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May 23, 2017 By Hailey

Cruising the Baltic Sea: Our Babymoon Adventure

With our eyes on the horizon, Justin and I cruised our way through Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic States earlier this month. We wanted survey the region before the Littlest Global Heartbeat arrives, and we booked a 10-day cruise with Royal Caribbean as part of our “Babymoon” adventure.

We had a fantastic trip that turned our much better than we ever anticipated. In using a cruise ship as our transportation to new destinations, we could strike a balance between all-out touring, exploration and activity with plenty of time for quiet rest, the perfect combination for a memorable holiday. Because we strongly feel that cruising the Baltic Sea was a trip-of-a-lifetime-type vacation that many others would enjoy, I want to share the highlights of our experience with you today. Perhaps you will be inspired to go for a float soon!

A HOLIDAY AT SEA
We had the pleasure of sailing on the Serenade of the Seas, certainly not the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, but definitely the biggest boat I’ve ever been on!

In general, I really liked this ship and felt comfortable on board. In fact, as the days wore on, I started referring to the Serenade of the Seas as “home” while we were out exploring our ports of call. I mean, I’ve never really been shy about using that word, but it’s not like I have turn down service in real life. If only…

Out of all the ship’s amenities, which there are aplenty, the most important piece to our aquatic vacation puzzle was just a foot away from my pillow: our bedroom balcony. As I mentioned in my last Postcard from Hailey, investing in a room with a balcony was THE most critical decision to our amazing cruise experience. We couldn’t get enough time out there!

From sunrises to snowflakes, wind turbines and forested islands, the scenery captivated our hearts. (So much so that I even wrote a poem!) To be able to enjoy the spectacular views from the privacy of our own balcony made our cruise that much sweeter and precious.

Although we are not “cruise people,” we believe that going on this particular cruise was the right choice for our Babymoon, as it afforded us great comfort and easy access to several intriguing destinations.

CRUISING TO REMARKABLE CITIES
We chose to cruise with Royal Caribbean because they had the itinerary that matched our travel destination desires (and our budget). While the downside to cruising is that you never feel like you have enough time in your ports of call, I am so glad to have had a taste of these beautiful places!

Riga, Latvia
With a lovely town center and flamboyant Art Nouveau district, Riga is a delightful city to explore at one’s leisure. Riga gave us a warm welcome to the region!

The view of Riga from the top of St. Peter’s Church is worth the lift ticket!
Sections of the medieval city walls remain and remind visitors of a long history.
Modern Riga is accentuated by the fantastical fashion of Art Nouveau.

Tallinn, Estonia
A top contender for “Best European City Ever,” Tallinn is dripping with romantic whimsy and Old World charm. With its cheery colors, fanciful turrets, and hidden lanes, every corner of the historic city will make you Ooooo and Aaahhhh.

You can get many views of Old Tallinn from the Toompea hill.
Bright colors and cobblestone streets add to the delight of Estonia’s capital.
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral sits at the top of the Toompea hill, a beautiful and unavoidable reminder of Russia’s past influence.

St. Petersburg, Russia
Our cruise directors were not shy in saying how St. Petersburg is the focal point of the itinerary and the gem of this particular trip. With two days in Russia’s second largest city, we could only take in a small measure of its imperial majesty and royal splendor. Truly, St. Petersburg is a beautiful city! You can read more about our time there in my next post: The Wonders of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is called “The Venice of the North” for all its canals and waterways.
The Winter Palace is home to the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world.
The bright facade of the Mikhaylovsky Castle hides a darker history…
This room in Catherine’s Palace is just one example of imperial extravagance on display around St. Petersburg.
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a remarkable monument to the assassination of Emperor Alexander II.

Helsinki, Finland
A city that emulates the Finnish flare for modern design, Helsinki is a great destination for shopping and dining. Of its attractions, three churches showcase a varied approach to faith and architecture, while the 18th century Swedish fortress, Suomenlinna, gives visitors an encounter with its military history.

The Helsinki Cathedral models the grace and simplicity of Lutheranism.
Suomenlinna is a chain of islands just a quick ferry ride from Helsinki’s Market Square. From cannons to rocky ramparts, there’s lots of explore here!
The Temppeliaukio Church, or Rock Church, is an admirable example of 1960s Finnish design.

Stockholm, Sweden
Out of all the capital cities in Scandinavia, Stockholm is my absolute favorite. As I’ve shared on Global Heartbeat before, the Vasa Museum is a must-see and sitting down for fika will give you a taste of cultural values.

With oodles of waterfront views, I could stare at Stockholm all day.
Fika essentials
Fika chocolate ball
Stockholm has a myriad of marine vessels that will ferry you around the city and through the archipelago.

Cruising through the Stockholm Archipelago is a major highlight and advantage of visiting the city by ship. Again, this is where a balcony room is a major bonus… and inspires poetry!

Have I mentioned how much we loved having a balcony room?

Klaipeda, Lithuania
With centuries under German, Prussian, and Russian rule, this port town has played an important role in European maritime history, and therefore, has been subject to almost complete destruction once or twice. But what the city lacks in historic gestures, it holds the key to one of the most treasured jewels of the Baltic Sea: the Curonian Spit.

In comparison, Klaipeda’s historic center seems tiny, but you can still delight in the details you find there.
Sandy beach stretches out to make the Curonian Spit one of the most popular summertime destinations on the Baltic Sea. The summer season doesn’t start until June, so we had it all to ourselves.

The Curonian Spit is a naturally formed peninsula of white sand dunes that stretches out from Russia’s Kaliningrad coastline in a 98-kilometer arch up towards Klaipeda. The National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage sight and encourages bikers to peddle through its natural beauty.

Copenhagen, Denmark
We met and said farewell to the Serenade of the Seas on the edge of the Danish capital. Since Justin and I were in Copenhagen last year, we didn’t spend an extra night in the city on this trip. However, we made time for a morning at the Torvehallerne, where we sought out a pour-over brew from The Coffee Collective and some tasty breakfast bites. And it was with those flavors of Scandinavia still on our tongues that we concluded our our journey around the Baltic Sea.

Torvehallern
Torvehallern Bread

A TRIP OF A LIFETIME
With new destinations to discover and plenty of time for unplugged rest, taking the 10-day Royal Caribbean cruise through the Baltic Sea was the right travel experience for our Babymoon. If you want to take a vacation that includes a carefree avenue to explore some beautiful European cities, then this cruise (or one like it) may need to go on your Bucket List. Cheers to dreaming big!


Ahoy there! Have you ever taken a cruise before? What do you find are the advantages and disadvantages to cruising? Have you ever visited this part of Europe? Is the term “Babymoon” a new concept to you?

Disclaimer: Royal Caribbean did not support Global Heartbeat on this journey. I wish they would have though…

Postcards from Hailey
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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
📷: @whitneykeilman
Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow 

📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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