Ovation, St Petersburg & Scandinavian Gems ex Stockhom to Copenhagen

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21 Night Cruise sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen aboard Seabourn Ovation.

21 Night Cruise sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen aboard Seabourn Ovation.

Seabourn Ovation, a sister-ship to the already prestigious Seabourn Encore. Seabourn Ovation represents another welcome stage in the evolution of small-ship cruising, which Seabourn pioneered and has consistently expanded and enriched. Both ships will deliver a wealth of new concepts, a fresh vision and a host of illuminating ideas to delight the world’s most discerning travelers.

Highlights of this cruise:

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.

Tallin, Estonia
Tallin, Estonia’s capital city, is located at the north-eastern extremity of Europe on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It has been hailed as the ‘New Prague’, though it is more compact and easier to get around.Tallinn’s old town is very pretty, all cobblestones, castles and church spires with an eye-catching smorgasbord of medieval and baroque architecture.

On the fringes of the old town, a new district is emerging with gleaming new hotels and offices as Estonia celebrates the EU membership it attained in 2004. Half the fun in Tallinn is just walking around the old town streets viewing the layers of history with Russian orthodox churches, Dominican monasteries, old merchant houses and medieval meeting halls. In Tallinn art and culture are taken very seriously and there is a fun filled local nightlife scene.

St Petersburg, Russia
Situated in the west, on the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg is a city of magnificent palaces and elaborate churches in grandiose Baroque and neo-classical designs. Highlights include Trezzini’s gold-spired landmark of St Peter and St Paul, the bright color, domes and gold of the Church on Spilled Blood and the carved and gilded extravaganza of St Isaac’s Cathedral. On Nevsky prospekt, St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare, the styles of three centuries, from classical to Baroque to Style Moderne, have created one of the most beautiful streets in the world.

Adding to the beauty of the buildings are the canals and rivers, which cross Nevsky prospect and have been compared to Venice. The winding waterways lead to the broad River Neva, at the heart of St Petersburg. Although the capital moved to Moscow after the revolution, St Petersburg is certainly Russia’s first city in terms of beauty. It is also the center for classical culture – from opera to ballet to music – with historic venues, such as the Mariinsky Theater.

Helskinki, 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.

Alesund, Norway
Stretching into the Borgundfjord and backed by the Sunnmoere Alps, Aalesund abounds with natural beauty. The town itself dates from the 9th century, when it was a Viking base for establishing settlements in France. Following a great fire in 1904, Aalesund was rebuilt in the popular Art Nouveau style of the time. Today, the towers, turrets and romantic facades make this one of the loveliest towns in all of Norway. The city is also the world's largest supplier of "klippfisk," or dried cod, but the main attraction by far is the scenic beauty of Aalesund's fjords and surrounding peaks, including 550-foot Mt. Aksla.

Svolvaer (Lofoten), Norway
Huddled together in what appears to be a wall of solid rock, the Lofotens are actually several islands. Their scenery, revealed when the ice disappeared from the last Ice Age, is held to be among the most dramatic in Norway. Svolvaer, located on the island of Austvaagoey, received town status in 1996, and is the Lofotens' most important city with about 4,500 residents. Dominating the town is the mountain peak called Svolvaergeita, a beacon for climbers. Fishermen flock here when the Norwegian Arctic cod enters the Vestfjord to spawn. Artists prize the picturesque setting and extraordinary light conditions.

Tromso, Norway
Many a polar expedition has begun from Tromso. The town was founded in 1794, but its roots go back to Hanseatic and, even earlier to Viking times. Situated inside the Arctic Circle on the forest-clad island of Troms, this spirited city is linked to the mainland by the spectacular Tromsobrua Bridge, built in 1960. During WWII, Tromso was one of the few places in northern Norway to escape bombing, and a number of old wood buildings still remain. At the Tromso Museum, the exhibits include an extensive display on the people of Lapland. The town also boasts both the world's northernmost university and brewery.

Storstappen Island, Norway
Tall, crags of rock standing like sentries off the coast of Arctic Norway are a signal feature of the region. In summer, the grass-thatched cliffs of these crags are inhabited by millions of nesting seabirds. The island group of Gjesvaerstappan, just off the North Cape, is an outstanding example and a designated nature reserve. To witness this overwhelming extravagance of nature is an awe-inspiring experience. Puffins, auks, razorbills and guillemots pack the crenelated ledges of the cliffs of 928-foot tall Storstappan, flying back and forth between their nests and the sea with rapid, buzz-bomb wing-beats. Higher up, white kittiwakes line the cliffs, and on smaller Staurspira, elegant, ivory-tinged gannets circle and dive from their ranked regiments. The rocks near the sea are lined with platoons of long-necked cormorants, and the sea’s surface is flocked with bobbing puffins, fulmars and gulls. Above them all, one can sometimes glimpse regal white-tailed sea eagles effortlessly circling in search of an unwary prey. The sight and sound is something no visitor will ever forget. Your Seabourn Ventures expedition team will lead Zodiac excursions around the cliffs, and interpret this astonishing abundance of natural splendor for those on deck.

