A Baltic Reset: 10 Nights from Southampton to Copenhagen Aboard The Newly Refreshed Seven Seas Voyager
Sometimes a journey is more than a holiday. Sometimes it arrives at exactly the moment you need it.
My recent 10-night Baltic cruise from Southampton to Copenhagen aboard the newly refreshed Seven Seas Voyager was one of those journeys. It brought together beautiful destinations, fabulous food, warm service, a little rain, plenty of laughter and, most importantly, the time and space to breathe again.
Before we left, my husband and I lost a dear, longtime friend to cancer. We helped their spouse, also a close friend, navigate the arrangements and funeral. It was a deeply emotional time, and this cruise came just when we needed a reset.
Travel does not erase grief, nor should it. But it can give you room to reflect, reconnect and appreciate the moments that are still yours to live.
There are trips you look forward to because of the destination. There are trips you look forward to because of the ship. And then there are journeys that arrive in your life at exactly the right time and My recent 10-night Northern Europe and Baltic cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Voyager was one of those journeys.
Sailing from Southampton, England to Copenhagen, Denmark, our itinerary took us to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Kristiansand and Oslo in Norway, Lysekil in Sweden, Aarhus in Denmark and Kiel in Germany, along with two glorious days at sea.
We had sunshine. We had grey skies. We had rain. We had those beautiful crisp Northern European days when you just want to keep walking and exploring. And we enjoyed all of it.
Because one thing travel has taught me after almost 29 years of cruising is that you cannot control the weather but you can absolutely control whether you allow it to define your experience.
So, put on the raincoat, grab the umbrella and go because you are in Norway, You are in Sweden, You are sailing the Baltic and Northern Europe aboard the beautiful Regent Seven Seas Voyager.
Live in the moment.
Flying the Flag with Air Canada
My journey began the way many of my travels do: aboard Air Canada, my airline of choice. #FlyTheFlag
We flew Business Class overnight to London, which made all the difference. My rule is, any flight over 6 hours (outbound) must be business class.
Business Class made a tremendous difference on an overnight transatlantic flight. Being able to rest on the flight and arrive in London feeling refreshed meant we weren't sacrificing that precious first day of our holiday simply trying to recover from the journey.
Once we arrived at Heathrow, our Blacklane chauffeured transfer was waiting to take us directly into London.
For me, this is one of those little details that can make a big difference to the beginning of a luxury holiday. After an overnight flight, I don't want to be figuring out trains, taxis or luggage. I want to collect my bags, meet my driver and know that the next step has already been taken care of.
Then it was time for London!
Two nights in London may not sound like much, but we packed in enough for a proper city escape.
We enjoyed afternoon tea at The Ritz London, experienced the Changing of the Guard, toured Buckingham Palace, took in the views from the London Eye and finished our last evening with a Champagne cruise along the River Thames.
Touring Buckingham Palace was especially meaningful to me.
As a Canadian and part of the Commonwealth, I have always had such admiration and affection for Queen Elizabeth II. She will always be my Queen, and walking through Buckingham Palace brought back many memories. I miss her.
London remains one of those cities I can visit again and again. There is history everywhere you look, yet it continues to feel vibrant, exciting and relevant.
After two very full days, however, I was ready for something else I love...
Walking up the gangway of a Regent ship. that never gets old.
Back Home With My Regent Family
I have now been on every Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship in the fleet, some of them multiple times, and have spent more than 120 days aboard Regent cruises.
Yet something happens every single time I step onboard.
It feels familiar.
The smiles. The welcome. The crew members I recognize. The crew members who recognize me. The genuine conversations and the little touches of service that are very difficult to describe until you've experienced them yourself.
I feel like I am coming home to my Regent family.
Luxury is wonderful. Beautiful suites, Champagne, fine dining and gorgeous surroundings certainly don't hurt! But its the people that create the memories.
And Regent's crew and staff remain one of the biggest reasons I love this cruise line as much as I do.
There is a warmth to the service that never feels stiff or overly formal. They somehow manage to deliver an exceptionally high level of luxury while still making you feel comfortable enough to be yourself.
That, to me, is what modern luxury should feel like.
Meet the Newly Refreshed Seven Seas Voyager
I was especially excited about this sailing because Seven Seas Voyager had recently emerged from an extensive refurbishment this past spring And I have to say she is looking fabulous.
Voyager entered dry dock in April 2026 as part of Regent's multi-million-dollar fleet enhancement program, with the refurbishment completed in May. The work included refreshed suites, updated furnishings, lighting and details, new carpeting throughout suites, corridors and public spaces, and a renovated Pool Grill with a new pizzeria concept.
