Scandinavian Cities and Islands

Dover

Embark Spirit of Discovery. 

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Set on the small island of Bornholm, the town of Rønne features cobbled streets and distinctive round churches. Visit the Hammerhus – the largest fortress ruin in northern Europe, and there are a number of museums in the area dedicated to the town’s ceramics and maritime history.

Included excursion

See some of the city’s key sights on an included excursion.

Optional excursions

Visit the Hammerhus – the largest fortress ruin in northern Europe.

Spend the day at sea.

Stockholm, Sweden

Arrive 1100 on September 11. Depart 1300 on September 12.

Spread across an archipelago of 14 islands, Sweden’s capital offers a scenic approach by sea. Its distinct districts are linked by scores of bridges. The most notable and oldest quarter is medieval Gamla Stan, home to the Royal Palace and a warren of narrow lanes crowded by 16th and 17th-century gabled merchant houses.

Included excursion

Get a sense of the city’s splendid coastal setting and scale on an included excursion.

Optional excursion

Visit the Vasa Museum which contains the beautifully restored 17th-century Swedish warship which sunk on her maiden voyage.

Tallinn, Estonia

Arrive 0800. Depart 2200.

Timeworn spires and watchtowers pierce the skyline of this former Hanseatic trading port that has earned its place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Cobblestone streets lead up past merchant houses to the top of Toompea Hill, crowned by St Mary’s Cathedral which was founded in 1240. Tallinn’s medieval history is juxtaposed against its more recent cold war past that is laid bare in the KGB Museum.

Included excursion

Enjoy an included walking tour through the old town of Tallinn.

Optional excursion

Head out into the Estonian countryside to visit Kadriorg Park, a Baroque palace built by Peter the Great and dedicated to his wife.

Helsinki, Finland

Arrive 0700. Depart 1630.

Surrounded by an archipelago of over 330 islands, Finland’s capital is aptly known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’. The historic Market Square is filled with stalls selling a wide variety of local produce and marks the heart of the city. Nearby lies architect Carl Ludvig Engel’s Senate Square, home to the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral, and Tempeli Rock Square with its Rock Church. Ferries set sail from here for Suomenlinna fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Included excursion

An included excursion will showcase the city’s array of grand architecture and more.

Optional excursion

Seek out sights associated with composer Jean Sibelius, such as a quasi-abstract sculpture dedicated to the city’s most famous son or visit the Rock Church on Tempeli Rock Square.

Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Arrive 0900. Depart 1900.

The medieval walled city of Visby stands as a reminder of the Hanseatic League’s power and influence. Set on the strategically located island of Gotland, it was the Baltic’s main centre of trade during the 12th to 14th centuries. Limestone towers and red-roofed merchant houses are encircled by remarkedly well-preserved 13th-century ramparts, and the unique UNESCO-listed townscape is dominated by the towers of St Mary’s Cathedral which was constructed between 1190 and 1225.

Included excursion

An included excursion will reveal some of the city’s main attractions.

Optional excursions

Enjoy a ride aboard a vintage train through Gotland countryside.

Ystad, Sweden

Arrive 1000. Depart 1830.

A new port for Saga Cruises, Ystad is a medieval town on Sweden’s southern coast. Charming half-timbered buildings and colourful houses line the cobbled streets of its historic heart, also home to 13th-century Grayfriars Monastery. Some may recognise Ystad as the hometown of BBC detective Wallander. Further along the coast is the megalithic monument of Ales Stones, comprising 59 standing stones in an oval formation.

Included excursion

An included excursion is a great way to explore your surroundings further.

Optional excursions

Visit the Ales Stones, a megalithic monument believed to have been constructed at the end of the Nordic Iron Age.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The cosmopolitan Danish capital is an eclectic mix of architectural styles which attest to its long history. Once a small village, it was fortified when Bishop Absalon of Roskilde built a castle here in 1167. Attractions include Tivoli Gardens, characterful Nyhavn Canal graced with 17th-century houses, the Baroque-inspired Christiansborg Palace and Rococo Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Danish Royal Family. The Little Mermaid Statue, which has been plucked straight from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy-tale of the same name, graces the waterfront.

Included excursion

An included excursion takes you on a scenic canal cruise through Copenhagen.

Optional excursion

A visit to the Christiansborg Palace reveals its resplendent interior.

Skagen, Denmark

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Skagen is set at the northern tip of the Jutland Peninsula, near the confluence of Baltic and North Sea. A group of artists, drawn by Skagen’s special blend of exceptional light quality, rugged landscapes and simple way of life, established a colony here during the late 1800s. Their legacy can be found throughout this popular holiday destination which continues to attract visitors with its shifting sands and white sand beaches, colourful cottages and relaxed atmosphere. The Skagen Museum features work by Karl Madsen, Peder Kroyer and Viggo Johansen.

Included excursion

Look forward to an included excursion.

Optional excursion

A tractor-trailer ride will take you to Denmark’s most northerly point where two seas collide.

Spend the day at sea.

Dover

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.