Cruising the Baltic Sea - Southbound

Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Radisson Strand Hotel Stockholm or Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel. A transfer is included from Stockholm's Arlanda International Airport to either the Radisson Strand Hotel Stockholm or the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel. This evening, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome reception and dinner at the Vasa Museum, which is privately opened for Tauck guests. Dine beside the world's only preserved 17th-century ship, Vasa, built to be Sweden's flagship but famously capsized on her maiden voyage.

Your first introduction to Sweden's capital begins in Stockholm's Old Town, where colorful 17th- and 18th-century buildings line narrow streets and squares. Visit Stockholm's City Hall, home of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. Inside, see the Golden Hall, shimmering in more than 18 million golden mosaic tiles. As you've likely noticed, Stockholm is a city of water. Built across 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges, it's best experienced from the water — a scenic canal cruise reveals its distinctive landscapes. Following your cruise, enjoy lunch and the remainder of your day at leisure to explore Stockholm's vibrant culture, museums, and cafés.

Built in the 1600s, Drottningholm Palace — whose name means "Queen's Island" — was once the private summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided visit through its elegant rooms, including ornate halls, bedchambers, sitting rooms, and dining rooms. You'll also visit the fully working palace theater, built in 1766 and regarded as one of the best-preserved theaters of its era in the world. With original stage machinery still in use, it offers a fascinating look at how court entertainment once captivated the Queen and her guests. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before embarking your ship and settling into your stateroom. This evening, enjoy dinner onboard as your Baltic Sea voyage officially begins.

Wake up in Tallinn, Estonia's capital, where storybook charm meets layered history throughout its UNESCO World Heritage Old Town. Explore both the upper and lower town, and visit St. Nicholas' Church, where you'll enjoy an organ performance. Then choose how you'd like to continue: travel back in time with a visit to the Viimsi Open Air Museum in a seaside village, home to historic coastal buildings and farms; or visit Estonia's Memorial to the Victims of Communism for a poignant perspective on the country's Soviet-era past. Back onboard, enjoy an afternoon of cruising and the Captain's Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner.

Coastal, modern, and unmistakably Nordic, Helsinki balances refined design with centuries of history. Arrive for a guided city tour showcasing the highlights of Finland's capital. Visit Senate Square, defined by Helsinki Cathedral and its green domes (you may wish to step inside). Continue to the remarkable Rock Church, excavated directly into solid granite and topped by a dome punctuated with skylights. Then pay tribute to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius at his monument — an abstract sculpture of hundreds of steel pipes. Return to the ship and enjoy dinner onboard this evening as you cruise to the island of Gotland.

Your ship arrives in Gotland this morning, a charming island off Sweden known for its medieval history and coastal beauty. Choose between a leisurely walk through the UNESCO World Heritage town, past towers and narrow alleyways to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the sea, topped off with a taste of Gotland; or set out on a more active walk along Visby's medieval city wall, exploring 13th-century fortifications including towers, ancient gates, and ruins.

Enjoy a leisurely morning cruising the Baltic, taking advantage of your ship's amenities and listening as guest lecturer Åsa Övrelid shares fascinating insight into the Baltic world. Following lunch, dock in Gdańsk — a port city rich in Polish history and often called Poland's prettiest city for its coastal charm and colorful façades along Long Market. An afternoon tour introduces you to life here — past and present — as you stroll through its rebuilt Old Town, past vibrant merchant houses and along the waterfront. Visit St. Mary's Church, one of Europe's largest brick churches, then pause for a pierogi and Polish beer tasting. Continue to the European Solidarity Centre in the historic shipyards, where the story of the Solidarity movement comes to life. Your time in Gdańsk concludes with an organ recital at Oliwa Cathedral.

Enjoy a full day at sea as your ship sails toward Germany. Take advantage of the onboard amenities — from lounges and sun deck to the pool and spa — or simply settle in and watch the Baltic glide by. In addition to Tour Director presentations, your onboard guest lecturer, Åsa Övrelid, shares engaging insights into Nordic and Baltic history. Tonight, enjoy the Captain's Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.

Your ship arrives in Wismar this morning, a beautifully preserved Hanseatic port city on Germany's Baltic coast. From here, you may wish to visit Lübeck — a medieval city with a proud maritime past — for exploration on foot and by canal, including insight into its marzipan tradition. Or journey through Germany's lush countryside to Schwerin Castle, a fairy tale palace set on its own island. Alternatively, explore Wismar independently. Return to the ship for your final evening onboard as you cruise to Copenhagen.

Bid farewell to your ship and disembark this morning. Copenhagen — Denmark's capital — was once a small fishing village that served as a Viking outpost. From Old Danish, its name translates to "Merchant's Harbor," and today's guided orientation tour reveals why. See the Little Mermaid statue, Town Hall Square, and Nyhavn — a vibrant 17th-century waterfront lined with colorful façades and lively cafés. Then experience the city from the water on a scenic canal cruise before lunch at a local restaurant. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. This afternoon, admission is included to Tivoli Gardens – a charming amusement park with botanical gardens.

Journey today to Roskilde – Denmark's religious, cultural, and political center from the Viking times through the Middle Ages – for a visit to the Vikingeskibshallen (Viking Ship Museum), featuring five ships from the 11th century that were discovered in the 1960s, and lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Copenhagen to explore on your own and, later, share memories of this most remarkable Baltic Sea cruise with your fellow guests at this evening's farewell reception and dinner.

Tour ends: Copenhagen. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel or NH Collection Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport; please allow three hours for international flight check-in.