35-day Baltic explorer, Iceland & Canada fall foliage

Your voyage begins in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen was founded during the 12th century. The city owes much of its charm to the buildings erected by Denmark's monarchs, and boasts a treasure trove of late-Renaissance and Rococo architecture.Copenhagen deserves its accolade as the Venice of the North. Founded on a series of islands and islets, the city today is laced with graceful canals and boasts some of the most delightful architecture in Northern Europe. See the fabled statue of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid, a symbol of the city. Stroll along the old harbor of Nyhavn, lined with cafés, restaurants and 500-year-old gabled houses. Browse the superb shops on the world-famous Stroget or view the Rococo palaces lining Amalienborg Square. Best of all, savor the taste of local delicacies while wandering the paths of Tivoli Gardens, one of Europe's most celebrated pleasure gardens.

This idyllic island in the Baltic has been a popular destination since its discovery by Danish artists in the 19th century. Bornholm boasts a wealth of scenic beauty ranging from bucolic farms to one of Denmark's largest forests. The island also features sandy beaches, quaint fishing ports and a rugged coast crowned by the ruins of the largest medieval fortress in Northern Europe. Bornholm is also the host of "New Scandinavian Cooking" - a wildly popular television series watched by over 60 million viewers. The island has become renowned for its high-quality gourmet produce including superb smoked fish, sausages and internationally award-winning beer and blue cheese.The island's capital and largest city, Rønne is home to 14,000 inhabitants.

Dramatic 13th-century city walls surround the former Viking settlement of Visby, Sweden. Recognized by UNESCO as the best-preserved medieval commercial center in Northern Europe, this quaint town of 20,000 residents, known as the "City of Roses and Ruins," is home to ancient forts, churches and winding streets lined with cafés and cozy cottages. The Gotlands Fornsal Museum explores 8,000 years of the region's rich cultural history, from the geological formation of Gotland through the Viking period to the modern age. A venture beyond the ancient walls takes you to the Hanseatic harbor of Almedalen, dotted by such historical sites as the Kruttornet (Powder Tower) and the Jungfrutornet (Maiden's Tower), or to scenic Dalmansporten, site of the 12th-century St. Mary Church, the only one of Visby's earliest churches to still be in use today. For those seeking the solace of the countryside, Gotland, Sweden's largest island, offers flowering meadows, pastoral views and the opportunity to experience the dairy products and sweet jams produced on local farms.

Often described as the "Capital of Scandinavia," Stockholm traces its origins back seven centuries, when it was founded on the island of Gamla Stan and became the capital of Sweden. Today, the city covers 14 separate islands connected by bays, channels and inlets. The skyline is a sea of copper roofs grown green with patina, towers, spires and graceful cupolas stand sentinel over the historic Old Town (Gamla Stan). With its population of nearly a million people, Stockholm is one of the world's most beautiful, clean and orderly cities.With a history stretching over seven centuries, Stockholm is not just a beautiful city but also Sweden's center of art and culture.

A second day in Stockholm, Sweden - time to explore at your own pace.

Like Latvia and Lithuania, the Baltic republic of Estonia has survived a turbulent history. The small nation was conquered and ruled by the likes of Teutonic Knights, Polish princes and Russian Tsars. For 51 years, Estonia remained a pawn in the Soviet empire, until the burgeoning freedom movement led to independence for the Baltic Republics in 1991. Like its sister republics, Estonia maintained its ties to the Western tradition, retaining the Latin alphabet and Catholic and Protestant faiths. Once a member of the historic Hanseatic League, Tallinn is the political, commercial and cultural center of Estonia.

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Seabourn Quest's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Capital of Latvia and the largest city of the Baltic Republics, Riga has long been a center of commerce and culture. Founded in the 13th century, the city rose to prominence as a member of the Hanseatic League, the great German-Baltic trading consortium that dominated Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. In the long struggle for Latvian independence, Riga has been ruled by Germans, Swedes and Russians. Today this "Little Paris of the Baltic" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its architecture including one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in Northern Europe.The city's German heritage contributed to the city's rich architecture. Riga's Art Nouveau buildings are outstanding examples of the German style known as Jugendstil.

Formerly known as Memel, Klaipeda is a unique historic city - with its roots that go back to the days of German knights - and it's a gloriously royal city, too, as Klaipeda was once the capital of Prussian Kingdom. Today Klaipeda is a modern city, known for its creative, innovative design and architecture and, even more for its friendly and welcome people. Being the third largest town in Lithuania, this relatively small town is well known for its grand annual events including the Jazz festival and Sea festival. The cultural scene offers everything from the internationally-known music concerts to sizzling jazz clubs, bars and countless museums and galleries.

Your ship calls at Gdansk, Poland.

Continue your voyage aboard Seabourn Quest with a leisurely day at sea.

Your ship returns to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Another day at sea to explore the ship at your own pace.

