One of the most popular itinerary options in Europe, a Northern Europe cruise presents passengers with cultural diversity, historical attractions, and magnificent scenery. Cruises in Northern Europe typically combine visits to Copenhagen and other Scandinavian capitals and overnights (on the ship) in St. Petersburg.

From St. Petersburg’s opulent palaces of the Tsars to Stockholm’s beautiful harbor to Copenhagen’s charming Tivoli Gardens, few cruising regions offer the diverse treasures of the Baltic. Best of all, on a Northern European cruise, cruise ships typically dock within walking distance of the city center, allowing you to step off the ship and explore on your own.

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg is among the world’s most beautiful cities. The baroque Winter Palace known as the Hermitage boasts more than 1,000 rooms and 8,000 paintings.

Known as the “City That Floats On Water,” Stockholm is situated on 14 islands, with meandering shop-lined streets in the old town, Gamla Stan, palaces and parks. Don’t miss the Vasa Museum, which houses a royal flagship raised from the harbor more than 300 years after she sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage.

Home of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen is chock full of attractions, including Strøget, Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street. Don’t miss the dazzling display of the Danish crown jewels at Rosenborg Castle.

Helsinki’s marketplace, next to the ship terminal (depending on where your ship docks), is a colorful introduction to Finland’s largest city. Other attractions are a short ferry ride away, including the “Gibraltar of the North,” Suomenlinna Fortress, which has guarded the entrance to Helsinki for 200 years.

Other cruises to Northern Europe set sail along the Norwegian coastline, home to breathtaking views of fjords and quaint coastal towns.

Travel by rail to Berlin from the Northern European ports collectively known as Rostock/Warnemunde.

For diversity, it’s hard to beat a Northern Europe cruise.

Countries bordering the Baltic Sea Region offer varied shopping venues. Many of the town and city shopping areas, for example, are for pedestrians only, and shoppers may browse at their leisure while strolling along wide streets free of traffic. Other cities offer shopping within well-preserved medieval walls and along charming cobblestone streets in the old sections of town.

Among the Baltic shopping specialties: Amber is indigenous to the region and can be found in many shops, set in silver and gold. Look for amber particularly in Lithuania and Latvia. Poland, on the other hand, specializes in crystal (cruise passengers have the opportunity to shop for crystal in Gdynia).

Another Baltic specialty: Scandinavian design. In Scandinavia’s large port cities many shops feature furniture, clothing, and glasswork from world-renowned factories in the region.

In St. Petersburg, artifacts from the Soviet-era may be purchased. But be advised that special permits are required for taking those goods out of the country. Antique shoppers will find plenty to browse and purchase in each of the Baltic Sea port destinations.

Daily markets and special event markets, such as Medieval Week in some port cities, offer unique shopping opportunities in festive atmospheres.

While most shops in all of the Baltic countries will accept credit cards, be advised that some smaller shops may not accept foreign currencies. ATM machines for withdrawing local currencies, however, are usually abundant. Also, many Baltic destinations offer tax-free shopping, with a portion of the purchase refunded at the airport before departure or at banks and kiosks. Look for “Tax Free Shopping” signs and postings.

The only thing missing for shoppers in the Baltic Cruising Region is extra space in their luggage to take home all that they’ve acquired. There’s a solution for that. Many shops will ship your goods home. So purchase a souvenir or two — or three. After all, what could be a better reminder of your trip to this remarkable part of the world?

Shop without having to worry about getting mowed down by passing vehicles on pedestrian shopping streets that are closed to vehicular traffic. In Copenhagen, shop Strøget, the world’s longest pedestrian shopping street. Popular shops include Illums Bolighus featuring Danish design, and the flagship stores of Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and Georg Jensen silver.

In Helsingborg, stroll the pedestrian street Kullagatan for department stores and boutiques. Shops to make you stop: Stenströms, Royal supplier of Swedish men’s shirts; Carl Hof, jewelry designer; and Sigurd Persson, featuring Swedish design.

Malmo’s main shopping area runs from Stortorget, along Södergatan, across Gustav Adolfs Torg and then along Södra Förstadsgatan to Triangeln and Möllevångstorget. Most of the area is pedestrian walkway. Be sure to stop in the popular Form Design Center for Scandinavian design.

Oslo’s Karl Johans gate is a pedestrian shopping street with boutique stores, fine shops and internatinal chains such as H&M and Benetton, while Karlskrona’s popular pedestrian street, Ronnebygatan, features Åhlens department store and Kronan shopping arcade, with 20 shops.

Kalmar is well known for Swedish crystal, handmade in one of the 15 glassworks in the Kingdom of Crystal, among which Orrefors and Kosta Boda are the most prominent. In Orrefors factory shop, purchase (tax free) firsts and seconds from the Orrefors collection and watch master craftsmen in action as they create crystal masterpieces right in front of you.

Poland also offers crystal. Cruise passengers will want to make for Swietojanska Street, Gdnyia’s main shopping street, for a selection of crystal in shops and galleries.

