Cultural Treasures and Scandinavian Panoramas

Description

From Edinburgh to Stockholm, PONANT brings you a brand-new 12-day cruise aboard Le Champlain, through the landscapes and cultural treasures of Scotland and Scandinavia.

On departing from Edinburgh, a city brimming with history and designated City of Literature by UNESCO, your ship will sail northward to Aberdeen. Its magnificent coast, boasting a remarkable nature reserve and majestic castles nearby, make Scotland’s third largest city, full of Gothic charm, an exceptional port of call.

You will then head for the Orkney archipelago and its windswept moorland landscape. Stromness, a small fishing port with stone houses, reveals a rich history of Vikings, merchants and sailors.

Le Champlain will then set a course for Norway, its stunning scenery and its incredible cities and towns. On the southern coast, the colourful facades of Egersund stretch out along the curve of a fjord and the town’s industrial past, centred on fishing and earthenware production, is revealed. You will then sail along the coast to Arendal, called the Venice of the North due to its canals, before heading on to Oslo. Sitting on the edge of a fjord covered in greenery, the creative, multicultural, radiant capital of Norway reflects a deep attachment to its Viking and Scandinavian roots.

The next step of your voyage will take you to Gothenburg, in Sweden. The country’s main port and labelled City of Literature by UNESCO, it can be discovered via its pretty canals, cultural treasures and emblematic districts.

Next, Copenhagen, city of art and history, the charming Danish capital will not fail to surprise you with its easy lifestyle, cultural richness and exceptional heritage.

You will set a course for the charming fishing village of Gudhjem. Located on the small Danish island of Bornholm, it is very popular among the Danes for its gentle way of life and its beautiful landscapes of rock formations.

You will return to Sweden in Karlskrona. This city, whose history is intrinsically linked to the Swedish Navy, boasts exceptional UNESCO-listed architecture that is characteristic of late-17th-century European naval cities.

Le Champlain will then cruise toward the island of Gotland and Visby, one of the major sites of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic Sea around the 13th century, before making its way to Stockholm, your disembarkation port.

Trip Name

Cultural Treasures and Scandinavian Panoramas

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Length: 127 metres Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Champlain will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Champlain has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 ROSYTH (EDINBURGH), SCOTLAND

Situated on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth opposite to Rosyth, the great city of Edinburgh has served as Scotland’s capital since the 15th century. Although no longer the largest city in the country, it remains the political, religious, and cultural focus of Scottish pride. Edinburgh Castle, in the very center of the city, is one end of the world famous Royal Mile that leads through the Old Town to the Palace of Holyrood, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a wonderful place to shop and to sample local delicacies, like haggis and the whisky for which Scotland is renowned.

Day 2 - Day 2 ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

In the Aberdeenshire region, Aberdeen is Scotland’s third most populous city and Britain’s third largest fishing port. It is known as the Granite City due to its grey-coloured granite buildings. It becomes the Silver City when the sun shines upon the building façades. You will love the charm of its many flowers, the source of yet another moniker, the Flower of Scotland. The city once prospered thanks to whale hunting, herring fishing and shipbuilding. The Tolbooth, on the corner of Union Street and King Street, is a magnificent 17th century building that is worth the detour. Today, it is a museum dedicated to the city’s history.

Day 3 - Day 3 STROMNESS, ORKNEY

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Day 4 - Day 4 EGERSUND

Like a painter’s palette, the former industrial town of Egersund unveils its colours as if to better charm its passing visitors. Its small wooden houses, among the best conserved in Norway, certainly display colourful façades that distinguish them from the other municipalities of the southern Norwegian coast, which opted for white at a time when this was a sign of wealth. Admire the façades of Strandgaten, the former main street of the town, and wander the old district of Hauen, which is now full of cafés, galleries and boutiques. Also make a detour to the Heidningeholmen Church, whose foundations date back to the 17th century, and dive into Egersund’s past.

Day 5 - Day 5 ARENDAL

This port town located on the south coast of Norway is considered to be the locality with the best climate in the entire country. Arendal was long reputed for its iron mines from which, in the 19th century, it was able to produce a particularly strong earthy iron ore.

