Scandinavia & Russia cruise

[clamar]

We will be sailing 8/11 on HAL 12 day cruise and will probably book our own airfare to Copenhagen. Need suggestions on transfers from airport, hotel for one night and transfer to the ship ( Rotterdam) the next day. I understand that although the ship docks in Rotterdam at the end of the cruise, HAL buses you to Amsterdam for return flights to US. Any suggestions/input on any of the above would be appreciated.;)

[Mary Ellen]

We ended our cruise last summer in Copenhagen. We just used a taxi from the ship to our hotel (SAS across from Tivoli) and then again the next day to the airport. We were able to charge our fares to a credit card. If you also do so, let the driver know at the beginning.

[world~citizen]

We also just took a cab. You can get some Danish currency in an ATM at the airport also.

[PatsyAnne]

My first suggestion is to stay in Copenhagen an extra day, especially if you haven't been there before. There is so much to see and do there, and the Danes are some of my favorite people. When we ended a cruise there in 2004 we took a cab, and I believe stayed at the Hotel Kong Frederik, centrally located. I've also stayed at the Scandic Copenhagen once on business, and thought it was nice. The Scandic had that wonderful Danish breakfast included with the room.

Trish

[jjones]

In Copenhagen the train station is within a block or two of the main square. It's very easy to take it to or from the airport, and probably less expensive. In 2007 I stayed at The Square which has a great location, not so great expensive ($20) breakfast (all cold foods). It's directly across the street from the main square which makes it both convenient and noisy. Another time I stayed at the Europa which was also close to the square and had a lovely free breakfast (in 2003) but rooms were very minimalist; it was much quieter than The Square. Both of these two hotels were in the mid-price range.

[ScottishMaid]

In August 2008 we finished a cruise on the Rotterdam at Copenhagen. The taxi from ship to hotel was 150 Danish Kroner and hotel to airport was 270 Danish Kroner for 4 of us. We stayed two nights at the Absalon Hotel just the other side of the rail station from the Tivoli Gardens. De luxe rooms were 1450 Danish kroner per room per night, including huge cold buffet breakfast and tax at 25%. Copenhagen was very expensive though at the moment the $ has gone up a little.

[Ine]

On the way back the easiest is indeed to take the HAL bustransfer from Rotterdam port to Amsterdam airport. It will take about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. On weekdays during rushhour it can be longer.