Live from the navigator baltic cruise review

[jary8]

Question: Any 10 Drink Cards on offer? will be on board Navigator June 15.

 

 

 

There are coffee cards, haven’t seen anything about 10 drinks, but will double check today for you.

 

 

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[jary8]

Day at sea:

 

A nice relaxed day at sea today. Decided to spend the morning on the balcony as it is such lovely weather. Quite a bit going on around the ship, no where is crowded though.

 

 

Decided to have breakfast in choppe’s smaller selection but quiet, which was lovely.

 

Dinner selection in windjammers was French tonight.

 

 

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[jary8]

 

 

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[samholljess]

Thanks for this info Jary8 - looking forward to reading every post as I'm on the Med cruise 29th July so soaking up all the information :)

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Jary8--when you get to St Petersburg I would be interested to know the average cost to buy a soda/bottle of water when you are out and about. Also the costs of some common souveniers--tshirts, keychain/magnet, christmas ornaments, etc. Any other types of unique but affordable/not ridiculous to pack souveniers in SPB you noticed?

 

Thanks so much for everything you have posted so far! So helpful and making me get even more excited!

 

We had a small tour w/ SPB Tours and asked our guide to stop at a local mart to 'shop'. It was fun. There was 10 of us and we all seemed to bring back something different. From a beer to vodka, cookies & water. Everything was very reasonably priced. I had a rubles but ended up paying w/ a VISA. It was a good stop, out of the ordinary and not a planned 'tourist' stop.

[Scotland01]

Thank you for taking the time to post all this information about Navigator. We are sailing on her mid September. Our friends Ken and Christine are on your sailing. They are D+ and are going to CL but may be in DL tonight. They are Scottish early 70s and Christine has blonde short hair. Ken will be drinking red wine!! Please say hello from Margaret and Neil. That may freak them out!

Thanks again and keep on posting.

Margaret

[Princess & 4 Princes]

Thank you for taking the time to post all this information about Navigator. We are sailing on her mid September. Our friends Ken and Christine are on your sailing. They are D+ and are going to CL but may be in DL tonight. They are Scottish early 70s and Christine has blonde short hair. Ken will be drinking red wine!! Please say hello from Margaret and Neil. That may freak them out!

Thanks again and keep on posting.

Margaret

And THIS is why I love the Cruise Critic Boards!!!

[Princess & 4 Princes]

Aquaventure

I have emailed spg tours, but just in case they contact you first, please reserve 4 spots for us.

[Koigirl]

Hi jary8, sounds like you are having a great time. We sail next week so really interested in what you have to say. Can you tell me how many formal nights there will be on this cruise and also if you are able to survive using only euros, dont really want to get lods of different currencies. Keep posting, many thanks

[Princess & 4 Princes]

“Aquaventure

I have emailed spg tours, but just in case they contact you first, please reserve 4 spots for us.“

 

Whoops, wrong message board, sorry everyone!

Edited June 9, 2018 by Princess & 4 Princes
Wrong message board

[Shrewsbury on Tour]

Hi,

 

Thanks to original poster....no need to go out of your way. We’ve only cruised once before with NCL last year, but we are now hooked.... we are sailing on 16/09/18 really looking forward to it...

 

PS Shrewsbury on tour....

 

Xx

[TomLin62]

Oh my god! Promises to myself to eat sensibly this cruise have gone out of the window! LOL. The custard dessert with meringues on top looks tasty, I'm sure its of French origin but can't remember the name, BUT who cares if it tastes as nice as it looks!

[jary8]

Hi jary8, sounds like you are having a great time. We sail next week so really interested in what you have to say. Can you tell me how many formal nights there will be on this cruise and also if you are able to survive using only euros, dont really want to get lods of different currencies. Keep posting, many thanks

 

 

 

Just two formal nights [emoji16]

 

 

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[jary8]

Thank you for taking the time to post all this information about Navigator. We are sailing on her mid September. Our friends Ken and Christine are on your sailing. They are D+ and are going to CL but may be in DL tonight. They are Scottish early 70s and Christine has blonde short hair. Ken will be drinking red wine!! Please say hello from Margaret and Neil. That may freak them out!

 

Thanks again and keep on posting.

 

Margaret

 

 

 

Freak out challenge completed [emoji16] you were right red wine in hand.

 

 

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[jary8]

Just two formal nights [emoji16]

 

 

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The roubles is the best in Russia, the other most common exchanges are from roubles to euros and USD. However buying them in the UK gives a better exchange rate. 199 roubles / $3. /. €3. £1.97 at current exchange rate.

 

We use a we swap cars, this means we can swap the money back and use one card only. It is a MasterCard. American Express not utilised here.

