Archive for the ‘Cruises’ Category

Baltic Sea Cruises - Check out a list of Must Do’s

Posted in Cruises, Scandanavia, baltic region | by Amy
March 24th, 2011

When it comes to cruising, an increasing number of travelers are trading sandy beaches for a trip to the renowned Hermitage Museum. Nowadays, baby boomers are looking for exclusive travel experiences and sails to the world-famous Baltic Sea region. Other unusual offshore tours during these cruises include Copenhagen Stockholm, the momentous Russian port town of St. Petersburg and a lot more. While there are plenty of places to explore and enjoy the vacations, here is a list of Must Do’s over the Baltic Sea cruises.

The Scandinavian Fjords:

Considered to be one of the most uncommon and striking sights seen over the globe, the Scandinavian Fjords is a real visual retreat for tour aficionados. The inland waterways give ways to sailboats abound and the scenic towns and hamlets you will come across are like a way to the fairy tale land. A myriad of yachts only augments this unforgettable sight.

Visit the most renowned Ice Bar

Stockholm is a multi-ethnic city, like Copenhagen and Moscow, and is very attractive, pristine and historical. A number of visitors take a tour to the Ice Bar, where customers are indebted to don parkas prior to entering the premise. Made entirely of huge blocks of ice is the bar with varieties of drinks served in diminutive glasses that is also carved from ice. Among the juvenile Swedish set, this is the real place to be explored.

img credit : hungryblank

Visit Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli – Walt Disney’s greatest inspiration for Disneyland includes an assortment of attractions including buildings in the style of Orient, a primitive scenic railway, a theatre, mechanical amusement rides, restaurants and cafes and beautiful gardens.

The Yussupov Palace

Welcoming you at the entrance of the Palace doors are ladies-in-waiting and gentleman in flamboyant costumes. Right from the museum of classical sculpture and furniture, the notorious Grigori Rasputin, the Music Room to the Yussupov theatre, the options are endless here.

img credit : smudgeboy

Moscow in a day

Guests are taken directly to the Kremlin to enjoy the famous Russian artifacts stored throughout the centuries. The trip as well includes visits to the famous St. Basel’s, an exclusive reflection of Ottoman architecture, lunch at the Alexandr Pushkin restaurant, visits to the renowned Red Square, shopping at the G.U.M store and a lot more. Visitors would certainly appreciate that this cosmopolitan city is outstandingly clean and breathtaking.

img credit : isik5

Hermitage Museum – an insight into opulent history

The world-famous Gold Rooms of Hermitage museum are surreptitiously opened for Regent invitees only. Considered as the most remarkable museums in Europe, the Hermitage Museum boasts 2.7 million objects of glorious art, including masterworks of Monet, da Vinci, Van Dyck, Raphael, Rubens and Titian.

Five of the Best Baltic Ports for Cruises

Posted in Cruises, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Scandanavia, sweden | by admin
September 8th, 2010

Cruise ships offer visitors to the Baltic region a chance to see the incredible shorelines, fjords and islands that you can only admire from the sea. Of the 28 ports from which cruise ships regularly depart, here are the five ports of call where you can find fascinating places to explore on shore before and after your journey:

1. Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is a part of most cruise ship itineraries and offers some interesting areas to explore. You can take a short ferry ride across the bay to stomp around the Soumenlinna Fortress, an 18th century fort that you can explore on your own or sign up for guided tour.

Soumenlinna Fortress, Helsinki(img credit: Bronnski)

The ferry departs from Market Square, an open-air market that supplies local food, crafts and souvenirs — even reindeer sausages and smoked herring. If you are in town for while, consider visiting the many Helsinki museums and climbing to the top of the Olympic tower.

2. Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn(img credit: Jurvetson)

As the capital of Estonia, this is the largest city in this tiny country and dates back over 1000 years. This charming locale is one of the best preserved medieval towns in all of Europe, although it does have a “modern” section. The Old Town Square is lined with outdoor cafes, picturesque homes and gothic civic buildings.

The cathedral boast the tallest tower in Europe, and you can climb to the top for a spectacular view of the city and harbor. Just a 2-hour ride across the bay from Helsinki, the towers and walls of Tallinn’s castles and churches border cobblestone streets that wind through this picturesque city, so bring sturdy walking shoes.

3. Stockholm, Sweden

The Old Town section in this Swedish city is called Gamla Stan and is home to the Royal Palace and City Hall — which also has a tower you can climb for a bird’s eye view of the area.

The christmas market in gamla stan (old town), stockholm. (img credit: Coulson)

Wander down the narrow winding cobblestone streets and explore the galleries, cafes, museums and shops along the way. Check out the Vasa museum which is housed in a warship that is adorned with sculptures elaborately carved in the 1600s when this boat was launched. Fully restored in the 20th century, the custom exhibition building that houses this Nordic treasure is open to visitors.

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

This cosmopolitan Danish town has many fascinating wonders within walking distance of the port — including the Tivoli Gardens, a popular destination for families during the day and romantic couples in the evening.

Tivoli Gardens(img credit: Nygaard)

At night, 100,000 lanterns are lit to create a magical ambiance that concludes with a dazzling fireworks show. Jump aboard a canal taxi to sail along the Nyhavn canal which is lined with colorful old buildings and sidewalk cafes. You can even visit the Little Mermaid statue who sits on the rock gazing out to sea waiting for her Prince Charming to return.

5. Saint Petersburg

Last but certainly not least is the Russian city that has impressed the world for centuries with its magnificent art, incredible architecture and fascinating history. Near the harbor is the Winter Palace, where you will find the Hermitage Museum, an incredible art institution that should not be missed.

Hermitage Museum, Russia(img credit: Marie-ll)

Visit the Palace Square and the Russian Museum of National Art or hire a boat and glide through the canals of Saint Petersburg, especially during the midsummer White Nights celebrations.