Mgugs46

Croatia has ATMs right at the cruise terminal.

The walk down isn't bad .... Unless you've also just done the walk from Oia to Fira, and then decide to not wait in line for the cable cars and walk down ... Then it's pretty awful ;)

RC tell you to wait in their daily newsletters but you are better just walking off. In our Alla tour group one couple left the ship at 7.30 and were not Challenged and missed the horrendous queues at immigration. We left at 8.00 and queued for 1hr 20. Alla were very good and waited for everyone. My advice, leave early. Tour was excellent. :) Weather mixed. Warm with a few showers in St Petersburg. Just arrived in Helsinki, warm and showery.

Thanks. We planned on playing dumb and just ignoring the directive and being down and ready to go at whatever time we dock. I think it is ridiculous that they try and force you in to one of their overpriced tours by trying to scare you out of the local tours.

Looks like the weather has been (and possibly will continue to be) much warmer than I expected it to be. May have to change my whole packing strategy :o

We leave from Stockholm at 6pm, and then return to Stockholm at the end of the cruise at 8am. I plan on being up on deck taking photos in both directions.

Enjoying the trip. Passport queues horrendous in St Petersburg first day. Second day a breeze. Great tour so far :)with Alla tours. :)

Did you have to wait for the royal Caribbean tours to get off first in Russia?

How have the temps been?

Will let you know on our return. Looking forward to it.

Hope it is going well :)

We did this cruise last year, and absolutely loved it

Just curious for those who may be in that area, how reliable are these extended forecasts for the Baltics? I know weather forecasts are unreliable to begin with, however if you look at extended Aruba forecasts, you almost always see rain - except it almost never actually rains there.

So for example, we will be in Stockholm as of Jul 12 and then sailing July 15 - 22 and the temps all look to be in the mid-upper 70's every day. What are the odds that once we go we get a day or two in the upper 50's ? Or should we be fine packing for 70's?

Or I guess a better way to ask may be how wildly do the temps swing in that area? Is it uncommon to be 80 one day and 58 the next? Or vice versa?

24 days before we are headed to the Baltics on Serenade of the Seas !

Just to add on, the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are only available on Quantum class ships, Oasis class ships, Freedom, Jewel, Explorer, Adventure, Grandeur, Enchantment, Majesty of the Seas. See here for full list of ship amenities: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Caribbean_International#Ship_amenities

 

 

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This list isn’t accurate. I was just on Rhapsody and they have freestyle machines

We are going in mid-July and have booked a private tour for just my wife and I through Alla Tours. Not cheap ($680 per person) but so worth it to me, for it to just be the 2 of us, and to be able to go see what we want, when we want, and for how long we want (within reason). Also allows so much more flexibility with regards to eating out, bathroom breaks, etc. Again, spending almost $1400 for a tour is a little crazy, but, I figure these 2 days will be the only 2 days most likely that we will ever be here, so why not splurge? Plus we are doing our own thing in every other port stop, so $1400 for the full trip isn't so bad.

As others have said above, you do not need to make a reservation. I always do; based on when we leave port and whether that night has something interesting to look at/photograph as we sail on to the next port. I have had to change my reservations a few times on the cruise, and never had an issue or had to really wait at all - especially if you are dining in any of the specialty restaurants.

Going on this same cruise 7/15, will be interested to see how you like it

Looks like Frihamnen

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

 

not sure how long to the airport from there

Thanks. Looks like it's about 30-35 minutes.

Do you know where your ship is docking??

If far out of Stockholm maybe the ship shuttle would work to the airport

I'm not sure, nor am I sure where to look to find out?

1225pm flight on the day of disembarkation, and we dock at 8am.

Any issue getting to the airport on time?

We are on the RC cruise leaving Stockholm on July 15. We fly in to Stockholm a few days earlier and will be spending the time exploring Stockholm.

When we land at the airport, what is the easiest way to get to the Hotel Diplomat? Not worried about least expensive, just the simplest.

From hotel to cruise terminal, I'd assume taxi is simplest.

When we disembark the ship back in Stockholm, to get to the airport is taxi the easiest way?

Thanks!

Thank you for your great trip report. I appreciate the time and effort and I enjoy getting great planning tips from those who have ventured before. We are staying in that exact cabin next December and your trip report didn't mention any negatives about the cabin so I am even more excited.

 

Can you tell me how you booked Milo? And, about how far was Hotel Londra from St. Mark's Square?

 

Thank you again!

We thought the cabin was great. Spacious enough, nice balcony and close enough to elevators but not really any noise issues we noticed.

Milo we booked via direct email. He was very responsive, and I really can’t recommend him enough. The best tour guide I’ve had anywhere.

Hotel Londra Palace was very close to St. Marks. I’d say a 5 minute walk if you’re just walking without meandering and checking things out. I think officially it was .3 miles by foot, and very easy to navigate.

Any other questions, let me know.

Thanks guys. It was an awesome trip. Looking forward to writing a report on this year's Baltic Cruise.

More like under $400 if you book it right

 

 

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Not out of NJ in the summer

Going July 21, 2018!! Just booked.. how do you find affordable flights to Venice? We are from Denver? I am looking now and $1400-1800 a person is scaring me!

It was $1000 each out of Newark for us. O think in general flights to Italy are usually around a thousand each.

You are a wonderful person.

 

We are booked on this same cruise next year, and I want as much information as I can get. Thank you.

You're welcome