcom The Thick of It and the 2010 movie In the Loop. In 2013, his book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee was adapted into the film Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. It was nominated for four Oscars. His book Ayesha’s Gift, the story of a young woman’s search to discover the truth after her father is murdered in Pakistan, is in development as a film.His non-fiction books include Moscow Coup; The Litvinenko File; Putin’s Oil; Russia, A Thousand Year Chronicle of the Wild East and The War of Nerves – Inside the Cold War Mind. In 2011, he presented the BBC’s 50-episode history of Russia on Radio Four. In 2014 he presented Radio Four’s 25-part history of psychology and psychiatry.
A voyage from Aberdeen to Helsinki aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
A voyage from Helsinki to Stockholm aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker Martin Sixsmith
A voyage from Aberdeen to Stockholm aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
A voyage from Stockholm to Portsmouth aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000