Advice on trips on Baltic cruise.

[helenchickchick]

Hia

Ive had lots on info re the Baltic cruise we are going on but we are trying to decide what trips are worth the money or best to do alone, we are thinking:-

Firsty - do the same trips run throughout the day at diff times?

Oslo: I have written down to do this ourselves - not sure where I have found that from. How far is it? If we do alone we will prob try and visit Viking Ship Musuem, Vigeland Park and just have a walk about. Is that do-able?

Helsingborg: There are no trip advertised on Thomson website - does that mean there are none? Im guessing we can walk to the old town? Does anyone know how far it is? Also told Kullaberg nature reserve worth a look?

Stockholme: Thinking of going on ship trip 'Panoramic Stockholme & Vasa Museum' We want to go to the museum - is this the best option? or go alone? Was thining if could do this trip and also look at city hall ourselves? Not sure if do-able or how far it would be? (also will watch sail away)

Helsinki: Will either go ourselves on 3T tram or do trip Seuransaari by boat & helsinki city. What do you think best? Does the ship provide any maps? or buy when you there?

St Petes: Defo do trips here. Would like to do the panoramic city tour as we havent been and want to see as much as poss. Was thinking baout Russian Ballet but not sure if worth it - has anyone been? On the second day not sure what best value for money - what do you think is best trip?

Tallin: We will explore ourselves.

Warnemunde: We will explore ourselves. We have planty of time as there 8am - 8pm.

Aalborg: Any idea how far it is to walk ourselves- Im guess not too far as offers a walking tour!

Sorry to write so much. Just trying to plan/bugdet before we go.:confused:

Thanks.x:p

[Tipsy252]

This can easily be done on your own. The port / dock in Kongshaven is not too far from the main centre and has a wonderful collection of really old medieval buildings and from here hopefully your ship will have a shuttle into the centre, if you're not up to the 20 min walk.
Suggest you take the HoHo bus from behind the parliarment building right in front of the downtown harbour. This will take you out to the Viking Museum and also to the Vigeland Park to see the sculptures. Also a cruise around the Olso Fjiord is a great way to see the sights, but you will probably get that from onboard your ship! You don't say when you are going but, Enjoy.

[kruzseeka]

Hello Helen,

I didn't realise how different this itinerary is from the Thomson ones we've done. We haven't been to Aaalborg, Helsingborg or Oslo but I can give you some info on the others.

Stockholm: This is usually a short day here, leaving mid-afternoon because the sail away through the archipelago takes about three hours and has to be completed before it gets dark. This means you have to try to get off the ship as soon as possible to make the most of your time.
You can do Stockholm independently, but the time constraints are greater here.
Usually there are shuttle buses into the centre and you would do well to get shuttle tickets (available the day before) for the early departure from the dock [you will have to queue for these! Go early!]
I wouldn't say it's impossible do both the Vasa and City Hall in the same day but I think it would be pushing it given the early departure from Stockholm. They are roughly the same distance from the drop-off point but in opposite directions so if you were on foot, it would take perhaps 40 minutes to get from one to the other. Although if you took a taxi between these attractions you would save quite a lot of time. (Suspect taxis could be expensive in Sweden - but don't know for sure.)
The Vasa is about a 20 minute walk from the shuttle drop-off point by the Opera House - flat and easy to find by following the waterfront round, over the bridge and onto Djurgarden where the museum is located. I would say that this is the top attraction in Stockholm - it's very well done and very interesting (you can pay by credit card here to save your Euros). We were quite surprised by how much we enjoyed it.
City Hall is interesting but you could do with timing your visit so that you can join one of the English speaking guided tours which are very good (tours free although there is an admission charge.) I think they were at 10.00 and 12.00 when we went, but a Google of City Hall will take you to the official site where it tells you about tour times. An hour would be a reasonable estimate of the time you'd need to see around it.
I think you'd have to plan carefully if you were to do both in one day (We've done both but on different visits.)
Since you are thinking of doing the ship's excursion I think this would probably be the best way of seeing more of Stockholm and making the most of your time (you can spend a long time waiting for shuttle buses!). I think we paid £3 for the shuttle, then there was admission to Vasa, so perhaps the excursion will be relatively cost effective. I suspect you wouldn't have time to do City Hall independently though once your excursion is over - if you did have some time, Gamla Stan (the Old Town)is closer and worth having a walk around.

Helsinki: This is very doable on your own. Again, there are shuttles to the centre - but you do have a longer day here. I haven't been to Seuransaari so can't advise you on that one. We walked everywhere in Helsinki. Call at the tourist office (cross the road and a little to the left from the end of the Harbour where you're dropped off - it's on a corner) and get a map or ask about the 3T tram. From there we walked to the Sibelius Monument (do a Google - see whether you'd be interested in seeing it, because if not, it's a bit out and perhaps not worth the time to walk it but perhaps the tram would take you there) then we went to the Rock Church which we think is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity - quite unlike any other church I've ever visited. From there we walked to Senate Square which is lovely but I think the cathedral is more impressive from the outside than inside (so perhaps no need to spend time going inside). From there we went to the Uspenski Cathedral - a very ornate orthodox church which you can see to your right from the Harbour. A complete contrast to the Rock Church. Then we spent time looking round the market on the Harbour , had a coffee - all in one day and on foot! So you can tell that it's very easy to get around Helsinki and see a lot - the tram would make it even easier.

St P: Well, where do I start? St Petersburg is stunning! We were absolutely bowled over by the palaces and sights (although the port is something to behold - and not in a good way, and there are some pretty depressed areas on the way into the city too). If you haven't got a visa, you have to go on the ship's trips or organise independent tour companies to be able to go ashore. We've always done Thomson excursions.
My top three trips are Catherine Palace (Pushkin), the Hermitage (with the Gold Room - if you want this one book as soon as you get on board - it's limited availability) and the Church of the Spilled Blood. Peterhof Palace and Gardens are lovely too but choose one or the other of Catherine Palace and Peterhof as they have a similar appeal and with so much to see I'd say go for a bit of variety. The Church of the Spilled Blood is the one with the colourful onion domes and its just as ornate and jaw-dropping on the inside as the outside! There is something to be said for the Panoramic Tour too - we did that on our first visit and you get to see most of the sights in the city which is quite compact. It's a tough call!
Perhaps for your first visit the Three Cathedrals trip, the Yusopov Palace (unless you especially want to do the canals which comes with this excursion) are the ones not to do. We've done them all over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed each one in a different way, but if I had to choose............ Most of the trips in the city are half-day and are timed so you can do a morning and afternoon one. You could perhaps do Catherine Palace (full day) and the Panoramic tour plus the Hermitage which are both half-day trips.
Yes, we've been to the ballet - twice. One was Giselle and the other Swan Lake - both most enjoyable. It's quite an experience going to the ballet in Russia and the music is lovely too. The evening Neva cruise was good as well and our friends did the Russian folk evening which they said was great! So any of the evening excursions are recommended - it's definitely worth getting off again in the evening. St P's is such an experience, forget the cost and make the most of it! You'll have to go again!!!!

Tallinn: Yes - do it yourself - very easy - very fantastic!!! There's a great cafe in the square. Stand with your back to the Town Hall. Bottom right hand side of the Square there's a cafe. Go down the side under the arch and go into the side entrance - it's like a cellar. Two coffees, a large piece of strudel (to share) and complimentary truffles for 5.75 Euros! Excellent value - much nicer and better than the cafe terraces to the left of the Square. Also look for the Old Hansa barrow selling caramelised almonds. They're delicious!

Warnemunde: You have plenty of time here to go into Rostock if you want to. The train station is next to the berth and it costs about 5E return to get the train to Rostock. (15 minutes or so.) Don't come out of the station, but stay underground and catch the tram into Rostock market square (same ticket valid). It's a good shopping area, has Mediaeval Church and interesting water sculpture at the end of the shopping street. We went to find the Stasi HQ (was one of ship's trips) but it took some finding and as the information was all in German, we didn't find it as informative as we'd hoped. Not worth the effort really. But you can easily get into Rostock and back in the morning and have plenty of time to explore Warnemunde in the afternoon. It's a very pretty sea-side town with a wide expanse of beach. Look out for the band on the quayside at the sail away - a lot of people stand on the dock waving you off. It's a nice atmosphere!

I can't remember where we picked up our maps - but we have one for Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn so they must have been available on the dock-side. There are usually (temporary) tourist offices handing out info at all the ports of call.

It's a great trip - i'm sure you'll love it! :)

[helenchickchick]

Thanks for all the info - they must have changed the ports this year? Kruzeeka - you have given me loads to go on!

We are happy to walk if do able (age 27 & 34) so will walk where possible. We will prob do Stockholme on our own and go Vasa and a little look in old town. I will check what time we arrive/leave.

What are the stuttle tickets? Do you always need them to get off ship? or do you just walk off and sometimes need shuttle depending on distance?

Tipsy252 - we go on 23 May so got a little time to get sorted yet.x

[kruzseeka]

Most of the trips in the city are half-day and are timed so you can do a morning and afternoon one. You could perhaps do Catherine Palace (full day) and the Panoramic tour plus the Hermitage which are both half-day trips.


Hello Helen,

In replying to a different post, I've got out my destinations guide and realise we didn't do the full day at Catherine Palace - and I'd say half a day is plenty. Save the difference in cost (about £35) and use that to go to see something else. You can fit 2 x half-days into one day - they organise the trips to allow you to do this so I'd recommend going down the route of half-day trips if you want to see more.

Sorry for misleading you - another senior moment! :confused:

[helenchickchick]

Hello Helen,

In replying to a different post, I've got out my destinations guide and realise we didn't do the full day at Catherine Palace - and I'd say half a day is plenty. Save the difference in cost (about £35) and use that to go to see something else. You can fit 2 x half-days into one day - they organise the trips to allow you to do this so I'd recommend going down the route of half-day trips if you want to see more.

Sorry for misleading you - another senior moment! :confused:

Oh its no bother - there is so many different ones, will go over your advice tonight and see what costs come to.xx

[djmutters]

Hia

Ive had lots on info re the Baltic cruise we are going on but we are trying to decide what trips are worth the money or best to do alone, we are thinking:-

Firsty - do the same trips run throughout the day at diff times?

Oslo: I have written down to do this ourselves - not sure where I have found that from. How far is it? If we do alone we will prob try and visit Viking Ship Musuem, Vigeland Park and just have a walk about. Is that do-able?

Helsingborg: There are no trip advertised on Thomson website - does that mean there are none? Im guessing we can walk to the old town? Does anyone know how far it is? Also told Kullaberg nature reserve worth a look?

Stockholme: Thinking of going on ship trip 'Panoramic Stockholme & Vasa Museum' We want to go to the museum - is this the best option? or go alone? Was thining if could do this trip and also look at city hall ourselves? Not sure if do-able or how far it would be? (also will watch sail away)

Helsinki: Will either go ourselves on 3T tram or do trip Seuransaari by boat & helsinki city. What do you think best? Does the ship provide any maps? or buy when you there?

St Petes: Defo do trips here. Would like to do the panoramic city tour as we havent been and want to see as much as poss. Was thinking baout Russian Ballet but not sure if worth it - has anyone been? On the second day not sure what best value for money - what do you think is best trip?

Tallin: We will explore ourselves.

Warnemunde: We will explore ourselves. We have planty of time as there 8am - 8pm.

Aalborg: Any idea how far it is to walk ourselves- Im guess not too far as offers a walking tour!

Sorry to write so much. Just trying to plan/bugdet before we go.:confused:

Thanks.x:p

Warnemunde was lovely and the boat docks right in the very heart of it :)
it's like a lovely Devon seaside resort and very very clean, I would reccoment the boat tour around the harbour and also tasting the German Lager Rostock it's very refreshing:)

[kruzseeka]

[quote=helenchickchick;18853492]
What are the stuttle tickets? Do you always need them to get off ship? or do you just walk off and sometimes need shuttle depending on distance?


Hi Helen, I've just noticed that you asked about the shuttle buses. You don't need them to get off the ship - but are really bus tickets to transfer you to town. These are usually laid on when the berth is too far to walk into the town. In some ports thay are provided by the port authority (in some cases just to get you out of the port complex - others to drop you in town) and in this instance they are free. (One or two Med ports)

If Thomson lay on the shuttle buses, they are usually payable - often about £3 each return. They are definitely worth it as it's obviously much cheaper than taxis. They drop you off at a central point where you go back to when you want to catch the shuttle back to the ship. They run continuously through the day but depending on how many there are, it can take some time for all the passengers to get transferred into the city - perhaps until 11.30 or so - hence the need to get there early to buy them from Reception (or is it destination services - can't remember - it will tell you in the cruise News) as they are numbered i.e. bus 1, 2, etc.. This isn't too much of a problem if you have a fairly long day in port - but as I said, I think Stockholm is almost always a 'short one'. Check your itinerary. It is also important to keep your eye on return times as most people will want to go back around the same time causing a bit of a log-jam. As I said before, perhaps the ship's trip is a good idea here given the length of stop and if you want to see as much as possible of Stockholm.

Helsinki has a shuttle too which you are best catching although if you want a really long walk, I think you could do this yourself - but better I think to spend your time walking round the city.

Tallinn is easily walkable from the berth.

Hope this answers your question ok. :)