caroak

I booked a Hertz rental car to be returned at Civitavecchia Port prior to embarking for our cruise. The Hertz office is located at Via della Repubblica, 10A, which is in the Port area, and what I thought is the closest one to the piers and/or shuttle buses but on further research I'm not sure if it is since there have been recent entrance changes at the Port. Problem will be getting from a rental car office to our ship's dock but at this time I don't have our dock number. From what I've read only taxis or transfer services can drop off close to the ships but since they're too close to the rental office taxis won't take you. Even if they did the rental car agents won't call one for you. I know there are buses but not sure where they're located or which one would get us to our ship. One thing for sure is we don't want to be faced with a long walk hauling our luggage through the Port. Has anyone experienced dropping off a car at the Port pre-cruise and which rental car agency would be the closest to a pier shuttle bus?

Carole

We used Alla in in June for three days in SPB. Our guide was Anya and she was the best guide ever. We visited all the major sites along with subway and boat rides and no waiting in lines. Anya's vast knowledge of Russia's extensive history was impressive. Any question that came up she was able to answer with details. I forgot our driver's name but he was great and right there when we needed him.

Carole

The destination should be Göteborg, maybe the airport is listed first but Göteborg or Helsingborg should be there somewhere.

Thanks for the information. You've been a big help in planning the train trip to Sweden.:halo:

Carole

Hi Danish Viking,

You had been helping me with information regarding my husband debarking at Langelinie Pier and making his way to the Osterport Station for his trip to Sweden. His ticket is now purchased for the 8:57 am train from Osterport with his final destination being Varberg, Sweden. Now the question is when he gets to the Osterport Station how will his train be posted on the departures board? Will it indicate the train is to Ostersund or Malmo or something else? I believe the train cars will be marked "Oresundtag", correct?

Thanks again for all you help.

Carole

This is timely, since I am just booking tours for our cruise at the end of July. It's interesting that the Alla website still shows early entry into the Hermitage as part of the Grand tour, as well as hydrofoil to Peterhof.

I have been corresponding with an Alla representative regarding the Hermitage early entry and the hydrofoil. I hadn't noticed that the 3 day Grand Tour itinerary lists boat ride not hydrofoil. The 2 day Grand Tour does still list the hydrofoil. Alla has been very responsive and prompt in answering all my questions so I suggest you e-mail them if you need more information.

Here's Alla's response that details the Hermitage and hydrofoil situation:

Yes, you need to log into your account and you'll find it in "messages".

Carole

Here's the info I received from Alla which states the decision was made by the Hermitage Museum not Alla for the reason mentioned so it will affect all private tours. Certainly not looking forward to the crowds in late June.:(

Carole

Dear Friends,

We would like to share some important information about your St. Petersburg tours.

We sincerely regret to inform you, but the early entry to the State Hermitage Museum can not be guaranteed this tourist season. As it was communicated to us in the official Hermitage Museum memo, "due to an anticipated significant increase of tourist flow during the summer, 2017, the State Hermitage Museum can no longer guarantee a special early entry to any private company". We will do our best to arrange early entry for our guests, but as we are sure you understand, this is absolutely out of our control and can be regulated by the museum’s authorities only.

Thank you for understanding. Please feel free to contact your personal manager with your questions and concerns. We are always happy to help.

Yours,

Alla ToursTeam

If they change it, it will only be a couple of minutes to one sightseeing or another.

 

But it might mean that you miss the train.

 

 

Just remember to have your passport ready during the crossing.

Danish Viking, once again thanks for your help. If there is a slight time change will the advance ticket I book for a specific departure time be okay if the time is different? He will get to the station with time to spare so I don't see a minor change being an issue. Will there be an agent at Osterport?

Carole

So with the ID check at the airport station for Sweden bound trains removed they have returned to a regular schedule.

