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Russia and the Baltic Sea - A Cruise Experience Like No Other

When it comes to cruise travel, an increasing number of experienced voyagers are trading sun and sandy beaches for a tour of Red Square or the world-famous Hermitage Museum.

Today's Baby Boomers, in particular, are looking for truly unique travel experiences, and cruises to the Baltic Sea region and such unusual shore excursions are really off the beaten track.

Other exotic offshore excursions during these cruises include locales such as Copenhagen, Stockholm and the historic Russian port city of St. Petersburg (including a day trip via air to Moscow). They also include port visits to other lesser-known, picturesque medieval villages in Sweden and Estonia.

"Considering that this part of the world was cut off to most Westerners for many decades, the chance to visit Russia via cruise ship and land excursions is very intriguing to many travelers," says Bob Levinstein, CEO of CruiseCompete.com. "Baby Boomers grew up during the Cold War and now they are visiting the Kremlin and Red Square as tourists - who would have thought this was possible only a few years ago?"

Following is a list of Top 10 "Must Do's" on Baltic Sea cruises offered by the ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas Navigator. To see other Scandivia Russia offers, please visit /specials/regions/scandinavia_russia/1

1. Spend the entire day on deck as you cruise through the Scandinavian Fjords
This is one of the rarest, most beautiful sights seen in the world. The canals give way to bodies of water, sailboats abound and the picturesque towns and villages you will encounter are like a fairy tale land. One moment you're sailing the high seas and then - almost magically - you enter a Scandinavian fjord that is as picturesque as anything you will ever see. A myriad of sailboats only enhances this unforgettable sight.

2. Kalashnikov shooting and artillery museum - play like a KGB Agent
Military and firearms buffs take a short drive from the ship pier in St. Petersburg to a special firing range, where they can try their hand at a selection of Russian firearms, including the famous Kalashnikov rifle (widely regarded as the best-built automatic weapon in the world). An instructor is on hand to teach guests the basics about different Russian weaponry. Ear protection is provided and cruise visitors can keep their target and spent shell casings as souvenirs. Later, guests visit St. Petersburg's famous Artillery, Engineers and Signals museum, an imposing building that contains exhibits from the 12th through 20th centuries. The museum's courtyard also features an extensive collection of Soviet weaponry.

3. Visit the world-famous Ice Bar - James Bond style
Like Copenhagen and Moscow, Stockholm is a cosmopolitan city that is very scenic, pristine and historical. Many visitors take a cab to the world-famous "Ice Bar", where patrons are obliged to don parkas before entering the premise. The bar is made entirely of giant blocks of ice, with all drinks served in miniature glasses also carved from ice. Clearly, this is the place to be seen among the young Swedish set - be sure and bring your camera for the folks back home!

4. Visit Tivoli Gardens - Walt Disney's inspiration for Disneyland
Founder Georg Carstensen (1812 - 1857) obtained a five-year charter to create Tivoli Gardens by telling King Christian VIII, "when the people are amusing themselves, they do not think about politics". The monarch granted Carstensen use of 15 acres of the fortified glacis outside Vesterport (the West Gate) at the annual rent of 945 kroner. Therefore, until the 1850s, Tivoli was outside the city, accessible through Vesterport.

From the very start, Tivoli included a variety of attractions: buildings in the exotic style of an imaginary Orient; a theatre, band stands, restaurants and cafés; flower gardens; and mechanical amusement rides such as a merry-go-round and a primitive scenic railway. After dark, colored lamps illuminated the gardens. On certain evenings, specially designed fireworks could be seen reflected in Tivoli's lake.

Composer Hans Christian Lumbye (1810 - 1874) was Tivoli's musical director from 1843 to 1872. Lumbye was inspired by Viennese waltz composers like the Strauss family (Johann Strauss I and his sons), and became known as the "Strauss of the North." Many of his compositions are specifically inspired by the gardens, including

"Salute to the Ticket Holders of Tivoli", "Carnival Joys" and "A Festive Night at Tivoli". The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra still performs many of his works. Tivoli is always evolving without abandoning its original charm or traditions. As Georg Carstensen said in 1844, "Tivoli will never, so to speak, be finished," a sentiment echoed just over a century later when Walt Disney said of his own Tivoli-inspired theme park, "Disneyland will never be finished as long as there is imagination left in the world.

5. An Evening at the Yussupov Palace in St. Petersburg
On the banks of the Moika River, the Yussupov Palace once belonged to the wealthiest family in Russia at the beginning of the 20th Century. Ladies-in-waiting and gentlemen in ornate costumes wait to greet you at the Palace doors. Your small group is guided through the museum, featuring room after room of classical art and furniture. Walk down a winding staircase and you will see the room where the notorious Grigori Rasputin - the "Mad Monk of Moscow" - was assassinated shortly before the Bolshevik Revolution. Then, on to the Music Room where you are served Russian champagne and caviar while you enjoy the musical offering of a classical balalaika orchestra. To complete the experience, your final viewing is the private Yussupov theatre, once used to entertain international dignitaries. There you will experience a "Night at the Opera", in a private opera room within the palace with a gala performance from the renowned St. Petersburg Opera Company.

6. Moscow in a day - a close-up look at the Kremlin
Guests are taken by a one-hour air flight to Moscow where transportation, led by a police escort, takes them directly to the Kremlin (which means "fortress" in Russian.) It is aptly named, considering that the entire 70-acre facility is surrounded by a high brick wall. Once inside, the first stop is at the Armory, the repository of famous Russian artifacts stored there throughout the centuries. These include ten of the surviving jeweled eggs crafted by Carl Faberge for Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife, Alexandra. The trip also includes visits to some of the most beautiful churches in the world, including the famous St. Basel's that is a unique reflection of Ottoman architecture. The day-long tour also includes lunch at the famous Alexandr Pushkin restaurant and a visit to the famous Red Square (where Josef Stalin used to watch annual military parades.) Last-minute shopping at the G.U.M. department store on the corner of Red Square is a must. Any visitor will appreciate that Moscow is an exceptionally clean, cosmopolitan city that is more breathtaking than the pictures found in popular media and historical chronicles of this great city.

7. Hermitage Museum and Gold Rooms - a look at opulent history
Regent Seven Seas have a special arrangement with the world-famous Hermitage Museum, located in the heart of St. Petersburg. The Gold Rooms of the Hermitage are privately opened for Regent guests only. This is surely one of the most impressive museums in Europe (and the world) - the reputation and collection of the Hermitage are second only to the Louvre in France. Founded by Catherine the Great more than 225 years ago, it features 2.7 million objects of magnificent art, including masterpieces by da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck and Monet. The tour lasts about six hours - not enough time to see all of the wonderous art, but enough to wear out even the fittest walkers.

8. Copenhagen and the "Little Mermaid"
The historical harbor tour will show you the city's highlights - including their spectacular new opera hall. Copenhagen's shoreline is dotted with quaint canals, together with small houses and restaurants that overlook these waterways. Hans Christian Anderson - who immortalized the Little Mermaid in his well-known children's story - was a resident of one of these houses (which you will see on your tour). And speaking of the Little Mermaid, our harbor tour also includes a "photo op" of this mythical girl, in the form of a famous harbor statue that is one of the city's local treasures.

9. Enjoy Slice of Russian Life in St. Petersburg
This is an intriguing glimpse into the daily life of the inhabitants of this amazing city. See how Russians move around their city, visit the local markets and celebrate in traditional Russian style. You will experience the "People's Palaces" - the Metro's stunning stations envisioned by Stalin, the Kuznechny food market and one of Nevsky Prospects premier delicatessen stores, 'Elyseev's', before heading off to the 'Hunter`s House" to make the toast "Nazdarovya" and down some chilled vodka.

The best Soviet architects were employed to design St. Petersburg's Metro stations. Thousands of tons of marble, granite and limestone were used to face the walls, and sculptures, mosaics and chandeliers were commissioned from leading artists. The first line, opened in 1955, is the most fascinating. You will see two stations on this line, Pushkin and Vladimir stations, and take a short ride on the train. Because of the many waterways in the city, stations are buried deep underground and long escalators lead down to the platforms. The Metro ride is quite an experience and gives a glimpse of the daily life of the people of St. Petersburg.

A peek at St. Petersburg's markets and food stores provides additional insight into local life. Many locals shop for food in the Kuznechny Market, which sells fruits, vegetables, fresh meat and fish, delicious homemade cottage cheese and wonderful natural honey. Sellers in the market come from all over the former Soviet Union. One of the reputable delicatessen stores in the city is called Elyseev's, the best place to buy caviar and vodka. It is located on the Nevsky Prospect in one of the most opulent modern-style buildings, constructed at the turn of the 20th century. It is adorned with beautiful bronze sculptures and huge windows. The finale of the tour is vodka tasting at the Hunter's House Restaurant. The restaurant is situated in the city center and inside it is decorated as a traditional Russian House with wooden walls and tables, very authentic

10. Engage a Private Car Tour
For guests who do not have an individual Russian visa, but prefer to explore more independently than with a tour coach, or for those who simply wish to have more flexibility, you may enjoy having a private car or van tour in St. Petersburg. Your transportation includes a licensed private guide to show you around this impressive city.

"You will rank this Baltic Sea Cruise of the most important experiences in your lifetime" said Steven Gelfuso, President of CruiseBrothers.com, a CruiseCompete.com member agency and one of the largest family-owned cruise travel agencies in the United States. "People come away with a new-found appreciation for the cultural influences of these great cities and ports in Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Russia - something that simply is not possible through television or books."

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