Ultima Thule

As long as you stay in Stockholm and don't plan some of the more remote suburbs, everything will be in the same zone (zone A).

All subway stations are within zone A and so is both Frihamnen & Stadsgårdskajen. Nynäshamn is not in Zone A though,

 

https://sl.se/sv/kop-biljett/ -> Biljettzonerna -> Det här är zon A

Or at http://sl.se/en/ click on the map, then click on the "Zones" box to see the zone borders.

Docking in West Harbor I would think the ship may have some transport arranged. If they do not, is it the 15 or 15A bus that will take us to the central market. We want to be able to get to Market Square and from there take the ferry to Suomenlinna.

There should be shuttle service from the ship to downtown, to the area named "Main shopping area" on this map:

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

From where the bus stops it should be about a third of a mile along the Esplanade Park to the Market.

If you don't want to use the shuttle the alternative would be tram 9 that will take you to the railway station, half a mile from the Market Square. The tram starts from the ferry terminal located approx. at the last "R" in the text "WEST HARBOUR" on the map:

Am I correct that from the dock it is too far to walk.

Its some 2.2 miles in total from the quay to the Market.

We are on the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas and the link to the various quays in Helsinki does not list our ship. Can anyone help specific to where we will dock??

 

Legend of the Seas, 29 July:

West Harbour, quay LMA 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Its listed about halfway down on this page under the headline "West Harbour and Hernesaari"

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/expected_cruise_ships

The quay is #4 on this map:

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

What is the minimum amount of time one should allow for Suomenlinna Fortress. I know to allow 30 minutes for ferry to and fro.

If you have a good walking speed, don't stop, don't visit any museums, and you keep track on the ferry time table and where you are going then it can be done in an hour but that's perhaps a bit stressful. I notice that I did it a few years ago, taking pictures on the way, in 1h20min without problem.

 

1. On the outbound 76 bus what will be the destination on the front of the bus?

3. On the return 76 bus what will be the destination on the front of the bus?

4. With regards to bus stops are they clearly visible, any distinguishing features :)

A full list of stops can be found here:

http://sl.se/ficktid/sommar/S76.pdf

The three stops you need to find to enter a bus look like this.

Frihamnen.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=59.34202,18.118515&spn=0.010427,0.033023&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=59.342107,18.118579&panoid=j_rTG1wHHZ7cidg1iB34wA&cbp=12,218.54,,0,1.17

Djurgårdsbron

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=59.331941,18.092768&spn=0.002608,0.008256&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=59.331941,18.092768&panoid=4XT-1Dn-X6VZ7F6M5vMD1A&cbp=12,244.17,,0,5.85

Slottsbacken:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=59.32602,18.075407&spn=0.005216,0.016512&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=59.325935,18.075488&panoid=iHWi5psWXsL78u7tSD2rLA&cbp=12,322.83,,0,10.08

If that is Crystal Symphony then its quay LHB.

There should be a shuttle service available from almost all cruise ships to downtown. It would then be a 500 meter walk along the esplanade park to to Market (ask for the direction and you cannot really get lost).

As I understand it Hoho buses adapt their route according to where to cruise ships are that day.

Public transport would be a combination of bus 14 and tram 2 or 3 depending on where you change from the bus to the tram.

Taxi cost is 5.90 euro plus 1.52 Euro per kilometer. Not a bad option if you can find one.

Does anyone know anything about the luggage lockers at the Vasa Museum? We are thinking about visiting there with a couple of roll-aboards in tow (which obviously we cannot take with us into the museum). The website mentions that they have limited luggage lockers available, but I don't want to risk getting there and finding out there is nowhere we can safely store our bags while we are touring the museum. We plan to get there first thing in the morning (ie, between 8:30 and 10:00). Thanks in advance if anyone can help us!

You find lockers once you are inside the museum next to the toilets but I'm not sure they are big enough for roll-aboards. As you can see to the right of the picture (sorry for the bad picture quality) they are three above each other. Sorry, I cannot remember if there are bigger ones there as well.

I can confirm that the Old Market Hall next to Market Square is now open again after a long renovation.

We will be on a ship excursion that will allow us to remain downtown and take a shuttle back to the ship. Is market square near downtown?

Depends on what's called downtown. The classic one around the cathedral is just one block away from the market, the commercial center is about 600 yards away.

Take a look at this map. You'll dock at #4. The shuttle will probably start from whats called main shopping area on the map.

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

Can you please tell me if Market Square is close enough to the cruise port to walk? We will be on the Legend June 23.

Quay LMA, that's 2.1 miles to the market :(

this will work out well as that's right beside the ferry to Djurgarden and Vasa. :)

Here is a picture taken from Slussen of a cruise ship tendering at Strömmen last year. You can see the Djurgården ferry behind the road sign. The ferry landing is immediately the left of the picture.

 

- How to get from the Terminal to Rock Church.

If you plan to use local transport then its tram 9. Exit at stop "Kamppi". Go up to the corner and turn left. You'll be able to see the church on the hill at the end of the street (Fredrik street), 650 yards away. A bit further on the way on right side of the street is a stop for tram "2" and still a bit further on a stop for buses 14, 18 or 39. One can use them, getting off at the next stop, to get marginally closer to the church if the tram and bus happen to pass by but in my mind its not worth waiting for them.

- Confirm best way to get from Rock Church to Market Square is tram 2.

Correct. Downhill from the church along Fredrik street, then turn to the right at Arkadia street and the tram stop is at the end of the block , opposite side of the street.

- Confirm that ferry to Suomenlinna fortress takes off from Market Square. (5 Eu ticket. Or is this covered in the all day transit ticket?)