 

The trains towards Tårnby, Ørestad (Crowne Plaza, Cabinn Metro and AC Hotel Bella Sky) the central station, Nørreport (bus 25) and Østerport (bus 25 and 27) will depart at 04, 15, 24, 35, 44 and 55.

 

Destinations are for the 4 departures Nivå and the 5 departures Helsingør but both works.

 

Travel time between the airport and Østerport are 24 minutes.

 

Going to the airport from Østerport the departures are 06, 17, 26, 37, 46 and 57.

 

The 6 departures has the airport as final destination and the 7 departures has Sweden as destination. (Göteborg, Helsingborg, Hässleholm, Karlskrona, Kristianstad, Växjo, Kalmar)

 

 

They have warned that they may change the schedule after a time but then I will post it here.

DanishViking, you mentioned in the above post that the train schedule might be changing. I will be booking a ticket for my husband from Osterport station to Varberg, Sweden on July 4. Would this schedule be one that might change? Should I wait until just before we leave in June to book in case the schedule has changed and if it does after I book would he have to go in person to exchange for the correct departure time? Does Osterport have a ticket agent or is it just machines? I would book a refundable ticket.

I noticed that the SJ site now shows no stop at the airport for an ID check so there will be no change for the trip to Varberg which is good news.:)

Carole

Desdichado62, thanks for the further suggestion. I was checking Glam Stan restaurants and Corvina Enoteca looks like a good option. Their website allows booking for June 23 but I e-mailed them to get confirmation.

I could use your help with another question. We would like to buy a 24 hour transit pass. Do we have to buy the SL access card first and then load it or is there just a one time 24 hour pass? Does the 24 hours begin with your first use? We don't want to use the phone or text app and we don't have a chip and pin card to use a ticket machine.

Carole

Desdichado62, thanks for sending the links and I'll be checking out the info. I had e-mailed a few on TripAdvisor and those were closed on June 23. I know hotel restaurants will be open for the weekend and the Radisson Blu Waterfront's restaurant, where we're staying, is open although I would rather not have dinner there. We embark for our cruise on June 24 with an overnight so we'll be having dinner on the ship that night.

Carole

We'll be in Stockholm during Midsummer weekend. Any suggestions for restaurants that will be open for dinner on Friday, June 23? Will most be open for dinner on June 22? Thanks.

Carole

Danish Viking, thanks again for your help and lessening our planning stress.:)

Carole

Its funny, I also didn´t find the Langelinie bus stop at the timetable but its on google maps when you look at the timetable from that bus stop.

 

When I take a trip to Langelinie to get a icecream I usually walk from Østerport and I will say that its also possible with one bag.

Thanks again for your help. How much time should he allow for the walk?

Carole

The tickets are are valid on any trains over the bridge on the given date, usually ticket reservations should not be needed.

 

Regarding taxi´s, Langelinie is normally not used to exchange passengers so normally there aren´t that many taxi´s around but I´ll imagine that the taxi companies gets told about your ships arrival by the Cruise Copenhagen Network.

 

But If you get a taxi You will probably have a better change of getting to the central station because I don´t think they will take a short trip to Østerport.

 

Also Remember that the ticket hall at Østerport is closed untill 2019 so there is only ticket machines available.

 

But you can take bus 26 from Langelinie to Østerport and further on Kongens Nytorv station the central station,

 

You can take the bus from the bus stop at the pier but there are more departures from the next bus stop at Indiakaj just at the buttom of the pier.

 

https://www.google.dk/maps/place/Indiakaj/@55.6956228,12.6054927,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x465252de6ee8856f:0xeb0e221fb2acd1be!8m2!3d55.6951972!4d12.5978878

 

http://dinoffentligetransport.dk/KoereplanerPdf/26-0026-090417.pdf

 

If I understand the new procedure correct at the airport you will then get on the same train.

Danish Viking, thanks for the info, maps and bus schedule. The schedules don't show a Largelinie stop just Indiakaj but it looks like a short walk down the pier.

