Vessel : Queen Victoria
Date: 29 June, 2021
Savour balmy summer days and glittering nights on this beautiful Baltic cruise, sampling the superb Nordic cuisine in maiden port Aarhus and marvelling at St Petersburg’s spectacular White Nights.
Departs at 19:00PM
Your guide to Hamburg.
Seventy miles from the sea, on the Elbe River in northern Germany, Hamburg is the second largest port city in Europe and one of Germany’s most cosmopolitan, dynamic and fascinating destinations. The city has some 2,000 plus bridges - more than Venice and Amsterdam combined, earning Hamburg the moniker the ‘Venice of the North’. As well as exploring the city’s highlights, including its neo-renaissance and baroque architecture, Museum of Fine Arts and redbrick warehouse district, you can travel to attractive World Heritage city of Lübeck. Sample the famous Niederegger marzipan and explore Lübeck’s Old Town, where gabled houses and ancient churches span over 100 hectares.
Exploring.
Hamburg is an extensive city and subway offers the quickest way to get around. Hauptkirche St Michaelis (St Michael’s Church) is north Germany’s largest Baroque church and the city’s most prominent landmark. Near the church is a street lined with late 17th century brick and timber houses while the town hall, built in neo-Renaissance style, offers much to admire. The Museum of Fine Arts has works by masters such as Rembrandt and Munch, while the city’s history museum fascinates with exhibits from the 9th century. The redbrick Speicherstadt Warehouses are the world’s oldest, and railway enthusiasts will appreciate Miniatur Wunderland, one of the world’s largest model train displays.
Eating and drinking.
As in most major cities, Hamburg boasts a variety of quality eateries and international cuisine. Restaurants and cafés are found throughout the city, in galleries (shopping centres), major museums, and department stores. Local Dishes include Labskaus - a fish and meat stew, often topped with an egg, Büsumer Krabben - small shrimps, and Wiener Schnitzel - veal cutlets fried in bread crumbs. Beer is liberally consumed and Hamburg’s own Holsten Pilsener is widely available in the city. For something stronger, try Lütt um lütt (beer fortified with schnapps) or if visiting in winter, glühwein and feuerzangenbowle – a combination of wine, rum and caramelised sugar.
Shopping.
Shopping is well represented in Hamburg and caters for a variety of tastes and budgets. Two of the main shopping streets are Mönckebergstrasse and Jungfernstieg, the latter is where you’ll find Alsterhaus, arguably the city’s most famous department store. Home to high-end labels such as Hermes, Cartier and Armani, Neuer Wall and Grosse Bleichen are regarded as the most prestigious shopping streets in Hamburg. The city also boasts several covered shopping arcades, Galleria, Hanse-Viertel, Hamburger Hof, and The Europa Passage among the most popular. Typical gift items include Buddelschiffe (small models of ships in bottles), Hummel figures, German glühwein and local crafts.
Beyond Hamburg.
Around Hamburg you’ll find many an option for a day-trip out of the city. A visit to Lübeck offers chance to admire one of Northern Germany’s most historic cities. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Lübeck’s Old Town covers more than 100 hectares and its streets are truly beautiful. Similarly worth seeking out is Lüneburg, another of northern Germany’s Hanseatic cities. Dubbed the “City of White and Gold” Lüneburg astounds with its medieval architecture and picturesque harbour offering quaint bars and cafes. North of Lübeck brings you to Travemünde where attractions include an exquisite soft sand beach with a 100-year old promenade and gardens overlooking the sea.
This day cruising at sea.
Enjoy the facilities on board.
Arrives: 08:00AM / Departs at 17:00PM
The friendly Viking city of Aarhus is brimming with museums, parks, and entertainment venues. Currently enjoying an architectural renaissance, this tiny city was the 2017 European Capital of Culture.
Founded by Vikings over 1,300 years ago, vibrant Aarhus is often affectionately referred to as the world’s smallest big city. It’s compact with a walkable city centre, yet this friendly, welcoming city holds a treasure trove of delights to discover.
Although often over-shadowed by her larger sister city Copenhagen, Aarhus is fast gaining the recognition it deserves. As Denmark’s arts and culture hub, it’s brimming with museums, parks, cafes, and myriad entertainment venues – it’s no wonder this tiny gem was crowned European Capital of Culture in 2017.