The result is a ship that still feels unmistakably like the Voyager so many Regent guests love, but fresher, lighter and more contemporary.
That's important because Voyager occupies a bit of a sweet spot in the Regent fleet.
With only 349 suites and approximately 698 guests at double occupancy, she is large enough to offer a wonderful selection of restaurants, lounges and public spaces, yet small enough to retain the intimate atmosphere that luxury cruisers appreciate.
Tip: To see more about the Voyager refresh, Watch my socials as I will be posting videos of the suites and more.
Some of my favourite spaces remain the elegant Compass Rose, the flagship restauran, Prime 7 for a classic steakhouse evening; Chartreuse for beautiful French-inspired cuisine the relaxed Coffee Connection; the Voyager Lounge, Horizon Lounge and, of course, the Pool Deck when Northern European weather cooperates!
And when it doesn't?
There is something pretty wonderful about settling into a comfortable chair, ordering a coffee or glass of wine and watching the scenery go by.
That is what sea days are for.
And I must point out I especially enjoyed the Epicurean Enrichment Studio where I took one of the many offered classes that was led by chef marcus camolezi during our voyage. Definitely worth doing.
Five Ports, Five Countries and Three Sea Days
We visited several very different Northern European destinations without feeling like every single day required us to race off the ship.
Our two sea days gave us time to actually enjoy Voyager, something I always encourage my clients to do.
A Regent ship isn't simply transportation between ports. The ship is a big part of the holiday experience.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Rotterdam is quite different from the Amsterdam many travellers picture when thinking about the Netherlands.
It's modern, creative and architecturally bold, largely because much of the city centre had to be rebuilt following World War II.
It makes an interesting contrast to the more traditional European cities on this itinerary and is a great destination for travellers interested in architecture, food and modern urban design.
Kristiansand, Norway
Kristiansand gave us our first real taste of Norway.
Colourful houses, waterfront scenery and that relaxed Scandinavian atmosphere made it an easy city to enjoy. Sometimes a port doesn't need a massive checklist of attractions. Wandering, stopping for a coffee and simply absorbing where you are can be every bit as rewarding.
Oslo, Norway — My Favourite!
Oslo was easily my favourite stop of the cruise.
I love this city.
Oslo has that wonderful Scandinavian combination of history, contemporary architecture, culture, green space and waterfront living. It feels sophisticated without being pretentious.
It is also a city where I could happily spend several days rather than several hours.
That's always my test of a great cruise port: Would I come back and stay longer?
For Oslo, the answer is absolutely yes.
Lysekil, Sweden
Lysekil offered a completely different experience. It's smaller, charming and wonderfully Swedish.
These are the ports I think luxury cruisers sometimes underestimate. The famous European capitals are fabulous, but smaller destinations can give you a completely different sense of a country.
There is less rushing. Less checking things off a list.
You simply get to experience the destination.
Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus was another lovely surprise.
Denmark's second-largest city combines history, culture, excellent food and youthful energy in a very walkable setting. It's the kind of place that makes you think, "Why haven't I heard more about this city?"
Exactly the kind of discovery I love about cruising.
Kiel, Germany
Our final port before Copenhagen brought us to Kiel, Germany, a city with strong maritime roots and a natural connection to the sea.
By this point in the voyage, we had travelled through the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany without unpacking our suitcase again and again.
And that is one of cruising's greatest luxuries.
Your suite travels with you.
here are some images I took of the ports along the way.
And Yes... It Rained
As Dolly would say: "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
And this couldn't be more true for northern Europe, it isn't the Caribbean.
You can have glorious sunshine in the morning and be reaching for your umbrella later that afternoon or vice versa.
We experienced some beautiful weather on this trip and some rainy, overcast days too. Did it ruin anything? Not a chance.
I've learned that waiting for everything to be "perfect" is one of the easiest ways to miss what is wonderful right in front of you.
Sometimes the photograph has blue skies. Sometimes you're standing in the rain laughing. Both can become great memories.
Here is brief packing list for this voyage itinerary:
A lightweight waterproof jacket that can be layered over a sweater.
Cashmere wrap
Comfortable water-resistant shoes with good support for cobblestones.
A compact umbrella, although a hood is often easier in windy ports.
Layers, short sleeve to long sleeve shirts, sweaters (and maybe even a warm hat and gloves for early & late cruise season) for rapidly changing temperatures.
A small day bag that closes securely and can handle light rain.
A dressier outfit or two for evenings aboard, without overpacking.
