Arcadia, Baltic Cruise J211 ex Southampton Return

14 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Arcadia.

From your first stop in friendly Gothenburg to two full days discovering dramatic St Petersburg, this 14-night cruise of the Baltic and Northern Europe with Arcadia is packed with striking architecture, mesmerising history and rich culture.

Gothenburg, filled with green parks and gardens galore, is surrounded by a beautiful archipelago of small islands then it's on to the former fishing village of Warnemunde, now one of the most popular resorts on the Baltic Sea. Tallinn, with its fascinating mix of architectural styles, is followed by flamboyant St Petersburg where you'll find Catherine the Great's Palace and the Hermitage Museum.
From Helsinki, with its stunning architecture and luscious parks, you'll head for Stockholm, often described as the 'Venice of the North'. Your final destinations are captivating Copenhagen, home to the fairytale Tivoli Gardens and Kronberg Castle - the original Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and spectacular Oslo, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills.

Warnemunde
The popular German seaside resort of Warnemunde is your gateway to all things Hanseatic, which means a fascinating tour through living medieval history.
Nearby Rostock still emanates some of its former glories as a major Hanseatic city. Its pedestrianised old town is full of narrow atmospheric streets, cutting between impressive centuries-old buildings. City Hall, in the New Market Place, is particularly impressive, but the 15th century St. Marien Church, with its astronomical clock, is Rostocks true focal point.
From Warnemunde-Rostock, the magnificent 700-year-old brick cathedral of Bad Doberan is only 10 miles away. Railway buffs will love the antique railway that runs from there to the beach resort of Heiligendamm, which is 30 minutes steaming away - through landscapes of charming villages, coastal scenes and the beautiful Doberan Linden Alley.

St Petersburg
Ships usually stay overnight in St. Petersburg; after all the jewel in the Baltic's crown deserves no less, for here - on the broad banks of the River Neva and in the magnificent palaces and churches which characterise the city's skyline - you will find Russia at its most dramatic, flamboyant and captivating.
Put the Hermitage Museum right at the top of your sightseeing list; its magnificent buildings and palaces contain the world's most comprehensive collection of art and sculpture, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Gaugin, Rembrandt and Matisse.
The city's other treasures include the Yusupov Palace (where 'the mad monk' Gregori Rasputin was dramatically murdered in 1916); Catherine the Great's palace (with its breathtaking 978-foot white, gold and blue façade); St Isaac's Cathedral (which has marble walls studded with semi-precious stones); the onion-spired Church of Spilled Blood and the battleship Aurora, whose guns signalled the start of the Russian Revolution.

Helsinki
Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer but it is also the country's main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals.

The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are also just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago.

Helsinki is a compact city - 'a pocket-sized metropolis', as it was once described - so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring 'pub tram' and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront.

After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts.

Copenhagen
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, this popular Danish cruise port has a fairytale magic all of its own.
Discover it in the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel, and stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees. Or in the shops and cafés of Stroget, Europes longest pedestrianised shopping street.
Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics - and at Kronberg Castle - the former Elsinore of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

    _    __   __  ___   ____  ___   ____
   /_\   \ \ / / | __| |_  / | __| |_  /
  / _ \   \ V /  | _|   / /  | _|   / / 
 /_/ \_\   |_|   |_|   /___| |_|   /___|