Baltic Sea Cruise on the Regal Princess
The Baltic Sea is particularly calm and tranquil, making it wonderful for cruising because the chances of a storm or seasickness, even for the most sensitive travelers, are very low. Therefore, for anyone hesitant or unsure if cruising suits them—this is one of the most successful itineraries for trying a first cruise.
A cruise in the Baltic Sea is also very scenic, including sailing under soaring bridges, passing through archipelagos of islands, and making impressive entries into beautiful port cities.
Note: Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, Baltic Sea itineraries do not include Russia; instead, they integrate destinations in Scandinavia or Germany.
Copenhagen - Departure Point for the Cruise:
Most passengers embark and disembark the ship in Copenhagen, Denmark.
It is also possible to start and end the cruise at the port of Warnemünde or at the port of St. Petersburg. It is recommended for passengers starting in Copenhagen to dedicate at least two days before or after the cruise to Copenhagen itself.
You can read about Copenhagen in the article "Recommended Attractions and Tours in Copenhagen".
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen:
Accommodations in Copenhagen
Hilton Copenhagen Airport hotel
A 5-star hotel considered the finest hotel at Copenhagen Airport, located directly inside the airport and connected to Terminal 3 by a covered pedestrian bridge. Especially suitable for those arriving late on the evening before the cruise. The hotel features a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, and even rental bicycles.
Park Inn by Radisson Copenhagen Airport
A 3-star hotel located a 5-minute drive from the airport and 10 minutes from the city center. Situated a 2-minute walk from the metro station. The hotel includes an indoor pool, sauna, fitness room, free Wi-Fi, and free parking.
A luxury 5-star boutique hotel with 17 rooms, located inside Tivoli Gardens in the most central location in the city.
Best Western Hotel Hebron
A 3-star hotel with 99 rooms in a central location just a few minutes' walk from Tivoli Gardens and City Hall. Internet access and breakfast are included in the room price.
Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen
A great 4-star apartment hotel with 128 rooms. Located near the port, close to the waterfront, adjacent to the ferry terminal, and 2-3 stops from the city center. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and gym.
General Information
This is primarily a cruise for lovers of cities, castles, preserved buildings, pedestrian zones, and history, and less suited for lovers of nature, wildlife, and active sports vacations.
It is a cruise less suited for families with young children, both in terms of destinations, activities, and tours, and in terms of onboard ship amenities. Most ships are less family-oriented, and even when sailing on a ship packed with family facilities such as the "Norwegian Getaway" which features a climbing wall, zip lines, and waterslides, weather conditions often prevent enjoying these facilities.
A Baltic Sea cruise can be described as "Seven Countries in Ten Days," just like the organized tours of the past that hopped from country to country on one intensive trip. But the big, wonderful difference with cruises is that you do not need to switch hotels every day, nor sit for hours upon hours on a bus during an exhausting drive from place to place. On a cruise, you arrive in the morning at an impressive port city in one country, explore it until evening, take in magical and impressive scenery during arrival and/or departure from port, enjoy entertainment in the evening, eat great food, go to sleep in a pampering cabin, and wake up the next day arriving in another city in another country. This is the most convenient, safe, and pleasant way to tour the major port cities along the Baltic Sea coast.
Peterhof Gardens - St. Petersburg:
A cruise to the Baltic Sea is considered one of the more expensive cruise itineraries in Europe. The primary reason is the short season during which these cruises operate: from the beginning of May until the end of August. In addition, ships call at many ports, many of them in expensive Scandinavia, where port taxes are also higher than in other destinations. Nevertheless, it is still much cheaper to cruise in expensive destinations such as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and of course Norway (which is not on the Baltic Sea but is included in some itineraries) than to stay in hotels, rent a car, and dine out in these pricey countries.
Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn:
Baltic Sea cruise itineraries usually range between 7 and 14 nights. Shorter itineraries always include Copenhagen in Denmark, Stockholm in Sweden, Tallinn in Estonia, and St. Petersburg in Russia. Some of the shorter itineraries also include Helsinki in Finland or one of the northern German ports. Longer itineraries also incorporate Riga in Latvia and/or Oslo in Norway or Gothenburg in Sweden.
Departure ports are quite diverse and mainly include large Scandinavian port cities such as Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm (which also serve as cruise destinations), as well as Warnemünde in northern Germany and St. Petersburg in Russia.
On longer sailings of ten days or more, departure ports also include destinations further from the Baltic Sea such as Southampton in England and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The weather in these northern countries can be very unpredictable. Always be prepared for rain and winter-like cold as seen in our midwinter in Israel. That way, you will only be pleasantly surprised if blessed with sunny, warm days. Beautiful days are certainly not lacking, but it is difficult to predict the weather more than a day in advance, and sometimes a clear, beautiful day can quickly turn into heavy rain or even hail, returning to summer conditions after an hour or two.
Daylight hours, especially on June–July sailings, are exceptionally long, and the late, beautiful sunsets provide extra hours of enjoying magical views while sailing through calm, crystal-clear coastal waters past cities, towns, and islands.