 

 

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[jary8]

TALLIN

 

Tallinn top tips

 

1) If using a wheelchair, the roads in the old town are cobbled. There are also drainage gullies on the pavements.

 

Ship shuttles are available, €10 euros return. Also, city sightseeing bus tours, €25, you can also walk to Tallinn, a nice walk in the sunshine.

 

2) Visit Toompea hill and viewpoint early in the morning, the view is stunning.

 

3) Try Old Hansa in the main market square, medieval stuff, just round the corner is another restaurant, that looks like you have stepped back in time, everything is served out of pottery bowls and the restaurant is candlelit.

 

This restaurant is to the right of the bell tower which you can walk up. I think it costs €3.

 

Also for those who don’t mind heights you can walk a section of the city walls. The views are beautiful.

 

There was also a lovely market in the middle selling scarfs, wooden products and linen goods. Also, some nice wooden stuff. We found a man carving out a wooden boat and also someone using recycled thongs and adding wood to re-purpose them.

 

 

 

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[jary8]

RUSSIA [emoji635]

 

A few bits of important information for self booked tours.

 

This year they are bound by the port authorities into the way people come off the ship. I have posted the information that you will receive in your stateroom.

 

There is lots World Cup stuff already and roads are beginning to be closed off.

 

 

Buy roubles before you come, if you go the Faberge museum and you have chance for a coffee the cafe there is really good.

 

I will put a few comments and photos about other places on seperate posts so I can put more photos on.

 

We arranged our own tour through a company called ‘White Nights Travel’. Irina there was very informative and we were able to put together our own itinerary that interested us. We have been before and are with some people who haven’t been before. So we did a mixture, went for a ride in the metro, went in some different churches and ate at a fantastic pie shop. Found some locally produced pottery from just of Nevsky Prospect also, went to the mini Russian fortnum and masons.

 

 

We also went to an evening show called Feel Yourself Russian, this was an interesting blend of Russian folk music, singing and dance.

 

 

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[Rusty Hull]

Oh my god! Promises to myself to eat sensibly this cruise have gone out of the window! LOL. The custard dessert with meringues on top looks tasty, I'm sure its of French origin but can't remember the name, BUT who cares if it tastes as nice as it looks!

 

"Isles Flotant" ----Floating Islands

Yummy!!

[CruiseDucks]

RUSSIA [emoji635]

 

This year they are bound by the port authorities into the way people come off the ship. I have posted the information that you will receive in your stateroom.

 

 

So no matter how you're entering the country, you will require your passport - but they recommend you leave it in the stateroom safe :rolleyes:

 

On a more positive note, thank you again for all your updates - brilliant thread!

[jary8]

 

A sunset from the ship of the ship sailing from Tallinn

 

 

 

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[tommythecat]

Thank you very much for your posts jary8 - you look like you are having a great holiday. We are in the same trip on 27th June so are following your posts with great interest

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Wow.. things have greatly changed since May 1st. We carried our passports and they were absolutely requirred. Mine was greatly scrutinized via magnifying glass. In addition, we had a private tour and we were one of the first groups off the ship! For those going to St.Pete soon, I would not hesitate/wait. I'd go as soon as my group was gahtered and ready. No one was questioned and/or asked if we had a private tour and/or RCL booked tour. By either RCL or Russian customs.

 

Sorry. I didn't meen to hi-jack the thread.

[soccerdad72]

Just two formal nights [emoji16]

 

 

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Interesting - I would have thought with 12 nights, it would be 3. May have to adjust packing a little.

[Njcr]

Interesting - I would have thought with 12 nights, it would be 3. May have to adjust packing a little.

I did this cruise last year on navigator and we had three formal nights. Wonder why they have changed!

[jary8]

Wow.. things have greatly changed since May 1st. We carried our passports and they were absolutely requirred. Mine was greatly scrutinized via magnifying glass. In addition, we had a private tour and we were one of the first groups off the ship! For those going to St.Pete soon, I would not hesitate/wait. I'd go as soon as my group was gahtered and ready. No one was questioned and/or asked if we had a private tour and/or RCL booked tour. By either RCL or Russian customs.

 

Sorry. I didn't meen to hi-jack the thread.

 

 

 

You will have to be escorted off the ship, this is something new. You all have to meet in Studio B and you are all given an allotted time for this, you are also given a document to take down with you for each person in the cabin. On day 2 you are given a form to say what your intentions are for Russia, this has to be filled in and dropped off with the shore excursions desk within a day. You carry your passport at all times in Russia, The bottom line where it talks about keeping safe, is a typo. You need to carry it with you.

 

 

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