A visitor’s first view of Copenhagen will likely be not from the sea but from the air. That’s because Copenhagen is where most Baltic cruises begin. Founded in 1167 as a fortress to protect the important herring trade, Copenhagen features two main cruise terminals, Langelinie Pier, situated within walking distance of the city center, and Freeport Terminal.

Approaching (or leaving) either of the terminals through Kronloebet channel, cruise ship passengers are able to admire Copenhagen’s low skyline. The presence of only a few high-rise buildings allow Copenhagen’s copper covered church spires and towers of historic buildings dominate the skyline.

Only steps away from the ship, Copenhagen’s Langelinie Pier (pictured) offers shops and tourist facilities for cruise passengers.

Spend a leisurely morning strolling the markets in many Baltic Sea destinations. Cruise passengers can hardly miss Helsinki’s famous Kauppatori, the Market Square, selling almost everything from fresh fish to handicrafts. The Old Market Hall next to the Market Square is worth a visit as well. The Old Market Hall offers historic charm and a wide assortment of fresh fish and special foods, including canned bear meat!Nearly every Baltic Sea port has a market. Riga is home to Europe’s oldest and largest market, while Rostock boasts Germany’s largest farmer’s market. Klaipeda’s central market features fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers and fish, Lithuanian specialties and varieties of smoked ham and salami.

Stockholm’s Östermalmshallen market is renowned for its traditional Swedish food, some international offerings, and fresh shellfish.

Deeply rooted in regional folklore and tradition, amber is mined in Lithuania. Only ten minutes by foot from where cruise ships dock along the Danes river brings cruise passengers to the heart of Klaipeda’s Old Town, where visitors will find a great variety of amber jewelry.

Also, in neighboring Latvia, look for amber in Riga, where Amber Gallery offers exclusive amber jewelry, set in silver and gold in multiple locations throughout the city.

Helsingor (also known as Elsinore) is the Danish town that is home to Hamlet’s castle. Elsinore was founded during the reign of King Erik of Pomerania (1382-1459).

Cruise ships moor at Kings Quay at the beginning of the one of Denmark’s oldest pedestrian streets. Within walking distance are exquisite old churches, a medieval cloister and the charming half-timbered shop houses that stretch to the harbor.

Cruising into Elsinore offers spectacular views of Kronborg Castle, made famous by Shakespeare as the backdrop to Hamlet.

Founded in 1680 as Sweden’s primary naval base, Karlskrona is surrounded by islands. Ships transit a beautiful archipelago and a series of fortresses en route to the Karlskrona’s harbor.

Ships that dock at the city center put passengers within a five-minute walk of attractions. Most ships, however, must anchor, and cruise passengers enjoy a short tender past forts to a landing at the Naval Museum, a five-minute walk from the city center.

Many of the port destinations in the Baltic Cruising region are walkable cities. Pedestrian streets and parks allow visitors to escape traffic.

Stockholm’s National City Park, for example, offers a unique mixture of nature and culture, including four Royal Palaces. A recreation area for city residents and visitors alike, it stretches right through the middle of the city.

Kaivopuisto Park is Helsinki’s oldest and best-known park. The sea, rock cliffs and green lawns offer many opportunities to relax and enjoy the outdoors. At the highest point of the park is the Ursa Observatory. There are several cafés and restaurants along the shore and on the islands.

Klaipeda’s Curonian Spit is a nature preserve on a narrow peninsula stretching from Klaipeda to the Russian border and featuring Europe’s highest sand dunes (earning it the nickname, the Lithuanian Sahara).

The nature preserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the following Baltic Sea sites:

Suomenlinna Fortress, one of the world’s largest maritime fortresses, founded in 1748 and built on six islands off the coast of Helsinki;

Visby and its two-mile-long stone town wall, with nearly 200 stone buildings that have survived since the 12th and 13th centuries;

Tallinn, featuring Northern Europe’s best preserved old town;

Stockholm’s Drottningholms Slott och Slottsteater, residence of the Royal Family;

and Karlskrona’s well-preserved dockyards dating back from the 17th and 18th century.

The Baltic Cruising Region is rich with castles and royal palaces. Visitors can still see the changing of the guard in Copenhagen’s Amalienborg Palace, residence of Queen (changing of the guard daily at noon); and in Stockholm, where the main guard has been at Kungliga Slottet since 1523. Today, military units and bands from all over the Sweden participate.

Some of Scandinavia’s castles live on in literature. In Elsinore, the Dutch Renaissance style Castle Kronborg, built between 1574 and 1585, is the backdrop for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and thus it is known as Hamlet’s Castle.

Across the sound, Helsingborg’s Sofiero Castle in is situated at the top of a rhododendron ravine. During the first weeks of June, more than 10,000 rhododendrons are in full bloom all over the castle park.

Kalmar Castle is one of Scandinavia’s best-preserved Renaissance castles. With a history that stretches back to the 12th century, the castle represents more than 800 years of brotherhood and blood. Its present appearance dates from the 16th century when the Vasa Kings rebuilt it in the style of a Renaissance palace. At Kalmar Castle, guides often wear Renaissance clothing to further strengthen the historical atmosphere.

