Baltic Capitals Cruise + Scenic Scandinavia tour
Enjoy the elegant architecture and magnificent scenery as you cruise round the historic Baltic capitals, followed by an interesting tour of Scandinavia.
Your Itinerary
DAY 1: UK - Copenhagen.
Fly to Copenhagen where you will be met and transferred to your ship, Costa Luminosa, for embarkation. (D)
DAY 2: At sea.
(B, L, D)
DAY 3: Tallinn.
Estonia's capital is a fascinating city with a well-preserved medieval Old Town and a melée of fortifications, churches and winding cobbled streets. A magnet for visitors is Toompea, a hill at the heart of the city, home to many fine buildings, including the 19th century Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Toompea Castle and the Toomkirik, a Lutheran cathedral built in 1233. The lively Town Hall Square, lined with open-air cafés and bars, is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. (B, L, D)
DAY 4: St Petersburg.
Known as the 'Venice of the North' and Russia's most European city, St Petersburg was created by Peter the Great in 1703 as Russia's 'Window on the West', and was built with 18th and 19th-century European pomp and orderliness, mainly by European architects. The result is a city which remains one of the world's most beautiful and enchanting, with a wealth of fine buildings, including the famous Winter Palace, housing the magnificent Hermitage Museum, which easily rivals such well respected establishments as the Louvre, the Prado and the British Museum. (B, L, D)
DAY 5: Helsinki.
Often called the 'White City of the North' because of its many buildings constructed using a local light-coloured granite, Finland's capital city retains a small-town feel, with no high-rise buildings and many charming parks and waterways. (B, L, D)
DAY 6: Stockholm.
Built on 14 islands, Sweden's capital is a beautiful city, with noble architecture and lovely parks. The Gamla Stan Old Town is home to many sightseeing attractions, including the magnificent 18th-century Royal Palace, the majestic Cathedral of St Nicholas and the Stock Exchange. The city is also Sweden's main educational and cultural centre and has a university that dates back to 1877, as well as a fine opera house, theatre and concert hall. (B, L, D)
DAY 7: At sea.
(B, L, D)
DAY 8: Copenhagen.
After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to the airport to join your tour. (B, D)
DAY 9: Copenhagen.
Compact and friendly, Denmark's buzzing capital is Scandinavia's largest city and is crowned by the delightful Nyhavn Canal quayside with its colourful wooden houses and waterside cafés. The city's cobbled streets are packed with famous sights such as the Tivoli Gardens amusement park and the famous Little Mermaid statue. See some of the highlights on your included orientation drive. An optional tour of Zealand's castles is also available. (B)
DAY 10: Copenhagen - Odense - Frederikshavn.
Today, cross the Storebaelforbindelsen Bridge to the delightful island of Funen and enjoy a visit to Odense Hans Christian Andersen's home town. Later, head across the Little Baelt waterway to the Jutland peninsula for one night in Frederikshavn. (B, D)
DAY 11: Frederikshavn - Gothenburg - Oslo.
Begin the day with a leisurely two-hour ferry ride from Frederikshavn, across the Kattegat, to the famous port of Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city. Later, cross the border into Norway, and onwards to the capital city of Oslo for one night. (B)
DAY 12: Oslo - Telemark area.
Set at the head of a vast fjord, Oslo has many fine buildings, museums and monuments, conveniently centred around Karl Johan's Gate. This morning, the included sightseeing tour, with a local guide, will introduce you to highlights such as Akershus Castle, a 14th-century fortress built to defend Oslo from Swedish invasion. Other highlights are the City Hall, National Theatre, Parliament, Royal Palace and the Broadcasting House. You will also take a guided walk through the Frogner Park and admire Gustav Vigeland's sculptures, representing the different stages of life. This afternoon, travel to the Telemark area for one night. (B, D)
DAY 13: Telemark area - Vemork - Bergen.
