Scandinavian Discovery: Vibrant Cities, Coastal Villages, and Seafaring History

Arrive in Helsinki and transfer into the heart of the city. Take a panoramic city tour before you embark and set sail this evening. (D)

Hundreds of rocky, windswept islands dot Finland’s coast. We will pause in the Ekenäs Archipelago National Park and explore its many islands, harbors, and inlets by Zodiac and kayak. These islands are a habitat for white-tailed eagles, nesting waterfowl, and gulls, among other avian species. (B,L,D)

Discover a fascinating autonomous region today, Finland’s Åland Islands where most residents speak Swedish. Spend the day in the capital of this 6,700-island archipelago, Mariehamm, with options to delve into the islands’ rich seafaring history with museum visits or to explore by foot, bike, or Zodiac. Museum options include the Pommern, a four-masted barque that was donated to the city after World War II, and the Mariehamn Maritime Museum. Other opportunities to explore by land include hiking or biking a shoreline trail. Another option is to travel by Zodiac out of the Mariehamm harbor to the islands’ historic pilot station. Called Kobba Klintar, it’s a scenic spot where you can see the 1862 house of pilots who have helped countless captains navigate this tricky harbor over the years. This evening, enjoy the quaint downtown of Mariehamn—known as “the town of the thousand Linden trees”—at your leisure since the ship will be docked here overnight. (B,L,D)

Sail among the serene islands of Sweden, past the 18th-century circular Fredriksborg Fortress and into the capital’s port. Stockholm is spread over 14 islands, and an overnight docking allows freedom to experience this magical city at night with the lights of harborside restaurants reflecting on the water. The morning brings the opportunity to discover the city’s cultural treasures: At the Vasa Museum, see the eponymous well-preserved 17th-century wooden warship; and on a walking tour of the city’s Old Town, learn about the country’s monarchy at the Royal Armory through displays of regal clothing, jewelry, and carriages. Choose to visit Fotografiska, the museum of photography that has exhibited legends like Annie Leibovitz, or the Millesgården, a spectacular sculpture garden built on terraces on the island of Lidingö. Before the end of the day, enjoy a local music performance curated by our ethnomusicologist Jacob Edgar. (B,L,D)

Today explore the well-preserved 12th-century town of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the large island of Gotland. A medieval ring wall with original towers and gates encircles the city, a Hanseatic town that was a Viking settlement. Thousands of years of Swedish history unfold at the Gotland Museum where treasures include eighth-century picture stones and Viking silver. Outside Visby, the island has more than 150 nature reserves, sea stacks in the wild and windswept northern part of the island, and flower-filled meadows, shipwrecks, and beaches in the south. There are opportunities today to visit a sheep farm or ride a bicycle on a scenic coastal trail. (B,L,D)

Discover the picturesque town of Åhus with its cobblestoned roads, colorfully painted wooden houses, and 60-mile crescent shaped beach. Learn about its small-scale eel fishing tradition, a craft inherited from father to son since the 13th century and recognized on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Visit Ales Stenar, Sweden's best-preserved tumulus: 59 standing stones erected 1,400 years ago in the shape of a boat. Although no one is sure why the stone design was created, we know the formation stands over a 5,500-year-old burial site. This afternoon, enjoy a tasting at the Absolut distillery, where vodka is made exclusively with grain from southern Sweden. (B,L,D)

Today we dock in the center of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, just steps from the Little Mermaid statue. Take a panoramic walking tour of the city visiting Børsen, the 17th-century stock exchange, and Christiansborg, a palace and the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark. Later, enjoy a canal tour into the heart of Christianshavn and a performance by local musicians. (B,L,D)

Our day in Norway’s capital will include Frogner Park, a masterfully landscaped outdoor sculpture park featuring hundreds of life-size figures by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Learn about Norway’s role in polar exploration at the Fram Museum, which is built around the original ship that Amundsen, Nansen, and others sailed aboard to discover new regions of both poles. Spend an evening at your leisure in beautiful Oslo as the ship will be docked near the capital overnight. (B,L,D)

We conclude our voyage with a day exploring one of Norway’s most stunning fjords. Discover quaint villages with narrow streets and wooden houses—many centered around their time-old fishing traditions—and learn about local customs. (B,L,D)

This morning, disembark in Bergen after breakfast and transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)