Karl WP Beyer March 9, 2022 – AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises and others are avoiding Russian ports because of the war against Ukraine. Nicko cruises, the Stuttgart provider of ocean and river cruises, is also reacting to the current warlike developments between Russia and Ukraine with detours. All guests affected by the plan changes have now been informed about the alternative routes in the Baltic Sea.
On the Baltic Sea voyages of its two ocean-going ships VASCO DA GAMA and WORLD VOYAGER, updated by nicko cruises, the stop in Russian is missing St. Petersburg. VASCO DA GAMA and the WORLD VOYAGER do not call at the metropolis at the eastern end of the Gulf of Finland because of the war in Ukraine. Instead, nicko cruises is extending lay times in popular Nordic metropolises such as Helsinki, Tallinn or Stockholm. Additional ports in Finland will also be added to the program.
VASCO DA GAMA - Rønne/Bornholm
World Voyager - off Corvo/Azores
Alternative ports in southern Finland are: Turku, Kotka and Mariehamn. With Turku, the location of the Finnish branch of Papenburg MEYER WERFT, the ship's guests discover Finland's oldest city. You will get to know the gardens of Kulturanta or the Ruissalo National Park. – The small town of Kotka is ideal for a tour. A trekking tour leads from Kotka through the Valkmusa National Park. Alternatively, a trip with the RIB boat through the Gulf of Finland is on the program. – The expedition ship WORLD VOYAGER stops in Mariehamn, the only town on the Åland Islands. The latter destination is the starting point for an island tour including a city tour of Mariehamn or for a trip to the island municipality of Eckerö. The municipality has fewer than 1.000 inhabitants and is the westernmost municipality in Finland. Other options include the Open Air Museum and Bomarsund Fortress.
Like the deep sea voyages to Russian destinations, nicko cruises has canceled all river cruises in Russia for this season. On the 17-day river cruise along the Danube, the stop in Vilkovo in Ukraine and the trip to Moldova are omitted.
