BALTIC Beauties

By Diane Tierney

Cruise the Baltic Sea for bold destinations that make brazen impressions.

The Baltic Sea beckons cruisers like never before with its bold and beautiful ports. Whether you’re a culture vulture, architecture aficionado or sophisticated city slicker, the Baltic countries feature cities brimming with both Old World grandeur and charming, quaint character. On a Baltic cruise, you’ll easily circumnavigate the sea in style and, within a week or two, see several sensational countries: Russia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Poland and more. These Baltic countries also have many UNESCO World Heritage sites, many close to port, such as Tallinn’s Old Town or Sweden’s Drottningholm Palace, a well-preserved royal castle. And, in summer, thanks to being in a region of the midnight sun,

SUOMENLINNA FORTRESS HELSINKI, FINLAND

the days are extra-long, which adds to the ease of adventures. There are many options to take two tours in a day – a city day tour of palaces and an evening at the opera or ballet after dinner. Many of the cities are also very easy to walk if you want to explore on your own. Consider choosing a cruise line that offers overnight stays so you can delve deeper into these many-layered destinations. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Viking are terrific options for this region. Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises also have Baltic sailings in luxury ships that complement the opulent sights you’ll see during the day.

Here are highlights of four fabulous stops that are not to be missed when selecting a Baltic cruise itinerary.

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Prepare for a treasure trove of over-the-top ornate palaces and cathedrals set along scenic canals. Admire the numerous works of art at the State Hermitage Museum inside the Winter Palace, gawk at the grand interiors of Catherine Palace, and wander the manicured gardens of the Grand Palace at Peterhof. Don’t miss a visit to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood to see its splendid onion domes and famous mosaics. During the evening, relax in wonder, seeing world-class ballet or traditional dancing Cossacks – if only for the regal pomp of the glorious theatres.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

The Swedish capital sits on 14 islands and the Old Town, Gamla Stan, has narrow meandering cobblestone streets, quaint shops, and cafés. Also, visit the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe with 600 rooms and five museums. You’ll marvel at the coronation carriages, silver throne, and royal costumes and armour.

TALLINN, ESTONIA

ST. OLAV’S CHURCH TALLIN, ESTONIA

Tallinn is the sleeper surprise of the Baltics and a true delight. Did Disney design this fairy tale place? The Gothic Town Hall Square has cafés and quaint shops, including a 15th-century pharmacy, still in operation. Wander cobblestone streets within the fortress walls and climb the steeple of St. Olav’s Church for a view of red-tile roofs. Village performers dressed in medieval clothing play flutes on street corners to add to the dreamy atmosphere of stepping back into medieval times.

HELSINKI, FINLAND

This city of islands and has the UNESCOlisted Fortress of Suomenlinna with its impressive walls and museums. In town, wander through the open-air market for stalls of goods ranging from fur hats to fresh fish. Baltic cruises also stop in Warnemünde, Germany, so you can see Berlin, and relatively new ports include Riga, Latvia and Gda´ nsk in Poland. And, since many Baltic cruises begin and end in Amsterdam or Copenhagen, be sure to spend time seeing the highlights of these quaint ports, perhaps as pre- or post-cruise stays if time allows.

CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA