Around Scandinavia
* Subject to availability.
- Staterooms & Suites
- LE BOREAL
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Theme
- Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.
Port of call & excursions

Stockholm
Embarkation 17/06/2017 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 17/06/2017 at 20H00 .The capital of Sweden occupies an archipelago in the east of the country at the junction of Mälar Lake and the Baltic sea. In Gamla stan, meaning “old town” in Swedish, you can stroll at your leisure in picturesque medieval streets until you reach the majestic Royal Palace. On the green island of Djurgården, you can visit several very different kinds of cultural centres: the Vasa museum is dedicated to a 17th century three-mast, the ecomuseum of Skansen presents traditional customs, and the ABBA museum is dedicated to the legendary pop group. For a fantastic, all-encompassing view of Stockholm, you can take a ride in SkyView, a glass-encased sphere gondola that takes you to the top of the world’s largest building, the Ericsson Globe, a Stockholm landmark.

18 June 2017 – Visby
Arrival 18/06/2017 early morning. Departure 18/06/2017 early afternoon.This old Hanseatic city lies to the west coast of Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic sea. Pass through the spectacular Visby fortifications at Dalmans gate and visit the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll discover the grand Visby homes of rich merchants as well as the lovely low wooden houses in the little cobbled streets. Don’t miss Saint Mary’s cathedral with its octagonal steeples, as well as Powder tower along the fortifications. Make sure you stop over in one of the rose-adorned cafés; indeed roses abound in this town where you can taste one of the island’s specialities, namely saffron pancakes with red fruit.

19 June 2017 – Copenhagen
Arrival 19/06/2017 midday. Departure 19/06/2017 late evening.Connected to the far eastern side of Sealand island, a few kilometres away from the Swedish coasts, Copenhagen offers you the high colour of Scandinavian capitals. You can discover the city's riches that weaves through the canal networks through the historical districts of Christiansborg and Nyhavn. Many palaces provide an apercu of Danish history. For eating, you can try out the smorebrod, a traditional dish composed of several kinds of smoked fish.

20 June 2017 – Aalborg
Arrival 20/06/2017 midday. Departure 20/06/2017 early evening.In the very north of Denmark, on the banks of the Limfjorden sea,the Viking town of Aalborg opens its welcoming arms. A must-see is the Aalborg tower standing like a lighthouse in the middle of the town. At the top, a magnificent view of the surroundings awaits your visit. Several museums, including the Utzon Centre, propose a sample of local artistic creation. As far as shopping goes, the famous JomfruAneGade street and its district, include some of the most beautifulDanish fashion boutiques as well as numerous restaurants and cafés where you might try one of the country’s specialities such as “platte”

21 June 2017 – At sea
Arrival 21/06/2017. Departure 21/06/2017.During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

22 June 2017 – Bergen
Arrival 22/06/2017 early morning. Departure 22/06/2017 early evening.Located at the end of Byfjord, Bergen was the capital of Norway in the 12th and 13th Centuries and has preserved some very beautiful monuments from the time when it was home to royalty. Wandering through Bergen’s streets means going back in time, in search of the hidden treasures that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. A veritable openair museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, jewellers. The Bergen cable car offers you a splendid panorama over the port and the surrounding fjords. Do not miss the visit to the old quarter with its narrow streets, a testimony of the power of the hanseatic League that controlled trade in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

23 June 2017 – Olden
Arrival 23/06/2017 midday. Departure 23/06/2017 late afternoon.With its two wooden churches, one red and the other white, plus its breathtaking view of the mouth of the river Oldeelva, Olden looks just like a picture post card. Located a few kilometres from the Jostedalsbreen park, home to one of the last glacier polar icecaps, this little village is a definite must for exploring the blue languages of the Briksdal or Kjennalen glaciers. Make sure you find some time to visit the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Absolutely amazing. Another gem is lake Lovatn and its turquoise waters inviting you to quiet contemplation.

24 June 2017 – Hellesylt
Arrival 24/06/2017 early morning. Departure 24/06/2017 early morning.Hellesylt is a small village located 20 kilometres from the Geiranger site. Here, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Norwegian village. Colourful houses, wooden walkways, rustic stalls where you can have a refreshment before heading off to discover more of the local colour. The surroundings are simply magnificent with cliffs, mountains and lakes with peaceful waters. The village is crossed by a river whose charming cascade tumbles into the fjord waters.

