June 4-13, 2015

Explore five Baltic countries, St. Petersburg, Russia, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the Cruising the Baltic Sea Aboard Le Boréal experience, operated by National Trust Tours, and enjoy a rare opportunity to attend enriching lectures by former President of Poland Lech Wałęsa, and the former NBC Chief European Correspondent, John Cochran.

Highlights

• Eight-night cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star M.S. Le Boréal from Copenhagen, Denmark to Stockholm, Sweden
• Spacious, five-star, ocean-view Suite and Stateroom accommodations, each with a private bathroom
• Captain’s welcome and farewell receptions.
• All meals are included and boast fine international and regional cuisine, served with complimentary beer during lunch and complimentary wine and beer at dinner
• Tour of historic port city of Gdan´ sk, Poland
• Walking tour of Tallinn’s historic and medieval quarters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• City tour of St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress
• Excursion to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Peter the Great’s Petrodvorets and Catherine the Great’s palace in Pushkin, featuring the Amber Room
• Tour of the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• City tour of Helsinki featuring a visit to Temppeliaukio Church, a drive with a view of the old fortifications of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna and a private concert in the Sibelius Academy
• Tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic former Hanseatic city of Visby on the island of Gotland

M.S. Le Boréal
The highly acclaimed, exclusively chartered M.S. Le Boréal , launched in 2010, represents the newest generation of Five-Star small ships, featuring elegant style, unparalleled service, and opulent accommodations and facilities.
Accommodations: Boasting distinctive French sophistication, the 120 Suites and Staterooms, most with private balconies, feature two twin beds that convert into one queen bed and luxurious amenities, including private baths, individual climate control, satellite flat-screen television, wireless Internet access, safe, minibar, full-length closet, writing desk/dressing table, plush robes, and slippers.
Dining: International and regional cuisine are served in the stylish, spacious La Licorne dining room in single, unassigned seating, alfresco in the casual indoor-outdoor La Boussole Restaurant, or from 24-hour room service. Continental and buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea and a four-course dinner are served daily. Complimentary wine and beer are served with dinner; beer is served with lunch.
Facilities and Services: Inviting and spacious public areas accommodate all passengers comfortably. Enjoy views from the Panoramic Lounge, nightly entertainment in the Main Lounge, and lectures, cultural performances, and film screenings in the state-of-the-art theater. The ship also boasts a library, Internet salon, sun deck, swimming pool, beauty salon, spa, Turkish bath-style steam room, full range of fitness equipment, and two elevators. The infirmary is staffed with a doctor and nurse. The highly trained and personable, English-speaking, international crew provides attentive service.

Study Leader Information
TBD

Tour Itinerary
June 4 - Thursday - Depart the US

June 5 - Friday - Copenhagen, Denmark
Arrive in Copenhagen and embark the five-star M.S. Le Boréal . In the evening, attend the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner.

June 6 - Saturday - Gdańsk, Poland/Lech Wałęsa
The historic city of Gdańsk features several examples of Poland’s finest medieval and Renaissance architecture. Walk past elegant patrician mansions featuring late Renaissance and Baroque façades in the Old Town and see the famous Neptune’s Fountain. Visit the 14th-century Artus Court, a meticulously restored Gothic guildhall that houses a fascinating collection of Polish art. See the historic Lenin Shipyard and its Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers. By special arrangement, meet the leader of the Solidarity movement, former President of Poland, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa, on board the ship in the afternoon. Mr. Wałęsa will discuss his perspective on Solidarity, globalization, and progress in the region, with time for questions and answers.

June 7 - Sunday - Cruising the Baltic Sea
Spend the day at leisure cruising the Baltic Sea and enjoying a series of enriching lectures.

June 8 - Monday - Tallinn, Estonia
Having largely escaped the ravages of World War II, Tallinn’s Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has remained virtually unchanged for the past 600 years. During the walking tour, see Toompea Castle, the landmark Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the 13th-century Church of St. Nicholas. Visit the medieval Town Hall, the only intact Gothic-style hall in Northern Europe.