Often called 'Norway in Miniature', this region of Norway is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with serene countryside set amidst sparkling fjords. Enjoy a scenic drive to Rjukan for a visit to Vemork, famed for its former heavy water plant blown up by the British and Norwegian 'Heroes of Telemark' during World War II. A visit to the Vemork Museum is included. Later, drive amidst the valleys, rugged gorges and imposing mountains of the Telemark region, before boarding a ferry at Utne and crossing the Hardangerfjord to Kvanndal. Next stop is the charming city of Bergen, where you will stay for two nights. (B)
DAY 14: Bergen.
Known as the 'gateway to the Norwegian fjords' and the 'city of seven hills', charming Bergen was the birthplace of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and the original capital of Norway. Bursting with history, culture and picture-postcard charm, it sits dotted amongst the steep, surrounding mountain slopes creating an amphitheatre effect around the harbour front. There are plenty of sights and optional activities including the brightly painted Hanseatic merchants' houses of Bryggen Wharf, an open-air museum and a funicular railway to the summit of Mount Floeyen, whose peaks provide spellbinding views over the city and the surrounding seascape. (B)
DAY 15: Bergen - Sognefjord cruise - Fagernes.
Today, enjoy a memorable cruise on Sognefjord, Norway's longest and deepest fjord, where breathtaking panoramas unfold before you in an ever-changing vista of staggering beauty and you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the 'away-from-it-all' atmosphere. Later, drive to Fagernes for one night. (B, D)
DAY 16: Fagernes - Lillehammer - Karlstad.
Head through the stunning mountain and lakeland scenery to Lillehammer, which boasts Europe's biggest open-air museum, dedicated to Norwegian art and architecture. After a stop on the shores of beautiful Lake Mjosa, continue through Värmland's unspoiled wilderness of forests and lakes to the town of Karlstad. Having been almost totally destroyed by fire in 1865, Karlstad was rebuilt along modern lines, with broad avenues and large parks. (B)
DAY 17: Karlstad - Mariefred - Stockholm.
Journey to Stockholm via Bofors pausing en route in Mariefred for a photo stop at Gripsholm Castle, an idyllic fairytale castle on the shores of Lake Mälaren. With its unique layout, Stockholm is a beautiful city spread across 14 islands between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. This evening why not explore the Swedish capital on an optional excursion? (B)
DAY 18: Stockholm.
Dotted with winding, age-old alleyways, pretty squares and lovely architecture, Stockholm is perhaps the most beautiful of the Scandinavian capitals. Today's included guided sightseeing tour takes in the imposing City Hall with its mosaic-decorated Golden Hall, and the quaint cobbled streets of Gamla Stan medieval old town amongst other sights. (B, D)
DAY 19: Stockholm - UK.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)
Note: On certain departures the order of destinations visited on the cruise may vary.
Accommodation on Tour
Copenhagen: Comfort Express (3*); Aalborg area: Jutlandia at Frederikshvn (4*); Oslo: Comfort Borsparken (3*); Telemark area: Quality at Kongsberg (4*); Bergen: Scandic Bergen City (4*); Fagernes: Quality Hotel & Resort (4*); Karlstad: Scandic (4*); Stockholm area: Best Western at Bromma (4*).
Pre-bookable drinks package
£77 per person
A drinks package can be purchased at the time of booking and includes unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks during meal times on the cruise.
Costa Luminosa
Charming and innovative, Costa Luminosa is one of the newest ships in the Costa fleet, exquisitely designed to embody light in all its forms, from priceless artworks and transparent structures to shimmering iridescent fabrics and Murano glass chandeliers. Offering an impressive spa centre, elegant public areas, and a wealth of impressive amenities, Costa Luminosa is a bright, contemporary ship accommodating 2826 guests in 1130 comfortable, well-equipped cabins and is an ideal base from which to enjoy your cruise.