Riga Castle stands on the ashes of a castle built by the Order of the Sword Brothers around 1209. Originally named Wittenstein Castle (”made of white stone”), the castle was destroyed by townsfolk in the civil war. A second castle, rebuilt on the site, was destroyed. Reconstruction on the third and current castle was completed in 1515.

Klaipeda’s Castle Museum opened in 2002 in renovated underground corridors of an old castle. The museum features authentic 16th and 17th century exhibits.

Visby’s only castle was demolished in 1679. Not even the ruins remain. But 13th century church ruins do remain. Many are used for open-air concerts and cafes during the summer.

Speaking of churches, Rostock’s Kulturhistorische Museum, located in a Cistercian convent founded 1270 by Denmark’s Queen Margarete, features a remarkably complete ornamentation at convent church.

During the past few decades the number of St. Petersburg shops, supermarkets and commercial centers increased dramatically. Shops tend to gravitate to Nevski Prospect, including Gostiny Dvor, a department store; Passage, across the street from Gostiny Dvor, for clothing, footwear, utensils, electronics and perfumes.

When in St. Petersburg, be sure to take time to walk along Nevsky Prospect. The famed street is to St. Petersburg what the Champs Elysses is to Paris, or Broadway to New York. Ask your guide to take you to a cafe for a coffee, Russian beer or Soviet champagne (technically, sparkling wine). “Walk along Nevsky Prospect, have a cup of coffee, watch people pass by, and you understand all of Russia,” says Timophey Beliaev, of the Corinthia Nevaskij Palace Hotel, situated on Nevsky Prospect.

Typical Russian souvenirs: Russian dolls, china, red and black caviar, and amber. Visit the Souvenirs Market, located opposite the Cathedral of Christ’s Resurrection (Canal Griboedova, 2). Be sure not to miss Eliseyevski Magazin, the city’s best known grocery store, named after its founder and first owner, who delivered to the Russian Tsar’s Court.

Stockholm has endless shopping possibilities with several areas in the city of interest to shoppers. Gamla Stan features gift shops, including the inviting Slottsboden in Kungliga Slottet, specializing in genuine handicrafts and antiques.

City center is the place to go for big department stores and shopping malls. NK and Gallerian are located on Hamngatan; Åhléns City, PUB and Debenhams on Drottninggatan; and Sturegallerian at Stureplan.

Small boutiques are scattered throughout the city; however, the greatest concentration is in the area between Norrmalmstorg and Stureplan. Södermalm is filled with shops and galleries, where shoppers can buy everything from exquisite ceramics at Blås & Knåda to jewelry at Efva Attling’s atelier. Both Madonna and Jennifer Aniston wear her creations.

Tallinn’s Old Town is lined with dozens of souvenir, antique and specialty stores, not to mention clothing and footwear. Within Old Town, the main shopping streets are Viru, Müürivahe, Suur-Karja, Vaike-Karja and Kullassepa.

Kalmar’s picturesque 17th and 18th century stone buildings offer a wide range of shopping. Almost all streets in the shopping area are walking streets, with Storgatan and Kaggensgatan being the main ones.

Find Swedish handicraft such as woodwork, pottery, jewelry and textile craft as well as Swedish and international delicacies at Gerdas Te & Kaffehandel. Souvenirs from Kalmar can be found at the Tourist Information Center, Kalmar Castle and Kalmar County Museum.

While in Riga, take time to browse the antique shops that sell Latvian paintings ranging from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Also look for bronze, silver, furniture, books, coins and china, and a genuine old Russian icon or two.

In the heart of Copenhagen, on Amager Torv, visitors will find Georg Jensen Antiques with an impressive range of porcelain, silver and crystal. Just a minute’s walk from the bustle of Strøget is peaceful Kompagnistræde, home of another cluster of antique shops.

Also, summer flea and antique markets are held throughout the city. Here junk rubs shoulders with the odd unrecognized gem, and you may be lucky enough to find a real bargain. Frederiksberg and Israels Plads flea markets are less pricy than the market at Gammel Strand, but Gammel Strand’s ambience is unbeatable with its canalside setting and outdoor cafés.

In the Baltic Sea Region, visitors will find refined city lifestyles and rural country charm. From opera and ballet in St. Petersburg to open-air museums presenting farm and peasant life, the Baltics spans the gamut of cultural offerings.

Famed director Ingmar Bergman began his career as a director at Malmo’s opera house in Sweden. Today, the opera house presents opera and musicals.

St. Petersburg is chock full of theaters, notably The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theater), one of Russia’s largest and oldest music theaters, famous the world over for opera and ballet.

The world’s oldest theater exists in the Baltics: the Court Theater, at Stockholm’s Drottningholms Slott. Copenhagen’s new Opera House ranks among the world’s most modern.

Among the many attractions for culture seekers and sightseers are world-class museums, including the world’s oldest open-air museum (Stockholm’s Skansen) and the world’s largest naval museum (St. Petersburg’s Central Naval Museum, also Russia’s oldest museum, founded in 1709 and now featuring more than 500,000 exhibits).

Even churches soar with superlatives: Visit Sweden’s largest wooden church (Admiralty Church in Karlskrona), Western Europe’s largest orthodox church (Helsinki’s Orthodox Cathedral), the Baltic region’s largest cathedral (Riga’s Dome Cathedral, also home to what was once the world’s largest organ), and the world’s tallest building until the late 1800s (St. Olav’s Church in Tallinn).

Cruise passengers will also see Scandinavia’s oldest remaining Renaissance castle (Malmo’s Malmohus Castle), the world’s largest preserved Viking Age silver collection (in Visby), Northern Europe’s most powerful cannon tower (used during the 16th century in Tallinn), the world’s best preserved Viking ships (Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum), the world’s longest pedestrian shopping street (Copenhagen’s Strøget), and Europe’s highest sand dunes (at Klaipeda’s Neringa Nature Preserve).

Viking history comes to life in many port destinations in the Baltic Cruising Region. At several sites, resurrected warships and museums retell the stories of a fierce life during the Viking Age. The Medieval Age lives on through well-preserved old towns and city walls and through castles and palaces that are still used today. Old church spires soar above city skylines.

Moving toward the modern, Scandinavian art and design is apparent in much of the architecture. Cruise passengers could do little more than visit art shops and galleries and feel as though they had had an enriching cruise experience. But there is so much more in this varied region of the world. Visit the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Parks and gardens are in full bloom during the cruising season, all part of the culture and attractions that await cruise passengers in the Baltics.

In Tallinn’s Old Town find St. Catherine’s Passage for craft workshops in a medieval atmosphere. Also, at Master’s Courtyard visitors can shop for jewelry and handicrafts, view art exhibitions, and sample confections made in the popular Café-Chocolaterie.

Find it all at Finland’s Stockmann, the Nordic region’s largest department store. In Helsinki, shoppers will find Stockmann along the main shopping streets running north and south: Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi.

Stockmann also houses the Academic Bookstore, situated in a separate block and connected to the department store by a tunnel. Helsinki’s Design District offers a variety of shops selling Finnish design classics and fresh and innovative ideas produced by younger generation.

In Turku, visit Hansa Shopping Center, situated in the center of Turku and featuring nearly 200 boutiques, cafés, restaurants and the department store Stockmann.

With a history that dates back many millennia, the Baltic Sea Region is awash in museums. In fact, some of the cities, contained within well-preserved medieval town walls, could be considered to be museums themselves.

Museum-seekers will find no better place to begin than in Stockholm. With more than 100 museums, Stockholm boasts the world’s highest concentration of museums. Visitors with time to see only a few will not want to miss the Vasa Museum (pictured), which houses a warship (the actual ship, not a model) that in 1628 sank in the harbor on its maiden voyage and was brought up from the depths in 1961. Nothing can prepare visitors for the scale of what they will see in the city’s most popular museum, built in 1990.

Within walking distance of Stockholm’s Vasa Museum is the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, featuring a zoo with wild and domestic Nordic animals, and 150 cultural and historic buildings from throughout Sweden. Skansen, more than 100 years old, is a large living heritage exhibit well worth a visit.

Open-air museums are common throughout the Baltic Region: Oslo’s Norwegian Folk Museum features rural and urban houses from throughout Norway and a 13th century stave church; Tallinn’s Open-Air Museum (pictured) features village life from the 18th and 20th centuries in 72 furnished buildings located in a forest park; Seurasaari Open-Air Museum in Helsinki features traditional old buildings and farmsteads reflecting the history of Finnish architecture from the 18th century to the present; and Turku’s Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum is an open-air museum where craftsmen working in original workshops demonstrate pre-industrial skills and lifestyles.

Open-air museums provide an opportunity for visitors to see how life was lived during earlier times in the Baltic Sea region. Riga’s Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum features buildings from outlying Latvian regions, homesteads, several churches, windmills, smithies and brick-kilns. Also on show are Livonian peasants and Russian old-believers’ farmhouses, as well as the 18th century country school, an old road pub and a farm of the 1920-1930s.

Helsingborg’s Fredriksdal open-air museum features an old farming community, botanical garden, 450 species of roses, a romantic English park and a striking French park. Plays are presented during the summer. Visitors to Helsingborg will also want to see the Dunker Culture House, designed by Kim Utzon (son of the Sydney Opera House architect Jorn Utzon) and home to the city museum.

St. Petersburg is somewhat unique as a cruise port of call, because many ships tie up for at least two nights in the city that considers itself to be an “open-air” museum. From 1712 to 1918, St. Petersburg was the capital of Russian Empire. Having survived 11 emperors, revolutions, economic reform, floods, blockades during World War II and more, St. Petersburg astonishes even the most experienced traveler. St. Petersburg’s opening to the sea made it Russia’s cultural oasis. The city’s architecture evokes Russia’s former Imperial power, particularly around the Palace Square and the Summer Garden. St. Petersburg’s museums are among the world’s most famous: the State Hermitage (pictured), chief among them.

