Uncrowded Baltic

Day 1 Newcastle Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to Newcastle where our staff will greet you and assist with embarking Balmoral (3T+) in readiness for an evening sailing. Day 2 At sea Day 3 Gothenburg, Sweden Known as one of the friendliest cities in Europe, Gothenburg is vibrant and interesting, and although it is Sweden’s second city, it is easy to traverse on foot. There are several galleries, museums, boutiques, street cafés, botanical gardens and nautical attractions along the waterfront including Maritim, the world’s largest floating ship museum. There are also 17th century Dutch-designed canals and even Scandinavia’s largest theme park - Lisberg - to enjoy. Trädgårdsföreningen is one of Europe's best-kept 19th century parks, filled with pretty woodlands and stunning flower beds filled with thousands of rose species. Day 4 Copenhagen Much of Copenhagen’s most interesting sites are either within the city centre or a short walk away. Must-sees include the historic Christiansborg and Amalienborg Palaces, regal Rosenborg Castle and the Hans Christian Anderson inspired Little Mermaid sculpture at Langelinie Pier. Along Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s delightful waterfront and canal, you will find many brightly-coloured 17th and 18th century townhouses that have been converted into bars and restaurants, and many wooden ships in the historic harbour. A short distance from the capital is beautiful Kronborg Castle, known worldwide from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Day 5 At sea Day 6 Tallinn, Estonia The oldest part of Hanseatic Tallinn can be found on Toompea Hill, where medieval alleyways weave within the substantial remains of the old city wall. Kiek in de kök, a medieval tower, holds a museum on the fortifications and life of this era; and Gamle Toomas, the capital’s iconic weathercock, sits on top of one of the best preserved medieval town halls in northern Europe. The ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built at the end of the 19th century when Estonia was part of Tsarist Russia. Kadriorg Castle was built by an earlier Tsar, Peter the Great, and now houses part of the Estonian Museum of Art. Day 7 Helsinki, Finland Helsinki is a capital with over 100 kilometres of coastline, the amalgamation of the large network of pretty islands that hold the city’s neoclassical architecture, galleries, museums, parks, forests and UNESCO-listed fortress. One of the city’s most photographed areas is Senate Square, dominated by four magnificent buildings created by renowned architect Carl Ludvig Engel - Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland. Days 8-9 St Petersburg (overnight) Enjoy two days in the beautiful imperial city of St Petersburg, built across 40 islands at the mouth of the River Neva. The Baroque Winter Palace, with over a thousand rooms, sits elegantly along the Neva embankment. Once a royal residence and centre of Russian politics, it is now one of six buildings that make up the Hermitage Museum; and this museum, where 2,000 rooms are filled with 3.5 million artefacts from priceless art to Egyptian mummies, is only one of 125 museums and galleries within the city. And then, of course, there is the dazzling, five-domed Church on the Spilled Blood. The interior is every bit as magnificent as its eye-catching exterior, with some 7,500 square metres of colourful mosaics. The shrine constructed on the spot where Alexander II was murdered is particularly extravagant. Staying in port overnight also offers the opportunity, programme depending, to enjoy an evening of world-class ballet or opera in a beautiful theatre. Days 10-11 At sea Day 12 Oslo, Norway Norway's lively capital is a small and eminently walkable city with many attractions to discover. Fans of Edvard Munch may be torn between visiting the National Gallery, home to his iconic painting ‘The Scream’, or the Munchmuseet which contains over 5,000 of his works. Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park is the world’s largest by a single artist - Gustav Vigeland - or, elsewhere, the fabulous Viking Ship Museum has three ships recovered from royal burial mounds in the Oslofjord, as well as artefacts from the Viking era. The medieval Akershus castle and fortress dominating the harbour front and are also well worth visiting. Day 13 At sea Relax as we spend the last day sailing home. Day 14 Newcastle Early morning arrival in Newcastle where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.