Itinerary
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travellers 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. Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys for an extraordinary 9-day voyage through the Baltic Sea featuring a specially arranged, exclusive presentation and discussion aboard with former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Lech Wa??sa while in Szczecin, Poland. The Baltic Sea has been a thoroughfare of trade since the days of the Vikings. We will visit the great cities that ring its shores and experience a comingling of cosmopolitan life with centuries of rich history. Begin in cosmopolitan Stockholm, whose lively Gamla Stan (old town) located on a compact island showcases narrow cobblestone streets lined with 17th- and 18th-century buildings, including the Royal Palace. Le Champlain sails first to Helsinki. Located on a peninsula surrounded by almost 300 islands, the vibrant capital of Finland will charm you with its Art Nouveau architecture. You call next in Saint Petersburg-arguably the most magnificent city on the Baltic where virtually the entire city is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site-where you will have two full days to explore. Architectural gems abound-churches with elaborate domes, palaces, gardens, and canals. We invite you to visit this impressive city replete with the grandeur of the Tsars and traces of the Russian Enlightenment. Sail on to Tallinn, an important hub for the Hanseatic League in the Baltic Sea around the 13th century. Its Old Town is a UNESCO Heritage Site and retains remarkably well-preserved ramparts, public buildings, merchant houses, and warehouses. On Gotland-the largest island in the Baltic Sea-you stop at the beautifully preserved medieval town of Visby, once a stronghold of the Hanseatic League. You sail next to Szczecin, a city nearly destroyed during World War II. The city is home to the Castle of the Dukes of Pomerania, which was completely rebuilt following the war as a testament to the city' resilience. End in sophisticated Copenhagen, which displays 800 years of royal history at the stunning Christiansborg Palace, once home to kings and queens and now home to the Danish Parliament.
