Scandinavian & Baltic Odyssey
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BOOK EARLY & SAVE £200 PER PERSON SCANDINAVIAN & BALTIC ODYSSEY A VOYAGE FROM ABERDEEN TO STOCKHOLM ABOARD THE MS HEBRIDEAN SKY 7 TH TO 19TH JULY 2019 Tallinn he long sunny days of a Baltic summer are legendary and the T perfect time to witness the spectacle of colour and joy that the sun brings to this northern world which, bordered by diverse kingdoms and FINLAND republics in a relatively contained area, is ideally suited to exploration SWEDEN St Petersburg NORWAY Mariehamn Kota by ship. Whether it be the grandeur of St Petersburg and its surrounding Kragero RUSSIA Tallinn country estates, the fascinating Baltic states and their capitals with Aberdeen Stocholm ESTONIA Visby marvellously untouched Medieval quarters or the sheer delight of small Aalborg Elsinore Scandinavian ports with their unique architecture, the Baltic offers a real DENMARK Copenhagen cornucopia of delights which are all accessible from the comfort of the Christianso UK MS Hebridean Sky. Bornholm With over twenty years of experience operating cruises in this region, we believe we have the most perfectly balanced cruise. Whilst not forsaking our old time favourites such as Tallinn and St Petersburg we also visit some smaller ports which the big cruise vessels are unable to access. These well-hidden treasures include the islands of Christianso and 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 an expert team who, together with the informative local guides, will add much to your experience and knowledge of this fascinating region. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Kronborg Castle Lindholm Hoje, Viking Burial Site Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn Copenhagen Bornholm Island graves, scattered on a hilltop with a identical Rococo buildings which its streets from the Middle Ages and The Itinerary beautiful view of the fjord. Continue have been the Royal Residence see its gardens ablaze with flowers, Day 1 Aberdeen. Embark the to the onsite museum that contains since 1784. Also see the Little earning the city its nickname ‘the city of MS Hebridean Sky this afternoon. a fascinating exhibition on the Mermaid Fountain, Christianborg ruins and roses’. Later, visit the Viking Transfers will be provided from Viking settlements found close to Castle, the Royal Theatre and the exhibits at the Gotland Museum and Aberdeen Railway Station and the burial ground. We will end with Nyhavn district. wander the paths of the botanical Aberdeen Airport at a fixed time. the chance to enjoy authentic Viking gardens. Return to the ship for lunch Sail this evening. cuisine with some small dishes Day 6 Bornholm & Christianso, and maybe join a lecture this afternoon prepared using traditional recipes. Denmark. Over breakfast we arrive as we cruise the Baltic Sea. Day 2 At Sea. Relax on board as we After lunch on board we will have an on Bornholm. Peaceful and scenic, sail across the North Sea to Norway. afternoon to explore the old town of Bornholm Island is a mixture of Day 8 Tallinn, Estonia. This morning Maybe join a lecture in the lounge, Aalborg. A guided tour will include wheat fields, forest and an attractive we arrive in the historic maritime city of read a book in the library or find a the Renaissance styled Merchant coast dotted with fishing villages. Tallinn with its awe inspiring city walls spot on deck. houses, the Baroque town hall, the On an island drive we will see the and fortifications, narrow Medieval 16th century Budolfi Cathedral and famous 12th century Osterlars streets and the gateways which remain Day 3 Kragero, Norway. Surrounded Aalborghus Castle. Alternatively, for Round Church and visit the town remarkably well preserved. In the Upper by nearly 500 islands and skerries, anyone interested in sampling the of Gudjem where we can sample Town we will enjoy the views from Kragero is a charming town in the local beers there will be the chance the smoked herring. Also see Dome Hill with the extraordinary vista region of Telemark and a popular to join a guided walk of the old Hammerhus Castle offering fantastic of domes, spires and gables and see summer retreat. This morning we town including a tasting of the local views of the island’s rugged Toompea Castle, once a fortress, and will head inland to the Telemark specialities. coastline. Over lunch we sail to the now the seat of the Estonian parliament. Canal. When completed in 1892, tiny island of Christianso. Here, we Walking to the Lower Old Town we will after five years of construction, it was Day 5 Elsinore & Copenhagen, see the old fortress of King Christian visit the main square where we will find described as the ‘eighth wonder of Denmark. The Danish King, Eric V and learn about the island’s past the oldest pharmacy in Europe, the the world’. We will join one of the of Pomerania built a fortress in including its history as an island Gothic Cathedral and the 15th century local boats as they transit the 18 the early 15th century to enforce prison. Today, it is a very special Town Hall. Either return to the ship for locks, lifting the ship 72 metres above the collection of dues for all ships and peaceful place where the eider lunch or remain in the city and enjoy sea level and enjoy the changing wishing to enter the Baltic. In ducks appear everywhere and on some free time before we sail in the late scenery as we travel from the sea to the following century Frederick II the bird sanctuary of Grasholmen afternoon. the mountains. Returning to Kragero rebuilt the castle into a magnificent thousands of herring gulls, razorbill for lunch we have the afternoon Renaissance castle, Kronborg was and guillemot breed. Please Days 9 & 10 St Petersburg, Russia. We free to explore the downtown area, considered at the time to be the note that we will be at anchor at have two days to explore this walking through the narrow streets strongest fortress in Europe. The Christianso and will use Zodiacs most endlessly captivating of Russian and alleyways amongst the old castle is known to many as ‘Elsinore’ to go ashore should weather city’s. Founded in 1703 by Peter the wooden houses. the setting for Shakespeare’s conditions permit. Great, St Petersburg is a fascinating mix tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. of classic and Baroque architecture on Day 4 Aalborg, Denmark. Aalborg The play has been performed in Day 7 Visby, Sweden. Today we a network of canals. We will be offering was founded by the Vikings in the the castle many times and included visit this once important Hanseatic a number of tours during our time here late 10th century across the Limfjord such prominent actors as Laurence port. Best explored on foot, the including visits to the Peter and Paul and prospered from the fishing and Olivier and John Gielgud. We will beautifully preserved Medieval town Fortress, a canal cruise through the sea trade on the fjord. On a morning enjoy a morning exploring the snuggles inside 13th century walls, city, the wonderful Peterhof Palace and excursion we will explore the ancient castle and the old town before housing 44 watchtowers. In Viking Gardens, the Catherine Palace and a Viking site of Lindholm Hoje, one returning to the ship for lunch. times and several centuries after, tour of the cities cathedrals of Kazan, of the most important ancient This afternoon you can choose to the Swedish island of Gotland and St Isaacs and the Church of the Spilled monuments in Scandinavia which was explore further or join a tour to especially the city of Visby, became Blood. On our first evening we will dug out from a thick layer of sand. Copenhagen where we will see the a centre of trade in the Baltic Sea enjoy a private tour and concert at the We will visit the burial site of 700 Palace of Amalienborg with its four and is a World Heritage Site. Walk Hermitage Museum. Post-Cruise Stockholm Extension 19th to 21st July 2019 If you wish to explore Stockholm in more depth after disembarking the MS Hebridean Sky we are offering a two night extension which includes an orientation tour as well as time at leisure to explore this fascinating city. The Itinerary Day 1 Stockholm. After disembarking we will enjoy a morning guided city tour which includes the Vasa Museum. The museum was built around the 17th century warship which sank in Stockholm’s inner Day 11 Kotka, Finland. Built on Aland archipelago arriving over harbour on her maiden voyage in 1628; its discovery in 1956 and the site where the River Kymijoki lunch into the attractive town of subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in meets the Baltic Sea, picturesque Mariehamn. Choose to join an marine archaeology. In addition to the well-preserved, elaborately Kotka has a long seafaring tradition. afternoon drive where we will head decorated hull, thousands of items from the ship, including hundreds This morning we will explore the into the beautiful countryside of sculptures, have been recovered. On our return to the city we will history of the region and visit along scenic roads, stopping at drive through old Stockholm and past the Parliament Building and the Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Badhausberget with panoramic Royal Palace which overlooks the inner Harbour. The remainder of the Lodge which was built in 1889 for views over the archipelago. day and lunch are at leisure to explore independently.