- Home>
- Cruise Lines>
- Oceania Cruises>
- Oceania Sonata>
- Baltic & Nordic Capitals
Baltic & Nordic Capitals, 23 July 2028
12 nights
Oceania Sonata
23 Jul '28Cruise overview
Itinerary
Helsinki
A city of the sea, Helsinki was built along a series of oddly shaped peninsulas and islands jutting into the Baltic coast along the Gulf of Finland. Streets and avenues curve around bays, bridges reach to nearby islands, and ferries ply among offshore islands.Having grown dramatically since World War II, Helsinki now absorbs more than one-tenth of the Finnish population. The metro area covers 764 square km (474 square miles) and 315 islands. Most sights, hotels, and restaurants cluster on one peninsula, forming a compact central hub. The greater Helsinki metropolitan area, which includes Espoo and Vantaa, has a total population of more than a million people.Helsinki is a relatively young city compared with other European capitals. In the 16th century, King Gustav Vasa of Sweden decided to woo trade from the Estonian city of Tallinn and thus challenge the Hanseatic League’s monopoly on Baltic trade. Accordingly, he commanded the people of four Finnish towns to pack up their belongings and relocate to the rapids on the River Vantaa. The new town, founded on June 12, 1550, was named Helsinki.For three centuries, Helsinki (Helsingfors in Swedish) had its ups and downs as a trading town. Turku, to the west, remained Finland’s capital and intellectual center. However, Helsinki’s fortunes improved when Finland fell under Russian rule as an autonomous grand duchy. Czar Alexander I wanted Finland’s political center closer to Russia and, in 1812, selected Helsinki as the new capital. Shortly afterward, Turku suffered a disastrous fire, forcing the university to move to Helsinki. The town’s future was secure.Just before the czar’s proclamation, a fire destroyed many of Helsinki’s traditional wooden structures, precipitating the construction of new buildings suitable for a nation’s capital. The German-born architect Carl Ludvig Engel was commissioned to rebuild the city, and as a result, Helsinki has some of the purest neoclassical architecture in the world. Add to this foundation the influence of Stockholm and St. Petersburg with the local inspiration of 20th-century Finnish design, and the result is a European capital city that is as architecturally eye-catching as it is distinct from other Scandinavian capitals. You are bound to discover endless engaging details—a grimacing gargoyle; a foursome of males supporting a balcony’s weight on their shoulders; a building painted in striking colors with contrasting flowers in the windows. The city’s 400 or so parks make it particularly inviting in summer.Today, Helsinki is still a meeting point of eastern and western Europe, which is reflected in its cosmopolitan image, the influx of Russians and Estonians, and generally multilingual population. Outdoor summer bars (“terrassit” as the locals call them) and cafés in the city center are perfect for people watching on a summer afternoon.
Read More
Tallinn
Stockholm
Stockholm
Riga
Klaipeda
Gdynia
Rønne
Warnemünde
Kiel
Aarhus
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Ship features
Oceania Sonata provides an array of accommodation options, dining experiences and facilities for you to enjoy.
- The most spacious ship ever built by Oceania Cruises
- Residential-style accommodation - all with private balconies
- Brand new Horizon Suites - an Oceania first
- New dining venues Nikkei Kitchen and La Table
- Relaxed adults-only onboard atmosphere
- Destination-rich itineraries and experiences
- Stunning wellness facilities
- Gratuities and WiFi included
Accommodation
Accommodation
Oceania Sonata offers a choice of residential-style accommodation, with over 30% of the categories dedicated to suites. Alongside traditional options such as the Veranda Staterooms and Penthouse Suites, Sonata introduces two new categories: the Horizon Suite and the Deluxe Penthouse Suite, both offering dedicated living spaces with sweeping views. All of the accommodation boasts Aquamar bath amenities and Oceania’s signature Tranquillity Beds.
Dining
New Dining Venues
Oceania Sonata introduces two brand-new dining experiences. A partnership with Maîtres Cuisiniers de France underpins La Table, an intimate chef-led venue where the artistry of French cuisine is showcased in an elegant, private setting. Completing the line-up, Nikkei Kitchen is a bright, open dining concept offering a vibrant fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours.
The Finest Cuisine at Sea
Oceania Cruises is famed for The Best Cuisine at Sea, and Oceania Sonata proudly continues this tradition with a collection of much-loved dining venues. Alongside signature speciality restaurants such as Red Ginger, serving Asian-inspired cuisine, and Toscana, offering authentic Italian classics, The Grand Dining Room returns in an elegant setting with an ever-evolving menu of international favourites. For more casual dining, Polo Grill offers freshly prepared burgers, hot dogs, and other relaxed classics.
Afternoon Tea
A hallmark of any luxury cruise experience, Oceania Sonata proudly continues the tradition of daily Afternoon Tea. Naturally, this is an Oceania Cruises Afternoon Tea, featuring delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and elegant bite-sized sweets, all served to a soothing musical accompaniment. It’s a refined ritual to be savoured – and one we highly recommend enjoying at least once during your voyage.
Wellness
Wellness
After a day exploring ashore, what could be better than booking into the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Centre for️ for a pampering treatment, or settling poolside with a good book? For those looking to stay active during their voyage, the Fitness Centre features state-of-the-art equipment and expansive windows offering sweeping views of the ocean or the day’s port of call.
Entertainment
During the day
Life onboard Oceania Sonata offers the freedom to do as much – or as little – as you wish. Spend leisurely days relaxing poolside on the ship’s plentiful loungers, or head to the theatre to enjoy an enriching guest lecture delivered by one of Oceania’s esteemed speakers. If you’d like to hone your culinary skills, The Culinary Centre hosts in-depth classes led by the ship’s resident chefs, while a collection of elegant lounges provides the perfect setting to unwind and watch the world go by.
When night falls
When not enjoying the extended stays in port featured on many of Oceania Sonata’s 2027 cruises, the ship offers an inviting choice of evening entertainment. Enjoy a show or live performance in the Sonata Lounge, where comfortable seating and excellent sightlines ensure a great view from every seat. Alternatively, try your luck in the casino, admire moonlit ocean views from the Horizons Lounge, or head to the elegant Opus Lounge to enjoy a cocktail from its extensive menu.
Exploring ashore
Oceania Sonata’s destination-rich itineraries are enhanced by a carefully curated collection of shore excursions, designed to reveal the cultural, culinary, and historic heart of each destination. From wine tasting in Médoc vineyards and marvelling at the Achilleion Palace, to snorkelling the crystal-clear waters surrounding Tortola, every Oceania Sonata cruise promises enriching discoveries both ashore and onboard.