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Stockholm to Copenhagen Luxury Cruise

Sweden, Finland, Russian, Estonia, Poland, Denmark & Ge

12 Days / 11 locations in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland, Denmark, and Germany

“It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference. SeaDream is different from big ship cruising. Our philosophy of casual perfection runs through everything we do. With only 56 couples being pampered by an award-winning crew of 95, the level of attention and service we pay to each of our guests makes yachting aboard either one of our mega-yachts SeaDream I or SeaDream II feel as if you are on your own private yacht. Be as active or as relaxed as you like and take in the ultimate in luxury, privacy and pampering.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Stockholm
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Dinner

Embarkation from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Optional excursions:

Stockholm Highlights with Airport Transfer

This SeaDream Land Adventure is designed for guests with late departing flights. Depart the SeaDream Pier and continue to the imposing City Hall, known locally as Stadshuset and renowned for its unique architecture, murals and as the site of the Nobel Prize Banquet. Completed in 1923, this magnificent building is the result of a 12 year effort by the combined elite of Swedish construction workers, sculptors, artists and craftsmen. The main features are the two courtyards and the numerous splendid halls, the most famous of these being the Blue Hall, where the Nobel festivities unfold each year and the Golden Hall renowned for its mosaics. Pass through the city center to the neighboring island of Djurgården, regarded as Stockholm’s outdoor recreation center, with the Gröna Lund Tivoli, Skansen open-air museum and extensive park lands beyond. While on the island visit the Swedish warship Vasa once considered to be one of the world’s largest and the pride of Sweden’s mighty navy. The present museum is built around the 17th century warship, which sank in the Stockholm’s inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628. Its discovery in 1956 and subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in marine archeology. Painstakingly restored too much of its original magnificence, the Vasa represents an authentic piece of living history. Soon after your guided orientation of Stockholm, your coach will take you to the international airport for your departing flights.

Duration 5 hours

Old Town Walk

This SeaDream Yachting Land Adventure is ideal for guests that are in transit on back to back voyages, guests staying in Stockholm or those with afternoon flights. SeaDreamers will become acquainted with Stockholm’s oldest and coziest quarter, Gamla Stan. With its twisting alleys and cobbled squares, this is where Stockholmers love to meet, dine, shop and stroll. Witness the historic elegance of the exterior of the dominating Royal Palace combined with the possibility to stroll along the narrow streets, past a wide variety of smart boutiques, handicraft workshops, art galleries and antique shops.

On this island of antiquity in the heart of the city, experience the medieval intimacy of what is today a living historical monument of international renown. Wander with your guide to savor the romantic atmosphere of the elegant facades dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, with Baroque doorways and regal coats of arms. Beyond the Royal Palace, visit the Cathedral (Coronation Church), the city’s oldest church and the coronation site of most of Sweden’s Kings. The exterior reveals little of the beauty of its late-Gothic interior. Note the sculptural ensemble St. George and the Dragon from the 15th century, which symbolizes Sweden’s struggles to break free of Denmark. See Stortorget (Great Square) - the hub of the Old Town where Stockholm’s Blood bath occurred in 1520 and the former Stock Exchange, now the home of the Swedish Academy that meets each year to decide the laureate of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Now that you have had a nice “taste” of Sweden, it’s time to return to the pier and SeaDream.

Duration 2 hours

Sandhamn – Island Walk

This SeaDream Yachting Land Adventure is ideal for guests that are in transit on back to back voyages, guests staying in Stockholm or those with afternoon flights. Sandön, which is the actual name of the island, has a spectacular history. Hundred years back, kings, authors and artists have found inspiration or sought shelter from the harsh weather at sea here. Join your local guide for an hour long adventure in the surroundings of Sandhamn and learn more of the history and also of present life on the island.

Duration 1 hour

 
Day 2     Hanko
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Arrive mid-day in Hanko. Depart late evening

Optional excursions:

Nordic Walking - Hanko and Seaside

Experience the unique nature and maritime atmosphere of Hanko by a guided Nordic Walking tour. Hanko is known as one of Finland's sunniest towns and is a meeting point for tourists thanks to the long sandy beaches enticing sailors and swimmers. We will be equipped with Nordic walking poles which give you a totally new way of exercising while you are walking. Hanko got a railway connection with Helsinki in 1874 and quickly become a spa center for wealthy Finns and Russians who came for recreation and the bracing sea air. The beautiful old wooden villas in the Spa Park were built around the Hanko Spa the turn of the 20th century. The villas, designed by well-known architects, represent a decorative wooden architecture. Many of the spa guests stayed in Hanko for the whole summer and were accommodated in the villas. Some of the buildings still serve as guest houses and restaurants. The spa building itself was damaged during the war and was pulled down but the Casino remains in the Spa park. We visit a seaside cafe called The House of the Four Winds which is situated on an island about 3 km from the city centre. Walking to the restaurant we use the shore path which curves pass several of the beautiful old villas situated by the beach boulevard. The House of the Four Winds was at one time owned by the Finnish hero, Marshal Mannerheim, who was the commander of the Finnish Army in World War II and the wars against Russia in the 1940's. During Prohibition (1919-1932), when the cafe was called Cafe Africa, so-called "hard tea" was served there. Marshal Mannerheim found the noisy antics disturbing, so he bought the cafe in 1927. At the cafe we enjoy coffee / tea and Mannerheim's Strawberry cake. From the cafe we will have transportation back into town making a final stop in the main harbor area where you will have time to visit the small shops and restaurants.

