honeymoon cruiser 614

Thanks so much for the replies - I really appreciate the help. We are so excited! I should clarify that Chef's Table was a one time event on the cruise limited to 10 couples in the private dining room with a tasting menu prepared by the chef. It sounds like the wine dinner mentioned might be comparable. Thanks!

Hi all -

My husband and I splurged for a penthouse for our 10th anniversary next year...Sirena from Barcelona to Rome! We are so excited! This is only our 3rd cruise and we want to make sure that we maximize our experience. I have looked over this thread but I still have a few questions. Seems like there a lot of you that can be of a lot of assistance. Thanks in advance!

1) Embarkation is at 1 and departure at 11 - what time should we be on ship? Can luggage be checked in and then we can leave the ship and sightsee until later? (Or once we are on the ship, we are on the ship)

2) Is there a reason to be on ship early? I'm going to try to book restaurant reservations in advance so I don't have to rush onto the ship to do that.

3) Our cruise stays overnight in Livorno (8am - 6pm following day). Would we have to come back to the ship that evening or could we stay over in Florence?

4) We have a penthouse suite. What items can you request for your fridge? I love European juices - do they offer those?

5) Do they have something like a Chef's table event? We did one on the NCL a few years ago and really loved it.

6) How far in advance do you have to make reservations for breakfast to be delivered to your room or to have dinner set up from specialty restaurant in room?

7) Do certain levels of rooms get to leave ship first on port days? (On our NCL suites got priority).

This is another dumb question...we are not buying the soda/alcohol packages. I know we could request to have milk in our fridge - would there be a charge (we don't drink coffee)? I notice throughout all of these little treats that people say they have delivered to their room...do those cost or are they part of suite perks? Also, is there a charge for laundry service?

thanks and sorry if these are lame questions :)

Okay, this is probably a really dumb question but here goes....

We are in a suite next week on the Spirit. We did receive our priority luggage tags and a link to the Suites Welcome Aboard booklet. However, no where have I seen an email or phone number to contact the pre-concierge. I would like to contact so that some things can (hopefully) be done in advance. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me on this.

Thanks in advance.

Hi -We just upgraded to a suite today and all our info has been changed online. But where did you find the suite welcome aboard booklet?

Another note - this is only our second cruise and first suite...suite experts...any tips or tricks? I want to make sure we take full advantage of this perk! Thanks!

Thanks everyone - this is actually not our honeymoon - our first cruise was our honeymoon and that was 6 years ago but it is our anniversary. I think we are going to go for it!! Thanks!

Husband and I are debating upgrading to a suite on the Star. Apparently they have category SF available. For those who have done the suites...what are the perks? I'm sure there are threads about this and I have read some but I would appreciate any other input from people who have been on them...

Thanks in advance!

So far I think the following...

- able to have lunch/breakfast in Cagneys w/no charge (any other restaurants too?)

- concierge and butler service - what exactly does this entail?

- room service 24/7

- priority appointment scheduling

- priority embark/disembark

- snacks/drinks in your room, free of charge?

Any other perks to know about would be great...and if you think it is worth it! Thanks!

I will be back later with a proper reply.

 

Just a quick question, what airline is you gonna flight with to Amsterdam?

Hi - We are taking KLM. Thanks!!

Hi everyone -

So looking at this thread I have a couple questions...

1) It appears bus #26 is running on the weekend? We are leaving from C330 on a Saturday so I wanted to check. We are staying near the main train station - does anyone know if there is a bus stop near there? If we have to take a taxi from train station to C330...approx. cost?

2) When we come back we need to take a taxi to the airport. Will calling ahead for one truly make a difference? If so, any reputable recommendations from anyone for a company? Est. cost of a taxi?

3) Randomly we are flying to Amsterdam once we leave Copenhagen...anyone know what terminal that would most likely be in?

Thanks in advance everyone!

Has anyone been on the Star lately? I was wondering what the fitness room had? Does it get really crowded/when? Thanks!

You should be all set. This is exactly what I did. Flash that Stockholm Card to the driver and you're all set. The 76 was easy to spot on the main street you'll be taking to/from the city center area. Just write down or memorize the actual stops you want for each location so you'll know when to get off the bus. The busses had an electronic sign onboard that printed the next stop, so just watch that for when you want to get off. I actually only took it to the Vasa area in the morning. I walked around until the Vasa was open. Then I walked over to Gamla Stan along the waterfront since it was such a nice day. Then in the late afternoon, I got back on the 76 somewhere between the Vasa and Gamla Stan for the return to the ship.

About how long does the bus take to travel from Gamala Stan back to Frihamnen? Thanks!

I have some transportation questions. Some of these may be answered somewhere on this thread, but it is very long.

I want to get from Frihamnen Berth 634 to Vasa as soon as it opens on a Saturday. Our ship docks at 8am. Is the best way a taxi or HoHo boat?

From there we will go to Gamla Stan. I think there is a boat, but I am not sure what is the best way.

From there we have reservations at the Ice Bar at 2:15pm or 14:15. Is it far to walk or what is the best way there?

From there we need to get back to the ship at Frihamnen. What is the best way to do that?

Thank you.

Hi - Are you by any chance on the NCL Star too? If so, perhaps we can split a cab from Frihammen to the Vasa - we also want to be there early. There are two of us. Let me know and we can work out the details!

We recently returned from the Baltic cruise on the Star. We had booked a private tour for Helsinski, St. Petersburg and Berlin, walked into Tallinn and Stockholm skip the HOHO bus in Copenhagen. There are not enough buses for the HOHO bus in Copenhagen to see many sights.