Yes, ferry is at the east side of the Market Square (the side closest to the red cathedral) and it is included in a one day local transport ticket. There are also boats going from the west side of the Market Square but you need separate tickets for those.

- How to get from Market Square back to West Terminal.

Tram 9 again. I recommend going through downtown to the railway station (1000 yards walk or take tram 2) and take tram 9 from there (The platform closer to the railway station).

 

2) Is there a website that lists which piers the cruise ship is going to be docking at? I think this would help me as I prepare.

 

Thanks everyone!

There is no single Web site that lists all the information. You'll have to search for a site for each harbor.

Here is Helsinki:

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/expected_cruise_ships

And Stockholm:

http://www.stockholmshamnar.se/en/Map/Vessel-traffic/

Thanks for all the info. It was very helpful.

Thanks for the feedback! :)

We are going to be docked at the buoy (Eurodam) and didn't get our order in for the Stockholm card early enough, so we printed out a voucher. How far is it from where our tenders will bring us to a place to pick them up?

According to Stockholm card web site FAQ you'll have to pick them up at the Stockholm Visitor Center, Kulturhuset, (house of culture) Sergels Torg 3. If the boat drops you off near Slussen it will be a 0.8 miles walk 'm afraid.

http://www.visitstockholm.com/en/stockholmcard/

Also, we wanted to see the Swimming Stadium. If I read the map correctly, Tram 2 takes us near it. Do we get off at the same stop as the Olympic Stadium (looks like Toolon halli) or is there another stop closer?

You can get off at Ooppera and walk across parking or Töölön halli and circle the Olympic stadium counter clock wise or take longer tram trip to Auroran Sairaala or Eläintarha and approach from north along Hammarskjöld road trough the park. Its will be some uphill walking regardless of what way you take.

But to be honest, the Swimming Stadium is extremely well hidden. You'll not be able to see anything from the outside.

we would be doing the normal highlights Vasa, Gamla Stan, palace. We won't go very far.

I still, just like Desdichado recommend the Stockholm card if you are longer than one day. It gives you much more flexibility.

I am wondering if we can walk from the Market area of Helsinki to the port instead of going all the way back to Kampi to catch the bus? How long would the walk be? Or would there be another bus that gets us close with a short walk?

If that is to Hernesaari then its almost 3 km to quay LHB and 3.6 km to quay LHC.

Will be on the July 3 cruise on the Norewgian Star.Wondering if euros and credit cards can be used In all the ports of call except St Petersburg.

Tallinn,Stockholm,Helsinki,and Berlin are the other ports.Just would like to know.

You can use Euros in Tallinn, Helsinki and Berlin. As you are visiting Stockholm last you can change some spare Euros to Swedish Kronor when you are in Helsinki. Personally I always use the litte Tavex exchange office 50 feet into Fabian street from corner Fabian Street/Northern Esplanade, just two blocks from the Market Square in downtown. Decent rates and no extra commission.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=sv&ie=UTF8&ll=60.167988,24.949458&spn=0.001081,0.00394&t=m&z=19&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=60.167856,24.949473&panoid=-3J__uJU3JZFpm_NcnydBQ&cbp=12,311.35,,0,3.68

Then we would like to get lunch at Ostermalms Saluhall. Can you recommend the fastest/cheapest way to get there from the vasa museum?

The fastest way (excluding taxi) is probably to take tram (7) to Nybroplan and walk (uphill) the last 400 meters to Östermalms Torg.

The cheapest way is of course to walk all the way (0.9 miles). :D

A more complex option is to take bus 44 to Karlaplan and then the subway to Östermalms Torg (be sure to take the correct exit or you'll end up at the bottom of the hill instead)

Then from Ostermalms Saluhall to the Old Town?

Take the subway. Östermalms Torg-Gamla Stan

From where the HoHo boat pier is, how do we get to Skansen please?

From the pier at Djurgården after the boat trip you mean?

200 meter straight forward up to the main road (Djurgårdsvägen), then turn right and another 200 meters to the main gate.

Our travel agent is saying that she can arrange transportation from our hotel, Freys, to the cruise ship for $30 per person. In 2014 is that reasonable?

 

Thanks so much.

I assume that is Legend of the Sea, 6 July?

In that case it would be from Bryggargatan 12 to Frihamnen 638.

According to Taxi Stockholm's web page that should cost someting like 200 Kr ($30) for 1-4 persons.

Which tram from the cruise terminal could we take to hook up with tram 2 or 3? Or could we walk from the cruise terminal to one of the stops on tram 2 or 3?

Depends on where your ship docks:

Here is a map of the harbours http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/international_cruise

(Beware, the text under it as there is no bus #14B any longer. It's called bus #14 nowadays.)

and here is a list of cruse ships: http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/expected_cruise_ships

For West Harbour: (quay LMA & LV7) use tram 9

For West Harbour - Hernesaari (quay LHB & LHC) use bus 14

For Katajanokka (quay ERA, ERB) use tram 4

Tram 2 passes South Harbour.

For those you want to try blend in a bit I recommend using Google maps street view of the cities you plan to visit as there must be pictures of tens of thousands of locals there.

Is the transportation pass that includes Museum entrance worthwhile for 7 hour stay.

You need to be quite active to break even.

The Stockholm card costs 495 kr.

Public transport 115kr + Vasa 130 Kr + Royal Castle 150 kr + Armoury 90 Kr = 485 kr.

Add Storkyrkan 40 Kr or Nobel Museum 100kr, both near the castle, and you are on the plus.

I once did a fast look at Vasa + fast look at Skansen (130 kr) + Skansen Akvarium (100kr) + Castle (Tre Kronor museum + Treasury) + Armoury in about 7 hours for a total of 715 Kr gaining 220 Kr with the card but I must say its a quite stressful.