CRUISING THE BBAALLTTIICC SSEEAA AND THE NNOORRWWEEGGIIAANN FFJJOORRDDSS SWEDEN N ESTONIA N RUSSIA N LATVIA POLAND N DENMARK N NORWAY ABOARD THE DELUXE M.S. L E DIAMANT JUNE 22 TO JULY 4, 2009 FEATURING A PRIVATE MEETING WITH LECH WALESA BY MAY E 11 RV , E 20 S 0 E 9 R SPECIAL u SAVINGS u S A E! VE L $ UP 1000 PER CO Dear Bryn Mawr alumnae/i and friends, We are delighted to invite you to experience the magnificent beauty of Norway’s fjords and the cultural rebirth of the Baltic states on this special voyage during summer’s spectacular White Nights. We are particularly proud to announce that this program offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with Lech Walesa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and leader of the Solidarity movement’s struggle against Communist rule, which eventually toppled Soviet domination in all of the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. This unique itinerary includes accommodations aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. L E DIAMANT , one of the world’s most celebrated small cruise ships, featuring only 113 outside staterooms. Continually refurbished, the ship offers a luxurious sanctuary with personalized service, fine cuisine and elegant amenities. Embark in historic Stockholm and visit the recently reborn Baltic states as they experience their post-Soviet renaissance. From the medieval lanes of Tallinn, Estonia, and Riga, Latvia, to the legacy of Gd a´nsk, Poland’s,“Solidarity” movement, observe their rich traditions and newfound cultural vitality. Call on the ports of St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia and home to some of the finest museums and palaces in the world, and Copenhagen, the regal capital of Denmark, before cruising the spectacular fjords of Norway. Throughout the journey, your understanding of this rapidly changing region will be enhanced by a series of included and optional excursions led by expert guides. To complement your cruise program, we invite you to join the special two-night Stockholm Pre-Program Option and/or the two-night Post-Program Option in the ancient Hanseatic city of Bergen, Norway. The romantic White Nights of Summer, the deluxe M.S. L E DIAMANT and the exclusive itinerary including a private meeting with Polish hero Lech Walesa make this an ideal opportunity to experience one of the most important historical epochs of our time and the Baltic region’s rich cultural heritage. This distinctive Cruising the Baltic Sea and the Norwegian Fjords program has sold out the last four years, so we urge you to make your reservation while Special Savings are still available. And, if you invite family and/or friends who are not already booked on the Baltic Sea and the Norwegian Fjords cruise, both you and your family/friends will save an additional 10% off the Special Savings prices if they reserve one or more staterooms in addition to yours before May 11, 2009.* Warm wishes, Cover: Marvel at Norway’s glacier-covered fjords, Northern Europe’s most majestic scenery. Wendy M. Greenfield Executive Director Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association *Space is limited and contingent on availability. U.S. and neoclassical architecture, and see Monday, June 22 the Church of the Spilled Blood and Depart from the U.S. for 19th-century St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Stockholm, Sweden. crowned by a striking golden dome. Tour the city’s first building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, which was STOCKHOLM , S WEDEN constructed in 1703 to defend Russia Tuesday, June 23 against Swedish invasion and to Transfer to the exclusively chartered secure Russia’s access to the sea. M.S. L E DIAMANT upon arrival. This The impressive Baroque Cathedral of evening, join the Captain for a special Sts. Peter and Paul contains the tombs welcome reception and dinner. of all of Russia’s czars, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. TALLINN , E STONIA This evening attend an optional Wednesday, June 24 ballet performance in the historic Having largely escaped the ravages Hermitage Theater or an optional of World War II, Tallinn’s Old Town Russian folklore show in the Nikolevsky has remained virtually unchanged for Art Center. the past 600 years and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage ST. P ETERSBURG site. During the walking tour, visit the Friday, June 26 medieval Town Hall, the only surviving Begin your day with the specially Gothic-style hall in Europe, and see arranged, early-opening tour of the the landmark Alexander Nevsky renowned Hermitage, a former czarist Cathedral and the 13th-century palace and one of the world’s greatest art Church of St. Nicholas. museums. Its spectacular collection is rivaled only by its ornate interiors. ST. P ETERSBURG Spend this afternoon in St. Petersburg Thursday, June 25 on your own, or join an optional Arrive in the marvelous city of excursion to the imperial compound St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the of Pushkin and Catherine Palace, an Great in 1703. Spend one and a half elaborate Baroque edifice built in days exploring the city’s legendary 1741 by Peter the Great’s daughter, landmarks, scattered across more than Elizabeth I, in honor of her mother. 