Baltic Odyssey

Nine countries embrace the Baltic—Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, and Russia—many of their borders, long subject to the shifting tides of political occupation, are now safely anchored within the European Union. Aboard the intimate and spacious 100-passenger Island Sky we explore eight historic ports whose palpable energy is dedicated both to the revival and restoration of their heritage, as well as to a myriad entrepreneurial ventures that, at long last, open wide the doors to a bright future.

For centuries the region was fought over and won by Vikings, Slavs, and Teutons who sought dominance over this thousand-mile-long strategic trade route. Between the 12th and 17th centuries, the German-based Hanseatic League established and maintained a trade monopoly in the Baltic and throughout northern Europe ensuring the safe passage of goods for every member country. Among the more than 100 alliance participants were major port cities and towns that evolved into magnificent architectural and cultural centers.

Today, as we explore the Old Towns of Gdansk, Riga, and Tallinn, that Hanseatic heyday is revealed in the splendid rows of merchant houses; along the charming cobblestone streets lined with venerable shops; and in the medieval marketplace squares crowned by spired cathedrals, courts, and palaces. Once these citizens reveled in the first flavors of pepper that hailed from Java, cured their ailments with exotic Chinese herbs, and toasted one another with exquisite glass goblets from Venice.

During our walking tour of Sweden’s magnificent World Heritage Site of Visby, we learn that the city remained fiercely independent of the Hanseatic merchants, having long before established itself as the major regional trade port. In 1525, the Germans burned the city to the ground, except for the cathedral. The ruins have been left standing, a testament to the pride and resilience that remains in Visby’s epithet, “city of roses and ruins.” In addition to our urban explorations we discover the natural beauty of the island of Sylt, wander through shady parks and manicured botanical gardens, view dazzling collections of amber, and drive through the thick forests of Bornholm Island. Our adventure concludes with an exploration of magnificent St. Petersburg, from the bustling Nevsky Prospect to the grand cathedral in St. Isaac Square and a special tour of the incomparable collections of art housed in the Hermitage in the Winter Palace.

Join our historians and naturalists as we make our pioneering voyage to the wondrous lands and World Heritage landmarks that encircle the Baltic Sea.

Itinerary

DAY 1 — USA / Edinburgh, Scotland
Depart on your independent flight to Edinburgh.

DAY 2 — Edinburgh
Upon arrival in Edinburgh, transfer independently to the Radisson SAS Hotel. We gather this evening for a welcome dinner and briefing.

DAY 3 — Edinburgh / Leith / Embark Island Sky
After breakfast, a city tour highlights sights along its most famous avenue, the Royal Mile, including Holyrood Palace, once the home of Mary Queen of Scots, and today, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, and stunning St. Giles Cathedral. At the top end of the street sits Edinburgh Castle and its magnificent gardens. We tour the castle and enjoy lunch before transferring to the port of Leith to embark the Island Sky.

DAY 4 — At Sea
Enjoy the day to settle in as we sail eastward into the North Sea. Our onboard team of lecturers prepares us for the exciting cultural and historical encounters ahead.

DAY 5 — Sylt Island, Germany
The beautiful, windswept, 24-mile-long island of Sylt (pronounced zoolt) is the northernmost point of Germany and part of the ecologically fragile Frisian archipelago which stretches between Denmark and The Netherlands. The inviting sandy beaches—the longest in Germany—are known for their “wandering dunes,” and the vast tidal flats on the eastern edge of the island are feeding and resting grounds for migratory birds and protected within a national park. Unique to the region is the architecture of the houses found in island villages, their thick reed roofs slope all the way down to the ground and blend with the surrounding vegetation. Since the mid-19th century, European visitors have been coming to Sylt for its pure, iodine-rich air and therapeutic baths.

DAY 6 — Kiel Canal Transit
Early this morning we begin our transit of the historic 61-mile-long Kiel Canal and sail from the North Sea into the Baltic. Kaiser Wilhelm I set the first foundation stone in place on 03 June 1887. Nine thousand workers spent the next eight years constructing the canal from Brunsbuttel to Holtenau, where Kaiser Wilhelm II laid the final stone on 21 June 1895. The canal was internationalized by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler rejected the Treaty in 1936, however free navigation resumed after World War II and today the Kiel Canal is one of the busiest man-made waterways in the world.

DAY 7 — Ronne, Bornholm Island, Denmark
After breakfast we step ashore on serene Bornholm Island, endowed with sugar-white sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, thick forests, and heather-clad hills. Its picturesque port, Ronne, is paved with cobblestones and lined with small shops and cafés. Included in our island explorations are the ruins of Hammershus Castle, Scandinavia’s largest medieval fortress; the unique, round 12th-century churches, Osterlars and Nylars; the charming half-timbered fishing hamlet of Gudhjem; and Denmark’s third-largest forest, Almindingen. The island has a long-standing artistic tradition, and we visit studios renowned for their glass blowing and pottery.

DAY 8 — Gdansk, Poland
After breakfast we set out for a full-day tour of this city whose history spans nearly 1,000 years. The Solidarity Monument, in front of the Gdansk shipyard, is our first stop along the Trail of Solidarity which commemorates the dramatic events of December 1970 when workers rioted against the Communist regime. At the shipyard we view the exhibition, Roads to Freedom, a fascinating audio-visual portrayal of those important, world-changing events.

