We’re just two months away from our first Baltic cruise of the summer season! In my last post, I told you about adventures in Helsinki and Estonia, so today I’ll give you a glimpse into the family fun we offer in St. Petersburg and Stockholm. We’ve developed special fairytale experiences to immerse your family in the royal and storybook settings you’ll find throughout these culturally rich cities.
St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great, who was inspired to build a metropolis like the cultural centers of Western Europe. The city has retained much of its opulence and historic architecture and is renowned for its storied history and cultural heritage.
To experience the majesty of the area firsthand, you won’t want to miss our Royal Ball at Catherine’s Palace, one of the world’s most amazing royal palaces. You’ll be greeted by Royal Guards before entering the lavish palace, where you’re invited to relive the luxury of the 18th-century Imperial Russian court. After a welcome reception and time to explore the immense collection of fabulous art work and furnishings, the highlight of your evening will include mingling with “Catherine the Great” and dancing along with the “Royal Court” in the Grand Hall, set to the sounds of classical music with a live orchestra!
Another spectacular experience that will make you feel like royalty is our evening at the Hermitage Museum with a private concert. This tour of the world-famous Hermitage Museum, founded by Catherine the Great with her personal art collection, is privately reserved for Disney cruisers, giving you the chance to view the museum’s beautiful collections without the crowds. It concludes with an exclusive performance by the incredibly talented State Hermitage Orchestra.
Stockholm is a picturesque city with fascinating medieval sites, lush parks and a charming waterfront area. The city is built on several islands at the mouth of Lake Mälaren and boasts more than 100 museums devoted to the preservation and display of European paintings, sculptures and handicrafts. In the city’s Old Town (“Gamla Stan”), you’ll discover ancient streets, centuries-old churches and cathedrals and breathtaking palaces and mansions.
On our Ice Bar and Old Town excursion, not only will you have the chance to experience the grandeur of Gamla Stan’s baroque, medieval and renaissance-style construction, you’ll also visit the unique Ice Bar in the heart of Stockholm. Kept to a cool 23 degrees Fahrenheit, the interior, drinking glasses and chairs are made of pure ice. But don’t worry about turning into ice yourself since you’ll don a warm fur poncho and mittens before entering!
Those of you traveling with little ones will love visiting the Junibacken Children’s Museum, a fairy-tale museum dedicated to Sweden’s much-loved author Astrid Lindgren, who has written around 100 children’s books. Both our Knights and Fairytales and Skansen Museum and Swedish Fairytales Port Adventures take you to this whimsical museum where your family can play in Pippi Longstocking’s funny house and take a trip on the Story Train to meet more of the author’s beloved characters.
Of course these are only some of the many exciting excursions we offer in St. Petersburg and Stockholm. Those of you joining us this summer, which Port Adventures are on deck for your family?