Strolling the atmospheric cobbled streets of the Latin Quarter takes you past a charming collection of well-preserved half-timber buildings, many of which have been converted into art shops, galleries, and cafés. In the unique open-air museum Den Gamle By, you can get a taste of life in Denmark hundreds of years ago.
The city’s beautiful cathedral, Aarhus Domkirke, is Denmark’s longest and tallest church, and home to a collection of exquisite century-old frescoes. While the marble-clad walls of the modern, functionalistic Aarhus City Hall, hide a magnificent interior and illustrate Danish architecture at its best.
With redevelopment and repurposing bringing life to past glories, you’ll find hidden bars, urban gardens, and leafy promenades abounding. There are cutting-edge structures like the Iceberg building, the turf-roofed Moesgaard Museum, and the colourful spectacle of the Your Rainbow Panorama walkway at the Museum of Modern Art – where you’ll get breath-taking panoramas across the city through rainbow-coloured glass, 160 feet above the streets.
The city is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes filled with dense woods and sandy beaches to explore. Nearby you’ll find the original Legoland, which is always a hit with children and the young at heart.
Arrives: 08:00AM / Departs : 16:00PM
This day is cruising at the sea.
Free to enjoy the facitlties on board.
Arrives : 07:00 AM Overnight
Departs: 18:00 PM Next day
Russia’s great imperial city, St. Petersburg, never fails to leave lasting impressions. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the jewel in the Tsarist crown, still sparkling as brightly as ever.
Your guide to St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is Russia’s most European city, where the grandeur of baroque and neoclassical buildings is rivalled only by priceless art treasures. It’s this blend of Western European and Russian influence that brings both charm and singularity to St Petersburg. The Revolution of 1917, the siege during World War II and the collapse of soviet communism are among the historical twists and turns to leave their mark on the city. Yet, in the layout of St Petersburg’s buildings and open spaces, Peter the Great and his successors created a supreme architectural set piece, quite different from other cities of the world.
Exploring.
Central St Petersburg, south of the River Neva, is where the cream of the city’s monuments, museums and theatres can be found – in particular Palace Square, home to the Winter Palace, the Admiralty and the State Hermitage Museum. Nevsky Prospekt, Russia’s most famous street, is lined with churches, palaces and shops while anyone interested in Russian art and history would do well to visit The Russian Museum (within the Mikhailovsky Palace) or the nearby Ethnography Museum. Peter and Paul Fortress, a short walk from Gorkovskaya metro station, is the original citadel of St Petersburg and also the final resting place of Nicholas II (the last Czar) and Peter the Great.
Eating and drinking.
While Russian cuisine is still a staple in St Petersburg, the city has a more international food presence than you might anticipate. Nevsky Prospekt is where you’ll encounter fusion restaurants offering twists on Russian classics alongside dishes from Asia, Italy and Israel. Off the main drag, you’ll find smaller, more intimate, eateries popular with St Petersburg locals. Typical Russian fare includes smoked fish and stuffed pastries, borshch (a beetroot soup) and beef Stroganov while Vodka is the native tipple of choice. If seeking something sweet to snack on, Ponchiki, a doughnut made with cottage cheese is delicious.
Shopping.
If shopping is high on your St Petersburg itinerary a visit to Nevsky Prospekt is sure to satisfy. Along this main street you’ll find a combination of boutique stores and shopping centres, as well as independent markets selling crafts and souvenir items. Many stores in this part of town occupy historic stately buildings, characterised by beautiful art deco or neoclassical facades, including the former headquarters of the Singer sewing machine. Caviar and vodka are popular purchases, though be mindful to only purchase caviar from approved stores, in quantities of less than 250 grams, to adhere to customs regulations.
Beyond St Petersburg.
Surrounding St Petersburg offers the opportunity to delve into the summer residences of former Russian Czars. Peterhof Palace, just 30 km west of the city, is an area of extraordinary palaces and gardens often referred to as the “Russian Versailles”. You can easily spend an entire day here exploring the magnificent interiors and sweeping grounds. Tsarskoye Selo (also known as Pushkin) is a similarly impressive former royal residence built in Russian Barocco style and home to Catherine Palace. Among the exhibits is a collection of royal carriages, while the immaculately manicured grounds beguile with their enchanting pavilions and bridges.
