How to book
Call Richard Turen (see The Adriatic).

The Baltic
Top itinerary
"Scandinavia & Russia" on Seabourn's Pride
Length 12 days
Departures May 26, June 16, July 12, and August 2 and 23, 2008
Cost From $11,155
Map Click to view

Don't let the 2 days at sea fool you: This itinerary makes the most of your 12 days. Why? It's quite rare for a ship to spend more than a single night in the same port, but the Pride—renowned for its crew's attentive service—gives you 3 days to explore St. Petersburg and the nearby Catherine Palace, one night to spend at the Mariinsky Ballet, and one at a local restaurant or on a caviar blowout. You'll never be far from the action, either, because this 208-passenger Seabourn yacht docks at the English Embankment, just across from the Hermitage, rather than with the larger ships that stop 45 minutes away at the industrial port, which is closed to taxis. For your overnight in Stockholm, don't worry that you're arriving at 6 p.m.; this close to the Arctic Circle, the summer sun doesn't set for another four hours. After a week in the Baltic's biggest cities, the Pride wisely docks at Rønne, on Bornholm Island, a provincial fisherman's haven and the perfect spot to take it easy before disembarking in Copenhagen. Music fans might also want to plan a pre- or post-cruise extension to Copenhagen's jazz fest or Roskilde rock festival; both take place in July.

How to book
Call Paul Niskanen of Cruise Masters in Portland, Oregon (503-641-7447; pauln@finevoyages.com; finevoyages.com).
Map Click to view

Large-ship alternative
The 940-passenger Crystal Symphony's "Tall Ships & Tapestries" 11-day itinerary (departs July 29, 2007; from $7,355) includes all the same ports except Bornholm, plus one overnight in Stockholm, one in Copenhagen, and two in St. Petersburg. The only downside? This ship docks at the industrial port. But for a $250 permit fee (a charge more than recouped by the thousands of dollars you'll save by choosing Crystal over Seabourn), Greg Tepper of Exeter International can get a car and driver to meet you at the ship and get you away from the port as quickly as possible (800-633-1008; greg@exeterinternational.com; exeterinternational.com).

The Caribbean
Top itinerary
Southern Caribbean on the SeaDream I
Length 7 days
Departures January 13 and 27, March 9 and 23, and April 6 and 20, 2008
Cost From $4,900
Map Click to view