
Cruise · 11 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
An 11-night cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral setting off from Rosyth and threading through the Baltic’s Northern capitals before navigating the historic Kiel Canal.
Highlights
Two days sailing from Rosyth to Gdańsk
Golden beaches and dunes of Ventspils
Medieval streets and towers of Tallinn
Navigation of the Kiel Canal via Holtenau and Brunsbüttel locks
Time in Riga’s baroque and medieval centre
This Baltic cruise begins at Rosyth, where Balmoral sets sail into two days of open water before reaching Gdańsk. The Polish port’s broad avenues and maritime museums recall its Baltic Sea heritage more than any postcard. Next come Latvia’s Ventspils, known for golden beaches and shifting sand dunes, and Riga, where baroque rooftops crowd a medieval centre.
From there, the ship crosses into Estonia. Saaremaa island offers a quiet break from capitals, and then comes Tallinn, where ancient city walls meet cobbled streets and towers. After a day at sea, Balmoral takes on the feat of the Kiel Canal in Germany, slipping through its Holtenau and Brunsbüttel locks — a highlight for those who appreciate the technical skill of smaller ships negotiating this historic shortcut between the North and Baltic Seas.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral ends back where it began at Rosyth. The itinerary’s rhythm of cities, islands and canal scenes calls for a certain patience — a chance to watch Northern Europe at a modest pace rather than rushing on to the next landmark.
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
When to go
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
The operator
Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports
A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.
You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
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