Ultimate Scandinavia Cruise on the Serenade of the Seas Review 7/24/16 – 8/6/16

[Bmorecruiser021]

Inside was incredible!

 

 

 

We even got to see where the Romanov's and Anastasia were buried!

 

After the Island they dropped us off at one last souvenir shop before returning us to the ship. They told us they would see us bright and early in the morning for day 2 of the excursion.

 

 

At the souvenir shop I took a picture of a sign they had for the conversion rate. Just wanted to give everyone a general overview of what the currency rates were going for that day.

 

After returning to the ship we headed to MTD for dinner. We were hungry!

 

 

 

Started off with cheddar cheese sticks followed buy seafood salad for an appetizer. Followed by Sea Bass for me.

 

 

Yum!

[Bmorecruiser021]

Ali got some pasta and we shared a beef.

 

 

 

Dessert was Pecan Pie and chocolate cake!

 

 

 

It was too cloudy for a sunset, but it did make for some beautiful pictures of the sky!

 

 

 

OK, I promise not to leave everyone hanging again. Ill review day 3 in St. Petersburg tomorrow, Night everyone!

Edited August 22, 2016 by Bmorecruiser021

[Bmorecruiser021]

Good Evening Everyone! So.....Our third day in St. Petersburg

 

Friday ~ July 29 2016 ~ St. Petersburg

 

Woke up to a cloudy rainy morning.

 

 

The busses were ready and waiting for us when we got through customs.

 

 

We boarded our bus and headed to Peterhof.

 

 

After a 45 minute ride we arrived.

 

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

The fountains were spectacular!

 

 

The sun tried to break through to no avail.

 

 

No pictures were allowed to be taken while in Peterhof. But I was able to take one of the model of the palace.

 

 

Once we got out back we toured the grounds and saw all the fountains. They are beautiful!

 

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

 

 

Crowds started to gather for the 11am turing on of the fountains. It was truly incredible!

 

 

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

 

After we watched the fountains we boarded the bus and headed back to St. Petersburg.

 

We stopped for a photo op at the town hall.

 

 

 

 

Then we headed to lunch (which was included in the tour)

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

 

Lunch started out with caviar and a cucumber salad.

 

 

 

There was water, vodka, and champlain to drink.

 

The second course was soup.

 

 

Followed by ravioli for the main course.

 

 

And ice cream for dessert.

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

Thats all for tonight guys. I'll finish up the day tomorrow. Night!

[easyboy]

Following. Really great shots!

[Cat54]

Following your review. Great pictures.

[Bmorecruiser021]

Thanks for waiting patently everyone. First week back to school was brutal!

 

OK now to finish off our last day in St. Petersburg

 

After lunch it was time head to the Hermitage Museum.

 

 

Such a beautiful museum with SO MUCH art work!

 

 

 

We got to see the thrown Catherine the Great used.

 

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

More of the beautiful winter palace, turned museum.

 

 

 

 

Even the floor the was gorgeous!

 

 

 

The museum even had two Madonna's by Leonardo da Vinci

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

 

Then we saw a Michelangelo.

 

 

And looked out and saw the square, stunning.

 

 

We saw a Voltaire on our way out of the museum.

 

 

On our way back to the ship we said our goodbyes to St. Petersburg. Seeing some of the Russian Navy ships that were anchored for fleet week that was coming up the following week.

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

We saw the last cathedral on our way back to the ship.

 

 

Then headed to dinner. Started with some soups, salads, and cocktails.

 

 

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

Dinner was pasta, surf and turf.

 

 

 

 

We got to see some amazing sights as we sailed during dinner.

 

 

And dessert was delicious as always!

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

Beautiful sunset as we sailed.

 

 

 

 

 

We got back to our cabin and found another towel animal.

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

We also found some invitations:

 

 

 

Apparently we did not get invited to the first meet and mingle, but neither did a lot of other CC'ers. And not only did we get the invitation, we also got a phone message apologizing for the mix up and making sure we got the invite. I thought that was very thoughtful and over the top. Very pleased with RCI's service this cruise. It was spectacular!

 

Thats all for tonight everyone. Tallinn's up next :)

Edited August 28, 2016 by Bmorecruiser021

[Mamacane71]

What a fabulous Cruise! Thanks for taking the time to post!

[Bmorecruiser021]

Evening Everyone!

 

Saturday ~ July 30 2016 ~ Tallinn

 

Beautiful morning in Estonia!

 

 

 

We ate some breakfast then headed out to the pier. We were doing a tour through SPB today and tomorrow in Riga.

 

When looking at excursions we looked at the cruise line, but also SPB and TJ Travel. We didn't have any interactions with TJ but heard really good things from our friends we made who used them. Definitely recommend SPB and TJ as an alternative to the cruise line if any of you are interested in doing private tours.

 

So we walked down the pier and headed to the meeting point. Such a gorgeous morning!

 

 

 

We stopped and got a great picture of the Serenade at the end of the dock, right before we met our tour guide.

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

We walked a little ways and hopped on the tour bus, and headed into town.

 

 

 

We made it up to old town and hopped off the bus right in front of Parliament and the Russian Orthodox Church.

 

 

 

 

We listened to the tour guide tell us some of the history of the county and city then entered the stunning church.

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

 

We then headed to the Lutheran Church.

 

 

 

Loved all the coat of arms inside.

 

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

Our tour guide then took us to the highest point in the city. What an amazing view!

 

 

 

We then walked down from old town to new town, learning about the city, county, politics, and anything else you could imagine or think to ask, along the way.

 

 

The guard house protecting wealthy old town from the peasants of new town (or at least did in the old days)

 

 

 

The sky was just gorgeous!

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

We then went into one of the oldest Marzipan candy shops in eastern Europe. Fascinating!

 

 

 

Still can't believe all those figures were eatable!

 

Then we walked to town hall in the center of town for a snack. They had a market today in the town square.

 

 

Before snack we visited the oldest pharmacy in the world. Pretty cool!

 

 

 

Then we headed to the cafe for a snack and coffee that was provided by SPB.

 

[Bmorecruiser021]

We walked upstairs and sat and talked with some of our tour mates. Snack was coffee and pastries. Our tour guide gave us a hot spot and let us surf the internet during our break. Very nice of her.

 

 

 

 

 

Thats it for tonight everyone. Ill finish the day in Tallinn tomorrow :) Night all!

[easyboy]

We walked a little ways and hopped on the tour bus, and headed into town.

 

 

Did the bus got full with your group? We were only in a van then.