The cruise described in this article lasted 11 nights and was conducted aboard the Regal Princess of the excellent Princess Cruises, the cruise line of the original "Love Boat." She weighs 141,000 tons with a maximum passenger capacity of 3,600 across 1,780 staterooms, including 1,070 balcony staterooms, 314 mini-suites, and 36 suites. A crew of 1,346 members (half of whom are waiters, chefs, and bartenders) attend to all passengers' needs, providing service that exceeds 5 stars!
A detailed description of its amenities and attractions can be read at length in the article I wrote about its sister ship, the "Royal Princess":
A 10-Night Caribbean Cruise on the Royal Princess. Princess Cruises is renowned for its wonderful cuisine and incredible desserts, especially the chocolate creations by world-renowned chocolatier Norman Love and its soufflés. The ship features an excellent pizzeria, and you must not miss the "Four O'Clock Tea" experience, which goes far beyond just delicious food...
The production shows on board are high-quality, and the entertainment lineup is rich and successful. Don't miss the Beatles tribute show!
"Beatles" show on the ship:
Other excellent ships sailing in the Baltic Sea belong to cruise lines such as Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Holland America.
Cruise Itinerary
In addition to Copenhagen, the cruise includes 6 different ports across six different countries, with the ship spending two days in one of them—St. Petersburg. Below is the itinerary breakdown, including recommendations for tours and guided excursions in each port.
Oslo
The first city reached the day after departing Copenhagen is Oslo, the capital of Norway. The cruise port is located right in the heart of the city.
The ship in the Port of Oslo:
The Port of Oslo is situated at the head of the "Oslofjord." From the ship's deck, you can admire the scenic views passing by as the ship departs the port, cruising past fishing villages, inlets, and more. Detailed information on attractions, recommended tours, and hotels in the city can be found in the article: A Trip to Oslo.
Sea Day
The second day of the cruise is a sea day—one of only three sea days throughout the cruise. Take advantage of it to get acquainted with the ship and its facilities, to relax, and to enjoy entertainment. On this day, you will sail beneath one of the largest and most impressive bridges connecting the various islands of Denmark—the Storebæltsbroen (Great Belt Bridge)—an impressive experience where the ship almost "scrapes" the underside of the bridge on its southbound passage.
Warnemünde
On the third day, the ship arrives in northern Germany at the port of Warnemünde. The port is located right next to the town's train station and within a short walking distance of its center. It is a charming town, traversed by a canal with bridges over it, featuring picturesque alleys lined with shops, galleries, street musicians, and market stalls, alongside a long, sandy beach. Recommendations for touring this port are in the article: A Trip to Warnemünde, Rostock, and Surroundings.
Sea Day
The fourth day of the cruise is another sea day on board. Use it to recharge your batteries, because five consecutive port days follow right after.
Tallinn
The fifth day of the cruise is entirely dedicated to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia—a charming and fascinating city. It is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, with a population under half a million people and a rich, eventful history. It was selected by the European Union as the European Capital of Culture in 2011.
Details about Tallinn are available in the article: Recommended Tours in Tallinn, Capital of Estonia.
Saint Petersburg
The very next day, on day six of the cruise, the ship arrives in St. Petersburg, Russia, and stays for nearly two days, until the late afternoon of day seven.
Most cruise ships dock in the city for two days because it is a grand city abundant in architecture, historic sites, and gardens that make it impossible to see the best of it in a single day. St. Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia with a population of approximately five million residents. It is renowned as the "Jewel in the Russian Crown" thanks to its preserved collection of impressive Tsarist-era buildings, and is considered the "Cultural Capital" of Russia. Details on the city are provided in the article:
Recommended Attractions and Tours for a Trip in St. Petersburg.
Helsinki
On the eighth day, the ship arrives in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. It is a lovely port city situated in southern Finland across several peninsulas on the Gulf of Finland, home to around 630,000 residents. The city blends modern, innovative architecture with an abundance of parks and gardens. Helsinki was named World Design Capital for the year 2012.
More information is available in the article: A Trip to Helsinki and Surroundings.
Stockholm
On the ninth day of the cruise, the ship arrives in Stockholm. The port stay is relatively short—only a few hours—in order to allow passengers to enjoy a magical and scenic afternoon and evening cruise through the Stockholm archipelago, which consists of 24,000 islands of all sizes, some inhabited and all lush and green. Additional information and recommendations can be found in the article: A Trip to Stockholm.
Sea Day
The tenth day is the final sea day, providing a last chance to enjoy the pampering ship, its amenities, shows, and restaurants. On this day, you will once again pass beneath the impressive Storebæltsbroen bridge.
On the morning of the 11th day, you will wake up in the beautiful port of Copenhagen. You will bid farewell to the ship and the wonderful crew that took care of pampering, entertaining, and dining you throughout the entire cruise, and after a final breakfast, you will head out for a tour in Copenhagen or directly to the airport. This is the time to start planning your next cruise...
Copenhagen:
A short video about this Baltic Sea cruise: