Follow me to the Baltic

Wednesday morning sees me packing my suitcases again and taking the short drive to Southampton to board P&O’s Azura for a two-week cruise to the Baltic.
Six countries and seven ports of call in 14 days, visiting some of the most amazing cities in northern Europe.
First port of call is Kristansand in southern Norway (not to be confused with Kristiansund, which I visited two weeks ago on Saga Pearl II). I’m hoping I’ll be up early enough a couple of days later to enjoy the breathtaking sail-in through the Stockholm archipelago, and the following day we’ll be in Tallinn, the medieval city which could double as a Harry Potter setting.
Then we have two days among the gleaming spires and domes of St Petersburg , including an evening at the ballet – a first for me.
Helsinki, Copenhagen – minus the Little Mermaid, which has been shipped off to World Expo in Shanghai – and Oslo complete the itinerary.
If all that was not enough, we will be joined on board for part of the voyage by wine expert Olly Smith, presenter of Channel 4’s Iron Chef UK. Olly designed the Glass House wine bar on Azura and blended the ship’s house wines, and he’ll be leading me through a special wine-tasting session. Should be fun!
With the usual caveat about obtaining a workable internet connection, I will attempt to keep you up to date throughout the cruise.
Before then, I’m off to a special lunch tomorrow hosted by new cruise line Voyages to Antiquity, the Sicilian Tourism Department, and the port of Palermo at the Italian Institute of Culture in London’s Belgrave Square..
Sicilian chef Enzo Oliveri, who last year took Gordon Ramsay fishing for octopus and watched in horror as the F-Word chef fell overboard, will be cooking. Historian John Julius Norwich, whose book The Middle Sea was the inspiration for the Voyages to Antiquity itineraries aboard MV Aegean Odyssey will also be there, and I’ll report back later.