Replace hot, with warm and the rest is true of a cruise in the Baltic. Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Russia all offer landscapes and cultures that are as different from each other as they are from the classic Mediterranean ports.

Here is the land of Viking legends, of midnight sun and Aurora Borealis; the land of a thousand lakes and a city, built on fourteen islands, that floats.

In summer the Baltic rotates to twenty hours of daylight and it's something of a time-warp to see the sun set and only hours later see it rise. There are even some places where the light never quite disappears. Imagine the scene at midnight on midsummer's 'day' - it's still light, people are milling around on land, on sea and mostly on champagne. The crayfish parties are as much a part of Nordic heritage as the flower sellers, creating perfumed trails to celebrate the solstice.

Although the water may be cold, it's so calm and clear that exploring the mass of craggy inlets is a delight of discovery.

Stockholm is a fascinating city built across hundreds of islands and overlooking an archipelago with a few thousand more. Everywhere, friendly locals in the little ports greet your yacht with a Smorgasbord to warm your heart.