Cruises through the Baltic Sea offer travelers an off-the-beaten-path excursion that combines cultural and historical richness with geographic beauty. Traditional commercial and luxury liners alike offer cruises through this region in Northern Europe near the Scandinavian Peninsula. The sea begins in the crook where Sweden meets Finland and flows past Poland, ending roughly where Sweden meets Norway.


The Baltic Sea flows out from the Atlantic Ocean and laps at the edge of the northern European countries Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Lithuania. Cruise stops may include London; Helsinki, Finland, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Cruises last anywhere from seven-day jaunts to a 24-day expedition on Holland America that leaves from London and juts in and out of the Baltic Sea's craggy curves. Other options include 12- and 14-day trips that hit eight or nine ports.

Cruise Lines

Cruise lines that journey through the Baltic Sea include Windstar Cruises, recognized by "Travel + Leisure" for the world's best small cruse ship lines and by "Porthole Cruise Magazine" for offering the most romantic cruises. Cunard Cruises, another luxury line, also operates in the area. The line offers onboard enrichment activities such as book clubs and astronomy lectures. Larger, more commercial lines such as Celebrity, Holland America and Princess Cruises also cruise the Baltic Sea.

Things to Know

Cruise ships explore the Baltic Sea from May through September, when the weather is warm. The summer months mark the area's peak tourist season when the area can become crowded. Travelers wanting to avoid the crowds should consider traveling to the Baltic in May or September when the weather cools a bit. Wear casual clothes such as shorts and T-shirts during the day, but bring along more modest clothing for visiting churches or cathedrals that have dress codes.

Things You'll See

Explore Finland's second oldest town, Porvoo, founded in 1346. Visitors can access the town when docked in Helsinki, where they can also explore the Helsinki Cathedral and the country's Government Palace, both in the town's Senate Square. Oslo, Norway, features the Vigeland Sculpture Park with more than 650 statues made of granite, wrought iron and bronze. Also visit the city's Viking Ship Museum. Explore Stockholm, Sweden's cultural capital, which consists of 14 islands connected by bridges.


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