Sunscreen and sunglasses, because Northern Europe can also surprise you with glorious sunny days.
Why This Particular Cruise Meant More Than I Expected
There was another side to this journey that made it particularly meaningful for my husband and me.
as I mentioned earlier Just before we left, we lost a longtime friend to cancer. His spouse is also a very close friend of ours, and we had been helping with arrangements, the funeral and everything that comes with saying goodbye to someone who has been part of your life for many years.
It was an emotional and exhausting time.
Then suddenly, it was time to leave.
At first, it almost felt strange to be packing a suitcase and going on a cruise.
But as we settled aboard Voyager, I realized this trip had arrived when we needed it.
We needed the ocean,
We needed time together,
We needed to sit over dinner without somewhere else we had to be,
We needed to laugh again,
We needed to explore,
We needed to reset.
And it reminded me of something I tell my clients, but perhaps understood a little more deeply after this trip:
Don't keep putting off the trip that matters to you.
There will always be another reason to wait.
Maybe next year,
When work slows down,
When retirement comes,
When the kids are older,
When life isn't quite so busy,
When everything lines up perfectly,
But life doesn't always wait for our plans.
Tomorrow is never promised.
That doesn't mean being reckless. It simply means recognizing that if you have the health, the means and the desire to see the world, there is something to be said for doing it while you can.
Take the trip,
Celebrate the anniversary,
Travel with your best friends,
Go solo if you've been waiting for someone else to be ready,
Order the Champagne,
Stand outside even when it's raining,
Watch the sunset,
Talk to the people beside you,
And live.
Is a Regent Baltic & Northern Europe Cruise Right For You?
I think this region is particularly well suited to travellers who love history, architecture, culture, beautiful scenery and destinations that are a little more understated than the traditional Mediterranean JOURNEY.
It's also wonderful for couples, friends travelling together and solo travellers.
Regent makes Northern Europe particularly easy because so much is already included in the cruise experience, including a wide selection of shore excursions, specialty dining, beverages and fine wines, gratuities, Wi-Fi, valet laundry and 24-hour in-suite dining.
That allows you to spend less time thinking about what everything costs onboard and more time enjoying where you are.
And isn't that the point?
HERE ARE SOME DINING IMAGES FROM MY CRUISE:
BEAUTIFULLY PLATED, FRESH & COLOURFUL AND OH SO TASTY!
Why Experience Matters When Booking Regent
After almost 29 years of cruising and more than 120 days personally aboard Regent ships, I don't sell Regent simply from a brochure.
I've live it.
I've stayed in the suites, eaten in the restaurants, taken the shore excursions, spoken with the crew, experienced the service and learned the little details that can make the difference between simply booking a cruise and planning the right Regent experience.
My clients aren't looking for stuffy luxury.
Neither am I.
They are couples, families, friends and solo travellers who appreciate beautiful things, exceptional service and travelling well but they also like to laugh, explore, meet people, enjoy a great glass of wine and feel comfortable being themselves.
That's my kind of luxury traveller.
As Regent Cruise Specialist I serve clients across Canada and the United States, my role is to help you navigate the ships, suites, itineraries, airfare, pre- and post-cruise stays and those little details you may not even know to ask about yet.
Because with Regent, the right itinerary is important.
The right suite is important.
But having someone in your corner who actually knows the product can be pretty important too.
One Last Thought From Somewhere Between Southampton and Copenhagen
This wasn't simply another cruise for me.
It was London and afternoon tea at The Ritz.
It was Buckingham Palace and thinking about a Queen I admired.
It was Norway in the sunshine and Scandinavia in the rain.
It was fabulous meals aboard Voyager.
It was familiar faces welcoming me back onboard.
It was sitting beside my husband, looking out at the ocean and realizing just how much we needed that moment.
And it was another reminder of why I chose this career in the first place.
Travel gives us stories.
It gives us perspective.
It gives us time with the people we love.
And sometimes, it gives us exactly the reset we didn't realize we needed.
So if Regent Seven Seas Cruises has been sitting on your "someday" list, perhaps it's worth asking yourself one question:
What exactly are you waiting for?
Live now.
Live in the moment.
And, whenever you can...
Live well.
Corry is a luxury travel expert and your Regent Cruise Specialist. with 28+ Years of Cruise Expertise | 120 Days & counting Aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises across the fleet.
"Regent, Personally Experienced. Expertly Planned."
"Nobody knows regent seven seas cruising better then me."
Interested in a Northern Europe / Baltic's cruise & want to learn more click on the web link below:
Contact: Corry ticknor, your regent cruise specialist
tel: +1 (705) 327-5135
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