14 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Aurora.

Cruise Overview:
From your first stop in friendly Stockholm to two full days discovering dramatic St Petersburg, Aurora's 14-night cruise of the Baltic and Northern Europe is packed with striking architecture, mesmerising history and rich culture.

Stockholm, often described as the 'Venice of the North', spans 14 islands and myriad small islets and is your first stop then it's on to the stunning architecture and luscious parks of Helsinki. You'll have two whole days to fully explore all the flamboyance of St Petersburg where you'll find Catherine the Great's Palace with its breathtaking white, blue and gold façade, as well as some of Europe's greatest art in the Hermitage Museum. Next comes Tallinn, with its fascinating mix of architectural styles, before a call in the former fishing village of Warnemunde, now one of the most popular resorts on the Baltic Sea. From here you'll head to Denmark and the chance to visit captivating Copenhagen, home to the fairytale Tivoli Gardens and Kronberg Castle - the original Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Bruges with its picturesque criss-crossing canals, tempting chocolatiers and lacemakers.

About Helsinki
Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer. Exploring the fascinating sights of Helsinki, cruise passengers will discover the city is also the country's main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals.

The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago. Highlights of cruises to Helsinki also include some of the traditional Finnish building in the Senate Square and the North Harbour.

Helsinki is a compact city - 'a pocket-sized metropolis', as it was once described - so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring 'pub tram' and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront.

After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts.

About St. Petersburg
On cruises to St. Petersburg you will usually stay here overnight; after all the jewel in the Baltic's crown deserves no less, for here - on the broad banks of the River Neva and in the magnificent palaces and churches which characterise the city's skyline - you will find Russia at its most dramatic, flamboyant and captivating.
Put the Hermitage Museum right at the top of your St. Petersburg cruise sightseeing list; its magnificent buildings and palaces contain the world's most comprehensive collection of art and sculpture, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Gaugin, Rembrandt and Matisse.
Other highlights of all St. Petersburg cruises include the Yusupov Palace (where 'the mad monk' Gregori Rasputin was dramatically murdered in 1916); Catherine the Great's palace (with its breathtaking 978-foot white, gold and blue façade); St Isaac's Cathedral (which has marble walls studded with semi-precious stones); the onion-spired Church of Spilled Blood and the battleship Aurora, whose guns signalled the start of the Russian Revolution.

About Tallinn
Estonia's cruise port Tallinn is also a fascinating medieval capital. This multi-faceted jewel of a city and its architecture - a legacy of Teutonic, Polish and Russian rule - will have your eyes on stalks. From the spectacular onion domes of the Nevski Russian Orthodox Cathedral to the Baroque Toompea Castle (home of the Estonian Parliament) and the elaborate Gothic façade of the 13th century Raekoda, Europe's oldest town hall, all can be explored from our Talinn cruises.
Another highlight of a Talinn cruise is the magnificent St Mary's Cathedral, with its display of more than 100 coats of arms - but do take time out just to stroll the winding streets and cobbled squares of the city's atmospheric old town, where you will find exquisite amber jewellery, fine lacework and gorgeous woollen jackets at bargain prices.
Visit the workshops in Catherine's Passage to watch artisans creating leatherwork, jewellery and ceramics, or simply retire to a pavement cafe and relax while enjoying alfresco performances from brass bands, string quartets and strolling players.

About Copenhagen
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, Copenhagen has a fairytale magic all of its own.
Discover the beauty of the Copenhagen cruises while visiting the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel. Stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees or in the shops and cafes of Stroget, Europes longest pedestrianised shopping street.
With a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Copenhagen have plenty to offer. Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics - and at Kronberg Castle - the former Elsinore of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

About Zeebrugge
Understand that Zeebrugge literally means Bruges-on-Sea and you immediately appreciate why this ferry port is also Belgiums major cruise port. A medieval jewel on the North Sea, the charming city of Bruges is just 10 miles away.
Sometimes called the Venice of the North because of the picturesque criss-crossing canals on which you can enjoy fascinating and romantic boat rides, Bruges actually has a character all its own.
Although it has all the facilities of a modern city - smart shops, restaurants, bars and hotels - these are all found behind the centuries-old facades and weathered gables of the historic buildings at the citys heart.
Bruges is rightly famous for its exquisite lacework, tasty chocolate and huge range of local beers while, from Zeebrugge, you can also visit another historic city, Ghent, the capital Brussels, and historic battlefield sites such as Waterloo and Ypres.