Saint Petersburg and Baltic Pearls with Ponant

Description

Explore the natural sites and cities steeped in history of the Baltic Sea during this all-new 12-day cruise aboard Le Jacques-Cartier.

Your journey will start in the former capital of the tsars, Saint Petersburg. Architectural gems in the Baroque style, churches with domes so elaborate they seem otherworldly, palaces, gardens, canals, and the famous “perspectives” that criss-cross the city: at each street corner of St Petersburg, a new theatrical decor is revealed.

You will visit Tallinn and Visby, emblematic cities of the Hanseatic League, the large trading network that dominated the Baltic Sea for several centuries. Listed as UNESCO Heritage Sites, these once opulent cities still have remarkably well-preserved ramparts, public buildings, merchant houses and warehouses.

Your ship will also call at Helsinki. Located on a peninsula surrounded by almost 300 islands, the verdant capital of Finland will charm you with its Art Nouveau architecture.

You will make an original port of call in Ventspils. This dynamic harbour town is a city rich in history and a renowned Baltic Sea resort.

You will also discover Riga, capital of Latvia. A unique blend of different architectural styles, the old town will open itself up to you like the pages of a history book.

Then Le Jacques-Cartier will set sail to Stockholm, your disembarkation port.

Trip Name

Saint Petersburg and Baltic Pearls with Ponant

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2018/2019 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the sixth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Jacques Cartier will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Jacques Cartier has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Days 1 - 3 SAINT PETERSBURG

Founded in 1703 by Tzar Peter the Great, Saint Petersburg has kept its original aura and is still one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Bathed by the waters of the Neva, the “Venice of the North” boasts an impressive wealth of historic and artistic features. From the emblematic Nevsky Propect, the city’s main thoroughfare, exploring the city by foot is a pleasure. With its baroque cathedrals, imperial palaces, suspended bridges, theatres and museums, Saint Petersburg is a jewel of a city.

Day 2 - Day 4 TALLINN

Opening onto the Baltic sea, to the far north of Estonia, the town of Tallin will win you over with the picturesque charm of its architecture. You can meander through its little streets in the heart of the medieval centre where its gothic town hall has been standing since 1404. The Kiek in de Kök tower, the Orthodox Alexander Nevski cathedral, or Toompea castle give visitors a taste of this town’s rich past. The city was particularly active during the medieval period, as is demonstrated by the very beautiful monuments from this period that are still visible. Don't hesitate to lose yourself in the heart of Tallinn, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 3 - Day 5 HELSINKI

Seated in the southern peninsula of Finland, Helsinki offers the buzz of a cosmopolitan city that has opted for both elegance and beauty. Explore its historical centre where the soft hues of neoclassical buildings are juxtaposed with spectacular modern constructions. The bustling Kallio district is teeming with boutiques and restaurants where you can taste some local specialities like graavilohi - a sweet, marinated, aromatic salmon dish. Keskuspuisto park, a stone’s throw from the centre, is a good place to sit and unwind.

Day 4 - Day 6 VENTSPILS

On the shores of the Baltic Sea, Ventspils is one of the oldest ports in Latvia. The town, whose name in Latvian means “the castle on the Venta” for the river that crosses it, has occupied a strategic position throughout its history thanks to its port, free of ice all year round. It was a renowned trading post of the Hanseatic League in the 16th century and an important industrial port during the Soviet period. Built around its 13th-century fortress, now a history museum, Ventspils has a lovely old town centre and its architectural heritage can be discovered wandering its pretty little paved streets. The pleasant cultural city is also a seaside resort, renowned for its superb beach and wooded parks.

Day 5 - Day 7 RIGA

At the place where East meets West on the edge of the Baltic Sea, Riga, the capital of Latvia, will charm you with its contrasts. Although it is one of the oldest cities in the Baltic states, with a unique atmosphere that is imbued with the memory of its medieval past, Riga is also tangibly dynamic and modern. As you stroll through its old town, you will enjoy its exceptional architecture, its cathedrals, the remains of old walls and the typical narrow streets. Nicknamed “the Paris of the North” in the 1930s, this cosmopolitan city boasts a rich heritage.

Day 6 - Day 8 VISBY, GOTLAND

This old Hanseatic city lies to the west coast of Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic sea. Pass through the spectacular Visby fortifications and visit the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll discover the grand Visby homes of rich merchants as well as the lovely low wooden houses in the little cobbled streets. Don’t miss Saint Mary’s cathedral with its octagonal steeples, as well as Powder tower along the fortifications. Make sure you stop over in one of the rose-adorned cafés; indeed roses abound in this town where you can taste one of the island’s specialities, namely saffron pancakes with red fruit.

Day 7 - Days 9 - 10 STOCKHOLM

The capital of Sweden occupies an archipelago in the east of the country at the junction of Mälar Lake and the Baltic sea. In Gamla stan, meaning “old town” in Swedish, you can stroll at your leisure in picturesque medieval streets until you reach the majestic Royal Palace. On the green island of Djurgården, you can visit several very different kinds of cultural centres: the Vasa museum is dedicated to a 17th century three-mast, the ecomuseum of Skansen presents traditional customs, and the ABBA museum is dedicated to the legendary pop group. For a fantastic, all-encompassing view of Stockholm, you can take a ride in SkyView, a glass-encased sphere gondola that takes you to the top of the world’s largest building, the Ericsson Globe, a Stockholm landmark.

Day 8 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

A all-new cruise discovering the legendary cities of the Hanseatic League.
The discovery of 5 Northern European countries on the same cruise: Russia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic centre of Saint Petersburg and its many monuments, the old town of Tallinn, from Helsinki, the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, the Hanseatic town of Visby, the historical centre of Riga.
2 full days and 2 overnights in the colourful and opulent city of Saint-Petersburg, where the atmosphere is still rich with the splendour of the Tsars and the traces of the Russian Enlightenment.
An original port of call in Ventspils, a renowned seaside resort on the Baltic Sea.