Discover the lands and legacies forged by centuries of Baltic history on a 9-night cruise to visit 7 countries, featuring special guest speaker Lech Wałesa, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Poland. This Polish national hero will be speaking by exclusive arrangement about the establishment of the Polish Solidarity labor movement and the struggles he overcame when confronting a Soviet-backed regime—a message that will be more poignant than ever. Explore the cultural rebirth of Scandinavia and the Baltic states on this one-of-a-kind itinerary with excursions to Gothenburg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Gdansk, Poland; Riga, Latvia; Helsinki, Finland; and Tallinn, Estonia. Enhance your journey with the Norway and/or the Stockholm Optional Extensions.
Program Details
- Guest speaker Lech Wałesa, former President of Poland, addresses his historic role in shaping democracy in the region.
- Enjoy a shore excursion in every port—Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Riga, Helsinki, and Tallinn.
- Savor the sites of Tallinn, Estonia's capital city, with a tour that includes its 11th-century Town Hall Square.
- Experience the Finnish capital city of Helsinki on a tour that includes the Senate Square, its historic university, and Lutheran Cathedral—all displaying neo-classical architecture of the 1840’s.
- Travel to the charming village of Porvoo, the second oldest city in Finland.
- See the medieval Cathedral of Porvoo and the Old Bridge of Porvoo.
- Enjoy a city tour of Riga, including its Old Town and a visit to the Latvian National Opera House.
- Explore the storied port city of Gdansk, the cradle of the Solidarity movement, including its historic Gdansk Shipyard and Old Town.
- Tour vibrant Gothenburg, known for its Amsterdam-style canals and leafy boulevards, as well as its welcoming atmosphere.
- Discover Tjolöholm Castle, designed by architect Lars Israel Wahlman in the Tudor style for merchant James Fredrik Dickson and his wife, Blanche.
Day 1 - Depart home city
Day 2 - Oslo, Norway/Embark World Navigator
Day 3 - Gothenburg, Sweden
Day 4 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 5 - Gdansk, Poland
Day 6 - Day at Sea
Day 7 - Riga, Latvia
Day 8 - Day at Sea
Day 9 - Helsinki, Finland
Day 10 - Tallinn, Estonia
Day 11 - Stockholm, Sweden/Disembark ship/Return to home city
*Itinerary will also operate in the reverse direction.
World Navigator
Exclusively Chartered
5-Star, Small Ship
- Luxury small ship, able to dock in smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships
- 89 suites and staterooms, each with an ocean view, and most with a private balcony.
- All meals included on board the ship, as well as alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
Norway Optional Extension
In historic Bergen, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bryggen, the old wharf; and Troldhaugen, the historic home of composer Edvard Grieg. Travel through pristine fjordlands on the famed Flåm Railway, one of the world’s most scenic train rides. Relish a cruise into UNESCO World Heritage-designated Nærøyfjord followed by one night at the historic Stalheim Hotel and a visit to the Folk Museum. Then, transfer to Oslo for a city tour, with visits to Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Opera House. Accommodations are for four nights at ideally located hotels.
Stockholm Optional Extension
Stockholm boasts a harmonious blend of medieval, Renaissance and modern architecture. Visit the magnificent City Hall, site of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. Walk through the historic Gamla Stan, or Old Town, and visit the Vasa Museum, housing the world’s only preserved 17th‑century warship. Embark on a Stockholm archipelago cruise aboard a classic ship, passing historical and cultural sites and beautiful, iconic scenery as a knowledgeable guide shares interesting anecdotes and stories. Accommodations are for two nights at the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel.
Depending on your chosen departure date, optional extensions may be a Pre-Program or Post-Program.
Optional Extensions are available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
Lech Walesa
Distinguished World Leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Lech Wałęsa—former President of Poland (1990 to 1995), Polish hero, and international icon in the pursuit of freedom and democracy—joins us on our tour to discuss his unique role in the history of this region. From his position as a marine electrician in Gdańsk Shipyard, Wałęsa emerged as a world‑renowned figure in the struggle against communism during the 1980 shipyard workers’ strike and the establishment of the Polish Solidarity labor movement. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, a watershed moment widely considered to have been the first crack in the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain, which crumbled with the Berlin Wall in 1989. That same year, Wałęsa became the first foreign non‑head of government to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.