Duration 3 hours

Helsinki and Surroundings by Bike

A guided biking tour is a great way to get to know a city. Helsinki has miles of bike paths and biking is a popular way to get around ....in the summer ! We pick up our bikes on the dock and our route starts directly from the harbour and goes through the city, passing the most important sights in the heart of Helsinki. We cycle through green areas and parks, past museums, admire the sea and feel the spirit of the downtown area. We will make several stops during your route, when our guide will tell more about the history and culture of Helsinki. After making a short stop at the Rock Church the tour will continue to the composer Jean Sibelius monument. Not far from here, by the waterfront we pass the residence of Finland's President and summer house of the Prime Minister of Finland. The tour passes suburbs with private homes on your route which takes us over small islands. We will also get a glimpse of Helsinki Technological area where many companies have their head offices such as Nokia and Kone elevators. Along the coastal roads we pass the ship building yards, where several of the world's cruise liners have been built and along Kaivopuisto Park area. From here the route takes us along the seaside and back to the Market Square and the pier. During the tour there will be stops for a fruit snack and orange juice or water will be served. Almost the entire route goes along cycling paths, the tour takes approximately 3.5 hours. A support vehicle will accompany the group at all times. Comfortable clothing and sun glasses are good to have with you on this tour.

Duration 3.5 hours

Helsinki Archipelago by Rib Speedboat

Step on board a RIB " boat in the harbour of Helsinki and enjoy an exciting day among the islands of the archipelago. The tour will be made with a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) reaching a speed of over 40 knots through the archipelago outside Helsinki. Our adventure begins by tracing a route through channels in Helsinki city and passing the ship- building area to marvel at the huge size of the ships being constructed at the shipyard in the middle of the city. After getting a taste of speed on water by driving under bridges and passing by some of the islands where distinctive Finnish summer cottages are situated we will make a stop at one of the summer cottage where we are welcomed by our charming hostess with a drink and refreshments of typical Scandinavian food. If there is one thing besides Nokia that Finland is known for, it must be the sauna. Here you can experience the real thing in a very traditional Finnish sauna on the waterside. Although not traditional, you may wear a bathing suit ! After this relaxing time on the archipelago you will return to Helsinki by coach and on the way enjoy a short panoramic sightseeing. Normal physical condition, good walking shoes or sneakers, warm sweater and sun tan lotion are required at this tour. Please note: The operation of this tour is subject to wind and weather conditions. You should dress warmly and wear suitable non-slip flat shoes. For this tour you need to be fit and sporty. Rain gear is provided in inclement weather.

Duration 3.5 hours

Highlights of Helsinki

We start the tour with a short walk to the famous Old Market Hall of Helsinki. Old Market Hall opened in 1889 and contains a variety of vendors selling baked goods, meats, cheeses, and even exotic products from Lapland. The outdoor farmer's market fills with rows of small stalls offering fresh produce, local handicrafts, souvenirs, and prepared foods. We will sample a traditional Finnish snack and an equally traditional glass of Finnish schnapps. We then board the coach in Market Square located right next to Market Hall. Our guide is a mine of information about the history and culture of Finland and the Finns, including just why this nation's inhabitants are so crazy about the Sauna. On our tour we will make three stops to see and visit some unique and beautiful sights of central Helsinki, with its impressive wealth of architecture. The most striking is probably Carl Ludvig Engel's neo-classical Senate Square, surrounded by public buildings built in the old center in the mid-19th century. Further on we will pass several sights including the Uspenski Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the Swedish Theater on Mannerheim Street. After passing the Parliament Building our guide will point out the Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma; it's architectural design is credited to the American architect Steven Holl. After seeing a glimpse of the Finlandia Hall (designed by architect Alvar Aalto) we pass the Olympic Stadium, site of the 1952 Olympic Games, and arrive at the famous Temppeliaukion Kirkko (let's just call it "Rock Church"), the church hewn from solid rock with a ceiling faced with copper. Finally we will make a visit to the Sibelius Park to view the magnificent monument in honor of the best-known Finnish composer Jean Sibelius before it's time to return to the dock.

Duration 3.5 hours

 
Day 3     Helsinki
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning arrival in Helsinki. Afternoon departure.

Helsinki and Surroundings by Bike

A guided biking tour is a great way to get to know a city. Helsinki has miles of bike paths and biking is a popular way to get around ....in the summer ! We pick up our bikes on the dock and our route starts directly from the harbour and goes through the city, passing the most important sights in the heart of Helsinki. We cycle through green areas and parks, past museums, admire the sea and feel the spirit of the downtown area. We will make several stops during your route, when our guide will tell more about the history and culture of Helsinki. After making a short stop at the Rock Church the tour will continue to the composer Jean Sibelius monument. Not far from here, by the waterfront we pass the residence of Finland's President and summer house of the Prime Minister of Finland. The tour passes suburbs with private homes on your route which takes us over small islands. We will also get a glimpse of Helsinki Technological area where many companies have their head offices such as Nokia and Kone elevators. Along the coastal roads we pass the ship building yards, where several of the world's cruise liners have been built and along Kaivopuisto Park area. From here the route takes us along the seaside and back to the Market Square and the pier. During the tour there will be stops for a fruit snack and orange juice or water will be served. Almost the entire route goes along cycling paths, the tour takes approximately 3.5 hours. A support vehicle will accompany the group at all times. Comfortable clothing and sun glasses are good to have with you on this tour.

