Best of the Baltic 2013

 

 

Round trip from Stockholm with stops in Sweden, Estonia, Russia, and Finland.

There was a time when a Viking was more than a professional football player; when the sighting of dragon-prowed long boat struck fear into the heart of anyone unlucky enough to see one. For this Bare Necessities cruise we follow their route through the fiords of Finland with a natural beauty that will take your breath away.

Listen carefully and you may still hear the cadence of their oars as the ghosts of cruises past are so imaginable in this the land of perhaps the greatest seafarers ever to hoist a sail.

Naturally,

The Staff Of Bare Necessities

The Star Flyer is a true clipper ship reflecting the proud heritage in every inch of her polished brass and gleaming brightwork. Step aboard this unique vessel and discover a new age of sail, where the traditions of the past are happily married to the comforts and amenities of the present day. Star Flyer is a modern cruise ship in every way, created for luxury-loving passengers who also love the traditions and romance of the legendary era of sailing ships. Star Flyer is 360 feet long and carries just 170 guests in pampered comfort.

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Itinerary

June 15 – 25, 2013 

 

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
Sat, June 15	Stockholm, Sweden	-	8 PM
Sun, June 16	Visby, Sweden	3 PM	8 PM
Mon, June 17	At Sea	-	-
Tue, June 18	At Sea	-	-
Wed, June 19	St. Petersburg, Russia	8 AM	-
Thu, June 20	St. Petersburg, Russia	-	5 PM
Fri, June 21	Helsinki, Finland	2 PM	-
Sat, June 22	Helsinki, Finland	-	3 AM
Sat, June 22	Talinn, Estonia	10 AM	10 PM
Sun, June 23	Hanko, Finland	11 AM	6 PM
Mon, June 24	Mariehamn, Finland	11 AM	6 PM
Tue, June 25	Stockholm, Sweden	8 AM	-

 

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Ports of Call

Stockholm, Sweden is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated area in Scandinavia. This 700 year old city spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. You can get to just about all of Stockholm’s many wondrous sites on foot, which is the perfect way to see the city. It’s a vibrant, modern city, famous for producing sleek designs, edgy fashion and world-class nightclubs.

Visby is a locality and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County, Sweden with 22,593 inhabitants. It is the only locality with historical city status on the island of Gotland; it is arguably the best-preserved medieval city in Scandinavia and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the most notable historical remains are the 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long stone wall called Ringmuren ("the Ring Wall"), that encircles the city and the old church ruins. Although power over Gotland changed hands numerous times, the island has remained under Swedish rule since the middle of the 17th century.

Tallin is one of Europe’s oldest cities, founded in 1154, and has remained remarkably unchanged for the past 600 years. The capital of Estonia is a small city – one of the most enchanting cities in Europe with tourist areas easily explored on foot. Tallinn is a blend of modern city and medieval turrets and narrow, cobbled streets set beneath 14th century churches.  The city's old town has been astonishingly well preserved and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, it is now in better shape than ever, with the bigger roads converted into fashionable shopping streets.

Saint Petersburg is Russia's second largest city, with a population of 4.7 million perched at the eastern tip of of the Baltic Sea and the Neva River. The city was formerly known as Petrograd, and later Leningrad. This is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on earth, and virtually any building in the large historic center, threaded with canals dotted with baroque bridges, can be considered an attraction—and indeed, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a magical city, with a long list of major attractions. Its Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace of the Romanov Dynasty, is both one of the world's greatest and oldest collections of art, treasure, and antiquities, and one of its most beautiful buildings.

Helsinki, the capital of the Republic of Finland, is unique among Northern European cities. The lifestyle in the second-most northern capital city in the world is full of contrasts and activities. The archipelago that surrounds Helsinki with hundreds of tiny islands creates an idyllic environment. Over 450 years of history, several architectural layers and the impact of different periods can be clearly seen in Helsinki.The beauty of the surrounding nature blends seamlessly together with high-tech achievements, while old traditions mix with the latest contemporary trends. The city centre has many beautiful parks, and the nearby forests offer an ideal setting for peaceful and quiet walks.

Hanko, Finland is located at the tip of the Hanko peninsula on the Baltic Sea. A popular bathing resort and a manufacturing town, it is the most important winter port in Finland. Hanko is a bilingual port town and municipality on the south coast of Finland. Its current population is 9,464 with a majority being Finnish speakers and a strong minority being Swedish speakers.

Mariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland with 40% of its population living in the city. Like all of Åland, Mariehamn is unilingually Swedish-speaking and around 88% of the inhabitants speak it as their native language. The town was founded in 1861 and was named after Maria Alexandrovna, the Empress consort of Alexander II of Russia. The city is located on a peninsula, and has two important harbours, one located on the western shore and one on the eastern shore. The Western Harbour is an important international harbour with daily traffic to Sweden and mainland Finland. The Eastern Harbour features one of the largest marinas in Scandinavia.

 

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Rates

Rates are per-person and are based on double occupancy.

Deposit

A deposit of $1000 per-person is required to reserve a stateroom. The remaining balance will be due in two equal installments on August 1 and December 3, 2012.

Cancellations & Refunds

The deposit less $100 per-person cancellation fee is refundable prior to August 1, 2012. After the cancellation deadline, the cruise is non-refundable. Trip cancellation is highly recommended. Insurance should be purchased within 15 days of initial deposit for full coverage.

Taxes, Gratuities, & Other Charges

Gratuities are paid onboard and are estimated at $100 per-person. Port taxes and fees are estimated to be $385 per-person and are due 60 days prior to sailing. All fees are subject to change.

In the event of a worldwide fuel oil price increase, Star Clippers reserves the right to add a fuel surcharge to each guest's statement not to exceed $10 per-person per day.