100 islands linked by six times as Visit the extraordinary Amber Room, many bridges. where six tons of amber, deftly carved Following lunch, drive along the and framed in gold leaf, were the main thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospect, crown jewel of Russian art until the lined with exquisite Russian Baroque room was looted by the Nazis in 1941. Admire the ornate fountains and gilded statues of the Grand Cascade at Petrodvorets, which reflects the power and vision of Peter the Great, when you join this optional excursion. UN He v v Air ORWAY SognefjordN Cruise Aurlandsfjord v v BeBergenrgen SWEDEN v Stockholm• K North k a a a r t Sea r t e e e S ag g k a S t c ti al Copenhagen• B DENMARK Gda´nsk• POLAND Stroll through Tallinn, a hub of European culture and commerce, which retains its history in the 600-year-old spires and gables of its skyline. The room was meticulously reconstructed CRUISING THE BALTIC SEA to commemorate St. Petersburg’s Monday, June 29 300th birthday in 2003. Spend the day at leisure on board, while Alternatively, join an optional cruising the Baltic Sea. excursion to Peter the Great’s elegant summer estate and palace at Petrodvorets. Lined with exquisite gilded GDA N´ SK , P OLAND fountains and white marble statues, its Tuesday, June 30 gardens are among the most spectacular Arrive in Gd a´nsk , a historic city that in the world. The visit includes a walk features some of Poland’s finest medieval through the palace and grounds. and Renaissance architecture. In 1980, Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil. Lenin Shipyard workers, led by Lech The ship departs St. Petersburg later Walesa, founded the Solidarity this evening. movement—the first independent trade union in Eastern Europe and the key factor in the Polish struggle against Communism. CRUISING THE BALTIC SEA Tour the historic yards and see the Saturday, June 27 Monument to the Shipyard Worker, raised The day is at leisure on board the in memory of a violent strike in 1970. deluxe M.S. L E DIAMANT as you cruise Continue to the Old Town and visit the the Baltic Sea. stately 14th-century Town Hall, a beautiful Gothic structure noted for its Dutch RIGA , L ATVIA Mannerist interior. Remarkably restored Sunday, June 28 after World War II, it is now the home of Once a member of the Hanseatic League, the Museum of the History of Gd a´nsk. Riga has been listed as a UNESCO By exclusive arrangement, enjoy a World Heritage site for its eclectic private visit on the ship with Lech Walesa. combination of national romantic, In Stockholm’s most historic district, the Gamla Stan , stately art nouveau, neo-Gothic, neo-Baroque with narrow alleys and pedestrian walkways lined with charm and ultramodern architecture. Attend the specially arranged organ recital in St. John’s Church, one of Riga’s oldest buildings, originally a Dominican chapel consecrated in the 13th century. Tour Old Riga and see the Great Guild Hall Square, the Swedish Gate and the artfully designed Blackhead’s House, a magnificent 14th-century guildhouse destroyed in World War II. It was completely rebuilt with bricks donated by Riga’s citizens to commemorate the city’s 800th anniversary in 2001. NESCO World H ritage site v A r uise RUSSIA St. PetersburgPetersburg TTaallinnllinn ESTONIA Riga LATVIA D D Discover Copenhagen’s Viking roots along the city’s scenic waterfront, where centuries of maritime history still come to life. He will share his insights into the CRUISING THE Solidarity movement, which played a NORWEGIAN FJORDS seminal role in the pursuit of Polish Friday, July 3 democracy, and the collapse of Norway’s majestic fjords offer the most Communism in Eastern Europe. stunning coastal scenery in Europe. Cruise past traditional farmsteads and COPENHAGEN , D ENMARK villages along the placid Sognefjord and Wednesday, July 1 Aurlandsfjord, flanked by soaring, Board a canal boat for the afternoon cruise snowcapped mountains plunging through the heart of Copenhagen. See dramatically into the cobalt blue waters Christiansborg Palace, the Naval Church, at their base. the Stock Exchange and the famous “Little This evening, attend the Captain’s Mermaid” statue, which honors the work special farewell reception. of Denmark’s favorite author, Hans Christian Andersen. Disembark and pass BERGEN /U.S. by Tivoli Gardens, Amalienborg Palace Saturday, July 4 and the King’s Garden en route to the Disembark the ship this morning and famous Strøget pedestrian street.