P&O Stockholm on Your Own

[tring]

We are due to dock in Stockholm late May on Aurora.  The Stockholm port site has us docking in Vartahamnen, which on a map appears to be 4km as the crow flies, but probably not much more than 5 km by road.  P&O have a "Stockholm on your Own", which costs £32pp which sounds OTT, but we have not been to Stockholm previously so no idea if it is possible to get there independently otherwise and if it is, how difficult that would be.. 

 

We suspect taxis will be quite pricey and there could be a lot of traffic on the roads, so thinking it may be worth going with the £32pp - at least it is for 6 hours, though the details do not say how long we would actually be in the city.  Any advice would be appreciated, including if it would be just as well to book an organised tour, in which case are there any P&O trips you would recommend, or is the city easy to get around once you are there? 

 

Barbara

[Josy1953]

6 hours ago, tring said:

We are due to dock in Stockholm late May on Aurora.  The Stockholm port site has us docking in Vartahamnen, which on a map appears to be 4km as the crow flies, but probably not much more than 5 km by road.  P&O have a "Stockholm on your Own", which costs £32pp which sounds OTT, but we have not been to Stockholm previously so no idea if it is possible to get there independently otherwise and if it is, how difficult that would be.. 

 

We suspect taxis will be quite pricey and there could be a lot of traffic on the roads, so thinking it may be worth going with the £32pp - at least it is for 6 hours, though the details do not say how long we would actually be in the city.  Any advice would be appreciated, including if it would be just as well to book an organised tour, in which case are there any P&O trips you would recommend, or is the city easy to get around once you are there? 

 

Barbara

Have you checked if there is a train station near to the docks? I know from when I was sent to Stockholm for work that the public transport is excellent.

When we went to Stockholm 3 years ago on Celebrity we went into the city on shuttle buses.  I can't remember the exact cost but it was not too expensive.

The city is very easy to get around though food and drinks are expensive so it is worth comparing prices outside the restaurants if you are planning lunch or just a snack and drink in the city.

[wowzz]

Barbara - you could also ask in the Ports of Call section as well.

This may also help

https://www.whatsinport.com/Stockholm.htm

Edited February 16, 2022 by wowzz

[yorkshirephil]

Can't help on the transfer front as we have always docked in the city. One of our best tours was to the Vasa museum if that sort of thing interests you. https://www.vasamuseet.se/en

[terrierjohn]

There were Ho who buses at the port on our last visit on Celebrity, may be worth your whole to check on line to compare the price.

[purplesea]

When we were in Stockholm, about 3 years ago, P&O ran a shuttle bus from the port into the town.

[Gettingwarmer]

49 minutes ago, purplesea said:

When we were in Stockholm, about 3 years ago, P&O ran a shuttle bus from the port into the town.

I think this is only when you dock at Stockholm not at Vartahamnen which is a long way out. I don’t think ho ho buses run from here. 

Edited February 16, 2022 by Gettingwarmer

[Harry Peterson]

Can’t speak for the transfers from the port, but as for Stockholm itself I’d recommend just doing your own thing and wandering around with a few fixed points from online guidebooks.

 

We’ve spent a few holidays there, and it’s just a delightful place to be. Easily walkable, lots to see - I wouldn’t even consider a tour. Far too restrictive.

 

Best memory we have is quite literally walking across the harbour on thick ice!*

 

*Not advisable unless you’re absolutely certain of its thickness!

Edited February 16, 2022 by Harry Peterson

[tring]

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

Barbara - you could also ask in the Ports of Call section as well.

This may also help

https://www.whatsinport.com/Stockholm.htm

 

You are right, I would normally use that board (and know that is where \i should really have posted), but thought it useful to ask about the P&O transfer and specific tours, which are very little more than the OYO transfer cost.  Mind you tours run are normally the same for all cruise lines, though prices can be a lot higher on the US based ones.