The Gotlands Fornsal Museum in Visby shows the fascinating history of the island with a new exhibition about the Viking era.

Just north of Copenhagen is Frilandsmuseet, where visitors can experience 50 farms, mills and houses dating back 300 years. Guided tours are available as are daily theater performances and more.

Enjoy live performances throughout the Baltic Cruising region. St. Petersburg may well be the most popular performance port. It is a city full of theaters. The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theater) is one of Russia’s largest and oldest music theaters, famous the world over for opera and ballet.

The great Swedish film and theater director Ingmar Bergman began his career as a director at Malmo’s opera house, opened in 1944. Today, the opera house presents opera and musicals.

Riga’s National Opera dates back to the 18th century when the first musical performances were staged in the Duchy of Kurzeme. In 1760, traveling opera troupes began performing regularly in Riga.

Copenhagen’s Opera House ranks among the world’s most modern. The main stage of the opera seats an audience of approximately 1400, and Takkelloftet, the experimental stage, seats an audience of 200.

The young port of Gdynia, founded in 1922, was the Baltic Sea’s largest port until 1938. In those years, Gdynia was a mere village, but the port gave rise to a city, which is why the city blends so well with the port. The city center features a wide avenue that leads to the Gdansk Bay.

Ships dock at Francuskie Quay, Polskie Quay, or Pomorski Quay. The first two quays are about one mile from the city center. The latter is near the waterfront zone that city residents refer to as “The Square.” The area features Poland’s best-known maritime symbols: Gdynia Aquarium, featuring the marine life and plants from around the world; and the Frigate “Dar Pomorza,” a three-masted frigate from 1909; ORP Blyskawica, a World War II destroyer. Within 15 minutes walking distance is a nature reserve.

Situated on the southern coast of Finland, Helsinki is a gate between East and West.

Finland’s capital city embodies much of the Finnish spirit and its progressive hi-tech push but also is unlike any other Finnish city, due in part to the combination of Swedish and Russian influences.

Popular tours and excursions visit Sibelius’ Home and Art Nouveau locations; the Old Wooden Town of Porvoo; Mustio Manor and Fiskars Ironworks; or the countryside. A day trip to the Arctic Circle can also be arranged.

Founded in the year 1000, Oslo always has been a sheltered port. Norway’s capital city lies in the heart of Scandinavia and at the head of the 61-mile long Oslo fjord. Ships takes approximately four hours from the entrance of the fjord to the city center, sailing through cultivated land dominated by green hills and small houses.

Dominating the port is the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle and royal residence built in 1299. The cruise port is next to the medieval fortress and City Hall, along a beautiful waterfront with shops, restaurants and entertainment.

A gift from Danish king Knut the Holy, Helsingborg was founded in 1085. Dominating the city skyline, Karnan Tower dates from the medieval ages. On the waterfront is the beautiful Dunker Culture Center (pictured). Large ships dock in the South Harbor, less than two miles from the city center, while small ships are able to dock near the city center.

Maritime and ship museums are a part of the living history in the sea-faring nations of the Baltic Cruising Region. Visitors enthralled by Stockholm’s Vasa Museum (pictured) will also want to see Oslo’s ship museums: The Polarship Fram Museum, featuring the entire original Arctic exploration ship FRAM, built in 1892, exhibited with its original interior and objects; Kon-Tiki Museum, containing the original vessel and objects from Thor Heyerdahl’s many exhibitions, including famous Kon-Tiki raft from 1947 and the papyrus raft RA II from 1970; and The Viking Ship Museum, featuring the restored Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune ships as well as other findings from royal burial mounds around the Oslo Fjord.

Turku’s Forum Marinum features famous vessels such as Suomen Joutsen (The Swan of Finland), the mine ship Keihässalmi and the beautiful bark, Sigyn. Malmo’s Medieval Ships Center features the reconstruction of two medieval cogs (ships used for transportation and trade on the Baltic Sea). The wrecks, one being the world’s largest cog, were found in the Malmö harbor during an excavation.

The Karlskrona Naval Shipyard (pictured) is one of few dockyards in the world where it is still possible to see buildings and docks specially designed for the construction of sailing warships. Karlskrona’s National Naval Museum dates back to 1752 when Adolf Fredrik, then the King of Sweden, decreed that a Ship’s Model Room be established. Ever since, the museum has been charged with the collection and preservation of artifacts that document the history and development of the Swedish Navy. The Museum houses a unique collection of figureheads.

Kalmar is home to the Royal Warship Kronan, once one of Sweden’s largest royal warships, which exploded and sank in 1686 during a battle off the coast of the Island of Öland. The wreck was located in 1981. Each year since, professional divers find new parts from the wreck that reveal more about the life on board. More than 25,000 finds are now on display at the exhibition, including several canons and Sweden’s largest gold coin discovery.

Gdynia features the Frigate “Dar Pomorza,” a three-masted frigate from 1909 and the ORP Blyskawica, a World War II destroyer. Denmark’s Maritime Museum at Kronborg illustrates the Danish merchant and shipping history form the medieval age to the present (the museum will be relocated in 2006).

