Dates

Overview

Set sail aboard the 184-guest Le Champlain on an exceptional 8-day itinerary. This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture. This voyage across the Baltic Sea visiting six countries – Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden and Denmark.

Expedition Highlights

• A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.
• Engaging lectures and discussions on board with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including historian Laurie Koloski and professor of architecture and urbanism Edward Becker.
• An exclusive presentation and discussion aboard with former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Lech Wałęsa while in Gdansk.
• A voyage through six countries along the Baltic Sea – Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, and Denmark.
• Four UNESCO World Heritage sites en route – The Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn, Drottningholm Palace outside Stockholm, the natural Curonian Peninsula in Lithuania, and the Hanseatic Town of Visby.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Helsinki, Finland – Embarkation

Seated in the southern peninsula of Finland, Helsinki offers the buzz of a cosmopolitan city that has opted for both elegance and beauty. Explore its historical center where the soft hues of neoclassical buildings are juxtaposed with spectacular modern constructions. The bustling Kallio district is teeming with boutiques and restaurants where you can taste some local specialties like graavilohi – a sweet, marinated, aromatic salmon dish. Keskuspuisto park, a stone’s throw from the center, is a good place to sit and unwind.
 

Day 2 – Tallinn, Estonia

Opening onto the Baltic Sea, to the far north of Estonia, the town of Tallinn will win you over with the picturesque charm of its architecture. You can meander through its little streets in the heart of the medieval center where its gothic town hall has been standing since 1404. The Kiek in de Kök tower, the Orthodox Alexander Nevski cathedral, or Toompea castle give visitors a taste of this town’s rich past. The city was particularly active during the medieval period, as is demonstrated by the very beautiful monuments from this period that are still visible. Don’t hesitate to lose yourself in the heart of Tallinn, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 

 Day 3 – Stockholm, Sweden

The capital of Sweden occupies an archipelago in the east of the country at the junction of Mälar Lake and the Baltic Sea. In Gamla stan, meaning “old town” in Swedish, you can stroll at your leisure in picturesque medieval streets until you reach the majestic Royal Palace. On the green island of Djurgården, you can visit several very different kinds of cultural centers: the Vasa museum is dedicated to a 17th century three-mast, the Eco museum of Skansen presents traditional customs, and the ABBA museum is dedicated to the legendary pop group. For a fantastic, all-encompassing view of Stockholm, you can take a ride in SkyView, a glass-encased sphere gondola that takes you to the top of the world’s largest building, the Ericsson Globe, a Stockholm landmark.
 

Day 4 – Visby, Gotland

This old Hanseatic city lies to the west coast of Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. Pass through the spectacular Visby fortifications and visit the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll discover the grand Visby homes of rich merchants as well as the lovely low wooden houses in the little cobbled streets. Don’t miss Saint Mary’s cathedral with its octagonal steeples, as well as Powder tower along the fortifications. Make sure you stop over in one of the rose-adorned cafés; indeed roses abound in this town where you can taste one of the island’s specialties, namely saffron pancakes with red fruit.
 

Day 5 – Klaipeda, Lithuania

Klaipeda was founded in the 13th century by Christian crusaders from the German Order of Teutonic Knights. Its strategic location on the edge of the Baltic Sea has made it a source of conflict between Germans, Poles, Lithuanians and even the French since its creation. Today, the legacy of Klaipeda’s rich history is a great multiculturalism. This is the main port of Lithuania and the country’s third largest city. The beautiful landscapes of the surrounding Baltic coast make it a popular tourist destination. The city center is very pleasant to visit due to its architecture blending German and Scandinavian influences.
 

Day 6 – Gdansk, Poland

This ravishing city on the Baltic Sea is nicknamed “the golden door of Poland”, and you’ll understand why when you see its beautiful Hanseatic architecture. You’ll be charmed by the moldings and gables that enhance the colorful façades of the houses. Along the Vistula Quays, you can take a pleasant stroll among the crafts shops. In elegant Mariacka street, the amber jewelers will most certainly tempt you into their boutiques. You can visit the church of Saint-Mary and its astronomic clock. Not far, the majestic Long Market square offers the famous Artus Court and the rich Gdansk History Museum.
 

Day 7 – Gudhjem, Bornholm, Denmark

Lying in the south-west of the Baltic Sea, the medieval village of Gudhjem, on the island of Bornholm, is one of the most visited and most popular villages in Denmark. As you stroll along its picturesque streets, you will fall under the spell of its varied landscapes, its easy way of life, and the authenticity of this charming town with half-timbered houses topped with red roofs, in the Danish tradition. It is here, along these charming streets, that the first herring smokehouses were built in the mid-19th century, attracting all the region’s fishermen. Tucked away in a gorgeous natural setting composed of rocky cliffs, dense forests and beaches of white sand, Gudhjem will provide an unforgettable interlude where time will seem to stand still.
 

Day 8 – Copenhagen

Connected to the far eastern side of Sealand island, a few kilometers away from the Swedish coasts, Copenhagen offers you the high color of Scandinavian capitals. You can discover the city’s riches that weaves through the canal networks through the historical districts of Christiansborg and Nyhavn. Many palaces provide an apercu of Danish history. For eating, you can try out the smorrebrod, traditional Danish sandwiches made with ham, cheese or smoked fish.