[tring]

Thanks everyone for the replies - it is sounding like we will not be docking where some other P&O ships have docked, which is the difference.  I had been looking into the hoho bus last night, but could not find the full route details, but seems it does go to some terminals - there seems to be a number of terminals, which appears to be the problem and I presume there is always a possibility the dock could be changed before late May.  Will try to search out more hoho details and use the ports of call section from here.

 

Some very useful comments, especially from Josy who has visited for work and Harry who has stayed there - I hope the harbour is not covered in thick ice in May though, Harry 🙂

 

Barbara

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by tring

[Gettingwarmer]

10 hours ago, tring said:

We are due to dock in Stockholm late May on Aurora.  The Stockholm port site has us docking in Vartahamnen, which on a map appears to be 4km as the crow flies, but probably not much more than 5 km by road.  P&O have a "Stockholm on your Own", which costs £32pp which sounds OTT, but we have not been to Stockholm previously so no idea if it is possible to get there independently otherwise and if it is, how difficult that would be.. 

 

We suspect taxis will be quite pricey and there could be a lot of traffic on the roads, so thinking it may be worth going with the £32pp - at least it is for 6 hours, though the details do not say how long we would actually be in the city.  Any advice would be appreciated, including if it would be just as well to book an organised tour, in which case are there any P&O trips you would recommend, or is the city easy to get around once you are there? 

 

Barbara

This web site is useful. It’s quite long but tells you how to get to central Stockholm from Vartahamnen. 
https://www.cruisegeo.com/transport/stockholm-cruise-port-for-baltic-cruise/

 

[tring]

10 minutes ago, Gettingwarmer said:

This web site is useful. It’s quite long but tells you how to get to central Stockholm from Vartahamnen. 
https://www.cruisegeo.com/transport/stockholm-cruise-port-for-baltic-cruise/

 

 

That is brilliant, thanks, problem completely solved.  Have searched for 76 bus + VÄRTAHAMNE and a number of other links have come up as well, including mention of the metro.

Edited February 16, 2022 by tring

[zap99]

2 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

There were Ho who buses at the port on our last visit on Celebrity, may be worth your whole to check on line to compare the price.

Predictive isn't having a good day. Vasa museum and wandering around the city for us. 🤣

[zap99]

47 minutes ago, tring said:

 

You are right, I would normally use that board (and know that is where \i should really have posted), but thought it useful to ask about the P&O transfer and specific tours, which are very little more than the OYO transfer cost.  Mind you tours run are normally the same for all cruise lines, though prices can be a lot higher on the US based ones.

Last time for us was on NCL. The water bus was right next to the ship.

[Harry Peterson]

17 minutes ago, zap99 said:

Predictive isn't having a good day. Vasa museum and wandering around the city for us. 🤣

I’d go along with that entirely, Zap. With some excellent museums in the centre too. Very difficult to get more than a taster in a day. Well worth longer, as with all Scandinavian cities, if you get the chance. Helsinki’s another favourite - in the summer.

[zap99]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

I’d go along with that entirely, Zap. With some excellent museums in the centre too. Very difficult to get more than a taster in a day. Well worth longer, as with all Scandinavian cities, if you get the chance. Helsinki’s another favourite - in the summer.

That's the downside of cruising. All those beautiful places and you only spend a day. The list of places to revisit for a few days gets longer.,..........alas.🤔

[lincslady]

One of the best things about a day in Stockholm has to be the sail in and out through the archipelago of islands.  Well worth getting up early for, or being around outdoors or  near a window after sailaway.

[brian1]

19 minutes ago, lincslady said:

One of the best things about a day in Stockholm has to be the sail in and out through the archipelago of islands.  Well worth getting up early for, or being around outdoors or  near a window after sailaway.

I may be wrong but you only get to do that if the ship is docking downtown.We were lucky with that in june 2014 on Princess.At sailaway I was on a sunbed at the stern with Stockholm diminishing thru the archipelago in 30c temperature.Once in a lifetime experience.Cheers,Brian.