24 June 2017 – Geiranger
Arrival 24/06/2017 late morning. Departure 24/06/2017 early evening.A must-see stopover in Norway, located halfway between Bergen and Trondheim, Geiranger offers the stunning beauty of a natural decor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The splendour of the sheer cliffs, dark rock and crystalline water are the stars of the show here. The sides of the fjord offer many possibilities for hiking: the Eagle’s Road takes you up to a steep stretch offering a gorgeous panoramic view. A visit to Geiranger village will immerse you in the rhythm of life in the little local community.

25 June 2017 – Sailing Off the Arctic Polar Circle
Arrival 25/06/2017 evening. Departure 25/06/2017 evening.On board your ship, cross the mythical line of the Arctic Circle. This famous parallel runs at around 66° 33’ latitude north. Often considered the gateway to the Arctic, it is simply the latitude from which it is possible to observe the midnight sun at least once in the year. Once over the Circle, during the summer months, you will therefore be able to sail in permanent daylight and the low light that is so particular to the polar regions. A unique moment, which will doubtless remain one of the highlights of your cruise.

26 June 2017 – A,Lofoten
Arrival 26/06/2017 early morning. Departure 26/06/2017 late morning.Way beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in “another world”. A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests. Whether you visit Å, or Nusjford, listed by UNESCO, enjoy authentic and memorable moments.

26 June 2017 – Nusfjord
Arrival 26/06/2017 midday. Departure 26/06/2017 late afternoon.On the island of Flakstadøya, in the north-west of the country, Nusfjord is one of Norway’s most well-preserved fishing villages. Part of Nordland county, this hamlet nestling at the end of a fjord is a haven of peace surrounded by the majestic Lofoten mountains where time seems to have stood still for more than a century. Once you set foot here, you’ll feel like you’re visiting a real open air museum. Among the most notable curiosities, are the rorbuer, magnificently authentic fishing cabins, painted in bright colours and perfectly sheltered from wind. There are at least fifty of them. Their fabulous state of repair can be put down to a conservation project carried out by UNESCO is 1975.

Tromso
Disembarkation 27/06/2017 at 09H15 .In the north of the Arctic circle you’ll discover Tromsø, a secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the “Paris of the north”. You’ll soon see why when you discover its extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.
Formalities
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, PONANT will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Theme

MUSIC
Discover the delights of our cultural cruises where music takes centre stage, combining sumptuous scenery and exceptional artistic heritages.
A waterborne musical journey
Whether you are a fan of instrumental classical music or opera, or you prefer jazz or Celtic melodies, why not enjoy a different and very special experience aboard a PONANT ship? Set sail for a luxury cruise combining the charms of music and the sea.
These cultural cruises, where the tempo is set by concerts on land or at sea as well as a series of conferences, bring together music lovers and artists around a shared passion: music.
An exceptional selection of artists*
Aboard the ships, our guests of honour, all well-known artists, talented performers and brilliant virtuosos will share their knowledge and their passion in an accessible and intimate way.
According to the theme of each cruise, PONANT welcomes prestigious artists, be they pianists, violinists, singers and more.
Come and share alongside them the refined adventure of a PONANT musical cruise.
*See the list of guests of honour present during your cruise in the “Guests” tab.
Guest(s) Lecturer(s)

Didier Lockwood
Didier Lockwood was born in Calais in 1956 into a family of artists. He started to learn the violin aged 7, and at 17 he joined the group “Magma”. It was the start of a remarkable career. His encounter with Stéphane Grappelli when aged just 20 shot him into the jazz stratosphere. During his 35-year career he has worked with the greatest musicians in the world. Didier Lockwood is also a composer and has written two operas, two concertos for violins and orchestras, a concerto for piano and orchestra, lyrical poems and many other symphonic pieces, plus film scores.
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: Philippe Levy STAB

