The elegant cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn are a joy to explore, and all have superb galleries, palaces, cathedrals and civic buildings as well as lively restaurants and bars.
In between ports, much of the cruising is coastal with breathtaking views of forests and islands until the ship reaches St Petersburg – so-called ‘Venice of the North’ and the cultural highpoint of any Baltic cruise.

Luxury from Dover

If you plan to do the Baltic in style then look no further than Holland America Line, which is sailing routes out of Dover for the first time this summer. Eurodam is a new mid-size ship with spacious cabins, large elegant public rooms and an award-winning spa, as well as four restaurants and a children’s club. During sea days you can watch cookery demonstrations, take an ipod tour of the art collection or enjoy specialist lectures that will make you an expert in Nordic history before you even arrive in the Baltic. The ship docks overnight in St Petersburg, where excursion highlights include tickets to the ballet or an evening of Russian folk music.

Holland America Line offers 11-night ‘Baltic Treasures’ cruises from Dover on Eurodam this summer calling at Copenhagen, Tallin, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm before returning to Dover.

Free-style from Copenhagen

Why not maximise your time in the Baltic by flying straight to the action? Next summer Norwegian Cruise Line will be base Norwegian Sun, which already cruises the Baltic from Dover, in the stylish city of Copenhagen, giving you the chance to spend a few extra nights here either side of the cruise. The ship then calls at all the important Baltic cities where an incredibly varied excursions list offers everything from walking tours in Copenhagen and coach trips to the countryside around Berlin to high-speed boat trips through the Stockholm archipelago. There is similar flexibility onboard too with free-style dining at 14 restaurants, cabins ranging from compact to complex, great kids’ clubs for all ages, a large spa and several hot tubs and pools.

Norwegian Cruise Line will offer nine-night ‘Baltic Capitals’ cruises from Copenhagen on Norwegian Sun next summer, calling at Warnemunde, Tallin, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm before returning to Copenhagen.

New ship from Southampton

Be among the first to sail on premium new ship Celebrity Eclipse as it makes its debut season out of Southampton this summer. Onboard you’ll find a bowling green, glassblowing demonstrations, wine tours and an Elemis spa with adjoining accommodation, as well as an excellent range of restaurants, cafes and bistros. First port of call on the route from Southampton is Brugges where you can wander the exquisite medieval streets, shop for Belgian chocolate and lace, and sample some of the 450 varieties of beer. You’ll then have whole days in each of the key Baltic cities plus two in St Petersburg, and on certain sailing, two days and evenings in Copenhagen on the way back to enjoy the royal palaces, stylish restaurants and ice bar.

Celebrity Cruises offers 14-night ‘Scandinavia and Russia’ cruises from Southampton on Celebrity Eclipse this summer, calling at Brugges, Warnemunde, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallin and Rotterdam, before returning to Southampton.

Under sail from Germany

For a completely different view of the Baltic and one reminiscent of bygone sea-faring days, there can be few more romantic ways to cruise than under sail. Noble Caledonian operates the traditional three-mast, fully rigged sailing ship Sea Cloud II in the Baltic this summer, carrying around 100 passengers in old-school luxury – expect wood panels, brass fittings and single-seating dining. On a ship this size it’s easy to visit small ports as well as the major cities, so calls include Denmark’s Bornholm Island and Skagen as well as overnights in Stockholm and St Petersburg, where there’s an exclusive caviar reception and concert at the Yusupov Palace. New 130-passenger three-mast sailing ship Sea Cloud Hussar launches later this year and will sail the Baltic next summer.

Noble Caledonian offers a 14-night ‘Hanseatic cities under sail’ cruise from Travemunde (Germany) on Sea Cloud II in August, calling at Stockholm, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Tallin, Bornholm Island, Copenhagen, Skagen and ending in Hamburg.

Traditional from the north

If cruising from a northern port appeals more than flying or travelling to Dover or Southampton then consider Fred Olsen, which also sails to the Baltic from Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh (Rosyth). All cruises are traditional style with British onboard culture, set dining and comfortable cabins. Mid-size ship Boudicca sails from Rosyth this summer calling first at Gothenburg, an ideal jump-off point for exploring the fishing villages and beaches along the Swedish west coast. The ship spends a night in St Petersburg where popular excursions are a musical evening at the Hermitage organised exclusively for Fred Olsen guests and a coach journey to the beautiful summer palace at Peterhof.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers 14-night Baltic Cruises from Rosyth on Boudicca this summer, calling at Gothenburg, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Warnemunde, Kalundborg (Denmark) before returning to Rosyth.