Founded in 1218, the Hanseatic city Rostock is approached at the seaside resort Warnemunde, where most cruise ships dock. Warnemunde was famed for its baths and spas in the 20th century. Ships pass a lighthouse and wide, sandy beaches to reach the port, where in 1860, the Baltic’s largest fleet of sailing ships was based.

Though the port and city are one, Rostock is about six miles from the port. Transit to the city center ranges from about 20 minutes (by land) or 40 minutes (by boat). Rostock features one of Europe’s first universities, a town wall and gothic churches, while Warnemunde offers restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, all within walking distance of the docks.

Founded in 1550 by Sweden’s King Gustav, Helsinki was developed as a harbor town to compete for Baltic trade with Tallinn. The Finnish capital developed around the port.

Situated in the city center, South Harbor is the central cruise passenger traffic hub. Cruise ships dock at Katajanokka or other quays within walking distance of the city center and the Kauppatori Market Square, a colorful way to begin exploration of Helsinki.

The largest cruise ships dock at Hernesaari in West Harbor, from where shuttle buses take passengers in ten minutes to the city center

One of Sweden’s oldest cities, Kalmar’s port activities date back more than 1,000 years. In the Middle Ages, the port played an important role with its strategic location on the Kalmarsund trade route. Trade with the Hanseatic League was robust, imbuing Kalmar with Germanic atmosphere.

The Port of Kalmar is situated in a sheltered position, adjacent to the shipping lane in Kalmar Sound. The port can be approached from either north or south. On the northern approach cruise passengers see Borgholm Castle before passing under Öland’s bridge – one of the longest bridges in Europe. Arriving from the south, Kalmar Castle (pictured) greets cruise passengers.

Smaller and medium sized cruise ships moor at the quay in the middle of the town, while larger cruise ships anchor just south of the port and must tender passengers ashore. The quay and tender landing are situated within walking distance to shops and cafés. Walking distance to the Old Town, Kalmar Castle and the town park is ten minutes.

Klaipeda was united with Lithuania only in 1923, and even then was closed to tourists during 50 years of Soviet rule following World War II. Today, as the only Lithuanian port, Klaipeda holds a position of great importance to Lithuania’s economics and its connection to the rest of the world.

Cruise ships coming to Klaipeda catch sight not only of the reconstructed port entrance but also of the Curonian Spit National park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entering the port itself, passengers see the Lithuanian Maritime Museum, the only museum of the kind in the Baltic States.

The cruise terminal (built in 2003) is situated by a medieval city castle in the historic city center. A rotating bridge, built in 1855 with reverted iron trusses, cast iron columns and manual rotation mechanism, permits entry into Klaipeda.

Early settlers were in the region surrounding Tallinn more than 3,500 years ago, and in 1154, an Arabian geographer marked Tallinn on the world map. A member of the Hanseatic League from 1285, Tallinn was among the most important Hanseatic trading towns, along with Lübeck, Visby and Riga.

Luxury furs, wax and honey from Russia were delivered westward through Tallinn’s port, while salt from Portugal and woolen fabrics from England and Flanders came through Tallinn on their eastward route.

Cruise ships approach Tallinn passing the town wall, church spires and the red-tiled rooftops of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The same basic cityscape was seen by seafarers centuries ago. Ships typically dock within walking distance of the city center.

A Viking community once existed in the town that became Visby in 1203. The Swedish port is approached between two breakwaters. Cruise ships pass the ferry harbor and then the Inner Harbor, near the city center, as well as the town wall and its towers, old homes on a hillside, and the Cathedral of Visby. Ships dock within a few minutes walk of the city center.

Situated on Sweden’s southwest coast, Karlskrona has been home to the Royal Swedish Navy since the 17th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city features a well-preserved dockyard and fortification, as well as a town layout that dates back to the Baroque period.

Excursions from Karlskrona include archipelago cruises, featuring a stop at Kungsholm fortress; tours to Sweden’s crystal center; and Brändaholm, a popular area for walks.

Lithuania’s oldest city, Klaipeda is situated at the mouth of the river Dane, in the country’s western part, a region famous for its summer resorts, sandy beaches and pine forests, especially along the Curonian Spit. The inland countryside is heavily wooded and green.

Excursions include Nida, a resort town in Neringa that features Europe’s highest sand dunes; Nerginga Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Juodkrante, a resort town featuring the Hill of Witches, a park of wooden sculptures depicting Lithuanian fairy-tales; Palanga, home of the famous Amber Museum housed in the 19th century mansion of Count Tishkevichius; and Village Life Lapiai, a preserved collective farm.

Visitors will find a wide selection of museums, galleries and shops (including tax-free shopping for both EU and non-EU citizens). Fine and affordable dining abounds at restaurants, cafes and bars. No fewer than six restaurants have earned Michelin stars. Oslo is home to the Nobel Peace Prize.

Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg is situated at the mouth of the Neva River. The city became one of Russia’s largest cruise ship ports and the country’s only gateway to the Baltic Sea, which is why St. Petersburg is called the Marine Capital of Russia. The city is characterized by so many rivers and canals that St. Petersburg often is called the Venice of the North.

Ships pass forts, cathedrals, palaces and other attractions on the transit to the berth in the center of the city.

First mentioned around 1260, Malmo grew into a town in the 14th century and became wealthy due to the herring trade with Hanseatic cities. Now it trades primarily with its neighbor across the sound, Copenhagen, as well as internationally

The Copenhagen Malmö Port is a unique cross border alliance. For the first time in history, two ports in two different countries have joined into one company, one organization and one legal entity.

Copenhagen Malmö Port is situated in Øresund at the entrance to the Baltic Sea. Ships enter Malmö either from south via “Flinterenden,” coming from the Baltic/Russia or from North Copenhagen, Norway or Kiel Canal.

Smaller ships dock within walking distance of the city center. At the entrance of the port, ships pass the spectacular Turning Torso, the tallest building in Sweden.

Crusaders and German merchants sailed into the area that would become Riga in 1201. From that point on, trade flourished, and Riga became a major port. Dominating the skyline are church steeples and the high-rise building known as Sun Stone on the bank of the River Daugava, the oldest part of an international trade route between the Baltic and Black seas.

Vanshu Bridge connects the two banks of the river, and behind the bridge is Riga Castle. Most cruise ships dock at the city center, a 10-minute walk from the old town.

Founded in 1200, Stockholm started out as a port destination. Built on 14 islands, Sweden’s capital city often is called the “City That Floats On Water.” The Baltic Sea meets Lake Malaren in Stockholm’s Old Town, giving the city not only a reach into the Swedish countryside but also to the rest of the world via the sea. The waterways have always served as important transport lanes to and from the city.

The journey to Stockholm’s city center begins nearly 50 miles east, at the tip of a beautiful archipelago comprised of 30,000 islands, islets and rocks. Many of the islands are uninhabited, rocky outcrops that are homes only to birds. Others have quaint red-and-white Swedish cottages.

Once docked at one of several locations in Stockholm, cruise passengers find it easy to make their way (by foot or taxi) to Stockholm’s Old Town and the city’s other attractions. Ships too large to navigate the archipelago safely must dock one hour’s bus ride away.

Founded in 1229 (or at least that is the date that documents mention a marketplace in this part of Finland — Turku, in fact, translates to “market”). Turku is approached through an archipelago of 40,000 islands and islets before passing the Ruissalo nature park en route to the port.

Less than two miles from the city center, the port offers cruise passengers shuttle and taxi service to the city center, or cruise passengers may walk along a promenade to the center. Next to the port is Turku Castle, dating back to the 1280s.

Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in northern Europe between the North Sea and Baltic Sea, Denmark is the only Scandinavian country connected to the European mainland. The Jutland peninsula shares a border with Germany. Otherwise, Denmark is an island kingdom (more than 400 islands in all). The Danish capital Copenhagen is on the island of Sealand.

The beginning or ending port for most Baltic Sea cruises, Copenhagen’s proximity to the airport and port is excellent — with Europe’s fastest and cheapest airport-to-city-center rail link (just 12 minutes for about $5). Safe, friendly and clean, Copenhagen is easy to get around on foot or on bike. Bike rentals are available at the Central Station, and the city also makes available 2,500 city bikes, available for anyone to use free of charge.

As the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen has a cosmopolitan atmosphere featuring international cuisine and the world’s longest pedestrian shopping street, with tax-free shopping for non-European Union citizens. In the middle of the shopping district is a Cruise VIP Lounge where guests may have a free coffee or tea and leave shopping bags to pick up later. Many Copenhageners speak English.

Cruise facilities are well equipped, with a tourist information office at the pier, and close to the city center. It is possible to walk from the central pier, Langelinie, to the city center in about 30 minutes, passing many of Copenhagen’s central attractions along the way.

Popular tours and excursions include North Zealand Castle Tour, featuring “Hamlet’s” castle in Helsingor.

Situated in north-central Poland, Gdnyia grew from a small fishing village in 1924 to the largest Baltic Sea port in 1938. Known as the “White City,” for its 1920s and 1930s architecture that drew largely on ship elements, Gdnyia is one of few examples of a port giving rise to a city.

Excursions include the Teutonic castle in Malbork; Slowiski National Park, often referred to as the Polish Sahara because of its huge dunes; the tri-City agglomeration, Gdynia, Gdask and Sopot; and Kosterina, in the Kashubian Lake District.

Situated on the strait of Öresund (the Sound), Helsingborg, Sweden, and Elsinore, Denmark are separated by a mere 2.5-mile stretch of water and a 20-minute ferry ride. Each represents the 10th largest towns in their respective countries.

The similarities and differences of the two towns make visiting each worthwhile. “Round the sound” allows visitors, particularly those on pre- and post-cruises from Copenhagen, to visit both countries in one day.

