Scottishclover

1 hour ago, TMLAalum said:

@Scottishclover

I agree! We are looking at private tours and as you mentioned, even those are quite expensive.

Could you please provide me with the car hire agency you've booked for Honningsvag? 

For Flam, I plan on booking the railway independently with an immediate up and down to Myrdal and back.  

We booked with Nordkapp Bilservice. They are a local mechanics firm who also do car rentals. As far as I am aware they are the only ones to rent from. I will report after the cruise how we got on. We used this strategy of renting a car when we were in Skagway in Alaska and loved the freedom we had to stop when we wanted. 
 

We booked Flam railway with Norways Best, one way only as we are cycling back down. You need to be in quick as they do sell out quite quickly. You can also get tickets from Norwegian railways about 60 days out too.

We are going on this cruise in July. I can tell you, I thought the Celebrity shore excursions were extortionate but then I am Scottish and a bit of a cheapskate😂 We also are paying for 4 as our adult daughters are travelling with us. Plenty folk must think otherwise as most excursions are sold out and have been for a long time!

As an example,  Celebrity are charging £ 172 for one person for a transfer only to the North Cape. We are hiring a car for the whole day for that price. Also they have a big up charge for things like hikes, kayaking, Flam railway, RIB boat tours which are easily accessible from the port independently. We are very comfortable booking independently but I understand not everyone is. Celebrity do have flash sales where you can get money off excursions,  so keep that in mind. 
 

A caveat to this is that even booking independent tours in Norway is expensive. Last time we were in the Fjords we did a lot of hikes and as they say the best things in life are free. This time we are mixing it up a bit with tours/hikes. It really does depend what your interests are and how much you are willing to spend.

In summary, if you book independently, you will save money in comparison to booking with Celebrity.

That’s a shame about the EasyJet flight- we are travelling back up on a Saturday.  Can’t help with luggage storage but usually train or bus stations have some facility. I’m sure I also read that the Premier Inn in the city centre has a storage facility even if you are not staying there. 

Your report is giving off some great energy😀 I love the photos - they’re helping me relive our cruise last year. We also spent some time in Rome pre- cruise and did the Walks of Italy tour. I thought it was fantastic too but it was fast- paced. There was someone on the tour who couldn’t keep up or cope with the heat and he ducked out half way through.  Looking forward to reading more.

Assuming you live in Scotland and are travelling home, I’m going to suggest an EasyJet to Glasgow. It’s a new route this year. That’s what we’re doing ( although Edinburgh airport is handier for us) and flight time is around 11am, so perfect.  Ryanair also flies from Bournemouth to Edinburgh, not sure of timing. Although  4pm is a bit of a hang about, I’m sure you could fill the day by going for a nice brunch/ lunch/ drink somewhere and reflect on the great time you had on your cruise. 

I can see how you might be tempted by the earlier flight. I don’t think Southampton Airport is huge so you probably could make it. Locals with experience could confirm. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if you miss it. There’s plenty other ways to get home.

3 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

We're flying into Hamburg in a few days.  We’ll be there 3 days prior to our cruise departing in Kiel on Saturday, April 27th.  We were planning to take an uber/taxi from Hamburg Airport  to our hotel which is approx 5 miles away.  We also have our return transportation from Kiel port to Hamburg Airport through MSC cruise line.  

 

However, we do not have anything reserved to get us from our Hamburg hotel to Kiel port.  We’d like to arrive at approx 10:00 AM.  I checked prices for Uber and private rides and they are quite pricey.   It looks like all the early morning shared ride options are sold out.   Would you recommend taking a train?  Should I reserve the tickets now?  

 

I’d appreciate your recommendations.  I’m feeling a little stressed that I do not have our transportation plans complete and we’re leaving on Tuesday.    Our other option is to only stay 2 nights in Hamburg and find transportation to Kiel on Friday late afternoon.  Then we’d stay 1 night in Kiel. 

 

Thank you!

Seriously, no need to stress about taking the train. It takes just over an hour from Hamburg Main Station to Kiel on a regional train and there’s at least 3 an hour. Just get your ticket on the day, you can’t reserve seating on regional trains anyway. Go on to the Deutsche Bahn and look for timings. Then taxi from station to the port in Kiel. 

You could DIY and take the train from Warnemuende on your own. Check Deutsche Bahn for train times and ticket prices which vary acc to the train. A regional train is €44 Rostock to Berlin. ICE is a bit quicker but most likely more expensive. There’s the occasional direct train from Warnemuende but most of the time you would change in Rostock ( it’s an easy change). Then in Berlin take  one of the “free” walking tours. I find Berlin one of the least expensive capital cities, so it can be visited without breaking the bank. The journey is around 3 hours each way, only you can decide if it’s worth it.  To make the most of the day, you would need to do a lot of forward planning, as some of the sights in Berlin are quite spread out. 
 

