| Dr. Ray D. Bernardi's Travel and Tours Web Page |
| 2006 BALTIC CAPITAL CRUISE/TOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 * THURSDAY, JULY 13 � DEPART NEW YORK'S JFK AIRPORT Depart JFK Airport this evening bound for Copenhagen, Denmark. Prepare to retrace the steps of the Vikings, a thousand years later, as you board your jet. There's time for a meal, a movie, and a nap before the night turns arctic and lightens. You're traveling on the Great Circle route and morning comes quickly as you cross five datelines during the night. Soon you are landing in Copenhagen, Denmark. Welcome to Scandinavia! DAY 2 * FRIDAY, JULY 14 � COPENHAGEN Welcome to Scandinavia! Meet your Passports representative, settle into your centrally-located hotel. This afternoon, get ready to explore Copenhagen either on your own or with Dr. Bernardi's help. In the morning you will see the city in detail with the help of a local guide. Dinner and overnight in Copenhagen. There will be a reception in Dr. Bernardi's hotel room after dinner tonight. DAY 3 * SATURDAY, JULY 15 � COPENHAGEN / CRUISE SHIP This morning a local guide introduces you to the major landmarks of Scandinavia's largest city that will include: Christiansborg Palace, known for its resplendent royal reception rooms; the Church of Our Savior; the Rosenborg Castle, which holds the Danish Crown Jewels; the Stock Exchange; the Royal Theater; and the lovely Amalienborg Palace's gardens. Of course, there's the Little Mermaid who wistfully watches over the Copenhagen harbor 24 hours a day. In the afternoon, Dr. Bernardi will lead you to the Tivoli Gardens where you'll experience a beautiful park with its restaurants, carousels, and every kind of entertainment from ballet to flea circuses. Later you may want to stroll down Copenhagen's pedestrian shopping street. It is quite a treat and you may want to do some shopping.. Later in the afternoon, transfer to Copenhagen's port where you will board your first-rate cruising vessel, the MSC Lirica. MSC Cruises offers outstanding service and luxurious amenities available amidst an elegant Italian style atmosphere. Prepare to be pampered. (Dinner and overnight aboard ship) DAY 4 * SUNDAY, JULY 16 � KIEL / CRUISE SHIP Today your ship brings you to Kiel, Germany, which has been a major fishing, commercial, and naval port throughout its 800-year history. Heavily bombed during WWII, Kiel is now a modern city. that has been rebuilt around its harbor. For an overview, you may want to ascend the 350-foot-tower of the Rathaus (the Town Hall) that was built in 1911; or, stroll along the Hindenbugergufer - the two-mile-long embankment stretched along the fjord that links Kiel to the Baltic Sea. If you're able to explore farther afield, consider an excursion to the harbor of Laboe, just north of Kiel and home of the Marine Ehrenmals Technical Museum where a WWII submarine, U-995, is displayed on the beachfront. This area is also known for its sandy beaches. You'll want to stop to view the Kiel Canal, a feat of engineering dating back to 1895, which links the Baltic sea to the North Sea. There is also the Schlewig-Holdstein Freilich-Museum, an open-air museum which exhibits rustic homes dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight aboard ship) DAY 5 * MONDAY, JULY 17 � VISBY (GOTLAND ISLAND) / CRUISE SHIP After breakfast this morning, you'll enjoy a visit to the Swedish island of Gotland. The largest of the Baltic Islands, Gotland is a very popular tourist destination for mainland Swedes who are attracted to its lovely beaches and vibrant culture. The island also boats a rich and ancient history, as well as many natural points of interest, including the remains of a 400-year-old coral reef and odd lime-stone formations called raukar. Your Cruise ship docks in Visby, a walled, medieval trading post, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See its magnificent cathedral with more than forty towers, which serve as reminders of past Hanseatic glories. You may wish to stroll or rent a bicycle to explore the area. Visit one of the islands nature reserves, or search for medieval frescoes and rare medieval glass paintings in the ninety-two medieval churches, which can be found outside of Visby. There are countless prehistoric sites on the island (many are sign-posted) including hilltop fortresses and burial mounds. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight aboard ship) |