| Destination | Baltic Sea Cruise |
| From | Dublin |
| Date | June 2012 |
| Duration | 14 Nights |
| Price | From €2,179 pp |
| Flight Details | To Be Confirmed |
| To Be Confirmed |
Details are for guidance only and are subject to change
Introduction to Latvia, Lithuania & The Baltic
Join Balmoral on this tour of the Baltic. Set sail from Southampton and discover ports in Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Estonia.
Itinerary
Day 1: Southampton, England:
On arrival in Southampton you will be transferred to the port to board Balmoral. The ship departs for the Baltic in the evening.
Day 2: At Sea:
Your first day aboard Balmoral sees you sailing north towards the Baltic. Take some time to get settled in aboard Balmoral and explore your surroundings.
Day 3: Cruise, Kiel Canal:
The world’s busiest artificial waterway.
Running for almost 100 km right through Schleswig-Holstein – from Brunsbuttel to Kiel-Holtenau linking the North Sea with the Baltic. Today the Kiel Canal is the basis for the trade between the countries of the Baltic area and the rest of the world.
Day 4: Ronne, Denmark:
The capital of the island of Bornholm.
Rønne offers a historical charm with its cobblestoned streets and cross-timbered houses. Although large amounts of the town were destroyed during the war, it was wisely rebuilt during the post war years, and many buildings look older than they actually are. During the hotter months Rønne offers vast stretches of sand, both to the south and north of the town.
Day 5: Klaipeda, Lithuania:
Klaipeda is situated at the edge of the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon.
It boasts picturesque half-timbered buildings similar to those found in Germany and Denmark and also has the remains of the Memelberg Castle, which was built in the 13th century, and the maritime museum in Fort Wilhelm, built at the end of the 19th century.
Day 6: Riga, Latvia:
Eight hundred years have shaped the city’s unique appearance and rich traditions.
Riga has been an important centre for trade, finance and culture for centuries and offers an experience of architecture over the centuries. From its medieval castles and churches, to the urban structure of later periods and the richness and quality of Art Noveau to the wooden architecture of the 19th century. This historic centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Day 7: At Sea:
Continue your journey around the Baltic today as you leave Latvia behind for the shores of St. Petersburg. Relax onboard and enjoy your day at sea.
Day 8: St. Petersburg, Russia:
The jewel in the Baltic crown and Russia’s most European city, elegant St Petersburg was Tsar Peter the Great’s ‘Window on the West’.
Peter the Great’s “window on the West” is utterly captivating, with baroque palaces, wide elegant streets, ornate bridges and broad curving canals – the city is built on 40 islands at the mouth of the River Neva. The main street, Nevsky Prospekt, is 5km long and lined with cafés, bars and restaurants mixed in with upmarket hotels and sumptuous shops. On Neva embankment, the Winter Palace, with over a thousand rooms, is merely the most magnificent of six buildings that make up the Hermitage museum.
The Hermitage is only one of 125 museums and galleries, not to mention dozens of lavishly decorated churches, that make this one of those cities that visitors want to return to again and again. It is enchanting during the “White Nights” of midsummer, when a brief twilight blends into dawn, and street entertainment lasts throughout the long days and short, white nights.
Day 9: St. Petersburg, Russia:
Your second full day in St. Petersburg allows you more time to explore the delights of the city, or to take an organised tour.
Day 10: Tallinn, Estonia:
Tallinn is unquestionably one of Europe’s most magical capitals.
This ancient Hanseatic city is justifiably proud of its beautiful churches, solid limestone houses and well-preserved cobbled streets. The Toompea hill, with its medieval houses and alleyways, is the oldest part and at the foot of the hill substantial remains of the city wall can still be seen, surrounded by well-maintained parks. The medieval town hall is one of the best preserved in northern Europe, and the weathercock, Gamle Toomas, on top of the building symbolises Tallinn.
The ornate Alexander Nevskij Cathedral was built at the end of the 19th century when Estonia was part of Tsarist Russia. Kadriorg’s Castle was built by an earlier Tsar, Peter the Great, and now houses part of the Estonian Museum of Art. The “Peek into the Kitchen” tower has an exhibition of Tallinn’s military history.
Day 11: Stockholm, Sweden:
There are no less than 14 islands and 40 bridges in Sweden’s stately and spacious capital, a picturesque canvas of waterways, lakes, canals and trees.
The beautiful capital of Sweden owes much of its unique appeal to its setting on 14 islands at the beginning of an extensive archipelago stretching out into the Baltic. Bridges criss-cross the water, while parks, gardens and wide boulevards make the city a pleasure to explore. It was founded over 700 years ago, and it retains buildings from throughout history. Gamla Stan – the Old Town – is a delight of narrow streets, cobbled squares and medieval houses, and provides an intriguing contrast with cutting-edge modern architecture that the city has adopted elsewhere.
There’s a huge choice of museums, including the Vasa museum, with its 17th century warship, and the unique Skansen open air museum. The Royal Palace and the Drottningholm Palace – a modern royal residence – are also well worth seeing.
Day 12: Visby, Sweden:
The “city of roses and ruins”
Visby is a living museum of narrow cobbled streets and ruined churches slumbering behind 13th century city walls. Within its enclosed walls it has preserved much of its medieval atmosphere and received the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of its original 17 churches, only 10 survive as ruins and only one (St Mary’s) is still used for worship.
Day 13-14: At Sea:
Your final days aboard Balmoral see you sailing back through the Kiel Canal and onwards to Southampton. Enjoy a farewell drink, catch one more show in the theatre, or pick up some last minute souvenirs in the duty free shops.
Day 15: Southampton, England:
Your cruise ends today with your arrival in Southampton. Disembarkation begins after breakfast, when you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home to Dublin.
Price inclusions
- Direct flight from Dublin to Southampton
- Airport transfer to the port
- 14 nights accommodation aboard Balmoral based on 2 sharing an inside cabin
- Full Board basis
- All onboard entertainment
- Return transfer from port to airport
- Flight from Southampton to Dublin
- Taxes and charges of €108
Booking remarks
- Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
- Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit of €200 per person
- Full payment due on confirmation
- 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
- Optional Insurance €26 (conditions apply)
- Outside cabin supplement from €200 pp
- Single Supplement from €750
- Drinks onboard not included.
- Gratuities are payable at your discretion
- Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight & fuel supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares.
Accommodation details
Balmoral 
At 43,000 tonnes and carrying around 1,300 passengers, Balmoral is the largest and most recent ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet, and the first to bear the name of the Scottish home of the Royal Family. Balmoral offers a wide choice of facilities, yet is still small enough to let you feel entirely at ease.
The public rooms are designed on a Scottish theme, but overall the atmosphere is entirely British. The main restaurant, Ballindalloch, takes it’s name from the Speyside village and castle, while the two other formal restaurants are named after the rivers Avon and Spey. You can dine informally in the Palms Cafe, while the sea-pub “Morning Light” is the place for some of the evening entertainment, alongside the main shows and dancing in the Neptune and Lido lounges. If you prefer something quieter, why not enjoy magnificent views while enjoying a drink in the Observatory Lounge.
Among it’s other facilities Balmoral has swimming pools, jacuzzis and a gym where you can get fit while enjoying superb sea views. You don’t have to be too energetic – relax in one of the on deck jacuzzis, enjoy a spa treatment, or just top up your tan while reading a book from the well stocked library.
Dates and Prices
| Date | Cabin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2012 | Inside | €2,179 |  |
| 28 Jun 2012 | Outside | €2,519 | |
| 28 Jun 2012 | Single | €3,429 | |
