Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, cruise ship transportation, sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions, port fees, luggage handling, most beverages including certain wines, alcohols, beer, juice, soda and water aboard the Seven Seas Voyager cruise ship, and the services of the Tauck Director and ship crew are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Stockholm Arlanda Airport and provide transportation to the Hilton Stockholm Slussen, regardless of the day or time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks before the start of your tour. Tauck will also provide you with transportation from the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel to Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup on the day of your departure.

Hotel and Ship Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel and ship accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms and a roll-away cot and are not recommended for comfort. Onboard the Seven Seas Voyager, each suite includes a private balcony, a European king-size bed convertible to twins, a separate sitting area and ultra-spacious marble bathroom with separate shower and full bathtub. A limited number of connecting rooms and triples are available.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. There are four open-seating main restaurants plus the Pool Grill. A choice of fine, complimentary wine is poured nightly. Room service menu is available 24 hours a day.

Tauck Director – St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea is conducted by two Tauck Directors who will remain with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Directors are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for Tauck Directors, bellmen, doormen, housekeepers, dining room servers, drivers, ship staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold - Tauck Directors assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, certain alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry and dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, certain airport arrival transfers, visa fees, airport and departure taxes, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

 

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

 

You may also visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to the cruise line prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to Tauck as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends following breakfast at 7 AM; you will be provided with transportation to the Copenhagen Airport. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

 

Air Conditioning – All motor coaches, hotel rooms and the Seven Seas Voyager are air conditioned for your comfort.

ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this event to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – The Baltic Sea in summer has moderately warm days and cool evenings. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that allows for layering. Light jackets or sweaters are recommended. Comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in are a must, as this tour consists of considerable walking distances. More elegant attire is suggested for the welcome reception and farewell dinners.

Shipboard attire ranges from country club casual to informal. Country club casual is appropriate for daytime onboard or ashore. Shorts are not appropriate after 6 p.m. in any of the public rooms or lounges. You are asked not to wear a bathing suit in the restaurants and lounges at any time. Evening dress codes begin at 6 p.m. Two nights require informal attire defined as jackets for gentlemen with tie optional. For ladies, chic apparel, such as dresses or smart pant suits, is considered appropriate. Five nights require country club casual defined as cotton slacks, open neck shirts for gentlemen and slacks, skirt and blouse for ladies. You are requested not to wear jeans, shorts or tee-shirts to dinner.

Valet laundry and dry-cleaning services are available at the hotels in Stockholm and Copenhagen. Onboard, laundry and valet services, including pressing and dry cleaning, are available for a fee. Self-service laundries are located on passenger decks 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Laundry and dry cleaning articles collected before 9 a.m. will be returned the same day between 4 and 6 p.m. A six-hour express service is available at a nominal charge.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for a cruise on the Baltic Sea:

Elevation – The maximum elevation on this tour is 200 feet (61 meters).

Health – Cruising the Baltic Sea is very relaxing and the pace leisurely. You should be in fairly good health and able to walk reasonable distances. There is a moderate to heavy amount of walking during our onshore excursions. However, for the most part, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion. Our activities include visiting old villages, many with uneven terrain, limestone streets, and long staircases.

Onboard ship, health and fitness devotees will find the latest exercise equipment in the window-walled Fitness Center. In the Aerobics Room next door, professional instructors lead fitness classes. Deck 12 is devoted to sports with golf cages, shuffleboard, paddle tennis and a full-circle jogging track. One flight down, the teak pool deck is one of the most expansive at sea, includes a large heated pool, two whirlpools, and table tennis. For the perfect ending to a strenuous workout, the Carita Spa presents an elaborate array of spa and beauty treatments for the ultimate in relaxation and renewal.

The Voyager has a licensed and registered doctor and nurse for professional and emergency services, which are available at customary charges. The ships' medical center is designed to provide medical care for certain temporary illnesses and accidents, and is not intended or capable of providing on-going treatment of pre-existing medical conditions. For guests requiring oxygen equipment, an oxygen concentrator is the only form of oxygen equipment allowed aboard ship, and must be provided by the guest. Wheelchairs onboard are for emergency purposes only.

