Göta Canal Cruise
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Our classic canal cruise between Sweden's two biggest cities is where you will experience a voyage on board one of the historic ships of Göta kanal. Travelling in the same manner as it has been done for more than 140 years, forces you to leave your everyday life behind.
This is a pleasurable trip where the journey is more important than the destination. Every now and then we make shore excursions of historical or cultural interest to places along this beautiful canal. Naturally, it is your choice if you prefer a guided tour ashore during our stops, or if you rather enjoy a relaxing drink on the bridge deck.
This cruise can be done in reverse and therefore there are more dates available which run off the back of the listed voyages. Please enquire about any early bird rates available for 2014. Please note all meals included - three breakfasts, four two-course lunches and three three-course dinners.
Embark your ship in Gothenburg and start exploring the Göta locks.
Cruise from Sjötorp to Motala
The day of locks and icecream.
The enchanting waterways and archipelago of islands.
Countries visited
Places visited
Transportation
Three handsome, historical ships is designed to fit the most narrow lock on the canal like a hand in a glove. Built in 1874, Juno is the oldest ship still in regular service. The Wilhelm Tham was built in 1912 and our youngest ship, Diana, in 1931.Th 2000 ey have been carefully refurbished and preserved to reflect the times when they were built.
There are three cabin classes, one on each of the ship's decks - the bridge, shelter and main decks. Most of the cosy, small cabins are fitted with bunk beds and a washbasin. There are shared WCs and showers on each deck. Meals are enjoyed in the mahogany and brass decorated dining room. The salon is a place for socialising, conversing or reading one of the books in our small ship's library.
Included In Price
• 3 x breakfasts, 4 x two-course lunches and 3 x three-course lunches• Four days and three nights on board, including one night at quayside
• The impressive lock staircase in Trollhättan with a total drop of 32 metres and the Canal Museum
• Sweden’s smallest ferry, ”Lina”, in Töreboda
• Forsvik with the oldest lock in the canal, built in 1813
• Karlsborg Fortress, offering a journey through time and space
• Motala, the capital of the Gota Canal, although the motor museum tour will no longer be included due to time restrictions
• The convent church of Vreta and the remains of Sweden's first convent
• The Viking community of Birka, Sweden’s first town
• The boat makes six stops for excursions/sightseeing
Meals Included
This tour includes 10 meals; 3 breakfasts 4 lunches 3 dinners
Not Included In Price
• Arrival and departure transfer at the start and end of the trip• Meals not specified in the itinerary
• Gratitudes and items of personal nature
• Domestic or international flights
• Travel insurance
Important Information
The cabins are elegant but small. The cabins are fitted with bunk beds and are about the same size as a sleeping compartment on a train. As the berths vary in length, we ask that you tell us ahead of time if you are above medium height. The cabins are fitted with a washbasin with hot and cold water. There are showers on all decks, and toilets on all.None of the cabins have private facilities. There is one cabin with a Queen bed - please check with us to see if this is available.
This trip can be done as a 6 day journey, following the same route, however, the ships stay docked throughout the evening.
This trip links well with the Gothenburg to Stockholm or reverse self drive itinerary.
| Start | End | Twin share pp | Twin Premium | Superior | Single Supp | |
| 1 Jun 2013 | 4 Jun 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 10 Jun 2013 | 13 Jun 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 19 Jun 2013 | 22 Jun 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 27 Jun 2013 | 30 Jun 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 5 Jul 2013 | 8 Jul 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 14 Jul 2013 | 17 Jul 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 22 Jul 2013 | 25 Jul 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, 2000 fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 7 Aug 2013 | 10 Aug 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium = Queen Bed, Superior includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. | ||||||
| 16 Aug 2013 | 19 Aug 2013 | AU$ 1880 | AU$ 2290 | AU$ 3340 | AU$ 990 | |
| M/S Juno - Twin Premium on shelter deck, Superior on bridge deck includes bridge deck and champagne, fruit and bathrobe. If these dates don't fit with your plans, please ask us for the alternative voyage travelling from Stockholm to Gothenburg. | ||||||
Day 1: Embark your ship in Gothenburg and start exploring the Göta locks.
Embark at 9am and have the morning cruising the canal. Just after lunch is the first lock , Lilla Edet, followed by Trollhättan Locks. In late afternoon, we enter the Lake Vånern, 44 metres above sea level, Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.
Our ship passes Läckö Castle, which was built in 1298 as a bishop’s residence. Its golden age was during the reign of Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who transformed it into a baroque castle in 1652. You will be needing a late glass of wine on the deck for this castle as we pass by around 11pm, remembering that there are long summer nights.
Accommodation
Historic cruise boatMeals Included
1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 2: Cruise from Sjötorp to Motala
As you enjoy your cabin, we enter the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Göta Canal. At dawn, we pass a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. For "early birds" walking is possible from Godhögen to Hajstorp, app. 1.5 km.
Throughout the morning, we pass historical monuments and fabulous scenery before entering the beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) which serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal.
At 3pm, we visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built 1819-1909. The guided tour is a journey through time and space, full of surprises and special effects.
In the late afternoon, arrive at Motala. It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal. Overnight stop.
Accommodation
Historic cruise boatMeals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 3: The day of locks and icecream.
Today is a leisurely day enjoying the rhythm of the ship as it passes many locks.In the afternoon, we stop alongside the idyllic town Söderköping which was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and interesting history as a spa. Söderköping is yours to explore on your own. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream!
Late in the evening, we leave the Göta canal and travel into the Baltic Sea.
Accommodation
Historic cruise boatMeals Included
1 x Breakfasts1 x Lunches1 x DinnersDay 4: The enchanting waterways and archipelago of islands.
In the early morning light, we weave through the archipelago as we head towards Stockholm. Our first stop is the Viking community of Birka on the island of Björkö is often regarded as Sweden's first town. The town was then an important harbour for international shipping and trade. It was in use for about 250 years and was abandoned before the year 1000. Birka features on UNESCO’S World Heritage list. The tour guide will show us around on the island (app. 3 km, uneven terrain). We also visit the museum.
Our cruise ends at Skeppsbrokajen 103, in the Old Town of Stockholm around 4pm.