Duration 3.5 hours

Helsinki Archipelago by Rib Speedboat

Step on board a RIB " boat in the harbour of Helsinki and enjoy an exciting day among the islands of the archipelago. The tour will be made with a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) reaching a speed of over 40 knots through the archipelago outside Helsinki. Our adventure begins by tracing a route through channels in Helsinki city and passing the ship- building area to marvel at the huge size of the ships being constructed at the shipyard in the middle of the city. After getting a taste of speed on water by driving under bridges and passing by some of the islands where distinctive Finnish summer cottages are situated we will make a stop at one of the summer cottage where we are welcomed by our charming hostess with a drink and refreshments of typical Scandinavian food. If there is one thing besides Nokia that Finland is known for, it must be the sauna. Here you can experience the real thing in a very traditional Finnish sauna on the waterside. Although not traditional, you may wear a bathing suit ! After this relaxing time on the archipelago you will return to Helsinki by coach and on the way enjoy a short panoramic sightseeing. Normal physical condition, good walking shoes or sneakers, warm sweater and sun tan lotion are required at this tour. Please note: The operation of this tour is subject to wind and weather conditions. You should dress warmly and wear suitable non-slip flat shoes. For this tour you need to be fit and sporty. Rain gear is provided in inclement weather.

Duration 3.5 hours

Highlights of Helsinki

We start the tour with a short walk to the famous Old Market Hall of Helsinki. Old Market Hall opened in 1889 and contains a variety of vendors selling baked goods, meats, cheeses, and even exotic products from Lapland. The outdoor farmer's market fills with rows of small stalls offering fresh produce, local handicrafts, souvenirs, and prepared foods. We will sample a traditional Finnish snack and an equally traditional glass of Finnish schnapps. We then board the coach in Market Square located right next to Market Hall. Our guide is a mine of information about the history and culture of Finland and the Finns, including just why this nation's inhabitants are so crazy about the Sauna. On our tour we will make three stops to see and visit some unique and beautiful sights of central Helsinki, with its impressive wealth of architecture. The most striking is probably Carl Ludvig Engel's neo-classical Senate Square, surrounded by public buildings built in the old center in the mid-19th century. Further on we will pass several sights including the Uspenski Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the Swedish Theater on Mannerheim Street. After passing the Parliament Building our guide will point out the Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma; it's architectural design is credited to the American architect Steven Holl. After seeing a glimpse of the Finlandia Hall (designed by architect Alvar Aalto) we pass the Olympic Stadium, site of the 1952 Olympic Games, and arrive at the famous Temppeliaukion Kirkko (let's just call it "Rock Church"), the church hewn from solid rock with a ceiling faced with copper. Finally we will make a visit to the Sibelius Park to view the magnificent monument in honor of the best-known Finnish composer Jean Sibelius before it's time to return to the dock.

Duration 3.5 hours

 
Days 4 - 5     St. Petersburg
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning arrival in St. Petersburg. Two days in Russia

Optional Excursions:

SeaDream Exclusive - Musical Hermitage

We offer you a unique opportunity to step in the world-famous museum of the Hermitage when it is closed to general public.

You will be able to enjoy highlights of one of the greatest art collections in the world, gathered and expanded by Russian Tsars starting from Peter the Great. Three million objects of art are currently on an exhibit, including pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, unique collections of Rembrandt, Rubens, French Impressionists and sculptures by Rodin. Not the least among the attractions of the Hermitage is the museum itself, with its fine interior decoration and architectural detail. Further surprises await you as your SeaDream Exclusive Land Adventure continues. In one of the beautiful museum halls a symphonic orchestra will give a private performance for you and your fellow SeaDreamers! In the end of the performance you will enjoy glass of champagne and share your impressions.

Note: This is a small symphonic orchestra, the resident orchestra of the Hermitage Museum and is one of the top chamber Orchestras in Russia and Europe. Its repertoire stretches from Baroque to 21C compositions, Opera to Jazz, Symphonies to Movie soundtracks. Founding Conductor and first Artistic Director: Saulius Sondeckis.

This Land Adventure will operate at 19:00 - June 6; June 15; 18:30 - June 30; July 8; August 22

Notes A minimum participation of 50 guests is required to operate this very Exclusive Land Adventure. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change prior to voyage departure.

Duration 3.5 hours

Catherine's Great Palace at Pushkin

Of all the Imperial palaces, none are more evocative of both the heyday and twilight of the Romanovs than those at Pushkin, originally called “Tsarskoye Selo” or “Tsar's Village”, 25 km South of St. Petersburg. The town is also associated with the great poet, Alexander Pushkin, who studied here at the Lycée. Catherine’s Palace was built there in 1756 in beautiful baroque style by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. It’s grandiose turquoise, white, and gold facade stretches 978 feet. The palace contains a series of magnificent rooms, including the famous Picture Gallery and the Great Hall. One of the main mysteries of the palace is a golden, jewel-encrusted Amber Room made of several tons of the gemstone. A gift to Peter the Great in 1716 celebrating peace between Russia and Prussia, the room's fate became anything but peaceful - Nazis looted it during World War II, and in the final months of the war, the amber panels, which had been packed away in crates, disappeared. Today the visitors of the palace admire the replica completed in 2003, but the contents of the original, dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World," have remained missing for decades.

SeaDream Guests will be offered early entrance to the palace before the official opening time. After the palace visit guests will enjoy a walk through the parks of the estate that are embellished with a number of charming pavilions and add to the splendor of the whole ensemble.

