In Transit: Depart on international flight to Copenhagen.

Afternoon: Arrive at Copenhagen's Kastrup airport (CPH). Transfer to hotel.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Evening: Orientation and getting to know one another.

Lodging: Palace Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Danish Museum of Art and Design and Guided Canal Field Trip / Traditional Danish Christmas Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning lecture will enlighten us on "Denmark, Danes and Democracy."

Lunch: Lunch at the Danish Museum of Art and Design.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will begin our afternoon activities with a guided excursion of the Danish Museum of Art and Design. The building was once a part of the former Royal Frederik Hospital, which was constructed from 1752 to 1757 under King Frederik V. It was restored in the 1920s to house the collections of the museum, which consist mostly of European decorative and applied art from the Middle Ages to the present, arranged in chronological order. Our afternoon culminates with a guided field trip on the canals of Copenhagen as we drift past Amalienborg Castle, The Black Diamond, The Little Mermaid, Christianshavn, the Parliament building, and the Christiansborg Castle.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional Danish Christmas dinner of pork, potatoes, cabbage, and rice pudding at the charming Kobenhavnercafeen restaurant.

Lodging: Palace Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: A morning lecture on “Copenhagen’s Past and Present” will teach us about the capital’s history and prepare us for our walking excursion through old Copenhagen, also known as the Latin Quarter. Walk through a maze of narrow streets to admire this bustling neighborhood’s charming old houses, unique shops, cafes and delis.

Lunch: Lunch in the hotel dining room.

Afternoon: You may choose to visit Christiansborg Palace or the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Art Museum. Christiansborg Palace is the home of Denmark's three supreme powers: the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power. Christiansborg Castle is the only building in the world which is the home of all the supreme powers of a nation. The Glyptotek Museum is an art collection, an architectural monument and a cultural institute. One of the most popular art museums in Denmark, Glyptotek houses a vast collection of Danish art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Dinner: Dine at Restaurant Paafuglen, one of the oldest and most original Tivoli restaurants, with decorated mirrors dating back to the 19th century. Enjoy your dinner in cozy surroundings, with a view of the Tivoli Gardens.

Lodging: Palace Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Denmark's Golden Age for art, literature and architecture took place from 1800 to 1850. Our morning lecture will introduce us to two famous Danes, Soren Kirkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark's literary giants in the Golden Age. Copenhagen celebrates Soren Kierkegaard's 200th anniversary this year.

Lunch: Enjoy Danish Smørrebrød during our lunch at Ad Libitum.

Afternoon: Free afternoon to enjoy as you please.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Lodging: Palace Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning field trip will be to Kronborg Castle, known by many also as "Elsinore," the setting for much of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Our journey will then take us to Louisiana, Scandinavia’s leading museum of contemporary art.

Lunch: A picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Transfer to board overnight cruise ship to Oslo.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional smörgåsbord in the ship’s dining room.

Lodging: DFDS cruise ship

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the cruise ship's dining room.

Morning: Welcome to Oslo! Our short, guided sightseeing excursion by bus through the city, including a stop at the brand new Opera House, will precede an introduction to Norway's great sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. Contemplate this artist's talents as we view the Vigeland sculpture park, Frognerparken. This wonderful park's architect was Vigeland himself and it is home to 212 sculptures that depict the life of man from birth to death.

Lunch: Delight in lunch with a view as we dine at the Holmenkollen restaurant. This destination will afford you a great vista of the city.

Afternoon: We travel to our hotel to settle in. Later in the afternoon we will convene for a short welcome session with information about the Oslo portion of our journey.

Dinner: Dinner at Brasserie 45, situated in the heart of Oslo, a mere stone's throw from the National Theatre and the City Hall.

Evening: The evening is at your disposal. Enjoy your first night in Oslo as you wish.

Lodging: Hotel Bondeheimen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning begins with an information session about today's program and a short lecture on "Norway, Past and Present." Next, we hone our artistic eyes during our guided excursion of the National Museum of Art.

