Experience the rich history and culture of the Baltic States and the fantastic beauty of Norway's fjords on this trip that includes a specially arranged meeting in Gdansk, Poland, with Nobel Laureate and Solidarity leader, Lech Walesa. Embark the deluxe, exclusively chartered m.s. Le Diamant in St. Petersburg, the proud imperial city of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. Explore the glorious history of Scandinavia's greatest ports and capitals and experience the rich traditions and newfound economic and cultural vitality of the Baltic States as they flourish nearly 20 years after their liberation from Soviet domination. While cruising from St. Petersburg to Bergen, Norway, visit some of Europe's most fascinating and historic cities including Tallinn, Estonia; Stockholm, Sweden; Riga, Latvia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Copenhagen, Denmark. In each, participate in a series of exclusively arranged shore excursions, including a special early opening visit to the world-renowned Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Complement your cruise experience with an optional pre-program in dynamic St. Petersburg and an optional post-program in the ancient Hanseatic city of Bergen.