[tring]

4 minutes ago, brian1 said:

I may be wrong but you only get to do that if the ship is docking downtown.We were lucky with that in june 2014 on Princess.At sailaway I was on a sunbed at the stern with Stockholm diminishing thru the archipelago in 30c temperature.Once in a lifetime experience.Cheers,Brian.

 

I have been looking at and "going for walks on" Google Earth, which I use a lot and find very helpful.  Must admit I was surprised just how far "inland" Stockholm is.  All the cruise terminals I have seen listed are not that far out of the city and are all still well away from the open sea.  Not obvious which way the ships will wind there way through either. as it just looks like a network of rivers, though you are obviously looking at islands.

[lincslady]

Sorry,  yes we were docking in town.  It is a shame if the distant docks are so far away from town; the archipelago goes on for miles, but it is probably not the same route in?  I should have looked at the atlas.

[majortom10]

Wherever you dock in Stockholm even if 4-5km out of town P&O will provide a shuttle bus which will be free if you have booked Select or small cost if Early Saver. We have done this in the past with P&O and the shuttle bus drops you off close to the palace and a short walk to the old town and new town.

[tring]

44 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Wherever you dock in Stockholm even if 4-5km out of town P&O will provide a shuttle bus which will be free if you have booked Select or small cost if Early Saver. We have done this in the past with P&O and the shuttle bus drops you off close to the palace and a short walk to the old town and new town.

 

Nope.

 

Quite possible that has happened in the past and they may have docked at nearer terminals - there are a number of them.  From what I have read it seems that the terminal is a 15 mins drive out of the city and a public bus route takes 25 mins. 

 

However, we are booked on Aurora for the 24th May departure and as I said they are offering a "Stockholm on Your Own" as one of the excursions and charging £32pp.  We are select fare, but even so, if one of those OYO trips are offered then standard shuttle buses are not run.  It is of 6 hours duration and is advertised as follows, though further details do say a map is provided and there is an escort on the coach - so presumably you can ask questions as you arrive, should you wish to do so, which is always the case with standard shuttle buses in my experience:-

 

Stockholm On Your Own

 

29 May

Stockholm

£32

A hassle-free transport and the freedom to explore the city at your leisure.

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by tring

[Harry Peterson]

1 hour ago, tring said:

 

Nope.

 

Quite possible that has happened in the past and they may have docked at nearer terminals - there are a number of them.  From what I have read it seems that the terminal is a 15 mins drive out of the city and a public bus route takes 25 mins. 

 

However, we are booked on Aurora for the 24th May departure and as I said they are offering a "Stockholm on Your Own" as one of the excursions and charging £32pp.  We are select fare, but even so, if one of those OYO trips are offered then standard shuttle buses are not run.  It is of 6 hours duration and is advertised as follows, though further details do say a map is provided and there is an escort on the coach - so presumably you can ask questions as you arrive, should you wish to do so, which is always the case with standard shuttle buses in my experience:-

 

Stockholm On Your Own

 

29 May

Stockholm

£32

A hassle-free transport and the freedom to explore the city at your leisure.

 

 

 

Even by P&O standards, that’s quite some rip off for such a short trip.

[davecttr]

5 hours ago, zap99 said:

Last time for us was on NCL. The water bus was right next to the ship.

Same here with P&O. there was an enormous queue for the shuttle bus so I wandered the 100yards to the water bus stop. Only one there and it was raining, however the crew of the other boat company let me shelter on their boat as mine was due in 15 minutes. We had a good chat and they spoke very good English of course. Had a great day out and also managed to find some of the locations for 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

[Fionboard]

Have walked from terminal into city but it is a long way and not very pleasant. Sail in is one of the best in the world but takes a very long time and large ships cannot do it.  Ships probably docking out on the coast now to save time and fuel costs!