Peregrine Travel Centre

A World Affairs Cruise in the Baltic Joined by Lech Walesa

A World Affairs Cruise in the Baltic Joined by Lech Walesa

From AUD $17,450

Description

The Baltic Sea has been a thoroughfare of trade since the days of the Vikings. And for nearly as long, it has been a crucial arena of struggles for dominance in Europe—an important element in the strategic thinking of great powers from the Reformation and the Thirty Years War to World War II and the Cold War. Today, it is once again at the center of current events as Sweden and Finland join NATO after decades of neutrality and as the Baltic States are newly anxious about their independence.
As we visit the great cities that ring the shores of the Baltic, we will explore this history in a series of lectures and discussions with a decorated career foreign service officer and an award-winning journalist, and we will have the privilege of a specially arranged, exclusive presentation and discussion with former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Lech Wałęsa while in Gdansk.
But these historic cities of the Baltic, of course, offer so much more. They are great cosmopolitan centers with vibrant cultures and a legacy of art and architecture that reflects a history rich in tradition. Sailing from Stockholm, whose lively old town showcases cobblestone streets lined with 17th- and 18th-century buildings, Le Lapérouse calls first in Helsinki. Internationally recognized for its striking Art Nouveau architecture, Finland’s capital is also home to the UNESCO Heritage Site of Suomenlinna, a massive military installation that protected the city during the 18th and 19th centuries.
During the next two days of the voyage, you encounter two more UNESCO designated sites. Tallinn’s Old Town, a prominent trading center in the 13th century, retains remarkably well-preserved ramparts, public buildings, merchant houses, and warehouses. And on Gotland—the largest island in the Baltic Sea and the site of Viking treasure—the beautifully preserved medieval town of Visby, also once a stronghold for the Hanseatic League, invites exploration of both of these legacies.
Gdansk, whose shipyard served as the birthplace of the Solidarity Trade Union in 1980, is where we meet with former President Lech Wałęsa and hear the story of the wave of dissent that arose from the Solidarity movement and led to Polish independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The Old Town, lovingly restored after the ravages of WWII, is a reminder of the town’s proud 1000-year-old history of ship-building.
The Danish Island of Bornholm is known throughout the Baltic region for its lush farmland and rich herring fisheries and for the ruins of the medieval fortress of Hammershus and four well-preserved Nordic round churches. And the Danish capital of Copenhagen, a thoroughly modern and sophisticated city, is also proud to display its 800 years of royal history in Christiansborg Palace, which houses the Danish Parliament, and Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Queen.
Le Lapérouse’s last port of call is the lively Swedish harbor town of Gothenburg, whose stunning Museum of Fine Arts includes works by Carl Larsson, Edvard Munch, Anders Zorn, Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, and Monet. Your voyage comes to an end in Fredrikstad, a port city near the mouth of Oslo’s Oslofjord.

Trip Name
A World Affairs Cruise in the Baltic Joined by Lech Walesa
Days
10
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Length: 127 metres Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. 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. Through its two restaurants, Le Lapérouse will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. 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. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Lapérouse 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.