Dimitri Naïditch
A renowned pianist on the French and European music scene, as passionate about the classical repertoire as he is about jazz, Dimitri Naïditch is “one of those extraordinary musicians whose talent brims over the pigeon holes imposed by the system” (Olivier Bellamy). With a dazzling technique that combines a rare sensitivity and extraordinary power, he has unmistakable charisma.
An outstanding classical pianist (four First Prizes at the Kiev Conservatoire and several international Grand Prix), he is also a bona fide jazz musician and has been for over 30 years. Dimitri Naïditch has travelled the world performing solo, with symphony orchestras and alongside Didier Lockwood, Patricia Petibon, Richard Galliano, Marie-Claude Pietragalla, Gilles Apap, Pierre Amoyal, Rick Margitza, Mario Stantchev, Stefano Di Battista, Andy Sheppard, Buffo-Howard Buten, Jean-Jacques Avenel, Thierry Elliez, Nicolas Dautricourt… The list is long.
Straddling as he does the classical and jazz worlds, Dimitri Naïditch has carved an idiosyncratic path where the interpretation of classical texts, “decomposition” work and the jubilant freedom of improvisation are in harmony.
Author of many of his own creations, he is embarking on a series of programmes revisiting the masters: Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Far from being a simple jazzed-up reinterpretation, Dimitri Naïditch invites us on an exciting journey into the heart of classic masterpieces, which he handles with love and respect to give a new perspective. An inspired composer, he wrote Concerto for piano and nostalgia for the original soundtrack of Claude Lelouch’s film Chacun sa vie.
Founded in 2012, the Trio comprising Dimitri Naïditch (piano), Gilles Naturel (double bass) and Arthur Alard (drums) have performed at Palazzo Farnese in Rome, Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Théâtre du Châtelet, Lyon’s Auditorium, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Théâtre de la Gaîté in Montparnasse and at Lisztomanias in Châteauroux.
Languages spoken: French, Ukrainian, English
Photo credit: Oles Badhio

Patricia Petibon
Having studied with Rachel Yakar at the CNSM in Paris and discovered by William Christie, Patricia Petibon’s repertoire today spans French Baroque up to Modern Music, with approaches to Francis Poulenc and Alban Berg. Her successful debut at the Opéra de Paris in Rameau’s HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE in 1996 marked the beginning of an outstanding career, encompassing works from Mozart to Offenbach, including Donizetti and Verdi, which she interprets at the most coveted musical venues around the globe. Patricia Petibon remains loyal to baroque music, underlined by her triumphs as Phani et Zima/LES INDES GALANTES with William Christie, Dalinda/ARIODANTE conducted by Marc Minkowski at the Opéra de Paris, Ginevra/ARIODANTE in Geneva, L’Amour/ORPHEE ET EURYDICE by Gluck with Sir John Eliot Gardiner at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées as well as Morgana/ALCINA at La Scala in Milan. In Vienna she was applauded as Giunia/LUCIO SILLA under Nikolaus Harnoncourt, with whom she enjoys a frequent collaboration.
Highlights of the past few seasons feature COSÌ FAN TUTTE/Despina with Salzburg Festival, her role debut as Lulu in Geneva, and later with Salzburg Festival and in Barcelona (also released on DVD by DGG), MITRIDATE in Vienna and Munich as well as Susanna/LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Aix-en-Provence Festival. Other career milestones were her debuts as Donna Anna/DON GIOVANNI at the Opéra Bastille in Paris and as Gilda/RIGOLETTO in Munich, Mozart’s LUCIO SILLA at the Liceu and her stellar interpretation of Blanche in LES DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, as well as the world premiere of Philippe Boesman’s AU MONDE in Brussels and the revival at the Opéra Comique in Paris, for which she received unanimous critical praise. Recent highlights were ARIODANTE in Aix-en-Provence and MANON at Vienna’s State Opera.
Recent highlights were Händels ALCINA in Aix-en-Provence, tour-projects with La Cetra and Andrea Marcon, or with Le Concert d’Astrée and Emmanuelle Haïm. The 2015/2015 season will also bring concerts with the French baroque ensemble Amarillis, as well as with Venice Baroque and Andrea Marcon. the Orchestre National de France, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, the Orchestra of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and recitals in Dortmund, Wigmore Hall in London, in La Rochelle and in Amsterdam. On the opera stage she can be heard as Gilda in Verdi‘s RIGOLETTO at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and as Asteria in Mozart’s MITRIDATE at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées.
Patricia Petibon appears regularly on the concert stage and as recitalist. The release of her new recording, titled “La Belle Excentrique”, in fall 2014, was accompanied by numerous recitals in France, Austria, Swizzerland and Danmark. Patricia Petibon has been an exclusive artist with Deutsche Grammophon since 2007.
Photo credit: Bernard Martinez
Possibility of withdrawal in case of force majeure.
Pre/Post & Overlands
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Before your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy