DisheveledAdventurer

I think it depends on the ship. When I was on the breakaway, you could get tender tickets via the in-cabin TV. On the Pearl (18 months later), they handed them out at the pool deck early on the day of arrival in the tender port (7 am or so). I was able to get 4 tickets (two couples, different staterooms). Nobody was checking key cards or cabin numbers. If they are using that procedure, one person should be able to get tickets for the whole group, but it might be a good idea to ask at guest services.

This is a good site with a lot of information on different providers in different companies:

http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data

The EU now requires EU cell phone providers to allow roaming in other EU countries at the local rates (with a whole bunch of exceptions). In theory, you could buy a local, pre-paid sim in the first country you visit and use that for your trip (keep in mind Russia is not in the EU and you may pay exorbitant roaming rates). How easy this is depends on which country you visit and what their carriers offer.

There are also a handful of companies that offer world-wide roaming SIMs, with different rates for different countries. TravelSim (http://travelsim.com) is one that I have used, they are based in estonia. You buy the sim on-line and they send it to you with credit before your trip. You can choose a dataplan before you go and activate it before you leave or when you arrive. It is a little more expensive than a local sim, but has the advantage of working in most countries around the world.

We were in Gothenburg back in 2012. We did the "West Coast Islands" tour through the line (Royal Caribbean). it looks like NCL offers something similar and I am sure you could find it through private providers. It took us to a few different small towns/villages. Lots of scenery.

I think it was the best use of our time. If memory serves, the city doesn't have a ton to offer. The Volvo Museum is a big draw, and there is a big shopping center, but I was glad to get out of the city and see the countryside.

We were on the Pearl, departed 11/17 out of Miami. I may not have been paying enough attention but at embarkation, it didn't appear they were cracking down on this. I didn't see any signs, or any evidence of confiscated beverages. I wasn't questioned about my empty bottles in my carry on, and I brought on a bottle of dasani "flavor drops" or whatever they call it, no questions or issues.

In port I always got my bottles back on board, whether they had water in them or not. But I had to check a bottle of wine I bought in Belize.

But others have seen just the opposite - big crackdowns - so I'd only attempt to bring on what I'd be willing to lose (or to chug in the security line).

I have not been to Berlin; visited central and western areas both trips. I do want to sail with NCL, although I don't doubt there are "better" itineraries/lines.

It looks like for these sailings that you can get on the ship in either Copenhagen or Warnemunde. So, for example, you can sail from May 16-25 (Copenhagen - Copenhagen) or from May 17-26 (Warenmunde-Warnemunde). You visit both, it is just a question of where you start and finish. It doesn't matter much if you're not doing a pre or post cruise stay, but if you are, you can decide where you want to do this.

Since you haven't been to Berlin, I'd recommend spending a couple days there pre or post cruise. Then you can still see Copenhagen as a port call.

So the Getaway has some sailings that port at Nynashamn and others that say Stockholm. So even though it specifies Stockholm it might not actually be Stockholm or not go through the archipelago? Is there anyway to find out where the Getaway will actually dock?

This site shows the (currently scheduled) itineraries. Looks like the first is in May 2017, so just click through month to month to see them all. This site lists Stockholm or Nynashamn. Other sites might list it as "Nynashamn (Stockholm)" if that sailing is going to Nynashamn.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonnorwegiangetaway-may2017.html

You can also look a the Port of Stockholm vessel calls to see what is scheduled where.

http://www.portsofstockholm.com/vessel-calls/

Of course, these are subject to change, but I think it is unlikely that a calling on Stockholm proper would be redirected to Nynashamn on short notice since the line has reserved (and paid) for the spot in Stockholm, but you never know.

We did a similar trip to the Baltics in 2012 on a different line.

I think Nynashamn is a deal breaker. It is actually one of the major reasons we didn't sail this itinerary with NCL. It is a needless 45 minute (or whatever) bus ride to Stockholm. Gothenburg is nice, and worth seeing, but I would pick Stockholm if I could only visit one (our cruise did both).

You said you've been to Germany. Have you been to Berlin? If so, I'd suggest getting on the ship in Copenhagen. If you haven't seen Berlin, then I would suggest a pre or post cruise there. Its big enough to warrant a couple of days there. Either way, I wouldn't bother with the day trip from Warenmunde, it seems to be too much time spent in transit.

Tallinn was the "sleeper hit" on our cruise. We weren't expecting much from it but it was really one of the highlights. For St. Petersburg, you might want to try a third-party tour provider. Many on our Roll Call did one with Alla Tours and were happy.

We will be getting off the Breakaway in a couple of weeks. Taking bus from Port Authority bus station to Providence. Not able to walk that distance with luggage so we will need a taxi (or 2) for 4 people.

 

We are platinum so we can be off after the people who walk off. Would you suggest 11:30AM or 1PM bus for home?

I think you can do the 11:30. We did a 12:45 bus last year, were among the last people off the ship, and still had a couple of hours to kill in the city.

(Not what the OP asked but they also store luggage for same-day bus passengers at the port authority terminal for $5 or $10/piece (can't remember the exact price)).