If it were me, I would stay and go to Rostock in the morning and wander round Warnemuende in the afternoon. It’s quite charming. My daughter is currently living in Rostock and any friends she has had over have absolutely loved it. There’s lots to keep you interested, especially all the Hanseatic architecture. It would make for a much more relaxed day. If this is something you’d be interested in, let me know and I can provide a more detailed itinerary- I lived there many moons ago and have been twice in the last 6 months so know the town well. 
 

Going to the castle in Schwerin is also a possibility ( not Mondays) but be aware that depending when your cruise is, there is some work going on the train line Rostock- Schwerin so the normally 1 hour journey is much longer. 
 

Hope this helps with your decision making. 

You may want to rethink the order of your day. The last few times I have been on Victoria Street, it has been jam packed with tourists. Shoulder to shoulder and I had to weave in and out to get down to the Grassmarket. I couldn’t imagine being able to take a decent photo without someone else in it. You might want to think about going there really early on to avoid the crowds and get the best photos. Same goes for Royal Mile.  Calton Hill is a large area so crowds would not impact your views there so perhaps that might be the last stop of your day? I am not a photographer so I’m not sure if afternoon sun would impact your photos. Of course, it’s Edinburgh so afternoon sun is definitely not a given😂
 

On our Baltic cruise in 2022, the only place we got caught out with no cash was when we travelled on  a local bus on the island of Bornholm. It was partly my fault - had I been more organised I could have had the app downloaded for tickets. We did one of those free walking tours in Stockholm and the guide even took her tips by card payment😂

On that particular cruise we didn’t stop in Warnemuende ( many Baltic cruises do) but I have visited a lot as my daughter lives there. Germany is the one place that you need cash, not everywhere takes card and some places only take German EC cards!! My daughter says she would never go to Berlin without cash as lots of places don’t take cards so  it may be handy to have some Euros if your cruise stops in Germany.

Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your review. I love the balance between ship information and your port activities. And I also appreciate the gluten free food photos. The gluten free rolls at breakfast are new I think!
 

My sister lived in New Zealand for 5 years and we didn’t go to visit as my nervous flyer husband couldn’t face the long flight from Scotland. Looking  at your photos I wish we had taken the opportunity.

Thank you for taking the time to review. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

We were in Kotor last July and did THAT hike. I echo Edinburgher’s sentiments. We were up early to beat the rush and walked straight onto one of the first tenders  (Celebrity). It took us a bit to find the start of The Ladder of Kotor but we had started by 8:30 am which was our goal. The hike goes way higher than the fortress - it’s probably a quarter of the way up to put it into perspective.
 

While it is steep, the switchbacks help and if you are a regular hiker you would have no problem managing it. In fact we found the ascent fairly easy.The views are amazing - my 20 year old kept using the word “insane”. After around 2 hours uphill we found a plateau which seemed a good turning point. However, we found the way down very difficult as the temperature was getting so high, and I was very grateful to be off the mountain at 12:30. To let you know how hot it was, my top was so soaked with sweat, it was practically transparent. On the way up there was some shade but on the descent the sun was brutal. Saying that, it was one of the best hikes we have done and we’ve hiked all over the world.

We were so glad we did this hike as although Kotor is postcard pretty we found the streets completely overcrowded. Definitely aim to start as early as possible, bring more water than you need ( we were out well before the bottom) and wear sun protection. But do THAT hike!!

Definitely do this tour! Takes you a bit off the beaten path. Only one of the villages is what I would call touristy and wasn’t crowded at all. The villages feel authentic and the scenery was just stunning. Like Edinburgher, we did this through the ship ( Celebrity) so can’t comment on the tour company you mentioned. There was just enough information about The Godfather but I found the information about the actual mafia more interesting. However the scenery is the highlight. We were so glad we chose to do this excursion.

Just know the bus from Edinburgh to St Andrews stops at every wee village and town on the road and takes 2 hours, which is double the usual driving times. My daughter is at uni there and takes the bus because she gets it for free (under 22). It would be a bit shorter for you getting on near Forth Road Bridge but it is really a slow route. So that’s around 3 and a half hours travelling for you with just a few hours in St Andrews. The train is quicker and the local buses from Leuchers go every 15 mins. Leuchers is just a few miles outside of St Andrews. 
 

Shame about Rabbies schedule - that wa my go to suggestion as I often see their tours when I am up in St Andrews.

Due to a change in port times in Flam, our original plans to get the train up the valley and bike down won’t work. We are thinking in booking the bus to the trailhead with Norways Best and doing the hike up Mt Prest. Has anyone done this? Would love to hear your experience. Thanks.

We are a train or walk family - we very rarely take an Uber or taxi. Travelling on public transport is much more interesting. The train to the Hauptbahnhof take around half an hour, leave every 15 mins and costs €3.20. You can look at ticket options on Verkehrsverbund Berlin ( VBB). Perhaps a daily ticket for transport is better for you. It’s 3 zones (ABC) from the airport but in Berlin itself 2 zones (AB) cover most journeys. You can use trains, underground, trams etc on this ticket. The train station is underneath the airport and is well signposted. Tickets can be purchased at the machines on the platform or on the App. One thing to note is that Hbf will probably not be the last destination. Also, depending where you are staying in Berlin, other stops in the city may be closer. 
 

