12-Day Baltic Sea Cruise

This northern Europe cruise of the Baltic Sea takes you to some of the most captivating urban pearls of this fabulous locale. Kick back as we retrace the maritime trade routes of the medieval Hanseatic League aboard the modern and comfortable MS Fram. Your Baltic Cruise sails the canals of beautiful Stockholm, Sweden's "Venice of the North." You'll have ample time to trawl the design shops of modern Helsinki, Finland. Tour the imperial jewel that is St. Petersburg, Russia, before setting course for Estonia and Gotland, en route to Hamburg.

Lying on the Elbe River, Hamburg grew from a small fishing port to one of the most powerful Hanseatic cities. Today, this bustling city offers many attractions, from museums and theaters to a historic center with sophisticated shopping and dining. In the late afternoon your northern Europe cruise begins as you embark on the MS Fram.

Early in the morning we sail down the Elbe to the 61-mile Kiel Canal. The Kiel Canal connects the North and Baltic Seas and is the busiest artificial waterway in the world.

Ronne is the trade and administrative center of the Danish island of Bornholm. Its historical, Gamle Stan (Old Town), with its cobblestone streets flanked by cross-timbered houses, will entice you with its many charms.

Built on 14 islands, Stockholm has been dubbed the "Venice of the North." Dotted with parks and squares, the city is medieval and modern, offering some of the finest sights in all of Scandinavia. Explore the Old Town, the Royal Palace and the Wasa Museum, which houses the wreck of a warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. After an overnight stay, we continue our northern Europe cruise as we sail through a stunning archipelago, a photographer's dream, on our way to Finland.

The Finnish capital is laid out with wide streets interspersed with gardens and parks. Architecturally, Helsinki is a mix of old and new; the Senate House and Cathedral represent older buildings, while the railway station, built in 1918 by the architect Eliel Saarinen, is a fine example of 20th century design.

Though its name has changed many times throughout history, the charm and beauty of this Russian city on the River Neva has endured. Among its 1,000-plus architectural and historical monuments, the greatest is, perhaps, former imperial palace and modern museum The Hermitage, home to the great treasures of the Czars. Outside the city, you may explore Peterhof palace and gardens, built by Peter the Great to resemble Versailles.

The fairytale capital of Estonia was once an important port in the Hanseatic League. The aura of this 14th and 15th century heyday remains intact in central Tallinn's medieval streets, ancient churches, and picturesque houses; many of these are beautifully restored and fascinating to explore.

Visby is located off the coast of Sweden on the island of Gotland. In the 12th century it was one of the great cities of the Hanseatic League, as powerful as London or Paris. Today, its cobblestone streets, 40+ stone towers, and the ruins of many medieval churches remind visitors of the city's glorious past.

Today, our Baltic Sea Cruise takes us back towards Hamburg, and once more we will sail through the Kiel Canal. This time, you will have the opportunity to enjoy our movement through the locks late in the evening.

Today, the MS Fram will again navigate up the River Elbe and arrive in Hamburg, just in time for the city's annual port festival. Your northern Europe Baltic cruise ends on a celebratory note as you share the festivities of Hamburg's nautical birthday. Here you will enjoy one of the biggest harbor festivals in the world, featuring a magnificent program of entertainment on land, water, and in the air.

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*Cabin category H is equipped for physically challenged guests.

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