This Land Adventure will operate at 08:00 June 7; June 16; June 24, July 1, July 9, August 23

Duration 4 hours

The Best of St. Petersburg

This SeaDream Land Adventure combines a coach ride, inside visits to the main city highlights and a private boat ride through the famous city waterways to provide an excellent opportunity to discover and enjoy St. Petersburg. The riverbanks and canals are lined by unbroken graceful facades of palaces, mansions and churches. The routing through the canals will take you around the historic center, passing under the Nevsky Prospekt on the Fontanka canal. When founded 300 years ago by Peter the Great, the marshes were drained by construction of canals which is the reason why the city is sometimes called the "Northern Venice". The Peter and Paul fortress is located on a small island in the Neva River. This is a short coach ride from the yacht, past some of St. Petersburg's most famous vistas. Begun in 1703 it was built to secure Russia's hold on the Neva delta as a fortress-cum-prison defended by ramparts and bastions. The magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral, located on the grounds of the fortress, is still the tallest point in the city and it is the burial place of all Russian Tsars starting with Peter the Great. The remains of the last tsar, Nicolas II and his family, were interred here in 1998, eighty years after their murder. It is undoubtedly a unique Baroque construction, which miraculously survived during the Leningrad siege of WWII. We board our sightseeing boat on the Neva River from the fortress dock. From the Neva, you enter the canals alongside the Summer Gardens. Your boat will take you along canals praised in many classics of Russian literature Such as Fontanka, Griboedov, Krukov and Moika Canals. You will also pass under some beautifully ornate bridges. Later, you will pass the Yusupov Palace and the Mariinsky Theatre. You will leave the boat at the Blue Bridge on the Moika Canal and walk 200 yards to the incredibly ornate St. Isaac's Cathedral, one of the largest and beautiful domed cathedrals in Europe. St. Isaac's was built between 1818 and 1858 to Auguste Montferrand's design and named in honor of St. Isaac of Dalmatia on whose day (May 30) Peter the Great was born. The cathedral has columns of Karelian granite and pediments with statues of the Apostles and the Evangelists. It is 101.5 meters high, and there is a marvelous view over St. Petersburg from the colonnades. The interior of the cathedral is as impressive as the exterior: walls and columns lavishly decorated with malachite, lapis lazuli, marble, precious stones and minerals; an enormous stained-glass figure of Christ by the Iconostasis; mosaic images of saints. In fact, an idea of the megalomania of the czars can be gleaned by taking a close look at the saints chosen to be included in the iconostasis. Apart from Jesus and Mary, who were obligatory, all the figures were chosen because their names coincided with a member of the Romanov family. After your guided adventure of the cathedral you return by coach the short distance along the embankment to your SeaDream yacht.

This Land Adventure will operate at 13:30 - June 6; 14:30 - June 15; June 30; July 8, August 22

Duration 2.45 hours

Evening Walk - "White Nights" & "Spilled Blood"

Sitting on the 60th parallel of latitude, St. Petersburg is almost as far north as Anchorage, Alaska. During the long summer "White Nights" the city is alive as never at any other time during the year. The Nevsky Prospect, the main avenue, throngs with young and old in their summer best. Our guide will show us how St. Petersburgers live out their summer nights. We will also include a short ride on the metro (subway) system and a quiet evening visit to the remarkable Church on the Spilled Blood. After dinner, we depart from the ship by coach for Vladimirskaya Metro station. The metro stations are decorated in different styles, some very ornate. The long escalators take us deep down into the marble-lined Vladimirskaya station, with its immense chandeliers and Soviet stars. We take the Metro via Vosstaniya metro station to Nevsky Prospekt and get off at Griboedov Canal station. Here we walk along the canal to the Church on the Spilled Blood for a quiet evening visit. The Church on the Spilled Blood is a fine example of neo-Russian architecture, resembling Russian churches of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is famous not only for its decorative onion domes, but also for its breathtaking interior of enamels and mosaics. Inside, colorful mosaics cover an area of around 7000 square meters of intricate design, thought to be the largest indoor mosaic in the world. The church was constructed in 1883, on the exact spot where the great Tsar-Liberator, Alexander II, was assassinated by revolutionaries in 1881. And so, it was from the spilled blood of Alexander II that the church got its name. After the 1917 revolution the church was turned into storage for theatrical props and only in August of 1997, after 25 years of restoration, was the Church on the Spilled Blood again opened to the public in all its original, extraordinary beauty. We walk back to Nevsky Prospekt along quiet side lanes, peeking into courtyards of old apartment buildings and discovering the charm of the old back streets of St. Petersburg. For a grandstand view of the evening passing parade along the Nevsky Prospekt, we stop for coffee at the "Coffee Company", located in the House of Books This Art Nouveau treasure is just another building along Nevsky, but worth noting are its glass dome and mystical mosaics. It one belonged to the Singer sewing machine company, whose name is still engraved on the facade, between the second and third floors. For decades it was Dom Knigi, or House of Books, Leningrad's main bookstore. After renovation, it now houses the bookstore on the first floor and an upscale shopping mall on the higher levels. We will have time for browsing in House of Books or other stores. Our bus will be parked alongside the Kazan Cathedral, just across Nevsky Prospekt, where we will meet for return transfer to the yacht. After dinner, we depart from the ship by coach for Vladimirskaya Metro station. The metro stations are decorated in different styles, some very ornate. The long escalators take us deep down into the marble-lined Vladimirskaya station, with its immense chandeliers and Soviet stars. We take the Metro via Vosstaniya metro station to Nevsky Prospekt and get off at Griboedov Canal station. Here we walk along the canal to the Church on the Spilled Blood for a quiet evening visit. The Church on the Spilled Blood is a fine example of neo-Russian architecture, resembling Russian churches of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is famous not only for its decorative onion domes, but also for its breathtaking interior of enamels and mosaics. Inside, colourful mosaics cover an area of around 7000 square meters of intricate design, thought to be the largest indoor mosaic in the world. The church was constructed in 1883, on the exact spot where the great Tsar-Liberator, Alexander II, was assassinated by revolutionaries in 1881. And so, it was from the spilled blood of Alexander II that the church got its name. After the 1917 revolution the church was turned into storage for theatrical props and only in August of 1997, after 25 years of restoration, was the Church on the Spilled Blood again opened to the public in all its original, extraordinary beauty. We walk back to Nevsky Prospekt along quiet side lanes, peeking into courtyards of old apartment buildings and discovering the charm of the old back streets of St. Petersburg. For a grandstand view of the evening passing parade along the Nevsky Prospekt, we stop for coffee at the "Coffee Company"., located in the House of Books This Art Nouveau treasure is just another building along Nevsky, but worth noting are its glass dome and mystical mosaics. It one belonged to the Singer sewing machine company, whose name is still engraved on the facade, between the second and third floors. For decades it was Dom Knigi, or House of Books, Leningrad's main bookstore. After renovation, it now houses the bookstore on the first floor and an upscale shopping mall on the higher levels. We will have time for browsing in House of Books or other stores. Our bus will be parked alongside the Kazan Cathedral, just across Nevsky Prospekt, where we will meet for return transfer to the yacht.