Honningsvag, Norway
The perpendicular cliffs of Nordkapp, or the North Cape, mark the very top of the European continent. This ultimate destination has long drawn adventurous royalty including Oscar II, King of Norway and Sweden, who visited in 1873, and followed by the King of Siam in 1907. The North Cape is located on the island of Mageroey, a name derived from a word that means "meager." While the landscape may have a lunar appearance, it is not really so isolated. Just 21 miles away, the main town, Honningsvåg, has some 4,000 inhabitants. In summer that number swells when the Sami people and their reindeer settle on the outskirts of town.

Loen (Olden), Norway
The small village of Olden is located deep in the Nordfjord, cradled in a lush valley among snowcapped peaks. It has welcomed visitors arriving by ship since the end of the 19th century, as attested by the venerable Hotel Alexandria dating from 1884. There are some very old farms around Olden, including some believed to predate the Christian era here. Less than four miles away, the village of Loen is nestled at the base of Mt. Hoven, where a newly opened Skylift cable car can carry visitors from sea level to the mountaintop at 1,011 meters in about five minutes. There, they will enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers, and the fjords, farms and villages below. A strung cable Via Ferrata invites ambitious climbers to clip on and ascend the mountain on foot. The village is the popular gateway to the sprawling Jostedalsbreen National Park, with its system of glaciers feeding waterfalls including the Ramnefjellsfossen, whose three free-falling cascades tumble nearly 2,700 feet, making it the world’s third-highest waterfall. Mt. Skala is another popular attraction, boasting twin peaks of over 7,000 feet in altitude.

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.

Scenic Cruising Sognefjord
Threading between the many small islands scattered across its entrance, your ship enters the King of Fjords. Winding 127 miles/205 km deep into the mountainous countryside, it is the largest and deepest of Norway’s fjords. After crossing a narrow sill of shallow water (330 ft/100 m) the bottom plunges to an average depth ten times as great. Its deepest point is 4,231 feet/1308 m below sea level, although a layer of silt blankets the fjord bottom to a depth of 660 feet/200m. The glacier-carved cliffs on either side rise another 3,300 ft/1000m, and at its furthest end, the fjord carves into a range of 6,600-ft/2000m peaks cradling the Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest glacier. Its average width is 2.8 miles/4.5 km. Waterfalls tinsel down the steep walls at intervals, sparkling in the endless summer sun. Here and there, a plucky little farm clings perilously to a narrow shelf either beside the water or unbelievably perched partway up the wall, looking like child’s toy against the scale of the peaks. It is a scene that brings to mind the sonorous call of a lur – the wooden horns sounded by Vikings in these majestic fjords.

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.

Farsund, Norway
Farsund is located on the Lista Peninsula in southern Norway, which is filigreed with fjords and waterways such as the Lygdalsfjorden. It is a popular attraction for vacationers for its beaches and prolific birdlife, as well as hiking trails and historic events such as the pirate festival. The Vanse Church is one of Norway’s earliest, dating from 1037. The town was also an important part of the Atlantic Wall in WWII, with bunkers and fortifications such as the Nordberg Fortress, and nearby islands used as prisons for captured Axis soldiers. The Lista Lighthouse is a popular place to watch birds and get views over the beaches.

Skagen, Denmark
At the tip of Jutland, Skagen is a summer retreat with long stretches of beach and a luminous light that has long inspired painters.

Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark's capital is arguably one of the world's best-loved cities, and certainly the liveliest of all the Scandinavian capitals. It is a gracious and comfortable place, with a decidedly friendly, hospitable and fun-loving atmosphere. If there is such a thing as a cozy city, Copenhagen is it. From the lingering memory of the tales of Hans Christian Andersen to the colored lights of Tivoli Gardens, there is a delightful ambience that surrounds the visitor everywhere. Tidy, narrow streets are lined with tempting restaurants and cafes, and the pedestrian-only Stroget abounds with stylish shops. The spirited Copenhageners are imaginative and unconventional and exude a "do-what-you-want" philosophy that embraces and respects almost all aspects of life. Every friendly Dane you meet further illustrates the city's motto "Wonderful, wonderful, Copenhagen."