Kiel Canal & The Baltic Sea Cruise

Day 1 - Amsterdam

Arrive: Sat 22 June 2024 / Depart: Sat 22 June 2024 at 18:00

The delightfully attractive city of Amsterdam is home to many of the world's great art treasures, and is a major center of the glamorous diamond trade as well. Unique architectural styles of the past blend with superb modern structures, and the web of curved and straight canals makes the city as easy to traverse by water as by land. The hospitality of the local people has been remarked upon by generations of travelers, and the Dutch's respect for and tolerance of the beliefs of others has attracted refugees from around the world for centuries.

Day 2 - Hamburg

Arrive: Sun 23 June 2024 at 19:30

The residents of Hamburg have retained the independent spirit which earned this autonomous commercial center its 'Free City' designation in the Middle Ages. One of Germany's principal ports, Hamburg is surrounded by enormous dock areas and the gaudy, licentious Reeperbahn (which translates loosely to 'Anchorage of Joy') is fully prepared to offer every form of entertainment to the world's sailors. The vaudeville acts at the Hansa-Theater are bright and clever (and language is no barrier). The Kunsthalle (art museum) boasts an outstanding collection of 16th- and 20th-century masterpieces, and the Renaissance Rathaus (city hall) sits atop some 4,000 piles driven into marshy ground proving that the engineers of Hamburg have been skilled and imaginative for centuries.

Day 3 - Hamburg

Depart: Mon 24 June 2024 at 23:00

The residents of Hamburg have retained the independent spirit which earned this autonomous commercial center its 'Free City' designation in the Middle Ages. One of Germany's principal ports, Hamburg is surrounded by enormous dock areas and the gaudy, licentious Reeperbahn (which translates loosely to 'Anchorage of Joy') is fully prepared to offer every form of entertainment to the world's sailors. The vaudeville acts at the Hansa-Theater are bright and clever (and language is no barrier). The Kunsthalle (art museum) boasts an outstanding collection of 16th- and 20th-century masterpieces, and the Renaissance Rathaus (city hall) sits atop some 4,000 piles driven into marshy ground proving that the engineers of Hamburg have been skilled and imaginative for centuries.

Day 4 - Enter Kiel Canal

Day 4 - Daylight transit Kiel Canal

Day 4 - Exit Kiel Canal

Day 5 - Wismar

Arrive: Wed 26 June 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 26 June 2024 at 18:00

Wismar, on the Baltic just east of Lubeck, is one of the most important cities of the Hanseatic League. Shortly after its founding, it banded together with Lübeck and Rostock in a defensive alliance, which led to the formation of the League. Today it has one of the finest preserved and restored treasuries of German Brick Gothic architecture existing, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. It has the largest Market Square in Germany, anchored by the wrought-iron Waterworks from 1602, and surrounded by stellar buildings. The city was ruled by Sweden from 1648 until 1903. It was heavily damaged during World War II, and was a part of the GDR after the war until 1990. There are many fine examples of Hanseatic era patrician gable houses in Wismar, most notably the Alter Schwede (Old Swede) from 1380. The architectural heritage in the city spans eras from Gothic through Art Nouveau styles.

Day 6 - Ronne, Bornholm

Arrive: Thu 27 June 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 27 June 2024 at 16:00

A favorite summer getaway for Danes, Bornholm's rolling countryside reveals distinctive round white churches and ruined castles. The picturesque seaport of Roenne lies at the southwest corner of this Baltic island whose coastline mixes pearl white sand in the south with sheer granite cliffs to the north. Here you can see four of Denmark's seven famous round churches dating from the 12th century.

Day 7 - Gdansk, Poland

Arrive: Fri 28 June 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 28 June 2024 at 18:00

Historically known as the tinderbox whose spark ignited the WWII, it was also in Gdansk where the flame that signalized the collapse of communism was illuminated. Today, the affectionately restored facades of the town houses lining the streets in the Old Town remind visitors of the heyday of the Hanseatic League and preserve its distinctive charm. Nestled on the banks of the Bay of Gdansk, amid the seaside resort of Sopot and the seaport of Gdynia, the Gdansk area is often referred to as "Tri-City." The close affiliation to its neighboring cities and its advantageous location make Gdansk the perfect gateway to discover beautiful Poland.

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - Tallinn, Estonia

Arrive: Sun 30 June 2024 / Depart: Sun 30 June 2024

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn was called Reval until the 20th century. The port's ideal maritime position has always been a temptation to other nations and won it a position in the Hanseatic League. This cross-cultural history gives Tallinn a special ambience that visitors appreciate. The main attraction is the Old Town. Perched on a low hill by the shore, its fortification walls, worn cobbled streets and 13th-century buildings make it one of the purest medieval towns in all of northern Europe. With about a half-million inhabitants, Tallinn comprises almost a third of Estonia's population. Outside of town there is rich dairy land and along the coast stretch expansive sand beaches.

Day 10 - Helsinki, Finland

Arrive: Mon 01 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 01 July 2024 at 18:00

Helsinki, capital of Finland and "Daughter of the Baltic," was founded in 1550 and became the capital in 1812. The city is beautifully set on a peninsula surrounded by islands and is protected by fortifications at Suomenlinna. A modern, lively city of approximately a half million inhabitants, Helsinki's attractions include the harbor, market square and many spacious parks. The Empire Center is one of Europe's finest examples of neoclassical architecture.

Day 11 - Mariehamn

Arrive: Tue 02 July 2024 at 11:00 / Depart: Tue 02 July 2024 at 18:00

Set in beautiful natural surroundings is the capital of the Aland Islands, the peaceful slow-paced port of Mariehamn. The archipelago of 6,500 islands is the smallest region in Finland, and is characterized by an exciting mix of Swedish, Finnish and Russian culture and history. Named after Tsar Alexander II's consort, Maria Alexandrovna, Mariehamn perfectly complements the large capitals of the Baltic Sea. Mariehamn's typical wooden architecture from the turn-of-the-last-century was influenced by Russian Empire style and Scandinavian nationalism. Today, Mariehamn's shipping tradition is just as strong as it was at the beginning of the 1900s when the Aland Islands boasted the largest fleet of sailing ships in the world.

Day 12 - Stockholm

Arrive: Wed 03 July 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 03 July 2024

Sweden's capital has been called the most beautiful city in the world. This "city that floats on water" sprawls over 14 islands that are linked by over 50 bridges, which cross winding waterways in all directions. To the east is an archipelago of thousands of islands in different shapes, sizes and contours. Venice, for all its gondolas, does not approach the water traffic of Stockholm. The hundreds of small boats that line the inlets and canals testify to the passion of every family to own and sail a boat.