Arrives: 08:00AM / Departs 18:00PM
Sail into Helsinki, past the island fortress of Suomenlinna, to find a clean and bustling capital city of neo-classical architecture. Shop along the Esplanade for Finnish crafts, visit architect Saarinen's studio, or while away some shore time strolling the city streets for curiosities, galleries, cafés and restaurants.
Your guide to Helsinki.
Finland’s capital since 1812, Helsinki is ‘the Daughter of the Baltic’, a city of intriguing contrasts, offering attractive Neo-Classical buildings alongside lively shopping esplanades. Elegant old homes and churches grace the surrounding countryside while Helsinki itself is predominantly modern, with many museums to explore and a great cultural centre anchored around the city’s Senate Square. On long summer days, Finnish natives and tourists crowd Helsinki’s public parks and sandy beaches, while in winter a visit to one of the city’s traditional saunas - or a steaming hot mug of glögi - provides the perfect way to keep warm.
Exploring.
Senate Square is the heart of Helsinki’s old quarter and a great place to begin your exploration of the city. A statue of Tsar Alexander II - former Grand Duke of Finland - sits at the Square’s centre, while the Government Palace and the Lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas are among the attractions gracing the perimeter. From here, it’s just a short walk to Uspenski Cathedral, one of the largest orthodox churches in Western Europe and yet another symbol of Russia’s legacy in Finland. For anyone interested in native history and culture, Helsinki has many museums to explore, among them the Museum of Art and Design, Helsinki City Museum, and The National Museum of Finland.
Eating and drinking.
Helsinki’s culinary scene is exciting and innovative, a veritable playground for anyone with a serious interest in eating out and eating well. Natively grown ingredients, fresh seafood and reindeer are the backbones of Finnish cuisine, but you’ll also encounter an equal share of vegan and vegetarian eateries in Helsinki, alongside offerings from Asia and the Middle East. Vanha Kauppahalli market and Hietalahti Market Hall are both good lunchtime options, each offering casual restaurants serving native favourites as well as international cuisine. For a more formal dining option, Sea Horse - established in 1934 - offers a menu dedicated to native Finnish cooking and is popular with tourists.
Shopping.
From flea markets and shopping malls to independent boutiques selling the best of Finnish design, Helsinki’s shopping provides numerous options for finding a keepsake from your travels. The city’s many undercover arcades offer a blend of international fashion and lifestyle brands alongside native Finnish labels. If you’re looking for something edible to take home, Hietalahti Market or Moko Café & Store, which stocks food items alongside lifestyle products, are two good options. Of course, no Helsinki shopping spree would be complete without visiting Finnish design house Marimekko. An institution in the city, homeware and fashion here comes emblazoned with the brand’s signature abstract prints.
Beyond Helsinki.
The Fortress of Suomenlinna sits on a cluster of islands 15 minutes by ferry from Helsinki. A UNESCO world heritage site, it’s one of the city’s most popular attractions, with much to explore as well as several pleasant coastal walks. Another dose of history can be found 55 km away in the medieval city of Porvoo. Established in the 14th century, Porvoo’s scenic streets are lined with ancient wooden buildings, while its old port features many charming shops. Pihlajasaari, another of Helsinki’s islands, is home to sandy beaches, nature paths and a smattering of old villas. Like Suomenlinna, it’s a short ferry connection from the city and a popular retreat for Finns in summertime.
This day is cruising at sea.
Free & enjopy the faclitits on board.
Arrives at 08:00AM
Kiel is very much a famous maritime city and sits at the far eastern end of the Kiel Canal, the world’s busiest artificial waterway, linking the Baltic Sea with the North Sea. It's a town with a tale.
See the sluice gates and mighty ships up close as they transit through the canal, and then hire a bicycle from the pier to cruise along the promenade and Kiel Fjord.
Queen Victoria will delight you with her special appeal, where elegance and unique features combine seamlessly with outstanding hospitality. You’ll discover an extraordinary way to see the world.
