Helsinki on a Sunday

We are in Helsinki port on Sunday August 20 from 7am - 4pm and we were just planning to do a walking tour on our own loosely following the Rick Steves guide. We didn't plan on doing the fortress Island area. However, when I research the openings of many of the things we want to see (Rock Church, Market place, stores in Esplanade, Stockmanns, Church of Silence etc.), it appears nothing open until 10am-12pm or not open at all. What would you recommend as a starting point if we get off the ship ~8am and need to be back on ship around ~3:30? Can we still get it all done in 4 hours if we started at noon?

We are in Helsinki port on Sunday August 20 from 7am - 4pm and we were just planning to do a walking tour on our own loosely following the Rick Steves guide. We didn't plan on doing the fortress Island area. However, when I research the openings of many of the things we want to see (Rock Church, Market place, stores in Esplanade, Stockmanns, Church of Silence etc.), it appears nothing open until 10am-12pm or not open at all. What would you recommend as a starting point if we get off the ship ~8am and need to be back on ship around ~3:30? Can we still get it all done in 4 hours if we started at noon?

I am afraid that very few places in Helsinki open before 10am on Sundays. The Lutheran cathedral on Senate Square opening at 9am is one of the exceptions. The Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Seurasaari, Sibelius Monument, or some other outdoor attraction could of course be visited in the morning.

I would not see any point in delaying your start until noon as many of the places you mention open already at 10am or 11am. At least for the Rock Church you will have to wait until a bit closer to your visit to be able to check how it is open according to services. Starting at 10am, you should be able to cover everything you mention at a fairly leisurely pace and stops along the way.

More Helsinki info can be found in the Helsinki thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2445288

If you are on the Costa Pacifica, take the Route 14 bus outside of the gate of LHC and transfer to the 1A tram which will take you to Market Square and a bit further on Senate Square. That should keep you busy until other sites open.

If you are on NCL Getaway at LMA, it appears that the closest public transport is at West Terminal.