Eight nights, seven ports of call, six countries and five European capitals. Crystal Cruises has a tempting Baltic cruise itinerary.
It begins in Stockholm, the Venice of the North, and then sails on to Helsinki grandly called the Athens of the North for its light grey granite neo-classic architecture. Cobbled, medieval Tallinn, the fairy-tale timbered and spired Estonian capital follows. But now, with harbour defences against amphibious invasion and anti-Putin placards. Tallinn is on the frontline of a new Cold War.
Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic, once a Hanseatic League trading powerhouse with its 200 warehouses, offers a chance to step back in time, away from 21st century tensions. Enclosed by a 13th century stone city wall, the entire town of Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its summer roses, gabled merchants’ houses and romantic ruins of Gothic churches. Of course, Gotland has an unofficial title too – Queen of the Sea.
It’s back to capitals with a drive through the grand art nouveau houses of Riga. From the monument to the War of Independence through choirs echoing the Singing Revolution, it is soon evident that Latvia values its freedom.
Then east to Warnemünde, in Germany, the port for the attractive town of Rostock. Back in the days when an Iron Curtain divided Europe, the Communists rebuilt Rostock with grand avenues after Second World War bombing, as their hospitality centre. It was more appealing than barbed-wire, machine-gun towered East Berlin. Finally, Crystal Serenity docks in Copenhagen.
Amongst all these jewels of the Baltic, the new-look Crystal Serenity shines brightly. Refitted in 2023, at a cost of $150m, the ship’s capacity was reduced to 740, from over a thousand. Creating a sense of space and serenity rarely experienced on cruise ships.
The Sapphire Veranda Suites, created from two cabins, have room for a dining area, lounge, walk-in wardrobe, separate bedroom, and a bathroom large enough for both his and her wash units. Plus, a lengthy veranda.
Beginning with coffee and pastries, available in the Bistro from 6 am, through to late-night gourmet snacks, Crystal Serenity is all-inclusive. That takes in meals, afternoon tea in the Palm Court, butler-delivered early evening canapés to suites, cocktails and excellent house wine.
Also included at every port of call, bar Warnemünde where the town is within walking distance of the docked ship, are regular shuttle buses to and from the town centre.
Crystal Cruises’ extensive entertainment programme is all part of the all-inclusive offering. Cultural anthropologist, Dr Jim Rowe, gives presentations on the ports of call. We thought his words on the daylight-starved Finns’ “Baltic sun salute” were exaggeration, until we saw Helsinki folk rushing out to sunbathe during their lunch hour. Although the temperature was a mere 16 centigrade, the vitamin D deprived Finns were slathering on sunblock.
Every guest has the opportunity to discover their own Baltic. Excursion options in Stockholm included a city art tour, a culinary tasting walk, a city by water tour, a panoramic coach ride and the ultimate luxury, a private car tour with your own driver and guide.
Over the voyage, audiences grew in the Hollywood Theatre, as word spread on the enlightening speakers Lt General (retired) Mark Hartling and technology lecturer Dr Jane Thomason. Amongst their presentations, Hartling assessed the significance of Finland and Sweden joining NATO whilst Thomason considered the impact of AI on the jobs market. Elsewhere on this floating university there were workshops on editing your travel photos and making better use of your iPhone’s latest features.
At breakfast on a sea day, as we cruised between Riga and Warnemünde, there was a palpable sense of excitement. A day off from sight-seeing. Guests could head for the Aurora Spa, work out in an exceptionally well-equipped gym, play a few hands of bridge, join a workshop to make a Nordic Cool beaded bracelet, take out a book from the library, step through a dance class, have a Blackjack flutter at Le Casino de Monte-Carlo or simply swim in the pool. As ever rounding off the day with a show in the Galaxy Lounge or Stardust Club, may be even taking to the dance floor in the Pulse Nightclub.
Undoubtedly, the irresistible Michelin-style cuisine, is one of the reasons for the loyalty of Crystal Cruisers. Umi Uma, a Japanese/ Peruvian fusion from the renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, picked up the 2024 F & B award for the best restaurant at sea. From now on, it will face strong competition from Crystal Cruises’ Italian styled Osteria d’Ovidio. A new menu from Massimiliano Alajmo, the youngest chef ever to be awarded three Michelin stars, and his restaurateur brother Raffaele, will be competing for awards.
On this voyage, guests were restricted to one visit to each of the three speciality restaurants which also includes the trendy, cosmopolitan Beef Bar out of Monte Carlo. Despite the name and abundance of prime cut meat such as Wagyu and Kobe beef, the chic restaurant has a “Beef, Reef and Leaf” approach to its menus of globally inspired street food and main course dishes.
Yet, some guests never venture beyond the Waterside Restaurant for their evening meal, always finding something from the “classic” or “contemporary” sections of the menu which change for every meal, along with the Cheese Sommelier’s recommendations.
Although Waterside provides waiter-service breakfast, and lunch on sea days, many guests favour Marketplace’s extensive, fruit-laden buffet for both a healthy breakfast and lunch. Whilst mid-morning, the Trident Grill supplies late-riser breakfasts.
Busy sailing the planet, Crystal Serenity will not be returning to the Baltic until July 2026. Meanwhile, she and her sister ship, Crystal Symphony, will be offering many more enticing voyages, through the continents, for discerning cruisers.
Next steps
To book your next cruise, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.
