Cruise the Baltic with the Experts

Before I went to the Baltics and Scandinavia for the first time, I had very little desire to visit that region. My attentions were focused further south, on countries like Greece and Italy.  But, as anyone who has visited Scandinavia and the Baltics before will tell you, the region will hold you in its grasp long after you leave, beckoning you to return.

Baltic cruises offer an amazing number of ports in a single voyage, like historic Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

I have now travelled to Northern European countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany multiple times – and I can’t get enough of them. Perhaps that’s why I’m so excited that this summer, my friends at Vancouver-based Cruise Experts Travel have a fantastic sailing that highlights the best of the Baltics, departing roundtrip from Amsterdam aboard the newly-refurbished Celebrity Constellation.

Celebrity Infinity, sister-ship to Celebrity Constellation. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Aboard the Celebrity Constellation, guests will sail to some of the Baltic’s most spectacular ports, including the seaside town of Warnemunde, Germany, perhaps better known as the gateway to Berlin.

Departing Warnemunde, Germany wilth a full send-off! Photo © Aaron Saunders

There are also stops in the gorgeous city of Stockholm, Sweden, where Constellation docks within walking distance of the historic Gamla Stan district. Also noteworthy are calls on Copenhagen, Denmark, with its famous Tivoli Gardens; and and the starkly beautiful Finnish city of Helsinki.

The full itinerary:

Rain or shine, Amsterdam is a beautiful city to explore! Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

There’s also good reason to want to sail aboard the Celebrity Constellation. Originally constructed in 2002, the ship was “Solsticized” in 2010 to give her features pioneered aboard Celebrity’s popular Celebrity Solstice. This included a top-to-bottom refit program that not only improved soft furnishings aboard Constellation, but also gave her a bevy of new features, like the Tuscan Grille Specialty Restaurant; an ice-topped Martini Bar; and new amenities in every stateroom like flat-panel televisions.

The fantastic Norrmalm district lies just north of Gamla Stan in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Celebrity has deployed Constellation to the Baltic for the past few years now, and it’s easy to see why this comfortable ship is more popular than ever following these modern enhancements. But the reason she’s done so well on this run has a lot to do with the itinerary Celebrity has crafted; made even better by the option to extend your voyage pre-or-post cruise in Amsterdam.

For those exploring the Baltic for the first time, or for those returning on their second, third, or even tenth voyage, this is an itnerary that’s not to be missed.

The sun sets onboard Celebrity’s Constellation. Photo © Aaron Saunders

For more information on this exclusive cruise-tour package offered in conjunction with Celebrity Cruises, be sure to pay a visit to the Cruise Experts Travel website.