Explore historical landmarks that include the royal residence Drottningholm Palace, Sweden’s oldest main street and the warship Vasa, as well as unusual attractions such as a museum celebrating the band ABBA.
Note: This tour not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or those who utilize a wheelchair or scooter due to the amount of walking, steps, cobbled surfaces and lack of elevators at some sites.
DAY 1
After flying into the Stockholm airport, you will be met in the arrivals area and transferred to the Grand Hotel for a 3:00pm check-in. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 2
This morning, you will cruise from central Stockholm through Lake Mälaren and on to Drottningholm Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the most well-preserved, 17th-century palace in Sweden and at the same time is representative of all European architecture for that period.
The French-influenced palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder by commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. A number of royal personages have since then left their marks on the palace, which is the permanent home of the royal family. The southern wing of the palace is reserved for their use, while the rest of Drottninghom and its grounds are open to the public year-round.
After touring the palace, which is on an island in Lake Mälar, you will dine at a nearby restaurant and then transfer back to the Grand Hotel. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will travel inland to Sigtuna, which King Erik the Victorious founded in 970. Its main street, Stora Gatan, is considered the oldest such road in Sweden. While exploring the historical downtown, you will likely see cryptic rune stones. Remnants of Scandinavia’s Viking past, rune stones were commonly raised as memorials to deceased family members and friends.
Following lunch in Sigtuna, you will head to Uppsala, home to Scandinavia’s oldest university. As you approach the city’s 800-year-old Gothic cathedral, you will first see its twin spires, as they soar nearly 400 feet high. Inside the cathedral, be sure to notice the 14th-century murals depicting the legend of Saint Eric IX, the patron saint of Sweden. A medieval king and a devout Christian, he was slain by his rivals in 1160.
Upon returning to Stockholm, you will spend the remainder of the day at leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will browse ABBA The Museum, an interactive attraction completely dedicated to the Swedish pop band ABBA. Many of the items on display are from the group’s private collection, including their costumes, gold records and plenty of memorabilia. Using the supplied audio guides, you can hear the band tell stories of their rise to stardom and their most memorable concerts.
ABBA fan or not, this museum has something for everyone.
The Vasa Museum offers an entirely different experience, as it is home to the warship Vasa. It languished at the bottom of the bay for 333 years before being salvaged almost fully intact and preserved at the museum. Besides viewing this namesake ship, you may browse exhibits that showcase the shipyard that built it, the challenges of life on board and the invaluable role women played in the ship’s construction.
Afterwards, you will transfer to the pier and embark on your cruise.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program details, including times indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with updated details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one final itinerary from our ground operator with a welcome letter upon arrival or at the hotel. Please review the letter and final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night, as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the Stockholm airport and transfer to the Grand Hotel for a 3:00pm check-in.
The remainder of the day will be at leisure with meals on you own.
Overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:30am Transfer to the pier
10:00am Boat ride to Drottningholm Palace
11:00am Visit Drottningholm Palace
12:00pm Transfer to a restaurant for lunch
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm Return to the hotel
2:00pm Remainder of the day at leisure
Dinner on your own
Overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar
DAY 3
7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
10:00am Depart for Sigtuna & Uppsala
11:00am Arrive in Sigtuna
12:00pm Lunch in Sigtuna
1:00pm Depart for Uppsala
1:40pm Arrive in Uppsala
2:30pm Entrance to Upplsala Cathedral
3:30pm Depart Uppsala
5:00pm Remainder of the day at leisure
Dinner on your own
Overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar
DAY 4
7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
10:15am Depart for the Abba Museum
10:30am Visit the Abba Museum
11:30am Visit the Vasa Museum
12:30pm Transfer to the pier
1:00pm Arrive at the ship for embarkation.
Expected Weather
Summer is typically pleasant in Stockholm with June temperatures ranging between 20.7°C (69.3°F) and 11.3°C (52.3°F). July temperatures range between 21.9°C (71.4°F) and 13.4°C (56.1°F), while August temperatures range between 20.4°C (68.7°F) and 12.7°C (54.9°F).
September is still relatively mild with temperatures ranging between 15.1°C (59.2°F) and 9°C (48.2°F).
What to Bring
Comfortable clothes, walking shoes, a light jacket and umbrella.
Local Currency
Swedish Kroner (SEK)
Electricity
All power sockets in Stockholm provide a standard voltage of 230V with a standard frequency of 50Hz. You can use your electrical devices in Stockholm if the outlet voltage in your own country is between 220V-240V. Stockholm uses power outlets and plugs of types C & F. An adaptor will be required for electrical plugs from the United States.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A passport is required. Check with your local Swedish embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality.
Hotel
Grand Hotel
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8, 103 27 Stockholm, Sweden
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.
Program includes for guests
•3 nights at the Grand Hotel or similar (Superior Room city view)
•Two 3-course lunches with 1 glass wine or beer per person
•Touring and entrances per the itinerary
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program excludes for guests
•Gratuities for drivers and guides
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
•Any meals or beverages not listed above
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations.
Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released. Arrangements for accommodation and transfers will be at the expense of guests.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
