Baltic History
Departs 9th July 2008, from Dover, for 17 nights.
Overview | Lecturers | Shore Excursions | Price | Itinerary | Deck Plans
Our ship seems to float a-top fields and meadows as we transit the 53-mile long Kiel Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways. Arriving in Warnemunde we leave the ship for a walking tour of Rostock, visiting the centuries-old New Market and its beautiful Hanseatic-influenced city hall. A highlight is the old Stasi interrogation centre, now dedicated to recording the crimes of the former state police. From the city centre we visit the Troposhere bunker in Eichenthal, built as a command centre in case of NATO attack and only completed in 1987.We’ll be treated just as would have been a delegation from the Soviet Union during the height of the cold war, uniformed AK-47 armed guards and all!
Arriving in Stockholm, we travel to the quaint town of Mariefred on the southern shore of Lake Mälaren and its chief attraction of 16th century Gripsholm Castle, where we visit the well preserved Royal Apartments. After a walk in the town we travel to Taxinge Castle to sample Europe’s largest cake buffet and then tour the castle.
From Kemi your excursion takes you up to Finnish Lappland and the Arctic Circle. Here you’ll journey down Kemijoki, Finland’s longest river in a traditional narrow boat; visit a reindeer farm on the Arctic Circle to learn more about these important animals; meet Lapland’s most important resident, Santa Claus; as well as going to the Artikum, a science centre and museum whose exhibits provide a unique insight to the region.
Your tour in Turku takes you to its Renaissance Castle. Initially built in 1280, it was restyled as we see it today between 1556 and 1563 as a Swedish base.We visit many areas of the castle not normally open to the public and continue to
the ‘mother church’ of Finland,Turku Cathedral, consecrated in 1300.
Two days in St. Petersburg allows plenty of time for discoveries.We visit the famous Russian Naval Base Kronshtadt, about 15 miles from the city. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great to protect lands seized from Sweden in the Northern War, the same lands at the mouth of the Neva on which he established his new capital of St. Petersburg.
From Korsor, we see the world's second largest suspension bridge, the Great Belt Bridge on the way to a Viking settlement at Trelleborg. Dating back to 980, the fortress covers some 15 acres and it’s estimated that half of all the oaks on Zealand were cut down to construct the original fortress.
In the Norwegian capital our tour takes us to Akerhaus Castle, which has been both a fortress and Royal residence and dates from 1299.Then to the Royal palace, where we will be taken on a tour of its most important rooms, and from where we walk back down Oslo’s main street to the ship.
