St. Petersburg & the Baltic Sea - Northbound 2021

Day 1 Arrive Copenhagen

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Skt Petri or Radisson Collection Royal Hotel Copenhagen. Welcome to Denmark! A transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport and the Copenhagen Central Station to Skt Petri or Radisson Collection Royal Hotel Copenhagen in the heart of the Danish capital. Meet your fellow travel companions at tonight's welcome cocktail reception and dinner in your center-city hotel.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Radisson Collection Hotel Royal Copenhagen

PORTOFCALL : Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 2 Copenhagen's Rosenborg Palace, Nyhavn & more

On a Copenhagen sightseeing tour, see the Danish Crown Jewels and other treasures at Rosenborg Slot (Palace), built in Dutch Renaissance style; Amalienborg, home to the Danish royal family; the famous statue of The Little Mermaid; and visit the colorful district of Nyhavn. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the city as you please; admission is included to Tivoli Gardens; you may want to stroll along the fashionable pedestrian area of Strøget.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Radisson Collection Hotel Royal Copenhagen

PORTOFCALL : Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 3 From Viking ships in Roskilde to your yacht

Travel to Roskilde – Denmark's religious, cultural, and political center from the Viking times through the Middle Ages – and visit the Viking Ship Museum, featuring five ships from the 11th century that were discovered in the 1960s. Returning to Copenhagen, board your Tauck small ship and set off to cruise Russia by way of the Baltic Sea.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

PORTOFCALL : Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 4 A day at sea

With her eco-friendly technologies, your innovative small ship sets a new standard in cruising – and as you sail the Baltic Sea en route to Tallinn, Estonia, you'll have an entire glorious day at sea to check out all the amenities this sleek, state-of-the-art yacht offers... including fine cuisine in the elegant main dining room or more casual dining in the ship's buffet restaurant... cocktails and music in three stylish lounges... informative lectures and entertainment in Le Théâtre... a workout in the fitness center, and much more. Join us tonight for a special Captain's Gala dinner.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

Day 5 Explore ancient Tallinn, Estonia

Dock in the walled city of Tallinn for a day of discovery in the age-old capital of Estonia, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Drive through Tallinn’s Kadriorg district, passing by the Swan Pond, and join your local guide to stroll through narrow cobblestone streets and the main Market Square of Old Town; admire the 13th-century Toompea Castle, Estonia's traditional seat of power and visit St. Nicholas's Church. Enjoy lunch with time to wander as you wish. Tauck's shuttle will bring you back to the ship as your Baltic cruise continues to St. Petersburg.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

PORTOFCALL : Tallin, Estonia

Day 6 Treasures of St. Petersburg

You have a choice of sightseeing today, as you discover some of St. Petersburg's true treasures from the centuries when this former "City of the Czars" was the capital of the Romanovs' Imperial Russia. One choice is a visit to the Fabergé Museum, housed in Shuvalov Palace in the center of St. Petersburg. This privately owned museum features the work of the renowned Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé, and its collection includes the famous group of nine Imperial Easter Eggs that Fabergé created for Russia's last two czars, Alexander III and Nicolas II – along with thousands of other works of Russian decorative and fine arts. After a local lunch featuring folkloric entertainment, you'll also visit the famous Church of the Spilled Blood. Or you can head to St. Isaac Square and, after lunch, visit the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress, built in the 18th century as the core of Peter the Great’s new capital, what the czar called his "window on the west." Inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral – with its tall golden spire – contains the tombs of all the Russian czars. Alternatively, you can also choose an excursion to the Peterhof palace and gardens. Then it's back to the ship, where an early dinner onboard precedes a memorable night at Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg, featuring a tour and entertainment.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

PORTOFCALL : St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 7 The State Hermitage Museum & more

Take a privately guided tour of The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg at the best time to visit today, as you view one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, Western European art, and golden treasures that reflect the development of art and culture throughout the ages. After lunch, drive to Arts Square for some free time this afternoon before returning to your ship for dinner this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

PORTOFCALL : St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 8 Peterhof Palace or Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg

Today, you have a choice of guided tours of sights in and around the city. For your first choice – explore Peterhof Palace, with its magnificent gardens and fountains, and have lunch at a local restaurant. The vast, opulent complex of palaces and gardens was begun in 1714 by Peter the Great and was expanded over the next two centuries; along with the St. Petersburg city center, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, travel outside city limits to Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) to explore Catherine Palace (a.k.a. The Summer Palace), the Rococo-style summer residence of the Romanovs, expanded by Empress Catherine the Great. You'll immediately notice the ornate blue-and-white ornamental façade; lavish interiors feature gilded wall carvings and intricate ceiling murals, and opulent touches including silk wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and marble chimneys. During lunch, enjoy traditional folkloric entertainment at a local restaurant.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

PORTOFCALL : St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 9 A day of sightseeing in Helsinki, Finland's capital city

Helsinki – Finland's capital and "city by the sea," surrounded on three sides by water – welcomes you for a day of exploration that's sure to be among the highlights of your cruise. See historic Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument (dedicated to the beloved Finnish composer), colorful Market Square, Finlandia Hall, designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and the extraordinary Temppeliaukio (Rock) Church, hewn from solid rock, on a guided sightseeing tour. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Le Champlain

Day 10 Disembark in Stockholm, Sweden, for a walking tour and canal cruise

Bid the crew of your Tauck small ship adieu as you disembark the yacht in Stockholm, strategically positioned on 14 islands. Join your local guide for a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), where the vast Royal Palace and other sites reveal centuries of Swedish history, and discover Stockholm’s islands on a cruise along the city’s canals. After a visit to City Hall and more sightseeing, the rest of the day is free to spend as you please and enjoy dinner on your own this evening. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Stockholm, Sweden

Day 11 Stockholm's Royal Opera & Vasa Museum evening

Your morning begins with a guided visit to Stockholm's historic Royal Swedish Opera building, opened at the turn of the 20th century, and continues with a stop at the city's Royal Palace to watch the changing of the guard. The rest of the day is yours to explore more of Sweden's capital city on your own. Tonight, join us for a Tauck Exclusive: a private farewell reception and dinner at the Vasa Museum, home to the world’s only preserved 17th-century warship, which sank in Stockholm Harbor following its launch in 1628 and was salvaged from the bottom in 1961.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Stockholm, Sweden

Day 12 Journey home

Tour ends: Stockholm. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Radisson Blu Waterfront or Sheraton Stockholm to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Stockholm, Sweden