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist you.

On board the ship, all dining venues have been designated as non-smoking areas. In addition, smoking is not permitted in staterooms and suites, or on balconies. Smoking is only permitted in designated public venues, including the outside deck of the Horizon Lounge, the Stars Nightclub and the Pool Bar.

Seven Seas Voyager is registered in the Bahamas. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour. (Please read the section below called “Travel Documents Requirements”).

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

No vaccinations are currently required for travel to the countries listed on this itinerary. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

Luggage Restrictions -

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements -

While Russia usually requires a citizen of the U.S. to obtain a visa for entry, a U.S. citizen traveling aboard Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager as a Tauck guest who participates in a validated escorted shore excursion is no longer required to do so. International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to the cruise line prior to your embarkation. You need to provide this information to Tauck as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.

 

U.S. citizens do no require visas for entry into Denmark, Finland, Sweden or Estonia for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

Citizens of other countries should contact a consulate or embassy of each of the countries visited on this itinerary to determine what travel documentation is required. Please note that the visa must reflect exactly the days of entry into and departure from Russia.

All guests will also need proof of current medical insurance. The plans offered through the Tauck Protection Plan are deemed sufficient coverage for this purpose. Please click here for more information. Guests choosing not to purchase this insurance must provide proof to Russian customs officials that they are covered.

Tauck strongly recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour.

 

Also, Tauck recommends that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents or cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children –

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck Bridges journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck Bridges, you release Tauck Bridges, Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children 

Authorization for Travel

If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine if your service extends to Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Russia and Finland.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currencies of the countries visited on this tour are:

All convertible currency can be exchanged at banks and foreign exchange bureaus, which are located at hotels, airports, railway and bus stations and some local shops. ATMs offer convenience, the best exchange rates, and are widespread throughout the areas visited. Contact your bank in advance of departure to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. U.S. dollars are not accepted anywhere on the land portions of this tour; only local currency is accepted as cash. A typical fee for foreign exchange is approximately $4 U.S. dollars.

Please note that in Russia it is best to use cash rather than credit cards.

If you are a citizen of the U.S., you may bring into or take out of the U.S., including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if it is more than $10,000, you will need to report it to CBP. The penalties for non-compliance can be severe. “Money” means monetary instruments and includes U.S. or foreign coins currently in circulation, currency, travelers’ checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form.

Each country imposes its own restrictions on the amount of money that may be brought into or out of its borders. Some countries' restrictions be far more strict than the those of the U.S.

You may settle your shipboard account with travelers’ checks, cash or any of the major credit cards, including American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and Diner’s Club.

To read about the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with each country’s specific required declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.

 

Finland – VisaHQ.com

Sweden – VisaHQ.com

Denmark – VisaHQ.com

Russia – Customs.RU 

Estonia – VisaHQ.com

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

All the countries on this tour currently levy a Value Added Tax (VAT) of approximately 18 to 25% on consumer purchases. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) If you do not reside in the country in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Stockholm and Copenhagen is 230 V, 50 Hz, AC. Onboard the Voyager the current is 110 and 220 V. If you bring electrical devices that are not compatible with these systems you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Time Zones – Stockholm and Copenhagen are 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); Tallinn is 2 hours ahead and St. Petersburg is 3 hours ahead. From late March to late October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 2, 3, and 4 hours ahead, respectively. In June, Stockholm is 6 hours ahead of New York City.

To read about current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com.

Weather – During the summer months when most people choose to visit the cities surrounding the Baltic Sea, the temperatures are moderately warm, averaging 50 to 70°F (10 to 21°C). These cities experience fresh sea breezes, which moderate temperatures, as well as some humidity. Due to their northern latitudes, summer daylight hours are long (with the longest at 19 hours). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, though August is the wettest month and an umbrella and light raincoat are recommended.

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

 

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, Tauck will charge guests who cancel confirmed bookings a cancellation fee according to when the cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit guests’ liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan.

Guests choosing to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will have cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

Guests choosing not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$1,100 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the tour per person

29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the tour per person