Lunch: A short walk will take us down to Aker Brygge where we will eat lunch in one of its finest restaurants, Druen/The Grape.

Afternoon: Next we embark on an excursion to the new Nobel Peace Center for a guided visit through this modern and magnificent museum. Here you will "meet" all the Nobel Peace Prize laureates and be exposed to thought-provoking exhibits on humanity's fragile conditions. A 15-minute walk will take us back to the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Evening: Enjoy the evening as you wish. You will have the option to take part in a city walk and get to know the downtown area.

Lodging: Hotel Bondeheimen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning begins with an information session about today's program. Next, we will hear a lecture on Norwegian literature's Henrik Ibsen, an extremely influential Norwegian playwright who was largely responsible for the rise of the modern realistic drama. Held to be the greatest Norwegian author of all time, Ibsen is celebrated as a national symbol by Norwegians and as one of the most important playwrights in world history. Following the lecture, a bus will take us out to Bygdøy. The Bygdøy peninsula hosts several great museums and our excursion will take us to see some of the most important ones. Marvel at one of Scandinavia's greatest archaeological treasures, the Oseberg ship, at the Viking Ship Museum. This richly ornamented 19m-long dragon ship is the burial chamber of a Viking queen and her slave. Look for the Oseberg's animal-head post and four-wheeled cart, and the elegantly carved sleigh used by Viking royalty. Our next stop is the Norwegian Folk Museum, which has a rich collection of buildings from different parts of the country in addition to exquisite indoor exhibits on subjects such as Sami culture.

Lunch: A short walk will take us down to the Lanternen restaurant overlooking Frognerkilen Bay. Enjoy the sea breeze and the scenery while you eat.

Afternoon: The afternoon is at your disposal to explore more sights or simply to enjoy the city. Your program staff will provide you with possibilities. One very interesting option is to take the ferry (3 min) to Bygdones, where you can use your admission to visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum's collection of maritime curiosities, the Kon Tiki Museum and the Fram Museum. Later in the day, we take the same ferry (10 min) to Aker Brygge, close to City Hall. A former dockyard and industrial site, Aker Brygge was rebuilt in 1982 and was the largest property-rebuilding project of its time in Oslo. Aker Brygge has been a model for other cities when it comes to rebuilding old dockyards. Today, more than 6 million people from all over the world visit Aker Brygge to see and experience its special architecture. This unique community will stay in your mind as we walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: Experience dinner in Oslo’s oldest restaurant, Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri, one of only three buildings to have escaped complete destruction during the many fires that roared through the city during the late 19th century. Enjoy this revered vestige of Oslo's past as we are also treated to a cultural program.

Lodging: Hotel Bondeheimen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We depart for Stockholm by train.

Lunch: Lunch en route.

Afternoon: We arrive at our hotel in Stockholm.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Evening: Introduction to Stockholm program. An evening lecture will provide an overview of the program and of the city in preparation for tomorrow's excursion.

Lodging: Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Lecture: "Sweden Yesterday." Learn about the unique qualities of Swedish culture and the economy today in light of its historical roots.

Lunch: Lunch in the hotel dining room.

Afternoon: Guided bus excursion. Most attractions of Stockholm are within a few miles walking distance from the central station. During our excursion, we will see all of them. A special stop will be made at the Millesgården Statue Park. This was once the home of the most important 20th century Swedish sculptor, Carl Milles. Today it displays replicas of his most famous sculptures in a most attractive setting in the inlet to the city. Milles was a long-time US resident and is also represented in many major US cities.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room.

Lodging: Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Lecture: "Sweden Today." In this lecture, an overview of the political landscape of Sweden will give an understanding of a system which has given the Swedish citizens an exceptionally high standard of living across the board. Today the "Swedish model" is rapidly changing.