Excursions include the Castle Tour of North Zealand; and North Zealand’s Royal Parks and Public Gardens; and on the Swedish side: scenic tour of Northwest Skåne and the Kulla peninsula; Castles in Skåne; and Seal & Speedboatsafari on Kattegat.

Kalmar is situated in the county of Småland, in southeastern Sweden. One port, three destinations (Kalmar, Öland and Orrefors), Kalmar offers visitors a rich historical heritage as well as world-class art and design, including handmade Swedish crystal from Orrefors Glassworks. The southern part of Öland (pictured) is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Excursions include Orrefors Glass Museum & Exhibition Hall, where visitors enjoy watching craftsmen transform glowing melt into crystal masterpieces and have the chance to purchase crystal products in the tax-free shop; Himmelsberga Museum, an Öland village preserved as a folklore museum; Paradisverkstaden, a ceramics center; Vida Museum; Borgholm Castle; Palace of Solliden, an Italian-style white palace, built by Queen Victoria of Sweden in 1903-06, still used as a summer residence by the Swedish Royal Family; the Village of Eketorp, an ancient settlement that has been reconstructed within the original ring wall; and Ottenby, on the south of the island of Öland, one of the top areas for bird watching in Sweden (Visit the tourist exhibition center Ottenby Naturum to learn more about the wildlife and culture of the area.)

Sweden’s third largest city, Malmo is situated in the country’s southernmost county, Skåne. Malmo’s proximity to Copenhagen makes quick travel to the Danish capital, about 35 minutes by train. The Öresund Bridge also connects Malmo and Copenhagen.

Excursions from Malmo include Copenhagen and Lund.

The large port of Rostock played an important role in the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages. The economic power from trade gave rise to culture and education. The city houses one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1419. The university gave Rostock the name “The Northern Light.”

Excursions from Rostock include Berlin.

Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, in the estuary of the Neva River and on the islands of the Neva Delta, St. Petersburg is the world’s largest megapolis situated so far north.

One of the younger cities in the Baltic region, Russia’s second largest city is just over 300 years old (founded in 1703). During its history, St. Petersburg accumulated all the grandeur of the Russian Imperial Court.

Located on 44 islands formed by the Neva River and 90 more rivers and canals. St. Petersburg is known as the Venice of the North.

Because many cruise ships overnight (some for two nights) in St. Petersburg, excursions often include overland adventures and flights to Moscow — the capital of Russia — and other destinations.

Even experienced travelers sometimes confuse the Baltic with the Balkans. The two regions could not be more different. The Balkans fought long and drawn-out wars for most of the 1990s, The Baltics, on the other hand, remained peaceful, stable, safe and clean — just as they are today.

One of the world’s most popular and fastest-growing cruise destinations, the Baltic cruising region refers to the Baltic Sea, which stretches from southern Denmark to near the Arctic Circle. Along its shores are some of the world’s most fabled cities — Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, to name a few. All share a common climate, with the cruise season running from May through September, and a common history.

Cruise passengers set foot in lands once inhabited by kings and queens (who still exist in some of the Baltic countries), of Viking warriors and German merchants, of Tsars and seafaring wanderers. In many cities visitors see reminders of a time long ago: medieval town walls, cobblestone streets, castles, palaces and museums that house age-old artifacts.

The past decades have brought great change in the Baltics. Former Soviet-bloc countries in the Baltic region now embrace cruise passengers, and even though English is typically spoken as a second language in many of the port destinations, cruise passengers will hear a variety of tongues spoken as they stroll city streets.

Copenhagen and Stockholm, the Baltic Cruising Region’s primary turnaround ports (where most cruises begin or end), not only are conveniently connected to the rest of the world but also conveniently connected between the airports and the city centers and cruise terminals. Infrastructure is among the best in the world, and Copenhagen boasts not only the world’s best airport (according to one survey of travelers) but also Europe’s cheapest and fastest airport-to-city-center connections.

You might say that with all that is has going for it, the Baltics were “tailor-made for cruises.” Cruise passengers certainly think so. Year after year, they return in record numbers to cruise one of the world’s greatest destinations.

The capital of Estonia, Tallinn is located in the Baltic Sea region across the Gulf of Finland less than 50 miles south of Helsinki. Tallinn has managed to preserve its thousand-year old beauty.

The Old Town has withstood a series of events ranging from Viking plundering and crusades to wars and occupations. With its miles of winding cobblestone streets and quaint medieval houses, Tallinn is the best-preserved old town in Northern Europe and has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1997.

Excursions include Lahemaa National Park.

Situated in the southwest corner of Finland, where two gulfs of the Baltic sea meet - the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia - Turku is Finland’s oldest city.

Once the country’s capital city, Turku boasts a beautiful medieval castle, a fine cathedral and stylish boat restaurants. One of the most superb archipelagos in Europe opens up from the coast of Turku and stretches out into the Baltic Sea.

Excursions include Ox Road-Medieval Tour; Middle Ages from the Sauna to the Church; the Route of War and Peace; an Afternoon with Sibelius; Guided Tour in the City Center of Turku; and Historical Turku, from the Viking Days to the Manor Era.