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Overview
Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States and the magnificent imperial riches of St. Petersburg on this spectacular eight-country Baltic Sea program. By special arrangement, former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former President of Poland Lech Walesa will offer enriching presentations about the course of the region’s history. Cruise for nine nights during the “White Nights of Summer,” with near-constant daylight, from Stockholm to Oslo, where you’ll spend one night in a deluxe hotel. En route, discover the stunning architecture of Helsinki and Copenhagen, revel in the medieval charms of Tallinn, and immerse yourself in the cultural renaissance of Gdansk. This enlightening cruise also features two days in regal St. Petersburg, including an early-opening tour of the world-acclaimed State Hermitage Museum and a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress. Complement your cruise with a two-night Stockholm Pre-Cruise and three-night Norway Post-Cruise optional extension.Smithsonian Experts
Throughout your voyage enjoy presentations by a team of Extraordinary Speakers. Josef Chytry is Senior Adjunct Professor of Critical Studies at the California College of the Arts, Oakland/San Francisco, and Founding Managing Editor of the Oxford journal Industrial and Corporate Change at the Institute for Business Innovation, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. Dwight Young has been actively involved in historic preservation for over 30 years and has worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1977.Special Highlights
Enjoy a rare opportunity to meet two former world leaders: Former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and Former President of Poland Lech Walesa.Immerse yourself in the historical and cultural riches of the Baltic States on this enlightening nine-night cruise during the fabled “White Nights of Summer.”Admire one of the world’s greatest collections of fine art during a special early-opening tour of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Also visit St. Petersburg’s first building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and its impressive Baroque Cathedral.Enjoy an excursion in Helsinki, highlighted by a visit to Temppeliaukio Church, a private concert at the Sibelius Academy, and a drive along the old fortifications of Suomenlinna, a World Heritage site.Explore the historic and medieval quarters of Estonia’s Tallinn, a World Heritage site, and the historic areas of Poland’s Gdansk and Norway’s Oslo, its sophisticated capital city.See Copenhagen’s stunning architecture during an exclusive city tour and canal cruise.Cruise aboard the M.S. Le Boréal, an intimate vessel combining innovative design with personalized service and featuring private balconies in 95% of the spacious, deluxe suites and staterooms.Complement your cruise with a two-night Pre-Program Optional Extension in Sweden’s cosmopolitan capital of Stockholm and a three-night Post-Program Optional Extension in Norway, featuring two rail journeys, a fjord cruise, overnight in the heart of Norway’s fjord country, and two nights in the Hanseatic city of Bergen.Don't forget to check out our photo slide show to glimpse the excitement of this special program!
View photos by clicking "Next Photo" at top of page!World Heritage Sites
This tour features the following World Heritage sites:- Historic Center and Monuments of St. Petersburg, Russia
- The palace and gardens of Petrodvorets, St. Petersburg, Russia (optional excursion)
- Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn, Estonia
- The old fortifications of Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
See a complete list of all Smithsonian tours featuring World Heritage sites.