To clarify: Deutsche Bahn is the company responsible for railways in Germany. Book on their site. 

IC: intercity

ICE: intercity express

RB: regiobahn ( regional) no seat reservations

S- Bahn: trains within city centres only, like a suburban line
U-Bahn: underground. Berlin has an extensive underground and we use it a lot as a lot of the different attractions are spread out.

Have fun in Berlin. It’s a great city😀

The regional trains are even busier now due to the €49 Deutschland ticket available to German residents. My daughter is making good use of hers on the Rostock - Berlin route. If you are a tourist with luggage best to travel on IC trains with seat reservation if possible.

Something to know about Germany - there is no such thing as a queue. Most of us tourists learn that the hard way😂

Yes this is correct. I would advise you to book direct with Deutsche Bahn. They have an international site in English. Also reserve a seat too just to be on the safe side. Mindyou most Germans would probably forego the IC train for the regional one because of the Deutschland ticket, so the IC might be quieter. Still it’s worth booking a seat. The earlier you book in advance the cheaper the fare. It can creep up quite substantially if bought on the day. 
 

You can’t really go wrong. Get on at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and stay on until the train stops. Warnemuende is the end stop. Don’t worry about not speaking German, there will always be Germans who will jump at the chance to practise their English. Seriously, don’t stress,  this journey is very straightforward.

Hi,

I’ve had a wee look at the seating plan. I assume it is the intercity(IC) train.

The shaded line is at the back of the seat. Have a look at the table configurations to confirm. The luggage storage areas are also indicated on the plan so you can see if you could get a seat near those. I would have no qualms about leaving my luggage there and sitting within eyeshot or even further down the carriage. 

Aperol Spritz was 1$ over classic package last summer but a Campari Spritz was included. Makes no sense to me!

Train station in Warnemuende is very near the port. No problems there. 5 mins walk at most. 
 

Book through Deutsche Bahn and if you can get the App as it gives you any up to date changes about your journey. Second class is comfortable enough, I don’t see a need for first class. Definitely go on and reserve a seat - it’s a popular route. You can see the seating plan before you choose your seat. I always prefer open saloon - you never know who you might be stuck in a compartment with. Often the luggage storage is at one end of the carriage but if you book a seat which is back to back with the one behind there is normally a space in between to stash small/medium  sized luggage. The overhead storage is a bit narrow to stow big luggage, which is a huge design flaw. 
 

An alternative is to get a train to Rostock and change there for Warnemuende. Rostock HBF is very manageable and trains leave from there to Warnemuende every 20 mins. It’s a stress- free change. 
 

Hope this helps. Any more questions, just ask. I’m pretty familiar with this route.

In Rostock all shops and the many restaurants will be closed. My daughter is on a year abroad there and says Sundays are so quiet. there’s a shopping centre which opens every fourth Sunday. When we visited her we found it was tricky to get a coffee on a Sunday other than a local chain of bakeries called Junge die Baeckerei. However with it being so quiet, it does mean you get a great view of all the different historical buildings in the town centre. So still worth the trip. I see you prefer private car but the train into Rostock could not be easier.

As Warnemuende is a holiday resort\ seaside town, more will be open there. It can feel busy at weekends at the best of times without cruise passengers, so can’t imagine what it would be like with a ship in port. You might enjoy the respite a trip to Rostock on a Sunday would provide.

2 hours ago, erinsmom03 said:

@Scottishclover I think we will take a taxi from Glasgow Central to Cambuslang then back to George Square. Do you think the taxi drivers will be interested in that trip? How much should I be prepared to pay in fare? Do they take credit card payments or should I bring cash?

They take credit cards and I’m sure would gladly take the fare. Sorry I can’t even hazard a guess at how much it would be. When I’m in town I either walk or use the trains/subway. 

Plenty of Ubers available. Easiest place to get a taxi is probably outside Central Station. Not sure if there will be any around the People’s Palace. From experience you will get more chat/ local knowledge from a taxi driver than an Uber driver.  I’m hoping your great-grannie lived in one of the tenement buildings, that Glasgow is famous for. If so, the National Trust has a property called The Tenement House at Charing Cross, where you can experience what it was like to live in one.

In Bornholm get the public bus up to Hammershus Castle. It takes you through lots of lovely villages and countryside. Once there, you can look around the castle, do some walks along the cliffs and go to the visitor centre. 
 

For something different on Alesund, hike up Sukkertoppen. You get 360 degree views at the top of all the different islands. It’s stunning. Hike is easy/ moderate uphill hiking for around 50 mins. Just locals on the trail. It’s a nice half day activity.

If you are getting the train to Cambuslang from Glasgow Central it will be the Lanark train. It’s around 10/15 mins to Cambuslang. Trains go half hourly. Think there will be a bit of a walk from the station to Bothwell St in Cambuslang. Please manage your expectations. This is my local train route into Glasgow and it is not the most scenic!