This Land Adventure will operate 20:00 - June 6; June 15; June 30; July 8; August 22

Duration 2.5 hours

Jewels of the Tsars - Hermitage Gold & Diamond Treasury

In the Diamond Treasury of the Hermitage, you can see particularly valuable items from the personal property of the Russian Tsars, such as the 46-piece toilet service of Empress Elisabeth made of pure gold or the two magnificent horse blankets and harnesses, one of them adorned with 8,000 brilliants, the other with 16,000 diamonds. You will see further 1,083 brilliants and 2,458 diamonds in the small copy of the Russian power insignia, made in 1900 by Faberge. Empress Elizabeth purchased many fashionable articles from Europe: English watches, toiletry cases, broaches and hair decorations of gem stones. Catherine the Great opened a "diamond treasury" in the Winter Palace. There she kept a great number of medals, watches and chains, snuff-boxes and gold sword hilts. Before the October Revolution there were two famous diamonds in Russia - the Orlov Diamond weighing 194.8 karats mounted into the Catherine's scepter, and the Shah Diamond weighing 88.7 karats presented by the Shah of Iran. They are now on display in the Diamond Fund of Russia. Probably, the most striking object in the Gold Room collection is a horse attire presented to Nicolas I by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire - Mahmud. The saddle cloth is encrusted with more than 16,000 diamonds. One of the last sections of the Gold Room is a collection of works by Carl Faberge and his goldsmiths. The Treasure Gallery, one of the most interesting collections of the museum, got its name in the 18th century during the reign of Catherine the Great. The main idea of the section, which is called the Diamond Rooms, is to show the development of the jeweler's craft over the course of mankind's many centuries of history from the third millennium B.C. to the start of the 20th century.

This Land Adventure will operate at 14:00 - June 7; 14:30 - July 1; July 9; August 23

Duration 2.5 hours

Private Arrangements - Do Your Own Thing!

For our Land Adventures in St. Petersburg, we have selected RUSSIAN EVENT, whom we regard as most professional and experienced. They were established in 1997 and have a local team of dedicated travel professionals and the infrastructure to provide well-planned Land Adventures and events. If you would prefer to make private touring arrangements, they can provide all the services you need for a unique experience in St. Petersburg, or, perhaps even a quick flight to Moscow! Their service includes the documentation required for immigration (Visa) purposes.

The Russian Versailles – Peterhof Parks and Palaces

One of St. Petersburg's most famous attractions, the palace and park at Peterhof are often referred to as "The Russian Versailles". The park is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, on the western outskirts of the city. The three monumental cascading fountains in front of the Grand Palace are probably one of the best-known images of St. Petersburg. Peter the Great chose the site early as being the closest to St. Petersburg where the Gulf was deep enough for sea- going vessels. He started by building the charming little summer palace of Monplaisir on the shoreline. A great number of eminent architects, artists, and anonymous folk craftsmen were involved in the further development of the wonderful parks, 176 fountains, majestic palace, and a remarkable collection of sculpture and paintings. Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. After 1917 the Peterhof ensemble was taken into state custody and turned into an architecture and art museum. The buildings and grounds were behind German lines during the WWII siege and were heavily damaged. Restoration began immediately after the war and continues to this day. Your visit begins in the elegant Grand Palace, the highlights including the oak study of Peter the Great, the Royal Bed Chamber and the Throne Room. Your route then takes you down through the Lower Gardens to admire the fountains, most famous of which is the golden Samson Fountain. Walking down to the shoreline, you will find your private hydrofoil waiting to take you back to the city through the commercial port and Neva River.

Note: SeaDream Guests will travel to the palace by coach and offered early admission one hour before the place is opened to general public. After palace visit the Land Adventure continues to the parks where the fountain opening ceremony can be enjoyed. Guests return to the city by hydrofoil experiencing a 30 min ride through the Gulf of Finland to St Petersburg.

This Land Adventure will operate 08:00 June 7; June 16; 08:30 – July 1; July 9; August 23

Duration 4.5 hours

Romanov’s Imperial Residences Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin and Parks of Peterhoff

This full-day SeaDream Land Adventure will allow guests to see the most spectacular summer residences of Romanov’s around St Petersburg in one day!!! Your comprehensive Land Adventure will cover the Palace of Catherine the Great, 25 km South from the city built in 1756 in beautiful baroque style by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Its grandiose turquoise, white, and gold facade stretches 978 feet high. The palace contains a series of magnificent rooms, including the famous Picture Gallery, Great Hall and fully restored Amber Room.

Guests will be offered early entrance to the palace before official opening time.

After the palace visit you will continue to the fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof, an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18-19th centuries. Often called the "Capital of Fountains", Peterhof was founded in the very beginning of the eighteenth century by Emperor Peter the Great not far from his new northern capital St Petersburg. Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. Guests will travel from Catherine’s Palace to Peterhof by motor coach and enjoy a light lunch on the open-air terrace inside Peterhof parks. After lunch your Land Adventure continues in the parks where over 150 fountains can be enjoyed. You and your fellow guests will later return to the city by hydrofoil experiencing a 30 min ride through the Gulf of Finland to St Petersburg.

