Best of the Baltic
« All Island Sky cruise options
- Day 1 Stockholm, Sweden
- Day 2 Stockholm / Embark Island Sky
- Day 3 Helsinki, Finland
- Days 4-5 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Day 6 Tallinn, Estonia
- Day 7 Riga, Latvia
- Day 8 Visby, Gotland Island, Sweden
- Day 9 Klaipeda, Lithuania
- Day 10 Gdansk, Poland
- Day 11 Bornholm Island, Denmark
- Day 12 Copenhagen, Denmark / Disembark
- Day 13 Copenhagen / Return Home
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||
| Category 1 | Cateogory 2 | Category 3 | Category 4 | Category 5 | Category 6 | |
| Jul 3 '13 |
$10,980 | $11,880 | $12,580 | $13,580 | $14,680 | $15,880 |
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy between 1.6-1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Deposit & Payment -Cabins are available for single occupancy between 1.6-1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Day 1 Stockholm, Sweden
Arrive on your independent flight to Stockholm. Transfer to your included hotel and gather this evening for a welcome dinner and briefing.
Day 2 Stockholm / Embark Island Sky
Built on 14 islands, a tour of Sweden’s capital city takes you to the island of Djugarden, home of the famous warship, Vasa, as well as Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, which displays a collection of historic Swedish buildings. Explore Gamla Stan, one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in the world and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue through charming cobble-stoned streets lined with 13th-century buildings to visit the Royal Palace. This evening board the Island Sky.
Day 3 Helsinki, Finland
This morning attend lectures introducing the dynamic countries ringing the Baltic. The capital of Finland since 1812, Helsinki is a cosmopolitan city with a small-town feel. This afternoon’s city tour reveals the beautiful neo-classical architecture of Senate Square and allows you the opportunity to stroll through picturesque Market Square, where numerous vendors offer a variety of Finnish foods and souvenirs. Or choose to tour Suomenlinna Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Sweden in 1748 to protect Helsinki’s harbor.
Days 4-5 St. Petersburg, Russia
Arrive in splendid St. Petersburg in the early afternoon and enjoy two days of exploration. Visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Winter Palace which houses Catherine the Great’s incomparable Hermitage Museum. Enjoy an advanced entry and special guided tour which includes the Gold Room — a dazzling display of jewelry, as well as the famous Scythian and Greek gold. Drive across the Neva River to the burial place of the tsars, Peter and Paul Cathedral, its 18th-century spire dominates the skyline. Visit the spectacular Church of the Resurrection and drive along Russia’s most famous street, the Nevsky Prospect, lined with magnificent palaces, churches, and theaters. A scenic drive takes you to the magnificent palace and gardens of Peterhof, a grand summertime residence built by Peter the Great.
Day 6 Tallinn, Estonia
Today set out for old town Tallinn, a visual feast of soaring spires, towers, and turrets. After a renaissance in restoration and reconstruction, Tallinn proudly proclaims itself the finest preserved city in the Baltic. In the upper Old Town visit Palace Square and the magnificent cupola-crowned Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In the lower Old Town visit the Town Hall Square, once a medieval marketplace; one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, founded in 1422; and stroll along St. Catherine’s Passage in the Latin Quarter. You will also visit Kadriorg Palace and Park, built by Peter the Great as a summer residence.
Day 7 Riga, Latvia
Your day in Latvia showcases the riches of this 800-year-old Hanseatic river port. A walking tour takes you to multiple land-marks, including the Blackheads House, one of the oldest buildings in Riga; St. Peter’s Church, a superb Gothic masterpiece; the 15th-century Three Brothers merchant houses; and St. Jacob and St. John churches. Also visit the 13th-century Dome Cathedral, whose organ concerts are legendary. Continue your exploration by motorcoach, driving past lovely parks along the City Canal lined with the stunning Art Nouveau architecture built in 1899 during the Jugendstil movement. There is free time this afternoon to explore Riga on your own.
Day 8 Visby, Gotland Island, Sweden
Spend a relaxing morning at sea and attend lectures from your on board experts. After lunch arrive at Gotland Island, the largest island in the Baltic. The splendid city of Visby, a World Heritage Site, is famous for its intact medieval architecture, especially the 44 guard towers built as part of the city walls in the 11th and 12th centuries. Drive to Almedalen, a green oasis in the city center, then walk past lovely medieval granaries and the city’s oldest building, the Powder Tower. Visit the Botanical Garden, known for its exotic plant collection and take a ride up to a splendid panoramic viewpoint of the city and its spires. Continue your tour on foot along charming cobblestone streets, to visit the impressive St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Gotland Museum with its excellent medieval collections.
Day 9 Klaipeda, Lithuania
Today you drive to the amber center of Palanga. A stroll through the Botanical Park with its 500 varieties of trees and bushes, takes you to the Amber Museum, housed in a 19th-century neo-Renaissance-style mansion. Afterward drive to the Old Town for a walking tour. From beautiful Theater Square, explore the narrow streets that meander between the charming half-timbered houses and shops.
Day 10 Gdansk, Poland
Enjoy a full day in this city whose history spans nearly 1,000 years. Stop at the Solidarity Monument, in front of the Gdansk shipyard, then view the exhibition, Roads to Freedom, a fascinating audio-visual portrayal of those important, world-changing events. A walking tour through lively Old Town reveals a magnificent collection of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings and monuments. Pass through the Golden Gate and walk down Long Street to the 15th-century Palace of Artus, where Neptune’s Fountain commemorates Gdansk’s Hanseatic past. Also visit medieval St. Mary’s Church, the world’s largest brick church. After lunch onboard there is time at leisure for further exploration.
