tom_uk Posted May 21, 2014 #1 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) It's not long until our Baltic cruise on Azura, and we received our excursions brochure last weekend. We're working through it, and this post is to ask advice about the ports (with the exception of St Petersburg): how far away is the berth, how easy is it to get around, what is there to see/do, etc. Our ports will be Stockholm; Helsinki; Warnemunde; Copenhagen; and Kristiansand. We've never visited any of them. Stockholm: I gather that there's an old town, and lots of museums. I was think that we might do our own thing here, exploring the old town and perhaps visiting the Vasa Ship museum. Does that sound sensible? How easy is it to get around? What about boat trips around Stockholm harbour (where the main city is)? Any other suggestions? Helsinki: I'm drawing a complete blank here - this is a place I know very little about. Suggestions, please. Warnemunde: Looking at the map I gather that the nearby town of Rostock is one big attraction, and that it's easy to get between Warnemunde and Rostock - trains/trams and boats. Alternatively, I've read that Warnemunde itself is an attractive little seaside town, and if the weather's good we may just stay around there, or perhaps miix Rostock in the morning with a stroll along the beach later. One question: where will the ship berth? Copenhagen: I'm not sure about this one. It actually looks a bit big & busy to have a really successful day on our own, especially given that we're not at all familiar with it - I'm thinking of the issues about getting from one sight to another. Perhaps an excursion here? A walking tour? I believe the cruise terminal is quite some miles away. Incidentally, we're big fans of Scandi-Noir drama: The Killing, Borgen, etc. Kristiansand: again, this is a place I really don't know anything about so suggestions would be welcome. Many thanks for any advice people here can give me. Edited May 21, 2014 by tom_uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnybrian Posted May 21, 2014 #2 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Hello we are also on this cruise and we look forward to seeing replies as we have never visited the area before and have the same questions. We intend to do all of these ports with the exception of St. Pete independently There is a section on CRUISE CRITIC where you can download reviews on each port and they give quite useful information. On the P&O site there is information on shuttles sorry I can't remember the link but Someone posted it on Cruise Critic. Stockholm there is a shuttle to City centre chargeable if on saver fare Helsinki. chargeable shuttle 3.5 km to city centre Warnemunde. Dock in centre no shuttle Copenhagen. 10 minute walk into city no shuttle Kristiansand.noddy train can take passengers into town for a charge but I believe it is walkable. Hope some of this helps Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralsmum Posted May 21, 2014 #3 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Hi, can't help with Warnemunde but here are some suggestions for the others: Stockholm - do go to the Vassa, you can walk from where the shuttle drops you. It's amazing. We then walked back to the old city and had a look around there. Helsinki - you need a shutlle as it's about 3/4miles to the centre.I got a walking tour and maps here http://www.frommers.com/destinations/helsinki/maps#sthash.sU807mLs.CxbVdDyw.dpbs There is a sea fortress and museum a 15 min ferry ride away, you can get an all day ferry and tram ticket at the harbour from the ferry office. Use the tram to get to the rock church and olympic stadium. Copenhagen - if you dock at Langeline it's a 15min walk to the centre. Again I got a walking tour and map from Frommers. if you dock at the other place you will need a shuttle. Hope that helps. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralsmum Posted May 21, 2014 #4 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Hi again, I thought I might get timed out so split this up. Kristiansand - only a small place, easy to walk into. We went for a walk in Baneheia, like a mini lake area at the back of the town. Again maps and information here http://www.frommers.com/destinations/kristiansand-s/273041#sthash.4hZ1Qhgc.dpbs Hope you have some ideas now, Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonpjd Posted May 21, 2014 #5 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Warnemunde. If you like Bruges then from Warnemunde there will be excursions to LUBECK. And Lubeck is another little gem like Bruges. Another Hanseatic trading port. Famous for marzipan. If you have the slightest bit of interest in culture and/or history - this is place to go in your day in Warnemunde. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonpjd Posted May 21, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Bit more sorry if a bit boring. I am reminded of our guide who was about 6 when the wall came down. This part of Germany was in the old East Germany. He and his father went across the border to see what West Germany was like. The guide's father looked in amazement at the shops and cars etc and said 'Even the grass is greener this side'. Anyway go there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnybrian Posted May 21, 2014 #7 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Thanks a lot for that it is very interesting The excitement is. Starting to build we have just received our E Tickets. Regards Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadabout60 Posted May 21, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 21, 2014 In Stockholm last July on the Adonia, we were berthed quite close to the centre and bought a HOHO bus ticket. it was expensive - can't remember how much - but it covered two bus tours and a boat tour. It was a hot day and being on the water was lovely. Would really recommend this as we saw a lot and had time to get off and explore on foot as well. We got back to the ship early afternoon exhausted after walking about in the heat and travelling all the tours and managed to give our tickets to two of the crew who had a couple of hours offshore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejuggler Posted May 21, 2014 #9 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Copenhagen is very compact. We walked around the whole of the city and saw most of the main sights over a day and that was with a 5 year old in tow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Green Posted May 21, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Just back from the Baltics, and; Stockholm - a bit spread out and I think it would be difficult to walk in. We got the 2 day Stockhom card as we were staying overnight and got the bus from Londonsviadukten (5 mins away, up some steps) to Ridderholmen in old town. You can also change for the underground at Slussen. We saw the palace, did a walking tour, nobel museum, cathedral, boat cruise. On day two we did the Town Hall, was planning the vasa too but sailed at 2pm so skipped it. Copenhagen - We walked from Langlinie dock past the little mermaid in to the town hall. This was straightforward and scenic but it was an hours hard walk. At 11am we got the Free Copenhagen Walking Tour from the town hall steps, this was 3 hours long and was excellent (and we saw the real Borgen!) Warnemunde - dock is right at the town, train station is only a few hundred metres. Trains to Rostock run every 15 mins, journey lasts 20 minutes. When you arrive go two levels down to change to the tram to Neumarkt to take you to the old town. Get a map with the main sites from the Tourist info, its easy to walk around. Kristiansand - a very nice little seaside town rather than a big city. Straightforward 10 minute walk from the ship to the town square. The noddy train seemed overpriced at £15 for such a small place, as it was our last stop we took it easy and ambled around and sat in the sun. Streets are set out in a grid so easy to navigate. From the Cathedral we walked round in a square through old town, along the front, past the fort and back to the ship. Hope this is useful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnybrian Posted May 22, 2014 #11 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Just back from the Baltics, and; Stockholm - a bit spread out and I think it would be difficult to walk in. We got the 2 day Stockhom card as we were staying overnight and got the bus from Londonsviadukten (5 mins away, up some steps) to Ridderholmen in old town. You can also change for the underground at Slussen. We saw the palace, did a walking tour, nobel museum, cathedral, boat cruise. On day two we did the Town Hall, was planning the vasa too but sailed at 2pm so skipped it. Copenhagen - We walked from Langlinie dock past the little mermaid in to the town hall. This was straightforward and scenic but it was an hours hard walk. At 11am we got the Free Copenhagen Walking Tour from the town hall steps, this was 3 hours long and was excellent (and we saw the real Borgen!) Warnemunde - dock is right at the town, train station is only a few hundred metres. Trains to Rostock run every 15 mins, journey lasts 20 minutes. When you arrive go two levels down to change to the tram to Neumarkt to take you to the old town. Get a map with the main sites from the Tourist info, its easy to walk around. Kristiansand - a very nice little seaside town rather than a big city. Straightforward 10 minute walk from the ship to the town square. The noddy train seemed overpriced at £15 for such a small place, as it was our last stop we took it easy and ambled around and sat in the sun. Streets are set out in a grid so easy to navigate. From the Cathedral we walked round in a square through old town, along the front, past the fort and back to the ship. Hope this is useful![/ Excellent. Thank you for the information Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilpet Posted May 22, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Helsinki - we took the shuttle and then walked to the Church in the Rock (it is actually built into the rock), it took about 20 minutes but it was beautiful. We then walked back down to the market in the fishing port where my husband tried the reindeer sausages :eek:. Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_uk Posted May 22, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Helsinki - we took the shuttle and then walked to the Church in the Rock (it is actually built into the rock), it took about 20 minutes but it was beautiful. We then walked back down to the market in the fishing port where my husband tried the reindeer sausages :eek:. Gill Knowing what not to do is also important.... Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StLucia Posted May 23, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 23, 2014 We did our own thing in all these ports and it was one of our best cruises. Frommers has some really good walking guides and we used them in Stockholm and Copenhagen. We visited the Tivoli gardens and had a lovely seafood platter by the lake. We got the train to Rostock easy to do but not a lot to see, around where the ship docks is nice if the weather is good. They were selling takeaways off the boats along by the river when we were there, a real seaside atmosphere. The queues for the Vasa museum can be horrendous so if you really want to visit do the ships tour. Hope you enjoy yourselves. Janet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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