Lunch: We will explore the old town by foot and have our lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: A short boat trip from the Old Town takes us to the museum island of Djurgården, where we will visit the Vasa Ship Museum. This outstanding museum features the full body and ornamentation of a war ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in Stockholm in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later. The prime condition of this ship has made it internationally unique. A guided excursion through the museum will include a 30-minute film showing the complex salvage operation of the ship. The rest of the afternoon is at your disposal - you will be prepared for your "free time" choices in advance. Within easy walking distance (or a short bus ride) from the Vasa museum you will find several interesting museums and art collections, including The Nordic Museum, Liljevalch's Art Gallery, Prince Eugene's Waldemarsudde, and The Historical Museum.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Lecture: "Sweden Today" (continued). Continue to learn about the political and cultural landscape of Sweden in preparation for our excursion to the Stockholm City Hall. This remarkable building, inaugurated in 1923, combines many architectural and ornamental styles into a unique structure that is the pride of Stockholm. Many people worldwide have seen the magnificent Nobel Prize gala dinner taking place in the “Blue Hall” of City Hall.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Skansen Open Air Museum. The world's oldest open air museum, Skansen is comprised of historical buildings from different social and geographical areas of Sweden, including farmland, herb gardens and both domestic and wild animals.

Dinner: Tonight we will have dinner in the Old Town.

Lodging: Clarion Collection Hotel Wellington

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: This morning is at your disposal. You may want to use your free time to visit a museum of your choice. Options include The City Hall Tower, The Kaknas Tower, The Modern Museum of Art and the Museum of Photography. Your program staff will advise, assist and also accompany you to selected attractions.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Boat excursion to Drottningholm Palace. Stockholm was built on water and its waterways offer a convenient means of transportation. The journey to the present residence of the royal family takes an hour as we pass residential communities along the way. We enjoy a guided exploration as most of the Palace is open to the public. The portrait gallery and exquisite furniture are prime examples of Swedish craft and art from the 18th and 19th century. Later in the afternoon we will travel by bus to the Silja Line Terminal and board our cruise ship destined for Helsinki. Hours after our departure, we will pass through one of the densest and richest archipelagoes in the world.

Dinner: Enjoy a traditional smörgåsbord in the ship’s dining room.

Lodging: Tallink Silja Line

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the cruise ship's dining room.

Morning: We arrive in Helsinki and enjoy a guided bus excursion, including Sibelius Monument, Church in the Rock and Senate Square, before arriving at our hotel.

Lunch: Savor your first lunch in Helsinki at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit the Finnish Art Gallery. An art expert will serve as our guide through the Ateneum, the National Art Gallery of Finland. Contemplate some of the Ateneum’s most famous and interesting paintings during our excursion, and then take advantage of time to explore more of the museum on your own.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Sokos Hotel Presidentti

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will hear a lecture covering a "Short History of Finland." Follow Finland’s history from the early years to the present as we focus on Finland’s relations with the world and especially with the U.S. Next, listen to a lecture on "Daily Life in Finland" as we catch a glimpse into the everyday life of a typical Finnish citizen.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Introduction to the Finnish architecture in the hotel lecture hall. Then guided tour in Finlandia Hall, the masterpiece of the famous Finnish Architect Alvar Aalto.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: Tonight we are treated to an evening music program.

Lodging: Sokos Hotel Presidentti

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We travel by chartered bus to the Lotta Museum in Tuusula where a musician will lecture us on Finnish Music and delight us with the sounds of a kantele, a traditional Finnish instrument. Afterwards we will enjoy a coffee break and a slideshow about the Lotta Movement during World War II. Next we take a field trip to Ainola, Jean Sibelius’ Home Museum. Here we will see the composer’s home as it was while he lived there with his family, as well as the graves of the composer and his wife.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Järvenpää.

Afternoon: This afternoon we take a guided field trip to Hvitträsk, one of Helsinki’s architectural highlights. The former studio home of famous Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren, and Herman Gesellius, Hvitträsk was built of logs and natural stone and ranks among the most remarkable architectural creations of its time. The artistic unity of the house with its forest surroundings was a remarkable achievement.

Dinner: Our program concludes with a farewell dinner in a charming local restaurant.

Lodging: Sokos Hotel Presidentti

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Departure by chartered bus for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL).

Meals Included: Breakfast