Baltic Odyssey - A Voyage from Aberdeen to Stockholm

Embark the MS Hebridean Sky this afternoon. Transfers will be provided from Aberdeen Airport and Aberdeen Railway Station at a fixed time. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner on board as we sail this evening.

Relax on board as we sail across the North Sea to Denmark. Maybe join a lecture in the lounge or find a spot on deck.

Skagen is a 600 year old market town situated in the far north of Denmark where the breathtaking scenery and light have inspired poets, artists and musicians over the years whilst the area around Skagen has been designated as a rare, authentic natural beauty spot by the World Wide Fund for Nature. We will visit Grenen, the northernmost part of Denmark where the North Sea meets the Baltic and where the daily movement of sand has created a spit that is constantly moving. See the 14th century Sanded Church named after Saint Laurence, the seafarer’s and Skagen’s patron saint, which sunk beneath the sand in the 18th century and where today only the tower of the ancient church is visible. This afternoon is free to discover the winding alleys in the atmospheric old quarters, or the vibrant atmosphere at the marina. Alternatively, perhaps visit the local museum to see the artwork of Ancher and Kroyer who were inspired by the region.

The Danish King, Eric of Pomerania built a fortress in the early 15th century to enforce the collection of dues for all ships wishing to enter the Baltic. In the following century Frederick II rebuilt the castle into a magnificent Renaissance castle, Kronborg was considered at the time to be the strongest fortress in Europe. The castle is known to many as ‘Elsinore’ the setting for Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. We will enjoy a morning exploring the castle and the old town before returning to the ship for lunch. This afternoon you can choose to explore further at your own pace or relax on board.

Arrive this morning into Ronne. During our excursion we explore the highlights of northern Bornholm. Bornholm Island is a mixture of wheat fields, forests and an attractive coast dotted with fishing villages. On an island drive we will see the famous 12th century Osterlars Round Church and visit the town of Gudjem where we can sample the smoked herring. Also see Hammerhaus Castle offering fantastic views of the island’s rugged coastline. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing on board as we make our way to Gdansk.

Gdansk’s 1000 years of history have left a collection of buildings and monuments designed in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. On a morning city tour we will walk along the cobbled streets of the Royal Way in the old quarter and view the elaborate architecture, including the 15th century merchant’s palace of Artus Court. Also see the pride of Gdansk, Gothic St Mary’s, which is the world’s largest brick church, accommodating some 25,000 worshippers. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon to explore further at your own pace.

Founded in 1252 by the Teutonic Knights of East Prussia, Klaipeda was annexed by Hitler in 1939 and almost destroyed towards the end of World War II. Arriving this morning we will explore the old town of Klaipeda including a stop in Theatre Square before strolling along the atmospheric narrow streets where in the past craftsmen including shoemakers, blacksmiths and bakers used to live and work. Continue towards the resort town Palanga where, after a walk through the Botanical park, we arrive at a 19th century Neo-Renaissance style mansion which houses the largest Amber Museum in the Baltics. Here we will learn all about “Baltic gold” before returning to Klaipeda where we will enjoy a drink and live music in a nearby restaurant. 

Today we visit this once important Hanseatic port on the island of Gotland. Best explored on foot, the beautifully preserved Medieval town snuggles inside 13th century walls, housing 44 watchtowers. In Viking times and several centuries after, the Swedish island of Gotland and especially the city of Visby became a centre of trade in the Baltic Sea and is a World Heritage Site. Walk its streets from the Middle Ages and see its gardens ablaze with flowers, earning the city its nickname ‘the city of ruins and roses’. Later, visit the impressive St Maria Cathedral and wander the paths of the botanical gardens. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore further and maybe see the Viking exhibits at the Gotland Museum.

After lunch we arrive in the historic maritime city of Tallinn with her awe inspiring city walls and fortifications, narrow Medieval streets and gateways which remain remarkably well preserved. In the Upper Town we will enjoy the views from Dome Hill with the extraordinary vista of domes, spires and gables and see Toompea Castle, once a fortress, and now the seat of the Estonian parliament. Walking to the lower Old Town we will visit the main square where we will find the oldest pharmacy in Europe, the Gothic Cathedral and the 15th century Town Hall. This evening perhaps enjoy a stroll ashore as we will moor overnight.

This morning we will drive to the outskirts of Tallinn to Kadriorg Palace and Park, which were commissioned in 1718 by Russian Tsar Peter I, soon after his conquest of Estonia, in honour of his wife Catherine I. The palace was designed by Italian architect Nicola Michetti and its magnificent main hall is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture not only in Estonia but also in Northern Europe. We will visit the art collection housed within the palace and spend time exploring the magnificent park with its fountains, hedges, and flowerbeds, modelled on Versailles. Return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon will be at leisure to explore independently or relax on board.

Built on the site where the River Kymijoki meets the Baltic Sea, picturesque Kotka has a long seafaring tradition. This morning we will explore the history of the region and visit the Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge which was built in 1889 for Alexander III, the future Emperor of Russia who used it as a summer home. It is now a living museum situated in a stunning nature reserve on the river. Continue to the Maritime Centre Vellamo where local guides will enlighten us about the maritime and cultural heritage of the region. The afternoon is free to explore the old city from our central berth.

Arriving in Helsinki over breakfast, our morning city tour will take us to the colourful Market Square, the President’s Palace and the impressive architecture of Senate Square including the Lutheran Cathedral of Finland and Uspenski Cathedral. We continue to the Sibelius Monument and the impressive Temppeliaukio, the church in the rock, before returning to the ship. This afternoon we journey to Ainola, the home of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius situated on the edge of the city on the shores of Lake Tuusula where, after exploring the museum, we will enjoy a private concert of his music.

Sail this afternoon into the attractive town of Mariehamn. On an island tour we will head into the beautiful countryside along scenic roads towards the Jan Karlsgarden Museum where we learn about the island’s farming traditions. We continue to Badhausberget which provides panoramic views over the town and islands before visiting the fascinating Aland Maritime Museum with its exhibits of model ships as well as highlighting the region’s shipbuilding history.

Be on deck this morning as we cruise through the many islands of the Swedish archipelago. This is a great sailing area and the islands are peppered with attractive summer homes. This afternoon we will enjoy a guided city tour which includes the Vasa Museum, built around the 17th century warship which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbour on her maiden voyage in 1628; its discovery in 1956 and subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in marine archaeology. In addition to the well-preserved, elaborately decorated hull, thousands of items from the ship, including hundreds of sculptures, have been recovered. On our return to the MS Hebridean Sky we will drive through old Stockholm and past the Parliament Building and Royal Palace which overlooks the inner harbour.

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to the UK.

Itineraries are subject to change.