Norway's fourth largest city, Stavanger lies at the mouth of the Gandsfjord. The old port, attests to the sea's enduring role in Norwegian history. Here, Vikings once sailed on voyages of conquest and exploration. In later centuries, the port served as a major hub for Norway's mercantile and fishing fleets. By the mid-20th century, however, Stavanger had fallen on hard times as the fishing grounds dwindled. In 1969, the discovery of North Sea oil opened a new chapter in Stavanger's history.At the "Sword in the Rock" Monument, three giant crossed Viking swords commemorate King Harald Fair Hair's unification of Norway in 872 following his victory at the Battle of Hafrsfjord.

The Shetlands are the most northerly of the British Isles and consist of over one hundred islands, of which a mere 16 are inhabited. Lerwick is the capital of the archipelago. Located on the eastern shore of Mainland, the largest Shetland Island, the town was largely developed by Dutch herring fisherman in the 17th century. The islands are renowned for their superb crafts ranging from woolen and cashmere knitwear to intricate lace shawls and fine jewelry.Note: Lerwick is an anchorage port. Guests transfer to shore by ship's tender.

Your ship calls at Torshavn, Faroe Islands.

Your ship calls at Runavik, Faroe Islands.

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Seabourn Quest's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Your ship calls at Husavik, Iceland.

Your ship calls at Siglufjordur, Iceland.

Your ship calls at Grundarfjordur, Iceland.

Iceland is a land of volcanoes and glaciers, lava fields and green pastures, boiling thermal springs and ice-cold rivers teeming with salmon. This unspoiled demi-paradise is also home to a very old and sophisticated culture. The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavik was founded in 874 when Ingolfur Arnarson threw wood pillars into the sea, vowing to settle where the pillars washed ashore. Today, Iceland is an international center of commerce and home to one of the most technologically sophisticated societies in the world.Reykjavik is the gateway to Iceland's natural wonders, which range from ice fields to thermal pools. The island is in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology.

Your ship returns to Grundarfjordur, Iceland.

The town of Ísafjördur is the municipal centre of the West Fjords peninsula. The West Fjords are Iceland's least populated region, with 9,600 inhabitants in the area of 9,520 km. Isafjördur (population 3,500) formerly one of Iceland's main trading posts, was granted municipal status in 1886. Some of Iceland's oldest and best-preserved buildings, dating from the 18th century, are located in Ísafjördur. The town is still predominantly a fishing centre. A vigorous and varied cultural and artistic scene flourishes in the town as well. Mountains surround Ísafjördur on the three sides and the sea on the other. The ancient settlement site of Eyri downtown is enclosed by the narrow Skutulsfjördur fjord, which shelters the harbour in all weathers.

Continue your voyage aboard Seabourn Quest with a leisurely day at sea.

Your ship calls at Cruising Prins Christian Sund.

Nanortalik means "place of bears" in Greenlandic. Summer visitors to this extraordinary - and extraordinarily isolated - port may spot polar bears on the offshore flow ice. Those offshore waters also teem with seals and Minke, humpback and fin whales. Ashore, brightly painted wooden houses cluster to a rocky peninsula in the harbor. Dramatic boulders dot the landscape, and mountains surround the port. (Nanortalik is well known to the world's elite rock climbers.) Ruined Viking farmsteads and ancient Inuit sites dot the surrounding countryside.The port was founded 1797 as a Danish whaling station. Today, Nanortalik is a fishing port, and many people are traditional seal hunters.

If you're a seasoned traveler with a taste for destinations untrammeled by modern tourism, Qaqortoq is the ultimate port of call. Qaqortoq means "White Palace" in Greenlandic, and this small town of about 3,400 is the cultural and commercial center of Southern Greenland. Inuit and then Europeans were drawn to the site over 200 years ago, they were lured by the wealth of marine mammals that thrive in the offshore waters during summer. The climate is, at best, highly unpredictable. Summer temperatures normally compare to summer temperatures in Northern Europe, but weather is variable even in summer. In winter, Qaqortoq is frequently isolated by winter sea ice and accessible only by airplane or helicopter. The harsh landscape and harsher climate have helped preserve traditional Greenlandic culture - the centuries-old Inuit skills of hunting, kayaking, and fishing are still revered in this unique place. Organized shore excursions for Qaqortoq may not available on select voyages, but the town is easy to explore on your own. The ship's launches drop you off at the pier, providing you with the opportunity to stroll the streets, visit the small local museum, talk to the local residents, buy a souvenir stamp at the Post Office and perhaps purchase an Inuit handicraft as a remembrance of your visit to one of the unique communities on the planet. Note: Your ship anchors at Qaqortoq and passengers are transferred to shore via ship's launches, weather conditions permitting.

Another day at sea to explore the ship at your own pace.

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Seabourn Quest's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Your ship calls at St Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada.

Continue your voyage aboard Seabourn Quest with a leisurely day at sea.

Your ship calls at Gaspe, Quebec, Canada.

Your ship calls at Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Canada.

To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.

Your ship calls at Montreal, Canada.