The Netherlands & The Baltic

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The Netherlands & The Baltic
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Day 14
Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:09 AM
☀️ 64 °F
Altitude: 39 ft
Finland Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral 60.17, 24.95166760°10’12” N 24°57’6” E
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Helsinki
May 13, 2023 in Finland ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Today, we visited Finland's capitol city, Helsinki. We've been blessed with such beautiful weather on this trip, and today was no exception! We toured the city with a guide in the morning visiting Sebelius Park, the Senate Square, the Rock Church, and Helsinki Cathedral. In the afternoon, we explored on our own, and after a quick lunch of reindeer sausage in the open market, we walked down the Esplanade, through city parks and to the Russian Orthodox Church. And of course we made time to find Finnish pastries, and a small shop that made specialty handmade chocolates. Yum! As we were leaving the Helsinki port, we saw dozens of small sail boats tethered together. It was a group of students out for their sailing lessons.Read more
Love this church [Kimmie]
5/14/23Reply
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Day 15
Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 10:50 AM
☀️ 70 °F
Altitude: 141 ft
Sweden Saltsjön 59.316667, 18.08833359°19’0” N 18°5’18” E
Stockholm: 1st day
May 14, 2023 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
Today, we visited Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden. Our tour took us to the City Hall where the Nobel Prizes are presented. In the Old Town, we stopped for lunch in the city square and were treated to a performance by a traditional folk dancing group. We toured the Royal Palace and ended the day at the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is a 64 gun Swedish battleship that sank in 1628 just 20 minutes into her maiden voyage. She was recovered in 1961 and in 1990 was moved to the current location where the museum was built around her. The ship is amazingly preserved and 98% original materials.Read more
Great pictures. [Kimmie]
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Day 16
Monday, May 15, 2023 at 11:30 AM
☁️ 68 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Sweden Riksbron 59.328333, 18.06666759°19’42” N 18°4’0” E
Stockholm: 2nd day
May 15, 2023 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
We spent our second day in Stockholm exploring on our own. We took the hop on hop off bus into town and stopped at the King's Garden to see the spring flowers. Then we were off to the main pedestrian shopping street for coffee and freshly made cinnamon donuts. We made our way into the Old Town and boarded a harbor tour cruise. After lunch, we did a bit more exploring in Old Town, walked to the Riddarholmen Church, and stopped for organic Swedish ice cream (yum!) before returning to the ship.Read more
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Day 17
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
☁️ 50 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Sweden Stugholmen 59.6, 18.76666759°36’0” N 18°46’0” E
From Stockholm to Kiel
May 16, 2023 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
We left Stockholm and sailed through the archipelago as the sun was setting. Then it was a full day at sea, traveling toward Kiel. We enjoyed lunch at the Dutch Café, watching a port talk on Kiel and Ärhus, reading, relaxing, and the gala dinner.Read more
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Day 18
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:48 AM
☁️ 50 °F
Altitude: 33 ft
Germany Holstenhafen 53.866667, 10.6853°52’0” N 10°40’48” E
Lübeck
May 17, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Today, we visited Lübeck, another city that was a member of the Hanseatic League. At its peak, the city overshadowed Hamburg both in size and as the commercial center of the German salt trade. It's also well known for its delicious marzipan. We enjoyed our guided tour and had time to grab a bratwurst in the city square before afternoon coffee with marzipan torte at one of the city's most famous bakeries.Read more
I like little pieces of marzipan but a torte might be too much! [Kimmie]
5/17/23Reply
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Day 18
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 4:48 PM
🌬 54 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Germany Mönkeberg 54.338333, 10.16166754°20’18” N 10°9’42” E
Kiel
May 17, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 54 °F
After returning from Lübeck, we had time for a quick walk into Kiel. We walked down the main shopping street past St. Nikolai Church and then to the Rathaus. On the way back to the ship, we took a detour through the city park.Read more
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Day 19
Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 11:35 AM
☁️ 55 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Denmark Hald-Tostrup 56.625, 9.77166756°37’30” N 9°46’18” E
Århus and Fyrkat Viking Museum
May 18, 2023 in Denmark ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
We arrived in Århus this morning and took a tour to the Fyrkat Viking Museum, which depicts life in Denmark under the reign of King Harald Bluetooth around 980 AD. Because Bluetooth is known for uniting the disparate Danish tribes into a single kingdom, the name was given to the technology protocol to imply that it similarly united communication.

The Fyrkat ring fortress is one of five fortresses constructed during Bluetooth's rule. The earthen ramparts would have been the foundation for wooden fortifications that guarded the fortress. 16 longhouses were situated inside the ring. They housed Viking soldiers stationed here to protect a key trade route. The Viking farmstead was a living museum that showed what everyday life would have been like for vikings at that time.

On the way back to Århus, we stopped at Råsted Church. The church was built between 1125-1150, just after the end of the Viking age and the conversion of Denmark to Christianity.

Tonight was the Orange party celebrating Holland America Line's Dutch heritage!Read more
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Day 20
Friday, May 19, 2023 at 3:06 PM
☀️ 52 °F
Altitude: Sea level
North Sea 54.7044, 5.51954°42’16” N 5°31’8” E
Cruising back to Amsterdam
May 19, 2023, North Sea ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Today was our final day at sea, cruising back to Amsterdam. We enjoyed a few more snacks at the Dutch Café, EXC Talks on the World Stage, reading, relaxing, and a delicious dinner in the dining room. It was an amazing trip filled with wonderful experiences and memories!Read more
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Day 21
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 9:57 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Netherlands Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 52.3087, 4.763952°18’31” N 4°45’50” E
Amsterdam to Home
May 20, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Today was a full day of travel. We arrived back in Amsterdam early in the morning. After disembarking, we walked to the central station and took the train to Schipol Airport. We shopped for a few last-minute souvenirs and gifts, had lunch, and then caught our flight home.Read more
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Trip end
May 20, 2023