I checked the walking distance from Langelinie to Osterport and Google map says 19 minutes. Does that sound accurate and would he have any issues if he decided to walk? He'll only have a small wheeled bag and would not have a problem walking if his timing is not right for the bus or if there are no willing taxis. Thanks.

Carole

We dock on July 3 and have an overnight on the ship. We'll be on Crystal's Symphony and was told we would be docking at Langelinie and, I believe, we'll be at C190.

Carole

Hi Danish Viking,

Thanks for all the helpful information you provide and hoping you will be able to answer a few questions. We debark at Langelinie pier on July 4. DH will debark before me as he is planning to take the 8:46 train from Osterport to Varberg to visit family for an overnight. I know the Osterport station is very close to the pier and I'm wondering if a taxi would want to wait for a better fare and not be willing to go the short distance to Osterport. An option would be to take the 8:56 from the Central Station. Either way, can he expect a sufficient number of taxis at the dock without a long wait? He's planning on buying the tickets in advance and I'm thinking it would be best to buy refundable tickets in case he misses the train. I know he'll have to change at the airport station for the ID check. Does the train wait or will he be getting on a different train?

I'm not planning on debarking until at least 9:00 and will taxi to our hotel so can I also expect a sufficient number of taxis at that hour? Thanks.

Carole

I've never heard that Medicare pays for evacuation off a ship especially when at sea or in a foreign country which would be thousands of dollars. Our Medicare supplement pays for medical out of the county but it would not pay for evacuation other than maybe just an ambulance to a hospital.

Our Chase Sapphire card covers trip cancellation or interruption up to $10,000 per trip but not if was due to a pre-existing condition. It also does not cover evacuation which is why we buy a small policy which would cover that situation.

Carole

Thanks for all the suggestions and Jim and Stan for those gorgeous photos. We'll have to scope out some shade because we do very limited, if any, sun. We got a great deal with the Labor Day sale and went for a PH Suite:) so we'll have access to the Spa Lounge area and even time spent in the suite will be a treat.

Carole

I called back today and have further clarification of the Labor Day Sale. Here's the offers: Book B3 to B1 upgrade to A3 to A1 in same numerical category; Book A3 to A1 upgrade to PH3 to PH1; included is airfare or the deduction if you book your own; free Internet; and one OLife Choice. I think the agent said you can book a C and upgrade to a B but not sure because we were not interesting in those categories. The PH deal was just too good of a deal to turn down so Happy Birthday to me!!:)

Carole

DH would certainly enjoy the martini tasting!:D

We still do mostly land trips and all our cruises have been port intensive with only one sea day although after the last cruise we would have welcomed at least one more. I would imagine in the Caribbean a lot of people just stay on board and the pool lounge chairs would be a precious commodity especially with all the chair hogs.

Carole

I just spoke with Oceania and was interested in a B1 but that cabin class would only get one upgrade with the Labor Day sale. I think you have to book at least an A3 to get more of an upgrade. It was confusing plus the fare on their recent mailing offer was less which is good thru September 30. The agent said he didn't see that offer in their system. As they say, the devil's in the details. I'm going to call back and speak to a different agent for better clarification.

Our one cruise on O was on an R ship and was port intensive so we were not concerned with activities for our one sea day. I'm under the impression O doesn't offer a particularly wide range of on board activities but would appreciate some clarification. I know about the cooking classes but that would not be of interest to me. Would not want to get bored with 4 sea days. I enjoy relaxing by the pool but not so much for DH and since it's the Caribbean we probably won't be spending full days off the ship.

Carole

Terry, I'm surprised Crystal did Moscow on the SPB arrival day. Maybe it was because you took a flight rather than the train and were able to depart a little later in the morning. You'd never get me on one of those Russian crates!:eek:

Terry, a Moscow excursion will not be doable on Wednesday since we won't be docking until 7:00 am. I'll just have to wait and see what Crystal will be offering for Moscow.

Carole