International Destinations

Exploring Northern Europe with Celebrity Cruises

By Steve and Caroline Lake

Voted the World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line by Conde Nast Traveler for six years in a row, Celebrity Century Cruises thinks of everything possible to provide excellent service and make every passenger feel special.

The award winning cuisine is nothing less than superb. No wonder they have so many repeat guests that say it is their favourite cruise line.

The staterooms and suites are lovely and the ambience is enhanced by the conveniences. Large closets and storage areas tucked away in every possible corner make it easy to unpack quickly, relax and enjoy.

The veranda staterooms are located in the middle of the ship where less motion is felt. Sitting on the veranda on a warm day at sea with the air so fresh is a respite from the hectic lives most people lead.

Celebrity Cruise Lines is a cut above. They offer excellent service in their elegant dining room, casual dining, 24-hour room service and specialty restaurants at an additional cost. Celebrity provides excellent entertainment on their ships and many varied activities.

There are many different itineraries offered by Celebrity. One of the most popular is a 12-night Northern European cruise departing from Amsterdam with stops in Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Copenhagen.

Amsterdam is a fascinating city and if time allows, plan to spend at least a couple of days there, preferably before the cruise starts as flight schedules these days are not very reliable.

For an introduction to the city, take a canal boat tour. The great waterways were built 400 years ago and take you through the heart of the city. View the old cobblestone streets, majestic buildings and outdoor cafes.

Next, take a walk along the streets to get a glimpse of the famous Red Light District, and the legal, government-controlled “coffee shops,” where marijuana is sold and consumed. Forty per cent of Amsterdam’s traffic is by bicycle. If you prefer riding to walking, bicycle rentals are available.

Buy an I amsterdam card for reduced rates for canal rides, public transportation, museums, and discounts in restaurants and stores. The Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum (Rembrandt) are incomparable.

Late afternoon is the best time to visit the Anne Frank Museum as lines can be quite long earlier in the day. This haunting museum will stay in your memory forever.

Once you embark on the cruise there two glorious days at sea before the first port, Stockholm.

Considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the Swedish capital is built on 14 islands where a lake meets the sea. This is a very contemporary city yet very old. The perfectly preserved old part of the town known as Gamla Stan was built in the 12th century.

After the day in Stockholm the ship leaves for Helsinki. One of the highly recommended tours here is a wonderful trip through the verdant green countryside of Finland to a horse farm where three generations of one family each have their homes.

The magnificent horses are shown, usually by a granddaughter, in an arena built for that purpose.

Then you go into the matriarch’s home where the women have cooked a hearty lunch. It is wonderful to sit in the ancestral dining room and enjoy a relaxed home cooked meal.

There is also a one-hour tour of Porvoo, Finland’s second oldest town, founded in 1347, before the farm visit.

The next morning finds you across the Baltic Sea to St. Petersburg, Russia for two full days of splendour. The wonders of this great city are overwhelming. Take the tours offered by the cruise line, as this is not a city in which to wander about on your own and the cruise ship tours are fabulous.

The Winter Palace of the Tsars houses the Hermitage Museum, one of the most renowned museums in the world. It rivals the Louvre in Paris. The museum contains more than three million works of art. The Winter Palace of the Tsars of Russia presents a rich cultural and political statement, the background for the 1905 and 1917 revolutions in Russia.

Catherine the Great’s Summer Palace is opulent beyond belief. There are rooms after rooms of pure gold leaf. The Grand Hall is huge and seems even bigger because of the large mirrors throughout the room.

Officially opened in 1723, the Peterhof was the summer home of Peter the Great, and his favourite residence.

The magnificent gardens are literally filled with fountains of every shape and are beautiful beyond belief, like something out of a dream. The fountains are fed by a gravity system and to this day are not motorized.

Well worth it is a tour of the Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg, which was consecrated in 1893 and is the second largest shul in Europe.

The Church on Spilled Blood is a must-see work of art. Covered outside and inside by startling mosaics, the work on the church took 24 years to complete.

St. Petersburg is undoubtedly the highlight of this trip. Don’t miss a moment of what the fantastic shore excursions have to offer. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is lovely.

The vibrantly coloured ancient houses of Old Town are now beautiful hotels and shops. Cobblestone streets and narrow alleys add to its charm.

Walk the main square and alleyways to discover chocolate shops, restaurants and all sorts of unique places. You can also wander into the lobby of the Three Sisters Hotel, the place where Queen Elizabeth stayed on her visit to Tallinn.

Buy a bag of delicious sugared almonds from the “monks” at stands around town square. Many of the stores sell replicas in miniature of the colourful houses in old town, which make great inexpensive souvenirs or gifts.

After a relaxing day at sea, Copenhagen will be the next stop. The cruise ship pier is close enough to walk to the city centre. However, first stop to see the Little Mermaid at Langelinie pier. She has looked over the waterfront for many years and is the symbol that you have arrived at this sophisticated city.

The modern architecture of the city and its historic moated fort offer quite a contrast. The royal residence, Amalienborg, is home to the world’s oldest monarchy. Here you can watch the changing of the guard every day at noon.

Be sure to visit Rosenborg Castle where the crown jewels are on display. Copenhagen is not only a great walking city but also a great shopping city. It is known throughout the world as a premier design centre, and Danish furniture, china and glass are outstanding.

After a day at sea on Celebrity Cruise Line, it will seem all too soon to arrive back in Amsterdam. However, the glorious memories of this spectacular voyage will last a lifetime.

Celebrity Cruise Line
www.celebritycruises.com
1-800-647-2251

Amsterdam
www.amsterdam.com