Fairytale Castles & Old Towns of the Baltic - 27 June 2025

27 June 2025 Departing Rosyth

29 June 2025 Kiel Canal Transit

Connecting the North Sea at the mouth of the Elbe River to the Baltic Sea at Holtenau, the Kiel Canal is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Slicing a man-made path through the German countryside, on average this 61-mile long marvel of engineering allows vessels to avoid 250 nautical miles of sea sailing. Sailing slowly along the canal presents an opportunity to take in lush green countryside and a collection of interesting villages and towns flanking the still waters.

30 June 2025 Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with its monarchy dating back as far as the 8th century, and home to the impressive Royal Family’s Amalienborg Palace and Christianborg Palace. The Danish crown jewels are housed at Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by beautiful gardens. The diminutive Little Mermaid Statue, based on Hans Chrisitan Andersen’s 1836 story, sits on the shoreline looking for her prince; while the Nyhavn District reveals canals lined with historic wooden ships and brightly coloured townhouses.

1 July 2025 Warnemünde, Germany

Founded in the 13th century, the former fishing village of Warnemünde is located along the Baltic Sea. With a wide promenade that runs parallel to the sea, it leads to the well-known lighthouse where a laser and light show is celebrated on each New Year’s Day. The Alter Strom canal is full of colourful boats and surrounded with lively restaurants, and close by is Alexandrinenstraße, a quaint street lined with small houses and tall trees.

3 July 2025 Riga, Latvia

Home to over 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Riga is located at the mouth of the River Daugava, and boasts a unique blend of centuries-old churches, castles and traditional wooden buildings with modern structures. In the pedestrianised Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the bustling Livu Square, complemented by quaint restaurants and bars, selling the intriguingly named Latvian drink, Black Balsam.

4 July 2025 Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, is unquestionably one of Europe's most magical capitals. This ancient Hanseatic city is justifiably proud of its beautiful churches, solid limestone houses and well-preserved cobbled streets. Toompea Hill, with its medieval houses and alleyways, is the oldest part, and at its foot, substantial remains of the city wall can still be seen, surrounded by well-maintained parks. The medieval town hall is one of the best preserved in northern Europe, and the weatherclock, Gamle Toomas, is an enduring symbol of Tallinn. Other notable architecture includes the ornate, 19th-century St. Alexander Nevskij Cathedral and The Kadriorg’s Castle, built by Peter the Great.

7 July 2025 Klaipeda, Lithuania

Lithuania’s only port city, Klaipeda, has maritime connections at its heart, with an abundance of museums dedicated to seafaring tales, as well as hosting a biennial tall ships regatta. The city changed significantly after the Second World War, but still has a collection of monuments and half-timbered houses from before this time, which contrast with the Curonian Spit National Park, established in 1991 to protect its unique ecosystems.

10 July 2025 Return to Rosyth, Scotland