Baltic cruise (2022)

Originally we booked a cruise in New Zealand but that one was cancelled twice so we opted for a Baltic cruise that would also visit St. Petersburg, a city we had always wanted to see. However, the Ukrainian war prevented us from going there so the itinerary was changed. Still a great cruise though that started in Amsterdam (very convenient for us) with stops in Kiel and Warnemünde (Germany), Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm and Visby (Sweden) before ending in Copenhagen (Denmark).

All photo's can be purchased on various materials through my shop on artheroes.com.

Below are all the photos related to this travel experience including the relevant link to the shop.

Nicely organised

While the cruise ship was docked in Warnemünde, Germany we walked around the relatively small town. When we came to the beach we noticed these perfectly aligned beach chairs waiting for customers. Since it was a bit too cold there were no takers.

The wall of many holes

The brand new Norwegian Prima cruise ship has a lot of very interesting art pieces on one of its decks. As a photographer it was fun playing with these. This particular piece of abstract art has hundreds of holes in it. I found it extremely pleasant to look at.

Spotted a ferry

The brand new Norwegian Prima cruise ship has a lot of very interesting art pieces on one of its decks. As a photographer it was fun playing with these. This particular piece of abstract art has hundreds of holes in it. I loved how the ferry was captured in one of them.

Simply spectacular

Sunsets while being on a cruise ship can be amazing sometimes. While sailing the Baltic Sea on the Norwegian Prima cruise ship we noticed the heavy clouds and did not think it was going to be something worthwhile. Quite unexpectedly though and just for some brief seconds the sky behind the clouds turned insanely red. Luckily I had my camera with me to shoot this simply spectacular sunset photo.

The Sibelius monument

While on an excursion in Helinki, Finland our tour guide brought us to the Sibelius monument. Sibelius was a famous Finnish composer and the monument is a beautiful abstract art piece commemorating his work. It consists of series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern.

Looking up through the pipes

While on an excursion in Helinki, Finland our tour guide brought us to the Sibelius monument. Sibelius was a famous Finnish composer and the monument is a beautiful abstract art piece commemorating his work. Our guide suggested to stand underneath the monument and that is how this photo came to be.

Sunset in a glass

Walking past one of the many restaurants on the cruise ship Norwegian Prima during sunset. I loved how the warm evening light was reflected in all of the glasses.

Ceiling lighting in the atrium

For our Baltic cruise we sailed on the cruise ship Norwegian Prima. It's a brand new ship by cruise line NCL and this was actually the maiden voyage. We loved the various design elements on this luxureous vessel. This here is the ceiling of the atrium.

Design lighting in the hallway

For our Baltic cruise we sailed on the cruise ship Norwegian Prima. It's a brand new ship by cruise line NCL and this was actually the maiden voyage. We loved the various design elements on this luxureous vessel.

Covered walkway in the flower garden

During a guided city tour in Tallinn, Estonia we visited the Kadriorg park. We were astounded by the beautiful area which included the summer palace of Peter the Great and the surrounding gardens. Here we are passing the covered walkway in the flower garden.

Song Festival Grounds

When we arrived at the song festival grounds in Tallinn, Estonia we were amazed by its size. It consists of a huge multi-level stage for choirs (up to 15.000 people) and a large grass field for the people coming to watch the event. It played an important part in Estonia being freed from Russian reign.

The Journey

While in Tallinn, Estonia we hired a tour guide to show us a bit more of the city than just the old town. When we passed this we asked him to stop. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful war monuments we had ever seen, Maarjamäe memorial. The walls are inscripted with victims of World War II while defending the country from the Russian Empire. Extremely impressive.

This part of the memorial is called 'The Journey' and it leads to the 'Home Garden'.

Standing in the 'Home Garden'

While in Tallinn, Estonia we hired a tour guide to show us a bit more of the city than just the old town. When we passed this we asked him to stop. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful war monuments we had ever seen, Maarjamäe memorial. The walls are inscripted with victims of World War II while defending the country from the Russian Empire. Extremely impressive.

Work to be done

For some reason we ended up in a part of Tallinn, Estonia that had quite some dilapidated buildings. There is clearly a lot of work needed to make this somewhat presentable and yet, it has something authentic.

Looking through the window

The cathedral in the Upper Town of Tallinn, Estonia is really beautiful, both inside and outside. I loved how I could look through the large windows from the outside and see the other side.

Looking back

All streets in both the Upper Town and Lower Town in Tallinn, Estonia are small, hence mirros are used to see if any unexpected traffic is coming from the other side. I love looking at this.

Inside the St. Catharine's passage

We loved exploring the Lower Town in Tallinn, Estonia. Lots and lots of medieval streets and buildings. Sometimes passageways are used to go from one section to another. Here we are inside the St. Catharine's passage.

Göran Hälsinges Gränd

I have always been attracted to the historic city centres and love walking around in them for hours. This was in Stockholm's old town (Gamla Stan). People here live in extremely narrow streets. This here is Göran Hälsinges Gränd.

Exiting Bredgränd

We just loved walking around in the old town in Stockholm, Sweden (Gamla Stan). Here we are exiting Bredgränd, one of the many very small alleyways, to explore more of the quaint little shops that can be found everywhere.

Jungfrun

Travelling around on the island of Gotland in Sweden. Friends of ours picked us up from the cruise terminal and took to the north of the island, an area we hadn't been before. Here at the village of Lickershamn we have a lovely view on the rauk formation called Jungfrun.

Picnic table in a hole

We were happy our cruise ship stopped at Visby on Gotland. We have friends living there and they picked us up for a nice tour to the North of the island. We loved this rauk area near the village of Lickershamn.

Langhammars rauk area

We loved the special rock columns called rauks. We had seem them before but were never here at the Langhammars rauk area on Fårö, a small island in Gotland, Sweden.

Behind the windmill

We love these small and cute windmills that can be found quite a lot in Sweden. This one is on the island Fårö which is part of Gotland. I deliberately took this photo from behind the windmill as I wanted to capture the wooden cart wheel. I think it came out pretty well.