 

Chris

Thanks Chris - Any other tips from your cruise on the Star (since I will be on the same one soon)? How did you like it? Thanks!

Thanks for your help everyone!

We received brochures with the tram routing from Helsinki's tourist bureau prior to our arrival. It was a walk from where the ships shuttle dropped us to catch the tram near the Market Square, but once aboard it was a great way to visit the sights we wanted, especially the Rock Church. We also enjoyed traveling with Finnish folk, who were very warm, extremely helpful and very welcoming to us tram riders from abroad!

Hi - Thanks for your information. Can you let me know who you emailed to get the brochures? I have been on the Helsinki tourism website but didn't see a direct way to contact to ask for brochures.

Thanks!

I thought the Star was docking near Gamla Stan in Stockholm again. If so it's an easy walk in without any shuttle buses.

I wish - for our cruise it looks like it is the other port (Frihammer, sp?). We are on the NCL July 12 booking.

Warnemunde and Tallinn are walkable you don't need any transport at all. In SPB you should get a tour (stay away from the ship's tours and go private for that). The two Scandinavian ports have bus stops at the docks.

 

If you go over to the EUROPE boards under PORTS OF CALL

you will find tons of information from a PDF walking tour of Tallinn and train schedules to get around the area in Warnemunde. I think there are even suggestions on which buses and bus stops for Copenhagen.

Thanks - I am all set in those cities and have made arrangements in SPB. I was just wondering if NCL did have a shuttle bus or not in Stockholm or Helsinki available from the cruise ship to the center of town. I did not want to use the local bus system if possible and was hoping NCL might provide an easier one for some money.

Great - thanks everyone!

Hi -

I have searched the threads but some of the postings appear to be older for what I am asking.

Husband and I are going on a Baltic cruise this summer - we definitely want to purchase some vodka, aquavit, etc. to bring home with us - we don't care about consuming it on the ship.

What is the policy for NCL regarding us bringing it back onto the ship? The way I understand it is that they will take it from us and hold it and return it to us at the end?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I had read on some other threads that they were mentioning that their cruise ships provided shuttle buses (for a fee) from the ship to the center of town (usually). I had to call NCL to ask another question and asked about the shuttle buses and I was told that NCL does NOT provide these buses.

I wasn't sure if I was being told that just so I would buy a shore excursion instead? Does anyone know if NCL does provided shuttle buses (especially in Stockholm and Helsinki)? Any info regarding the buses (if they do exist) would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Hello,

We plan on ending our day in Gamala Stan. What would be the best way to get back to our cruise ship in Frihammen? We saw that we can take the subway part way but we are not sure if there would be taxis at the last stop to take us the rest of the way. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you! (P.S - sorry for the misspellings!)

Hello,

Husband and I are currently debating on whether or not to do a hoho tour of Helsinki or make our own using directions from Rick Steves for the 2/3 tram tour. I was wondering if anyone had done the 2/3 tram tour and could attest to how easy it is and how much time it actually takes. Basically is it worth it just to pay more for the convenience of the Ho Ho bus or not? TIA

Hi everyone!

A couple questions to help me prepare for our upcoming cruise...

1) I keep reading that cruise lines will have shuttles with nominal fees to/from city centers (in Helsinki, Stockholm). Is this the case? If so, how much and how would I find out if our cruise ship offered those?

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!

You will not need an additional ticket on a Sunday but you need to buy the Lander ticket before you get on the train in Warnemünde, at the ticket office or the machine on the platform. Or you can buy on-line before you leave home following the instructions on the last page of my web site.

Happy cruising, :)

Anni

www.travelanni.webs.com

Anni you are the best!! Thanks so much!!

Hi,

The Mecklenburg Lander Day Ticket costs 22 euro for one person plus 4 euro for each additional person up to 5 persons travelling together. ie. 1=22 euro, 2=26 euro, etc.

It is valid for unlimited travel in Mecklenburg (plus Hamburg and Lübeck) between 9am and 3am the following day on all RE, RB and S-bahn services (RED trains) on weekdays, between 0 and 3am the following day on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Warnemünde, Rostock, Schwerin and Wismar are all within Mecklenburg.

 

You can also find this information on the Tickets ..... page of my web site and full details of how to get to Schwerin or Wismar on the appropriate pages..

 

If you plan to take the 9:07 from Rostock to Schwerin or 9:06 to Wismar on a weekday then you will need to purchase additional single tickets from Warnemünde to Rostock to cover the time before 9am.

 

Happy cruising :)

Ann

www.travelanni.webs.com

Thanks Anni! We will be there on a Sunday so will I not have to buy an additional ticket on the S-bahn? Can I get the Lander ticket in Warnemunde or will I have to wait until Rostock? Thanks again!!!

Hi,

There is an hourly train service from Schwerin to Wismar at 46 mins past the hour and a service from Wismar back to Rostock at 42 mins past the hour. It is very easy to do both in the one day using a Mecklenburg Lander Day Ticket. See my web site for details or use

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query2.exe/en

 

Happy cruising :)

Anni

www.travelanni.webs.com

Hi Anni - a couple more questions for clarification. 1) Looking at the Mecklenberg Lander Day ticket it looks like it is 22 Euro per person. This would include trains between Rostock, Schwerin and Wismar? And we would just have to buy this one ticket and it is unlimited rides between those cities? 2) It appears to me this is a cheaper option than just going from Rostock to Schwerin round trip?

Thanks!