Enchanting Scandinavia

Dover

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Step ashore in southern Sweden and the cosmopolitan city of Gothenburg. With its canals, fascinating architecture, trams and art, this is one of Sweden’s trendiest cities. Join an included panoramic excursion, then soak up the Scandi atmosphere as you stroll along the waterfront or through the ‘Haga’ – the city’s old quarter. The city has a choice of museums and galleries to visit, from the Gothenburg Museum of Art with its fine collections and the cutting edge Roda Sten Art Centre, to the niche Radiomuseet (Radio Museum). Perhaps visit the Volvo Museum and discover more about Sweden’s iconic brand.

Included excursion

See the city sights on an included panoramic excursion.

Optional excursion

Explore Gothenburg’s northern Öckerö archipelago, spread across ten islands and home to ancient remains, traditional harbours and quaint fisherman’s huts nestled beneath granite cliffs.

Spend the day at sea.

Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

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.

Optional excursions

Take a guided stroll through the historic heart of Visby and visit the 11th-century St Mary’s Cathedral.

Stockholm, Sweden

Arrive 0900. Depart 1700.

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 panoramic 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 1000. Depart 1700.

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

An included panoramic excursion provides a relaxing introduction to the area.

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.

Riga, Latvia

Arrive 1330 on Aug 1. Depart 1300 on Aug 2.

Look forward to an extended stay in historic Riga where an included panoramic excursion will introduce the many sights. The capital’s central location on the Baltic Sea saw it flourish during the Middle Ages as a member of the prosperous Hanseatic League.

Reshaped by fire and war over the passing centuries, it has retained a wealth of architectural highlights. Chief among them is the UNESCO-listed old town and Europe’s most extensive collection of Art Nouveau architecture. Of particular note are the replica medieval guildhall – the House of the Black Heads, St Peter’s Church with its 403-foot-high spire and the still bustling Central Market.

Included excursion

An included panoramic excursion offers an introduction to the city.

Spend the day at sea.

Warnemünde, Germany.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The port town of Warnemünde has an attractive old town brimming with timbered fishermen’s houses. There is an extensive waterfront, complete with a long, white-sand beach, marina and 19th-century lighthouse. Nearby, the Old Stream is lined with 18th-century houses, one of which belonged to Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch, who moved to Warnemünde to escape the bustle of Berlin.

Helsingør ⚓, Denmark

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Helsingør, on the Danish island of Zealand, is a new port of call for Saga cruises. The city has many historic landmarks, including 15th-century Elsinore Castle, which overlooks the Øresund strait and is the setting for Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’.

Within the tunnels below the castle sits a statue of Holger the Dane, an important figure in Danish legend. Other places of interest include 14th-century St Olaf’s Church and the MS Maritime Museum of Denmark, where 600 years of Danish seafaring history is documented.

⚓ Land by launch or tender.

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.

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 0730.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.