Saga Sapphire’s shore excursion team has revealed two new exclusive tour experiences for ballet and opera-loving guests sailing on the 15-night Grand Baltic cruise from Dover on June 19, 2019.

Backstage at the Ballet – St Petersburg, Russia

The first performance of The Nutcracker, featuring the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1892.

Saga’s guests can imagine the audience’s excitement on the opening night during an intimate and exclusive tour of the venue. The visit features walking onto the stage that has been graced by world-class dancers including Anna Pavlova and Rudolf Nureyev, and viewing the royal box as well as peering into the costume storage rooms and theatre workshops.

Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House – Stockholm, Sweden

Guests can take a peek behind the curtain at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm to experience a theatrical world of wonder and intrigue.

With its waterfront location, the Royal Opera House has been described as ‘one of the world’s most perfect theatres’.

Saga guests can visit the King and Queen’s Royal Suite and many of the hidden rooms while a guide reveals why King Gustav III was assassinated at the opera house during a masked ball at the stroke of midnight on March 16, 1792.