Day 11 Bornholm Island, Denmark
After breakfast step ashore on serene Bornholm Island, endowed with sugar-white sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, thick forests, and heather-clad hills. Visit the ruins of Hammershus Castle, Scandinavia’s largest medieval fortress; the unique, round 12th-century churches, Osterlars and Nylars; and the charming half-timbered fishing hamlet of Gudhjem. You may also choose to visit art studios renowned for their glass blowing and pottery.
Day 12 Copenhagen, Denmark / Disembark
This morning enjoy a tour of Denmark’s capital city. Pass by the Tivoli Gardens, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and drive through the picturesque canals district past the National Museum, and Christiansborg Palace. Continue on to the old Stock Exchange and across Kongens Nytorv, where you can see the Royal Theater, world famous for its Royal Ballet. Pass the colorful harbor of Nyhavn to Amelienborg Palace followed by a visit to the Rosenborg Palace, which boasts fine collections including the royal crown jewels. After lunch at a local restaurant check in to your included hotel with the evening at leisure to pursue your individual interests in this dynamic city. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 13 Copenhagen / Return Home
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your independent flight homeward.
Itinerary Notes
Cruise Fare Inclusions:Accommodations in hotels and on board the ship as outlined in the itinerary; all onboard meals; all group meals on land; group transfers; services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows; all group activities and excursions; landing and port fees; $50,000 of emergency sickness/accident medical expenses and $75,000 in evacuation insurance; all gratuities.
Cruise Fare Exclusions:
All air transportation; excess baggage charges; airport arrival and departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees; accident/baggage/cancellation insurance; items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, e-mail/Internet/fax/telephone charges.
Know Before You Go:
For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You must be able to walk distances of one to three miles, sometimes over rough and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones, and climb stone steps that at times may not have handrails. Excursions are timed to depart when temperatures will be most pleasant. During this time of year, temperatures will range from the low 70sºF during the day to the upper 50sºF and low 60sºF at night and you will enjoy long hours of daylight. Estimate that you will be without your passport for one month while procuring your Russian visa. Visa kits will be mailed five months prior to departure.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is 30% cruise cost, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure.
Final payment by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 130 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 130 days or more | $600 |
| 129-60 days | 55% cruise cost |
| 59-0 days | 100% cruise cost |
Island Sky
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 100
- Luxury Expedition Ship
Built in 1992 and recently refurbished, the Island Sky is a spacious, yet intimate, expedition vessel. Public spaces available include a large lounge, elegant bar with piano, library stocked with fiction and reference books along with a selection of games, and a single sitting dining room. Outside decks feature a bar, spa pool, and a rear sun deck where meals are served in clement weather. For excursions ashore, the Island Sky carries a fleet of Zodiacs, and bridge visits allow for the chance to see her expert officers and crew at work.
General information regarding the Island Sky
• Five decks of passenger facilities:
Magellan Deck – passenger cabins, restaurant, doctor’s office
Columbus Deck – passenger cabins, lounge, reception
Marco Polo Deck – passenger cabins, club, library
Erikson Deck – passenger cabins with balconies, bridge, outdoor bar and café
Explorer Deck – passenger suites with balconies, salon, sun deck, and spa pool
• Stairs and an elevator service all decks
• The bridge is available to visit most times throughout the day, contingent upon weather, security, and navigation conditions
• Smoking is permitted only on outside decks
Accommodations
All cabins feature ocean views and have two twin beds that can be reconfigured into one queen, a sitting area, en suite bathroom, large wardrobes, vanity table, small refrigerator, television, personal safe, hair dryer, assorted toiletries, and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating, and American style outlets (two flat prongs) at 110 volts. Cabins range from 215-312 square feet and have a variety of window and balcony configurations to select from.
Dining aboard the Island Sky
The main restaurant can accommodate all passengers at one seating. Most diets can be catered for on board, but special dietary requests must be made in advance. Breakfast is served buffet-style and there is also an omelet station. When weather permits, lunch can be served on deck, but is usually served in the main restaurant with a self-serve soup and salad option. Dinner is also served in the main restaurant. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and coffee and tea are available 24 hours a day in the club.
Services
• Island Sky carries a fleet of Zodiacs and a small tender.
• Public spaces include a large lounge, smaller bar with piano, and library with games, reference books, novels, and computers with Internet access.
• There are two sun decks: one on the aft of the Erikson Deck with an outdoor bar and café, and one on the Explorer Deck with a spa pool.
• Laundry services (no dry cleaning), a hair salon, and a small doctor’s office are available on board. Rates are posted.
• The U.K. pound is the currency used on board. Traveler’s checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Category 1 Magellan Deck, Suites #254-262. 215 square feet and have two to four portholes. |
 | Cateogory 2 Columbus Deck, Suites #331-348. 215 square feet and have a large picture window. |
 | Category 3 Marco Polo Deck, Suites #416-430. They range between 225 to 240 square feet and feature large picture windows. |
 | Category 4 Marco Polo Deck, Suites #414-415. They range between 225 to 240 square feet and feature large picture windows. |
 | Category 5 Erikson Deck, Suites #505-512. 265 square feet and have patio doors leading to private balconies. |
 | Category 6 Explorer Deck, Suites #601-604. 312 square feet and also feature private balconies. |
