Ovation, Norway & Baltic Gems ex Amsterdam to Stockholm

Details

21 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Stockholm onboard Seabourn Ovation.

21 Night Cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Copenhagen onboard Seabourn Ovation.

Re-Defining Ultra-Luxury Cruising...Again. As Seabourn celebrates 30 years of enriching and enhancing ultra-luxury cruising, we’re proud to introduce the next stage of our evolution. We welcome Seabourn Ovation, sister ship to the already renowned Seabourn Encore. Her arrival has crowned a fleet that is already the newest, most modern and most acclaimed at sea and will deliver a wealth of new concepts, a fresh design vision and a host of illuminating ideas to delight the world’s most discerning travelers.

As with Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation, Seabourn enlisted the participation of master designer Adam D. Tihany. Recognized as one of the preeminent designers in the world, Tihany specializes in developing elegantly individual spaces for the most highly rated restaurants, hotels, resorts and spas in the hospitality industry. He is also renowned for his unique ability to realize and embody the particular personalities of his clients and the preferences of their clientele in his designs.

Highlights of this cruise:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The delightfully attractive city of Amsterdam is home to many of the world's great art treasures, and is a major center of the glamorous diamond trade as well. Unique architectural styles of the past blend with superb modern structures, and the web of curved and straight canals makes the city as easy to traverse by water as by land. The hospitality of the local people has been remarked upon by generations of travelers, and the Dutch's respect for and tolerance of the beliefs of others has attracted refugees from around the world for centuries.

Hamburg, Germany
The residents of Hamburg have retained the independent spirit which earned this autonomous commercial center its 'Free City' designation in the Middle Ages. One of Germany's principal ports, Hamburg is surrounded by enormous dock areas and the gaudy, licentious Reeperbahn (which translates loosely to 'Anchorage of Joy') is fully prepared to offer every form of entertainment to the world's sailors. The vaudeville acts at the Hansa-Theater are bright and clever (and language is no barrier). The Kunsthalle (art museum) boasts an outstanding collection of 16th- and 20th-century masterpieces, and the Renaissance Rathaus (city hall) sits atop some 4,000 piles driven into marshy ground proving that the engineers of Hamburg have been skilled and imaginative for centuries.

Bergen, Norway
Stunningly beautiful Bergen is the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life, and is also the gateway to Norway’s fjords. Since King Olav Kyrre founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all over the world. The city's history has been marked by numerous great fires, and what remains of the Bryggen, its old inner harbor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the colorful setting for one of Norway’s most popular postcard views.

Geiranger, Norway
Each of Norway's fjords has its own special attraction, but one of the most outstanding is without doubt the Geirangerfjord. Breathtaking waterfalls with names like 'The Seven Sisters' and 'The Suitor' course down steep, opposing cliffs which loom over the deep, narrow waterway. At the head of the fjord lies the charming village of Geiranger. Its inhabitants are mostly self-sustaining, building their own homes, furniture and boats, and spinning their wool during the long winter months when the area is cut off from the rest of the world. Geiranger is a popular starting point for spectacular mountain rides full of hairpin turns, stunning scenery and splendid views.

Flam, Norway
Situated in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord and surrounded by steep soaring mountains, deep valleys and majestic waterfalls, Flam occupies the sort of dramatic setting one envisions when imagining the natural beauty of Norway's fjords. In fact, the word Flam means "little place between steep mountains." It's a short walk from the port to a trip on the Flam Railway, widely known as one of the world's most incredible stretches of railroad. Take a hike through the woods, go fishing in the mountains, enjoy a leisurely bike ride, or just enjoy the local shops and culture, including Otternes Bygdetun, with 27 different buildings dating back to the 1600's.

Stavanger, Norway
The town of Stavanger is situated along the shores of the narrow and winding Lysefjord. The natural environment here is dramatic, including the white sands of Sola Beach with its gently rolling waves. A highlight of any visit to Norway is the awe-inspiring peak of the world famous Preikestolen, or ‘Pulpit Rock,’ looming 2,000’ (604 m) directly above and overlooking the fjord. A hike to the table-top summit of the peak is rewarded by spectacularly breathtaking views all round and is truly the experience of a lifetime.

Copenhagen, Denmark
Vibrant Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. Originally a Viking fishing village established in the 10th century, Copenhagen today is one the world’s most liveable cities. Its open spaces and lively street life, along with city planning favoring cyclists and pedestrians, encourage inhabitants to enjoy a lifestyle with an emphasis on community, culture and cuisine.

Copenhagen is a highly cultured city, offering highlights including the National Gallery of Denmark, which holds 240,000 works of art, the Ny Carlsberg Museum with its spectacular collection of ancient sculptures from Egypt, Rome and Greece and Rosenborg Castle, where the Danish Crown Jewels are exhibited.

Tallinn, Estonia
The capital of Estonia, Tallinn was called Reval until the 20th century. The port's ideal maritime position has always been a temptation to other nations and won it a position in the Hanseatic League. This cross-cultural history gives Tallinn a special ambience that visitors appreciate. The main attraction is the Old Town. Perched on a low hill by the shore, its fortification walls, worn cobbled streets and 13th-century buildings make it one of the purest medieval towns in all of northern Europe. With about a half-million inhabitants, Tallinn comprises almost a third of Estonia's population. Outside of town there is rich dairy land and along the coast stretch expansive sand beaches.

St. Petersburg, Russia
Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, Russia's second largest city and principal Baltic port contains a tsar's ransom in architecture, palaces and art treasures. Once the capital of Imperial Russia and playground of Russia's elite, the city's name was changed following the 1917 revolution to Petrograd, then Leningrad, before resuming its original name in 1991. St. Petersburg is patterned after Western capitals with canals reminiscent of Venice, a grand boulevard that evokes Paris and a spirit that is uniquely Russian.

Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, capital of Finland and "Daughter of the Baltic," was founded in 1550 and became the capital in 1812. The city is beautifully set on a peninsula surrounded by islands and is protected by fortifications at Suomenlinna. A modern, lively city of approximately a half million inhabitants, Helsinki's attractions include the harbor, market square and many spacious parks. The Empire Center is one of Europe's finest examples of neoclassical architecture.

Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden's capital has been called the most beautiful city in the world. This "city that floats on water" sprawls over 14 islands that are linked by over 50 bridges, which cross winding waterways in all directions. To the east is an archipelago of thousands of islands in different shapes, sizes and contours. Venice, for all its gondolas, does not approach the water traffic of Stockholm. The hundreds of small boats that line the inlets and canals testify to the passion of every family to own and sail a boat.