Hidden Baltic Treasures & Kiel Canal Cruise

• Day One – Depart from Poole

  Depart: 2030hrs

  Make your way to Poole and board Astoria before she sets sail in the afternoon.

• Day Two – At sea

  Enjoy a first restful day at sea, using the time to discover the ship's facilities and getting to know your fellow passengers.

• Day Three – Transit Kiel Canal

  Astoria arrives in Brunsbuttel this morning to begin her transit of the Kiel Canal.

• Day Four – Wismar, Germany

  Arrive: 0800hrs
  Depart: 1800hrs

  The German city of Wismar is a stunning, UNESCO-listed former Hanseatic port-city. Head out to explore the pretty streets lined with gabled buildings. See the beautifully restored altstadt (old town), vast Markt square and the towering, red-brick Gothic cathedral, and look out for the Swedish Heads - colourful, moustachioed busts that are dotted around the city to symbolise its annexation by Sweden in the 17th Century.

• Day Five – Ronne, Denmark

  Arrive: 0800hrs
  Depart: 1600hrs

  Today we visit the pretty port-town of Ronne, situated on the Danish island of Bornholm. This attractive town is a hugely popular destination for Scandinavian visitors. Discover St Torv market and the half-timbered and newer brick-built houses, or visit the fascinating museum that showcases the island’s history of grandfather-clock-making.

• Day Six – Visby, Sweden

  Arrive: 0900hrs
  Depart: 1600hrs

  Astoria's second Baltic island call is at the Swedish island of Gotland. Discover its UNESCO-listed capital, Visby, a medieval treasure trove of wooden cottages, cobbled streets and Gothic churches, or head out of the town to explore a pristine land of tranquil countryside and fine beaches.

• Day Seven – Klaipeda, Lithuania

  Arrive: 0800hrs
  Depart: 1900hrs

  Today Astoria reaches Klaipeda, Lithuania's third-largest city. Discover its unspoilt old town of half-timbered houses, cafes and gift shops, or choose to venture further afield to see the vast sand dunes of the Curonian Spit National Park.

• Day Eight – Gdansk, Poland

  Arrive: 0600hrs
  Depart: 2000hrs

  Step ashore in Gdansk, one of New Europe’s most sparkling jewels, to see its medieval centre and its bustling waterfront. See towering, red-brick St Mary’s Church and explore the shops and cafes along colourful Long Market.

• Day Nine – At sea

  Relax on board as Astoria heads west towards Denmark.

• Day 10 – Fredericia, Denmark

  Arrive: 0600hrs
  Depart: 1800hrs

  Fredericia is a charming fortress-city dominated by the green-clad zig-zag of its ramparts, which now make up one of the biggest urban parks in Denmark. Step ashore to explore this elegant, typically Danish place, and perhaps cross the Little Belt Bridge between the mainland and the island of Funen to visit Hans Christian Andersen’s lovely birthplace, Odense.

• Day 11 – Day at Sea and Kiel Canal Transit

  Astoria arrives in Holtenau to begin her evening transit of the Kiel Canal.

• Day 12 – Ijmuiden, Netherlands

  Arrive: 0930hrs
  Depart: 1500hrs

  This morning, Astoria docks in Ijmuiden, and you’ll be able to head into nearby Haarlem to explore. Here, the Gothic spire of the Grote Kerk (once the Catholic cathedral of St Bavo) watches over the patterned cobbles of the Grote Markt, and the surrounding streets are lined with medieval buildings. Visit the Frans Hals Museum, which houses a collection of over 760 paintings by Dutch artists from the 15th to 20th centuries.

• Day 13 – Arrive back at Poole

  Arrive: 1200hrs

  Arrive back in Poole, and bid farewell to the crew and your fellow travellers.

Days marked above with an anchor include ports where you will be transferred to shore by landing boat. These ports may be inaccessible for customers with mobility difficulties as a result. Any days not listed will be spent at sea.

• Passport requirements
  British Citizens will need a full, 10-year passport to travel on this cruise. Since some countries require visitors to be valid for at least six months after the return date of the cruise we recommend that all customers ensure that this is the case. Holders of non-British passports should check with the relevant embassies to see if any requirements and restrictions exist for any countries visited during the cruise.
• Foreign Office travel advice
  Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice  to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.