Day 6 - Day 6 OSLO

Capital of Norway, Olso, is a green city. Its many parks and gardens make it the reputedly pleasant city it is. The 80 hectares of Vigeland sculpture parks and its 212 open air exhibitions, the Munch Museum dedicated to the life and works of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, plus the Akershus fortress which symbolises Oslo’s rich history, are both must-sees. For culture, the national gallery shelters the largest Norwegian collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures open to the public. And, for sports enthusiasts, the Holmenkollen district with its Ski museum and famous ski jump offer the most stunning, all-encompassing view of the city.

Day 7 - Day 7 GÖTEBORG (GOTHENBURG)

A lively harbour town, Göteborg is located on the west coast of Sweden, at the crossing of the Göta älv river and the bay of Cattégat. In the old Haga district, you can peruse hippy-chic fashion boutiques and bohemian cafés in the ground floors of traditional wood houses. On the majestic Gustave-Adolphe square, you’ll see elegant neoclassical buildings. Not far from here is the municipal museum dedicated to the town’s history. In addition, you will be able to sail along Göteborg’s numerous canals. As for eating, it’s the fish and shellfish which make the gastronomic reputation of this beautiful stopover.

Day 8 - Day 8 COPENHAGEN

Connected to the far eastern side of Sealand island, a few kilometres away from the Swedish coasts, Copenhagen offers you the high colour of Scandinavian capitals. You can discover the city's riches that weaves through the canal networks through the historical districts of Christiansborg and Nyhavn. Many palaces provide an apercu of Danish history. For eating, you can try out the smorrebrod, traditional danish sandwiches made with ham, cheese or smoked fish.

Day 9 - Day 9 GUDJHEM, BORNHOLM

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Day 10 - Day 10 KARLSKRONA

Discover Karlskrona on the southern coast of Sweden, between land and sea, spread over the small islands of the Blekinge archipelago. Its strategic position on the Baltic Sea made it the headquarters of the Swedish Royal Navy and its naval dockyard on the orders of King Karl XI of Sweden, in 1680. Constructed from nothing, the citadel has kept its architecture, whose coherence and conservation have today earned its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its authentic colourful wooden houses facing the sea - which is never too far away - and its rich naval history give it an exquisite and unique charm. Do not miss this visit.

Day 11 - Day 11 VISBY, GOTLAND

This old Hanseatic city lies to the west coast of Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic sea. Pass through the spectacular Visby fortifications and visit the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll discover the grand Visby homes of rich merchants as well as the lovely low wooden houses in the little cobbled streets. Don’t miss Saint Mary’s cathedral with its octagonal steeples, as well as Powder tower along the fortifications. Make sure you stop over in one of the rose-adorned cafés; indeed roses abound in this town where you can taste one of the island’s specialities, namely saffron pancakes with red fruit.

Day 12 - Day 12 STOCKHOLM

The capital of Sweden occupies an archipelago in the east of the country at the junction of Mälar Lake and the Baltic sea. In Gamla stan, meaning “old town” in Swedish, you can stroll at your leisure in picturesque medieval streets until you reach the majestic Royal Palace. On the green island of Djurgården, you can visit several very different kinds of cultural centres: the Vasa museum is dedicated to a 17th century three-mast, the ecomuseum of Skansen presents traditional customs, and the ABBA museum is dedicated to the legendary pop group. For a fantastic, all-encompassing view of Stockholm, you can take a ride in SkyView, a glass-encased sphere gondola that takes you to the top of the world’s largest building, the Ericsson Globe, a Stockholm landmark.

Day 13 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

A brand-new cruise to experience the cultural and historical heritage of the Scandinavian countries, between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
Discover four Northern European capitals on the same cruise: Edinburgh (Scotland), Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden).
UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Hanseatic town of Visby, the Naval Port of Karlskrona, Copenhagen, designated UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2023.
Three new calls in Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland, Gudhjem, a charming fishermen's village on Danish Bornholm Island, and in Karlskrona (Sweden).
Four calls in Sweden: Gothenburg, Visby on Gotland Island, Karlskrona and Stockholm.
Towns and cities surrounded by unspoiled nature and the discovery of exceptional insular landscapes: the Orkney Islands of Scotland, the Danish island of Bornholm, and the island of Gotland, off the coast of Sweden.
After your cruise, the opportunity to visit Stockholm.