This Land Adventure will operate at 08:00 - June 7; June 16; June 24; July 9; August 23

Duration 8.5 hours

Faberge’s Imperial Return

Within the stately halls of the renovated Shuvalov Palace on the banks of the Fontanka River, Russia’s first Faberge Museum has been opened in December 2013. Museum houses the celebrated Fabergé collection of the Link of Times Foundation owned by Russian entrepreneur Viktor Vekselberg, which, with over 1,500 choice pieces, now surpasses the collection of the Kremlin Armoury Museum. Over a 10 year period, Mr. Vekselberg has assembled the most formidable collection of works by Peter Carl Fabergé in the world. His aim is to repatriate works by great Russian masters to Russia, mostly sold by the Bolsheviks in the 1920’s and 1930’s, making them available to the general public.

The museum is a centerpiece for some of Fabergé’s most famous creations, such as the Imperial Coronation Egg which was created in 1897 by Fabergé work masters Mikhail Perkhin and Henrik Wigstrom.

Aside from this, visitors will also see other works of Peter Carl Fabergé, including some of the 200 spectacular objects formerly owned by the New York Forbes family, such as the nine Imperial eggs acquired by Mr. Vekselberg in 2004 for over $100 million, as well as some of the 100 cigarette-cases, hundreds of pieces once owned by the San Francisco collector Andre Ruzhnikov, including his prized collection of about 150 articles in cloisonné enamel by the celebrated Muscovite master Fedor Rueckert, and hundreds of objects acquired privately and at auction over the last years by the Aurora Investment Fund.

“Over eighty years ago, Fabergé's dazzling Imperial Easter Eggs and other treasures were dispersed throughout the world. Our father (Malcolm Forbes) spent decades passionately bringing many of them together again. Among his greatest pleasures was sharing this collection both at the Forbes Galleries and in exhibitions around the world. The family is delighted that the advent of a new era in Russia has made possible the return of these extraordinary objects. It is an astonishingly romantic ending to one of the great stories in art history."

This Land Adventure will operate at 14:00 - June 7; June 16; 14:30 - June 24; July 1, July 8; August 23

Duration 2 hours

*SeaDream Exclusive* - Hermitage by Night (Private)

We offer you a unique opportunity to step in the world-famous museum of the Hermitage when it is closed to general public.

There is no museum in the world that rivals the Hermitage in size and quality. Its collection is so large that it would take years to view it in its entirety. At last count, there were nearly three million works on exhibit. It includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, unique collections of Rembrandt, Rubens, French Impressionists Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Matisse, Gaugin and sculptures by Rodin. Visitors should also take advantage of its excellent Greek and Roman antiquities collection and its exhibits of Siberian and Central Asian art. Not least among the attractions of the Hermitage is the museum itself, with its fine interior decoration and architectural detail. The origins of the Hermitage can be traced back to the private art collection of Peter the Great, who purchased numerous works during his travels abroad and later hung them in his residence. Catherine the Great expanded the collection considerably, and she and her successors built the Hermitage collection in large part with purchases of the private collections of the Western European aristocracy and monarchy. By the time Nicholas II ascended the throne in 1894, he was heir to the greatest collection of art in Europe. After the Revolution of 1917, the museum was opened to the public, and its collection was further augmented by the addition of modern works taken from private collections. The Peacock Clock is one of the attractions of the Hermitage. It was brought to Russia from France as a gift to Catherine the Great from one of her favorites. In the 18th century this clock was considered a real rarity. The mechanism of the clock is hidden under a mushroom and on top of the mushroom there is a gilded peacock, a rooster and an owl. When the clock is wound up the peacock spreads its tail, the rooster crows and the owl blinks.

 
Days 6 - 7     Tallinn
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Two days in Estonia

Optional excursions:

Guided Bike Ride to Kadriorg Park

You and your fellow SeaDream active guests will start your comfortable 2-hour bike ride from the pier, following a route through the city center to beautiful Kadriorg Park. In the park, there is the Kadriorg Palace which was built in 1723 by Peter the Great in honor of his empress wife Catherine I. Kadriorg means "Catherine's valley" in Estonian, although the palace was seldom visited by the Tsarina. It served as Tallinn's art museum for many years. After viewing the palace from the outside you will continue biking to see the new art museum KUMU. The museum is the largest one in the Baltics and one of the largest art museums in Northern Europe. The designer was a Finnish architect, Pekka Vapaavuori, who won the architect competition in 1994. The new museum was opened in 2006 and received the European Museum of the Year Award 2008. We continue on past the President's Palace and return to the pier and your SeaDream yacht.

Duration 2 hours

Upper Old Town and Open-Air Museum

Tallinn is the capital of the recently independent republic of Estonia and can boast an extremely well-preserved medieval quarter. The old town became a World Heritage site in 1997. This SeaDream Land Adventure combines the main sights of Tallinn's old town with a visit to the open-air museum at Rocca-al-Mare. The old town of Tallinn consists of two parts, Upper and Lower, and from the port you will drive past the ancient city walls and towers directly to the Upper Town, where you will start your one-hour walking adventure along the cobble-stoned streets. You will see Tall Hermann, a watchtower 150 feet high built in 1371, and the imposing Toompea Castle first built in 1219 and now the residence of the Estonian Parliament, and visit the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. From here you continue on foot along medieval streets to visit the 13th-century Cathedral, the oldest church in the city. Inside the church more than one hundred coats of arms are on display, and the carved wooden Baroque pulpit is also of interest. You then proceed to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Lower Town rooftops, before rejoining your coach at Tall Hermann and travelling along the coast to the seaside resort of Rocca-al-Mare. Here in a beautiful wooded park you will see authentic examples of 18th and 19th-century rural buildings including a windmill, a small church and farms displayed together with other trappings of farm life from various regions of Estonia. Refreshments of tea or coffee will be served at the inn, and afterwards there will be a short time to shop at the museum's gift shop before returning to the harbor.

