Cruise passengers looking for an alternative to the Mediterranean will find that a cruise to the Baltic Region will be an interesting and rewarding option.

The highlight of any Baltic Cruise has to be St. Petersburg (often featured with the ship staying in port overnight) with the famous Hermitage Museum, Catherine the Great’s Palace and St Isaac’s Cathedral.

Other popular ports of call include the fabulous medieval capital of Tallinn, Estonia.   Beautiful Stockholm and the wonderful Copenhagen.

The Baltic Cruise season generally runs from May to September but the best months to go are July & August.

Weather can be a bit mixed, so be prepared and take layers, ideal to remove as and when the weather dictates.

It’s worth pointing out that a visa is required for Russia unless on an organised tour, if you book an excursion via the cruise line, you bypass this formality by using the ships group visa.

Fred Olsen offer a 12 night Baltic Cruise on the 14th September 2012 from Newcastle aboard Boudicca sailing to: Stockholm (overnight in port), Tallinn, St. Petersburg (overnight in port), Ronne and Kalundborg.