Baltic capitals (with Russia and Berlin) cruise

Baltic capitals (with Russia and Berlin) cruise

Land of windmills, bicycles, canals, and Hansa

I find the Baltic capitals 12 day cruise to be one of the most interesting cruise itineraries of all because it is rich in history, beauty, variety, and it includes visits to the hub of activity and seat of government of several northern European countries. It is also an affordable means of visiting expensive cities. I enjoyed my second visit to this impressive region of the world even more because I travelled on Celebrity Cruise Line in a concierge class room. The itinerary included visits to six ports of call, including an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, and four much-needed sea days. If I had to do it over again, I would've spent time in Amsterdam, the departure city, prior to the cruise.

Here are the highlights of the trip:

A visit to Berlin, Germany a city that I still find to be one of the most interesting in the world. Not only is it the birth place of Nazism and rise to power of Hitler, but it served as the epicenter of the 40+ year Cold War. The remnants of our recent history, especially of World War II and Berlin's role, abound-- from the war-torn Kaiser Wilhelm Cathedral to the monument to the murdered Jews, to the iconic East Berlin traffic signals, to Check Point Charlie, to the Reichstag , to the memorial of the book burning, to the Brandenburg gate, to remaining segments of the Berlin wall scattered throughout the city -- there's always something to stimulate the mind about horror, war, duty, paranoia, denial, resistance, heart break, and resilience. What's most impressive is how the Germans take full responsibility for the horrors of the Nazi regime. In this effort, they continue to build monuments to commemorate and enlighten about what happened. I could go back time and time again, to explore all its museums, monuments, public places, and memorials.

Our tour included visits of Museum Island, The Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, the Holocaust Memorial, and everything listed in the previous sentences. Bratwurst for lunch was delicious.

This time, I spent more time at the Topography of Terror Museum (comprehensive indoor and outdoor exhibits detailing the history of repression under the Nazis) and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews.

It is well worth the 3 Hour drive. from Port city of Warnemunde. Both times I took a full day tour with SPB, a company that provides excellent tours of Russia and Baltic capital cities.

Brandenburg Gate

Berlin Wall

Charlottenburg Palace

My second two-day visit to St. Petersburg, Russia was as enjoyable as the first. This fabulous city, patterned after the great capital cities of Western Europe with royal palaces and gardens mirroring Versailles, should be placed on everyone’s bucket list. Highlights included visits to Catherine’s Palace, Peterhoff, Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, Senate Square, a Hydrofoil ride, the Palace where Rasputin spent his final hours (Yusopov), a canal cruise, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, typical Russian meals, and the piece de resistance: The Hermitage, the world's second largest art museum behind the Louvre.

Prior to my visit, again, I studied the lives of the Tsars, with a focus on Peter the Great, Catherine the great, and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.

Hermitage and St Issac's across The Neva River

Peterhoff Gardens and Fountains

Matryoshka Dolls

Bronze Horseman

Sunrise and sunset cruising through the Stockholm archipelago of 30,000 islands and islets.

Vasa Museum in Stockholm. This was my second visit to one of my favorite museums in the world. The museum actually houses the 384year-old war ship that sank during its maiden voyage in 1628, along with informative-interactive exhibits describing the raising of the ship in 1961, life on board the ship, naval warfare, life in Sweden in the 1600s, skeletal remains, and more. There are even facial reconstructions of victims onboard the sunken ship, enhanced by modern technology, created from skeletal remains. See http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/

View of Tallinn’s OldTown from the ship

Tours in St Petersburg, Berlin, Tallinn, and Stockholm. HOHO bus tour in Copenhagen and Helsinki

Nyhavn

Little Mermaid-Mascot of Copenhagen

On the Stroget

Helsinki-Market Square

Tallinn, Estonia-City Walls

Life onboard the Celebrity Constellation. It is a beautiful ship, newly refurbished, and decorated with eclectic, thought-provoking artwork throughout. The food was well above average. I had escargots EVERY NIGHT! We loved the ship’s song and dance cast!

Escargots every night

Excellent guest lecturers. There was a naturalist, Karen Dodd and a Harry Murphy, a doctor of Education. They lectured on the Romanovs, The Berlin Wall, Alfred Nobel, WW II, Russian, Viking, Prussian, and Hanseatic history and culture, Amber, and even The History of Hollywood. Karen Dodd delivered such impassioned and interesting talks that I would listen to her lecture on toothpicks. She even invited everyone to join her from 5AM-9AM, up on deck, as we cruised through the Stockholm archipelago. I learned so much from her about the Hanseatic League, the development of German vs. Viking societies, whales, and more. Her lectures truly enhanced my experience. We replayed both speakers’ lectures several times in our room, on the Celebrity channel.

Our wonderful dinner mates. Agnes and Richard from Ohio; Juanita and Ross from Portland, OR; and Jane, Don, and their 12-yr old grandson, Anakin, from Portland, OR

Don, Jane,Anakin, Karla, Joel, Juanita, Ross,Agnes, Richard

As before, the weather was pleasant everywhere--we only had rain in Stockholm and at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews (15 minutes, in Berlin).