Baltic Explorer
12 Nights 10 May 2012 Thomson Spirit
Thursday, Newcastle – UK
Car: Close proximity to the A1 makes the Port of Tyne easily accessible. Head for the International Passenger Terminal, North Shields.
Train: Newcastle Central Station is 9 miles or 20 minutes from the Cruise Terminal, with intercity services serving Edinburgh, York and London. London can be reached in under three hours.
Air: The airport lies 15 miles to the north of the Cruise Terminal. Taxi journeys normally take less than 30 minutes. Newcastle International airport is served by flights from Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Exeter, Gatwick, Heathrow, Newquay, Plymouth, Stansted and Southampton.
Day 2
Friday, At Sea
Day 3
Saturday, Aarhus – DENMARK 08:00 – 17:00
There’s a great atmosphere about Aarhus, an old world charm you can’t help but fall in love with. Whether you’re losing yourself in the alleyways of the Latin quarter, sipping coffee in the riverside cafés of Vadestedet, or cosying up in some of Europe’s snuggest pubs, you’ll agree it’s got a spellbinding quality that leaves other cities green with envy.
Don’t miss a wander round the open-air museum that is Den Gamle By, the city’s old town. Its tangled web of cobblestone streets brim with gems dating from the Renaissance period right through to World War I.
Take a trip to Ebeltoft, a gorgeous town of winding streets, crooked houses and the smallest unaltered town hall in Denmark. And don’t miss the Renaissance Rosenholm Castle that’s right nearby. It’s been with the same family since it was built in 1560.
Be enchanted by Silkenborg, a corner of Denmark which offers up some seriously impressive scenery. Think soaring peaks, emerald forests and a chain of beautiful blue lakes. Beautiful.
Day 4
Sunday, At Sea
Day 5
Monday, Stockholm – SWEDEN 08:00 – 17:00
Spread out across 14 islands, spotless Stockholm is an enchanting slice of Scandinavia. Bursting with museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, there’s never a dull moment in this spellbinding city.
Explore the quaint cobbled streets of the old town and stumble upon the splendid Royal Palace, surrounded by grand houses and elegant boutiques.
Discover some of the city’s museums. There are 70 in total, the two favourites being the National Museum of Art and the Vasa Museum.
Flex your credit card in the city’s legendary shopping districts. Then spoil yourself rotten with a traditional Swedish massage in a gorgeous Art Nouveau spa.
Hop on a canal boat and explore Stockholm from the water. At least 50 bridges criss-cross their way around the city, linking 14 islands.
Day 6
Tuesday, Helsinki – FINLAND 12:00 – 17:00
Cruise into one of the world’s most beautiful harbours, right into the heart of one of Europe’s most exciting cities. With more shops, sights, bars and restaurants than you can shake a stick at, this chic metropolis will linger in the mind long after you’ve set sail for your next adventure.
Make a beeline for the historical centre and prepare to be wowed. It’s an architectural feast, with treasures like Senate Square, the City Hall, the Presidential Palace and the Opera House all jostling for your attention – and your camera lens.
When you’ve had your fill of sights, take a wander through Gardenia, Helsinki’s lush tropical gardens.
Don’t forget the Ateneum, the National Gallery of Finland, home to Finnish and European art from the 1700s right through to the 1960s.
Day 7
Wednesday, St Petersburg – RUSSIA 07:00 – 23:59
Beautiful bridges. Shimmering canals. Ornate palaces. St Petersburg really is special. It’s one architectural delight after another. Even its metro stations resemble underground palaces. In short, it’s everything you want out of Russia – right down to those Mr Whippy-esque cathedral spires.
Tick off a rich list of sights, including the gilded cupola of St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Palace Square with its beautiful Baroque Winter Palace.
Discover the Hermitage, home to an astounding collection of three million pieces of art. Feast your eyes on works by grand masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, El Greco and Rembrandt.
Enjoy a magical night at the ballet at the Conservatoire Theatre, which belongs to the oldest musical school in Russia.
Visit Russia’s capital, Moscow, where you can delve into the great treasure trove that is Kremlin, the old royal citadel that’s packed with palaces and cathedrals. Queue for a sighting of the famously embalmed body of Lenin, then stock up on caviar at the landmark GUM store.
Looking for something a little more contemporary? Then hit the shops along Nevsky Prospect and give the vodka bars a whirl.
Day 8
Thursday, St Petersburg – RUSSIA 00:01 – 18:00
Beautiful bridges. Shimmering canals. Ornate palaces. St Petersburg really is special. It’s one architectural delight after another. Even its metro stations resemble underground palaces. In short, it’s everything you want out of Russia – right down to those Mr Whippy-esque cathedral spires.
Tick off a rich list of sights, including the gilded cupola of St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Palace Square with its beautiful Baroque Winter Palace.
Discover the Hermitage, home to an astounding collection of three million pieces of art. Feast your eyes on works by grand masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, El Greco and Rembrandt.
Enjoy a magical night at the ballet at the Conservatoire Theatre, which belongs to the oldest musical school in Russia.
Visit Russia’s capital, Moscow, where you can delve into the great treasure trove that is Kremlin, the old royal citadel that’s packed with palaces and cathedrals. Queue for a sighting of the famously embalmed body of Lenin, then stock up on caviar at the landmark GUM store.
Looking for something a little more contemporary? Then hit the shops along Nevsky Prospect and give the vodka bars a whirl.
Day 9
Friday, Tallinn – ESTONIA 08:00 – 17:00
Across the water from Finland lies this captivating World Heritage Site, the capital city of Estonia. Without doubt, Tallinn is one of Europe’s most remarkable architectural havens. The old town is a magnificent jumble of Medieval walls and turrets, spires and winding cobbled hills. Don’t forget your cameras for this one.
Start off with a trip to Toompea. Here you’ll find the beautiful Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Toompea Castle, where Estonia’s parliament sits.
Follow the twisting cobbled streets that open out on to Town Hall Square, whose pièce de résistance is Europe’s oldest surviving Gothic town hall. Look out for the building’s 16th-century weathervane. It depicts Old Thomas, the Medieval warrior and guardian of the city.
When you’re ready for a rest, pull up a chair in one of the city’s open-air cafés and taste Saku, the local beer.
Day 10
Saturday, At Sea
Day 11
Sunday, Kalundborg (for Copenhagen) – DENMARK 08:00 – 17:00
This bustling market town in the west of Denmark has got an interesting past that’s well worth unravelling. Its narrow streets are made for strolling so grab a map, pack your camera and get ready to explore. If that sounds too much like hard work, you’ll be glad to hear the town’s surrounded by beaches. Or perhaps you’ll prefer a trip to Copenhagen, where shops, sights, museums and galleries conspire to steal your heart.
Lace up your walking boots and get to know Kalundborg. Lose yourself in the old part of town, whose slender streets are crammed with houses up to 500 years old. And don’t miss Kalundborg Church, whose 5 towers spear the skyline.
Take a trip to the fairytale Renaissance castle of Frederiksborg, home to the kings and queens of yesteryear. Built in the 17th-century, it’s considered to be the most beautiful castle in Denmark.
Visit Roskilde and discover 1,000 years of Viking history. The Viking Ship Museum is unmissable, with five 11th-century vessels giving you a taste of a bygone age.
Head for Denmark’s exquisite capital, Copenhagen, and tick off some of its most famous landmarks. The Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace and Tivoli Gardens – wow.
Day 12
Monday, At Sea
Day 13
Tuesday, Newcastle – UK
Thomson Cruise Baltic Explorer 2012 More Information