June 9 - Tuesday - St. Petersburg, Russia
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as his “Window on the West,” St. Petersburg boasts legendary landmarks scattered across more than 100 islands linked by more than three times as many bridges. On the morning tour, experience the beautiful Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, built on the site of Emperor Alexander II’s assassination, and the 19th-century St. Isaac’s Cathedral, with a striking golden dome that is one of the glories of the city’s skyline. Visit St. Petersburg’s first building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, constructed to secure the country’s access to the sea. See the impressive Baroque Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, containing the tombs of 32 czars, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II, the last of the Romanovs. Later, see one of the world’s greatest art repositories on the tour of the incomparable State Hermitage Museum, former czarist palace of Catherine the Great and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

June 10 - Wednesday - St. Petersburg, Russia
In the morning, visit the imperial compound of Pushkin and Catherine the Great’s elaborate rococo palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighted by a special visit to the extraordinary Amber Room. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Russian specialties in a nearby restaurant, before a visit to the splendid parklands and palace of Petrodvorets, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, commissioned by Peter the Great to rival Versailles. The grounds are elaborately landscaped and include formal gardens, fountains and cascades, as well as the extravagant Grand Palace. By hydrofoil, skim over the Gulf of Finland to return to St. Petersburg.

June 11 - Thursday - Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki was named the 2012 World Design Capital for its use of innovative design as an effective tool for social, cultural, and economic development in the city. In the morning, tour Finland’s dynamic capital and explore the old fortifications of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the stately Senate Square, lively Market Square and the diplomatic quarter of Kaivopuisto. Visit the modernistic Temppeliaukio Church, or “Church of the Rock,” impressively cut out of natural bedrock, and experience Sibelius Park, where Eila Hiltunen’s remarkable sculpture honors Finland’s most beloved composer, Jean Sibelius. After, enjoy a private concert in the prestigious Sibelius Academy.

June 12 - Friday - Visby, Sweden
Call at the Baltic island of Gotland, ancient home of the Goths and one of Sweden’s richest historical areas with more than 100 medieval churches and numerous prehistoric sites. Walk through Visby’s marvelous Old Town, “city of roses,” a former Hanseatic city gaining UNESCO World Heritage status for its well-preserved 13th century walls, medieval gates, and original towers. See houses built during the Middle Ages, the iconic towers of the Cathedral of St. Mary (the only of Visby’s old churches still in use today) and the small but spectacular botanical gardens that have drawn garden enthusiasts since 1855. In the evening, attend the Captain’s farewell reception.

June 13 - Saturday - Stockholm, Sweden/U.S.
Arrive in Stockholm, often referred to as one of the world’s most attractive cities. Disembark and continue on the post-cruise options to explore the historic splendor and dramatic beauty of Stockholm. Or, depart for the U.S.

Tour Price
Land/Cruise Arrangements: From $5,995

Special Offer!
Mention Historic Hotels of America when booking your tour and receive three $100 gift certificates, each good toward a $100 refund when you book through HistoricHotels.org and stay for at least two-nights at a Historic Hotels of America hotel.*

Reservations
To book a tour please contact our tour VIP desk at +1 202 772 8000 or scalhoun@historichotels.org.

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Terms and Conditions
*Maximum of one $100 certificate may be claimed for a refund with a minimum two night stay booked through HistoricHotels.org following the return of your tour and completion of your hotel stay. The refund will be issued within 45 days of the completion of your stay upon submitting a Great Experiences & Tours $100 refund application. Refund application must be submitted with a copy of your hotel folio receipt, the original confirmation number from your booking on HistoricHotels.org, and the Certificate number issued to you for booking your tour through Historic Hotels of America. Certificates issued are a promotion only valid toward future reservations made through HistoricHotels.org and do not have any cash value. One certificate may be used per room per two night or longer stay at the same hotel. Eligible rates include rates publicly available at time of booking. Reduced rates, rooms included in another travel or tour package, employee rates, advance purchase rates, and certain last minute sale rates are not eligible for this promotion.