kristabel36

Hi Cruisers,

Hubby and I have been booked on the RSS Explorer (Grand Suite) but have had to reschedule our cruise and will now be on Splendour (2021)  instead of the Explorer (2020). Looking at the Suite layouts/descriptions I can't see much difference (if any) between the Grand Suite and the Explorer Suite other than the size of the deck (and we don't really care that much about the deck size TBH).  If anyone can comment I'd really appreciate it.  

Accidentally didn't submit this and in the meantime have found that my comments above pertain to a floor plan of the Explorer and Grand Suites on board RSS Splendour courtesy of the Cruise Mapper website.  Am now looking at another website and (this makes more sense) it states that what were the Explorer suites on the Explorer...are now called the Splendour Suites on the Splendour....makes sense!  Comments on differences would still be appreciated however.  So much contradictory info out there!!! Thanks.

Hi Cruisers,

Hubby and I have been booked on the RSS Explorer (Grand Suite) but have had to reschedule our cruise and will now be on Splendour instead of the Explorer.  Looking at the Suite layouts/descriptions I can't see much difference (if any) between the Grand Suite and the Explorer Suite other than the size of the deck (and we don't really care that much about the deck size TBH).  If anyone can comment I'd really appreciate it.  Thanks.

7 hours ago, arsenalboy said:

 

Would you really book a cruise by second guessing the weather? The weather can be different one year compared to the next.

Absolutely I would. I agree weather is a capricious beast but there are no doubt patterns to some extent and that is what I am trying to determine :-)

Hi Cruisers,  My husband and I are going to book a cruise for next summer (2020) and we will be starting in Stockholm and ending in London and most of the time we are in the Baltic.  The cruise we are favouring departs Stockholm at the end of August but if earlier in the summer is better we would reconsider.  All opinions welcome thanks.  My main concern is that early summer may be more spring like (with storms etc) than late summer but I can only draw comparisons with our seasons here in NZ (South pacific).

My husband and I are gong to do a Baltic Cruise next year in the Northern Hemisphere summer and would like to know when is the weather at it's most settled/warm?  Our weather in the Southern Hemisphere seems t be changing in that the seasons are getting later (ie..summer starts later than it used to etc...).  It would be great to hear from some experienced cruisers about when the best weather for cruising is.  Thanks.

Hi All,

I'd love to get some recommendations on excursions from RSS Explorer Cruise from Stockholm to London (via Helsinki, St Petersburg, Visby, Tallin, Riga, Copenhagen, Bruges, Amsterdam).  I have read on various review sites that the included on-shore excursions are variable in quality and that it's sometimes worth incurring the cost of a paid or independent tour.  I have also heard that one of the downsides of the latter option would be that you'd need a visa of some sort which you would not if you are with a tour group from the ship.  Any comments regarding this and what the good excursions are (and the bad) would be really helpful for our planning.  TIA

While I have a captive audience I might ask about excursions.  But will start another thread for that :-)

That's awesome everyone....thanks so much.  Other comments also welcome if anyone has anything else to add.

Hi Travelcat, yes it is thanks.  Can I probe a little further?  As some-one who has never cruised before I'd be interested to know why you prefer the aft cabins/suites?  Also could you tell me how bad the noise is in suites 1200/1201?  It sounds like you didn't stay in those suites in the end but maybe know some-one who has?  Or you are possibly just going by the comments in my original question?  Thanks again for your time and assistance :-)

DH and I are going to cruise on the Explorer (Baltic Cruise) next year.  It was to be this year but for reasons I won't go into we are going to reschedule.  We want to (re)book a Grand Suite and I am aware that the 'original' Grand Suites are suites 1200, 1201, 784 and 785.  I am also aware that 4 former 'Explorer' Suites have been converted to Grand Suites and that these are 1012, 1015 (neither of which I would consider due to their location under the pool deck) and 901 and 900 (which I am also a little dubious about due to their location under the Bridge).  I have read some reviews of suites 1200, 1201 also citing noise issues (namely from the observation lounge) so in that regard suites 784,785 might be best BUT, they look quite a bit smaller.  I have taken a virtual tour of suite 1200 and it looks lovely and have also taken a virtual tour of another GS (number unknown) which shows a bigger  'kitchen/bar' area which I like the look of.  What to do???  If anyone who has travelled in any of these suites can make a comment about above concerns (or anything else I haven't considered) I would be most grateful.