Public Rooms & Facilities
3 swimming pools including 1 with retractable glass roof; 4 Jacuzzi hydro-massage baths; 4 restaurants (2 reservation only); 11 bars and cafés; Samsara Spa and Wellness Centre with gym, Thalasso pool, treatment rooms, solarium, sauna and Turkish bath; jogging track; multi-purpose sports courts; putting green area; golf simulator; shopping centre; theatre; 4D cinema; casino; disco; art gallery; internet point; library; card room; medical centre; laundry service; 24hr room service; 12 lifts.
Dining
Your cruise includes full board. Dinner is taken at two sittings in the Taurus Restaurant. There are two gala nights per week when the dress code is formal; on other nights it is informal/smart casual. As you would expect all menus have an Italian flavour, with a number of international choices as well. The pasta dishes are particularly good with fresh pasta made on board everyday. There are a number of other restaurants and bars on board such as the informal Andromeda Buffet Restaurant; the Club Luminosa à la carte restaurant, and the Samsara speciality restaurant.
Cabins
All cabins have twin or double beds; air-conditioning/climate control; satellite TV; telephone; minibar; safety deposit box; hairdryer; shower and wc. Your holiday price includes a category I1 cabin or you may choose to upgrade.
Options/Upgrades
Cabin Categories and Descriptions:
I1 Twin inside cabin lower deck
I2 Twin inside cabin middle deck
I3 Twin inside cabin middle deck
E1 Twin outside cabin obstucted view lower/middle deck
B1 Twin balcony cabin middle deck
B4 Twin balcony cabin middle deck
B7 Twin balcony cabin upper deck
Tipping
According to international custom in the hospitality industry, tipping is accepted as a way of recognising good service. For your convenience Costa has introduced an automatic tipping system, so instead of worrying about how much and when to tip, an amount of 49 euros per person will be added to your on board account. For your convenience, a service charge of 15% is added to all bar and wine orders.
Costa Luminosa
Category I1 Agata Deck 4 or Avorio Deck 5 inside twin/double cabin
Category I2 Rubino Deck 6 inside twin/double cabin
Category I3 Smeraldo Deck 7 or Topazio Deck 8 inside twin/double cabin
Category E1 Agata Deck 4 outside twin/double cabin with picture window (obstructed view)
Category B1 Avorio Deck 5 outside twin/double cabin with balcony
Category B4 Rubino Deck 6 outside twin/double cabin with balcony
Category B7 Smeraldo Deck 7 outside twin/double cabin with balcony
Baltic Capitals Cruise + Scenic Scandinavia tour 18 nights
Availability and our best prices for all dates
Select the number in your party and departure month, update the calendar then select your holiday.
Baltic Capitals Cruise + Scenic Scandinavia tour 18 nights
Availability and our best prices for all dates
Select the number in your party and accommodation options. Then select your holiday from the grid.
Baltic Capitals Cruise + Scenic Scandinavia tour
Price from £2239.00
What's Included
- Flights UK - Copenhagen; Stockholm - UK
- Accommodation as per cruise ship details and in a twin room with private facilities on tour
- Meals Full board on cruise ship and 11 breakfasts (B) and 5 dinners (D) on tour
- Services of a tour director on tour
- Transfers between overseas airports, cruise ship and hotels
- All local, port and airport taxes
- Single share option (on tour only) no supplement to pay
Holiday highlights
- Tallinn
- St Petersburg
- Helsinki
- Stockholm
- Copenhagen Orientation
- Jutland Scenic drive
- Gothenburg Orientation drive
- Oslo City sightseeing
- Vemork Visit museum
- Hardangerfjord Scenic drive
- Sognefjord Cruise
- Lake Mjosa Scenic drive
- Värmland Scenic drive
- Mariefred Gripsholm Castle (photo stop)
- Stockholm City sightseeing
Departures from
- London Gatwick
- London Heathrow
Departures between
25 Aug 2012 to 25 Aug 2012
NO HIDDEN EXTRAS: All prices shown include ALL compulsory charges (Fuel Supplement, Air Passenger Duty & Flight Supplement where applicable). Book with confidence: We are members of ABTA and all our air-inclusive holidays are financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL scheme
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