We enjoy a walking tour through lively Old Town with its magnificent collection of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings and monuments. We pass through the Golden Gate, a grand ornamental arch; walk down Long Street lined with buildings sporting elaborate facades and ornate gables; and the 15th-century Palace of Artus, where Neptune’s Fountain commemorates Gdansk’s Hanseatic past. We also visit medieval St. Mary’s Church, the world’s largest brick church with 30 brilliantly decorated chapels. After lunch there is time at leisure to explore further.

DAY 9 — Klaipeda, Lithuania
Klaipeda has been an important port since its founding by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century. We begin our exploration with a drive to the amber center of Palanga, stopping along the way to stroll through the Botanical Park with its 500 varieties of trees and bushes. We visit the Amber Museum, housed in a 19th-century neo-Renaissance-style mansion, whose 15 rooms of exhibits—4,500 pieces of amber—reveal the secrets of this “Baltic Gold.” We learn about the origins of amber, where it is found, how it is processed, and how it came to possess its international value. We then drive to the Old Town for a walking tour. Its centerpiece is beautiful Theatre Square and from it, narrow streets meander between the fachwerk, half-timbered buildings, and the houses and shops of amber craftsmen. We have the option of returning to the port by motorcoach with our guide, or staying in the Old Town and returning to the ship on our own.

DAY 10 — Visby, Gotland Island, Sweden
This morning we arrive at Gotland Island, Sweden, the largest island in the Baltic. Its splendid city of Visby, a World Heritage Site, is famous for its intact medieval architecture, especially the 44 guard towers built as part of the city walls in the 11th and 12th centuries.

We drive to Almedalen, a green oasis in the center of bustling Visby, then walk down the Strandgatan, past lovely medieval granaries and the city’s oldest building, the Powder Tower. We visit the Botanical Garden, known for its exotic plant collection, birds, and stunning roses and magnolias, and reboard our coach for the ride up Gallows Hill for splendid panoramic views of the city and its spires. We continue our tour on foot, down the hill and back into town along charming cobblestone streets, to visit the impressive St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Gotland Museum with its excellent medieval collections.

DAY 11 — Riga, Latvia
Our day in Latvia showcases the rich historical and cultural landmarks of this 800-yearold Hanseatic river port that gained its independence in 1991. Separated by the Daugava River—the embarkation point for Viking travelers headed east—the modern city is a major industrial and financial center, while Old Riga is an architectural showcase of towers and spires, 17th-century guild merchant houses, churches, and a castle, all interlaced with picturesque cobblestone streets. Our walking tour takes us to multiple landmarks, including the Blackheads House, one of the oldest buildings in Riga; St. Peter’s Church, a superb Gothic masterpiece; the 15th-century Three Brothers merchant houses; and St. Jacob and St. John churches. We also visit Riga’s most prominent landmark, the 13th-century Dome Cathedral, whose organ concerts are legendary. We end our walk at the castle, the residence of Latvia’s president. We continue our exploration by motorcoach, driving past lovely parks along the City Canal lined with the stunning Art Nouveau architecture built in 1899 during the German/Scandinavian movement knows as Jugendstil. We view Bastion Hill, commemorating those who died in 1991 during an anti- Soviet rebellion; the University of Latvia; and the Freedom Monument, dedicated to the nation’s struggle for freedom.

DAY 12 — Tallinn, Estonia
After breakfast we set out for old town Tallinn, a visual feast of soaring spires, towers, and turrets—the legacies of its founders and rulers: the Danes, Swedes, Germans, and Russians. Country-wide pride has brought about a renaissance in restoration and reconstruction since 1991 and Tallinn proudly proclaims itself the finest preserved city in the Baltic. During a walking tour of upper Old Town we visit Palace Square, bordered by the pink baroque Toompea Castle which now houses the Estonian Parliament, and the magnificent cupola-crowned Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. We also visit the oldest church in Estonia, the Gothic 13th-century Dome Church. From a nearby viewpoint, the colorful city spreads out below us. In the lower Old Town we visit the Town Hall Square, once a medieval marketplace; one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, founded in 1422; and stroll along St. Catherine’s Passage in the Latin Quarter, famous for its artisan workshops. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Kadriorg Park and Palace, built by Peter the Great as a summer residence. We also visit Song Festival Grounds, whose roots reach back nearly 140 years; the 16th-century St. Bridget’s Convent; and the stunning Russalka Monument, commemorating an 1893 shipwreck and now a traditional part of the local wedding ceremony where newlyweds come to lay down their flowers. In the late afternoon we drive back to our ship along a lovely coastal route.

DAY 13 & 14 — St. Petersburg, Russia
We arrive in splendid St. Petersburg in the early afternoon and enjoy two days of exploration. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg remains a beautiful Baltic seaport, spreading along the Neva River Delta and laced by 19 canals crossed by 320 bridges. Highlights of our visit include St. Isaac Square with its grand cathedral and Baroque palaces; the Winter Palace houses Catherine the Great’s incomparable Hermitage Museum. A special tour showcases this jewel of the city and its extensive galleries of Italian and Spanish art, as well as Impressionist and modern art collections—among the world’s finest. Its crowning glory, the Gold Room, houses a dazzling array of jewelry by Russian, European, and Asian craftsman, as well as the famous Scythian and Greek gold.

During our time here, we also drive across the Neva River to the burial place of the tsars, Peter and Paul Cathedral, its 18thcentury domes dominating the skyline. We visit the spectacular Church of Resurrection of the Spilled Blood, and drive along Russia’s most famous street, the Nevsky Prospect, lined with magnificent palaces, churches, and theaters.

DAY 15 — Helsinki, Finland
After breakfast disembark and transfer to the airport for your independent flight homeward.

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