Notes This land adventure involves considerable walking, some over cobble-stoned and uneven streets in the Old Town, and is not suitable for guests with wheelchairs or those with walking difficulties. Flat, comfortable footwear is recommended.

Duration 4 hours

Weapons of The Soviet Era - Shoot a Kalashnikov

Your SeaDream adventure will start with a drive through an old residential district to an indoor shooting range. You will hear a short presentation about world famous Soviet weapons used by KGB and militia, after that you will have an opportunity to try legendary weapons like the "Kalashnikov" assault rifle and the Makarov semi-automatic pistol which was the standard Soviet side-arm for 40 years. The Kalashnikov was one of the first true assault rifles and, due to its durability, low production costs and ease of use, the weapon and its numerous variants remain the most widely used assault rifles in the world. More Kalashnikov type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined. Smaller weapons are also available if you do not like too much "kick-back". After the shooting range you will drive back to the Lower Old Town for a short walking orientation. You will enjoy a view of Upper Old Town and pass the House of Great Guild and the Church of the Holy Spirit, on your way to Town Hall Square with its famous Town Hall. There will be free time to visit local shops, cafes and the craft market before driving back to the harbor and SeaDream.

Note: Due to the air conditioning and ventilation in the shooting range, guests are requested to bring a light jacket or sweater to be comfortable.

Duration 3.5 hours

Tallinn Walking Discovery

Your SeaDream Land Adventure begins as you drive from the port to the Upper Old Town of Tallinn. Arriving at Tall Hermann Tower, you’ll disembark the coach to begin your walking discovery. The well-preserved medieval quarter of Tallinn, with its narrow cobblestone alleyways, can be best enjoyed on foot. You will see (optional visit inside) the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevsky. Built in the traditional style of 17th century Moscow churches, the interior contains a number of interesting icons and mosaics.

Your adventure continues to a site that gives you a beautiful panoramic view over the Lower Old Town. You’ll see the towers and steeples rising above the cluster of red-tiled roofs just as they have for hundreds of years. After discovering the Upper Old Town you will enter the Lower Old Town where you will see the exterior of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Your Land Adventure will reach Town Hall Square where you will view the exterior of the 15th century Town Hall.

Your walking discovery will end near Mere Boulevard, where you will have the option to return to the yacht via motor coach or stay in town for independent exploration and shopping.

Notes This land adventure involves considerable walking, some over cobble-stoned and uneven streets in the Old Town, and is not suitable for guests with wheelchairs or those with walking difficulties. Flat, comfortable footwear is recommended.

Duration 3.5 hours

 
Day 8     Visby - Gotland
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A day in Gotland.

Optional Excursions:

Biking In The Town Of Roses And Ruins

Explore Visby, known as the Town of Roses and Ruins by bicycle. From the harbor, the first part of the cycle route will take you to Almedalen, once the site of the Hanseatic Harbor. See "Kruttornet" the powder tower, the oldest remaining structure in Visby dating from the early 1,100's. Continue along Strandgatan to the lovely Botanical Gardens. In the gardens, because of the mild winters, there are specimens of almond trees, magnolias and acacias, besides vivid displays of flowers. Pass Maiden´s Tower and uphill to Klinten, a good viewpoint over the ruins of the old city, harbor and the Baltic Sea. The route continues on a bicycle path south into the countryside and the next stop will be the high cliff of Hoegklint, about 3 miles south of Visby. There is a wide view to the north-east towards Visby while to the south the cliff continues. Refreshments of tea/coffee and local cakes will be served at Princess Eugenies Summer Residence in Fridhem before returning by peddle-power back to Visby and the harbor.

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes.

Medieval Walled Town Of Visby Tour

This coach tour will give you an opportunity to really get to know this unique and beautiful medieval town. To gain a geographical prospective of the walled city, begin with a drive along the coast up to Hoegklint for a spectacular view of the Baltic Sea and Visby itself. Returning to the town we will visit Almedalen, the site of the Hanseatic trading harbor and "Kruttornet' (The Powder Tower), the oldest remaining structure in Visby, dating from the early 1100's. . Prior to passing through the town wall, alight for a stroll through to the lovely Botanical Gardens. Rejoining the coach, we follow the fortress wall past, "Jungfrutornet' (Maiden's Tower), part of the remaining 2 mile long, 13th century city wall, to Dalmansporten. We continue with a guided walk down through the narrow, winding, medieval streets visiting the impressive Cathedral of St Mary's and passing the evocative ruins of one of the medieval churches. From here you can return with the group to the yacht or continue to wander on your own. The yacht is just a short stroll away from the city walls.

Duration: 3 hours.

 
Day 9     Gdansk
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Morning arrival in Gdansk, Poland. Evening departure.

Gdansk is the Polish maritime capital with the population nearing half a million. It is a large centre of economic life, science, culture, and a popular tourist destination. Lying on the Bay of Gdansk and the southern cost of the Baltic Sea the city is a thousand years old. With its Hanseatic tradition,

In its "golden age" the city enjoyed the specific status of a municipal republic. It was also a melting pot of cultures and ethnical groups. The air of tolerance and the wealth built on trade made culture, science, and art. flourish.

 
Day 10     Bornholm
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A day in Bornholm, Denmark.

Optional excursions:

Bike Trails of North Bornholm

One of the most popular ways of touring Bornholm is by bike. The island has 150 miles of bike trails. So let's get on your bikes and get going! Your guide will show you the highlights of this great cycling area. You will pick up your bikes in the village and follow your guide out of town through undulating countryside until you arrive at the Helligdomsklipper (Sacred Cliffs), not far from town. You will leave your bikes at the Bornholm Art Museum which has won several prizes for its architecture and walk down to the rocky coastline. Steep slopes with cliffs rising abruptly from the sea to up to 150 feet tower above small half-hidden coves. Your guide will point out to you some of the special sites. Back on your bikes you head through the countryside to the very scenic lake of Graamyr, located in the forest above the village of Gudhjem. Continuing on you soon arrive at the Open Air Museum " Melsted farm. Here you see how people lived in the countryside more than 100 years ago, how their daily lives were and you hear about the local history. You will visit the residential part as well as the stables; see the horse carriages and old farm machinery. On leaving the Open Air Museum, you will ride along the rocky coastline into town, where you will pass the Church of Gudhjem and arrive at the Old Wind Mill " actually the largest of its kind in Denmark, which was built in 1893. It was used for grinding wheat to flour until 1965 " then it was "retired". In 2006 it reopened with a cafe and a shop which promotes locally made goods and agricultural products. During the visit you will be given a small sample of the local products such as jam, biscuits or honey. Leaving the Wind Mill you walk your bikes down a steep street through the center of the village past glass studios, handicrafts stores and cafes as you return to the harbor. After this energetic Land Adventure is over you might want to treat yourself to a couple of locally-brewed beers at a harbor side pub! (cost not included). On leaving the Open Air Museum, we will ride along the rocky coastline into town, where we will pass the Church of Gudhjem and arrive at the Old Wind Mill " actually the largest of its kind in Denmark, which was built in 1893. It was used for grinding wheat to flour until 1965 " then it was "retired". In 2006 it reopened with a cafe and a shop which promotes locally made goods and agricultural products. During the visit we will be given a small sample of the local products such as jam, biscuits or honey. Leaving the Wind Mill we walk our bikes down a steep street through the center of the village past glass studios, handicrafts stores and cafes as we return to the harbor. After this energetic tour is over you might want to treat yourself to a couple of locally-brewed beers at a harborside pub! (cost not included)

Duration 3.5 hours

 
Day 11     Sassnitz, Ruegen Island
On Board the Sea Dream 1 & Sea Dream 2
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A day in Sassnitz, Ruegen Island, Germany

Optional Excursions:

"Racing Roland" and Granitz Hunting Lodge

Our tour starts with the magnificent white mansions with delicate woodwork in Wilhelminian style which form the charming townscape of Binz " your port of call. We feel the flair of this wonderful town during a short walk. Next we proceed by the "Jagdschloss Espress" tourist tram down winding alleys to Granitz. The hunting lodge is located in the middle of a mystic beech grove and built on the Tempelberg hill. The inner tower (38 m high) was built in 1844 in the the inner courtyard, and was the work of the famous Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Inside the tower a cast-iron spiral staircase with 154 steps winds its way up to the top. The effort to ascend the tower is worth it though ...the view extends as far as Stralsund and to the island of Hiddensee. After this we will be guided into the heart of the "white city" of Putbus. The center of this small city is the Circus, a geometrical round square with magnificent buildings of the classicist area. After this we board the "Rasender Roland" train to steam through the picturesque landscape of Germany´s largest island. We disembark the steam train at Binz and return to the yacht.

Duration 4 hours

Helicopter Flightseeing

Discover the beautiful island of Rugen from a totally different viewpoint! We transfer through pretty countryside to the airport to start our 20 min flight with a modern Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter . Enjoy the sight of the Sassnitz fishing port with its 1.5 km long mole " which is the longest of its kind in Europe. We will then fly in the direction of the beautiful Jasmund National Park, where you can marvel at the famous chalk cliffs, the highest cliff towering 118 meters. We then fly in the direction of the beaches. Stretching along the beach is the KDF-Bad-Prora building, which, at 4.5 kilometers long, is considered the longest building in the world. It looks most impressive from above. Built by the Nazi regime in the late 1930's, the building was intended as a holiday camp to house 20,000 party members at a time. Finally we will have a great view over the Baltic resort of Binz, which is famous for its Wilhelminian architecture. Take the chance to catch unique moments from a different perspective for your holiday album. After landing we will be transfered back to the yacht.

Duration 2 hours

Guided Hike of Jasmund National Park

The "Nationalpark Jasmund" is located in the northeast of Ruegen Island and covers 30 square kilometers. The "Koenigsstuhl" or "King's Chair" is Germanys highest and most famous chalk cliff and has become world renowned through the paintings of the German "Romantic" artist Caspar David Friedrich. From the view point (120m above sea level) you have a breathtaking view of the Baltic Sea. Our Park guide on this guided hike will help us to experience the National Park. Because of the special geological characteristics of the Jasmund National Park, it is home to many rare plants and animals. There are many swamp-like ponds in the forest behind the cliffs. In the woods of the Stubnitz there are numerous water-filled, undrained dells and hollows, most of which came into existence as ice-age dead ice holes in this fascinating wilderness.

Notes The hike involves 3 hours of walking over uneven surfaces in the forest and along the clifftops. It can be strenuous and particpants should be reasonably fit and wear appropriate footwear.

Duration 4 hours

 
Day 12     Copenhagen
Meals: Breakfast

Disembark at 10:00 AM

 
Price Includes
Mountain Bikes
Water "Toys"
Tips to Crew
Beer, Wine & Alcoholic Beverages
All Meals
Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions
 Tax and Port Charges
SDY-1269
1.28.15.WP26