Jewels of Scandinavia

Land Program

DAY 1 - 16 August 2025

After flying into the Stockholm airport, you will be met in the arrivals area and transferred to the Grand Hotel or similar for a 3:00pm check-in. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.

DAY 2 - 17 August 2025

This morning, you will cruise from central Stockholm through Lake Mälaren and on to Drottningholm Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the most well-preserved, 17th-century palace in Sweden and at the same time is representative of all European architecture for that period.

The French-influenced palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder by commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. A number of royal personages have since then left their marks on the palace, which is the permanent home of the royal family. The southern wing of the palace is reserved for their use, while the rest of Drottninghom and its grounds are open to the public year-round.

After touring the palace, which is on an island in Lake Mälar, you will dine at a nearby restaurant and then transfer back to the Grand Hotel. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.

DAY 3 - 18 August 2025

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will travel inland to Sigtuna, which King Erik the Victorious founded in 970. Its main street, Stora Gatan, is considered the oldest such road in Sweden. While exploring the historical downtown, you will likely see cryptic rune stones. Remnants of Scandinavia’s Viking past, rune stones were commonly raised as memorials to deceased family members and friends.

Following lunch in Sigtuna, you will head to Uppsala, home to Scandinavia’s oldest university. As you approach the city’s 800-year-old Gothic cathedral, you will first see its twin spires, as they soar nearly 400 feet high. Inside the cathedral, be sure to notice the 14th-century murals depicting the legend of Saint Eric IX, the patron saint of Sweden. A medieval king and a devout Christian, he was slain by his rivals in 1160.

Upon returning to Stockholm, you will spend the remainder of the day at leisure with dinner on your own.

DAY 4 - 19 August 2025

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will browse ABBA The Museum, an interactive attraction completely dedicated to the Swedish pop band ABBA. Many of the items on display are from the group’s private collection, including their costumes, gold records and plenty of memorabilia. Using the supplied audio guides, you can hear the band tell stories of their rise to stardom and their most memorable concerts.

ABBA fan or not, this museum has something for everyone.

The Vasa Museum offers an entirely different experience, as it is home to the warship Vasa. It languished at the bottom of the bay for 333 years before being salvaged almost fully intact and preserved at the museum. Besides viewing this namesake ship, you may browse exhibits that showcase the shipyard that built it, the challenges of life on board and the invaluable role women played in the ship’s construction.

Afterwards, you will transfer to the pier and embark on your cruise.