Halemaumau

We are planning to take the train to Cefalù from Palermo.

I think we want to walk to Palermo Centrale Train Station, and that walk is about a mile. Is it safe?

I am looking for good directions as I usually turn left when I should turn right, so a good landmark will really help a lot.

Also , is there a (free?) shuttle from the Cruise Terminal to Piazza Castelnuovo - and is that near the Palermo Centrale Train Station?

Thanks for your help / recommendation.

Ellen (halemaumau)

Hi Ellen, I am well thankyou. Very busy at the moment creating a web site of info for cruisers travelling in this area. Up and running next week I hope.

 

The 9.07 from Rostock arrives Schwerin 10.03 so with your schedule you would need to depart Schwerin either 1.53 arriving Wismar 2.46 or 2.22 arriving 3.15. Trains to Rostock depart Wismar hourly. The 4.42 arriving Rostock 5.51 and so on. With sailing time of 10 pm I presume you would need to be on board by 9pm so would need to leave Rostock Hbf no later than the 8.16.

Bear in mind that the walk from the station to anything of interest in both Schwerin and Wismar takes between 10 and 15 mins at a reasonable pace. If you finish at the castle in Schwerin the walk back to the station is at least 20mins.

The tram ride between Rostock Hbf and Rostock City takes about 10 mins with about 10 mins between trams.

 

Please do not think I am trying to put you off, it is do-able but 4 hours in Schwerin, especially if you want to tour the castle, or 2 hours in Wismar are not really enough to see very much when you take away the walking time from and back to the station and the few minutes before the train etc. (German short distance trains leave on the dot!)

My personal recommendation would be to choose one or the other and combine Schwerin with Rostock or Wismar with either Bad Doberan or Rostock then finish off with an evening stroll around Warnemuende. This typical, small, North German seaside resort and fishing town is a gem not to be missed and is unique on a Baltic Cruise as all the other Ports of Call are cities.

If you want detailed directions for Rostock Hbf or to and from the stations in the other cities please let me know. If the web site is not finished I will e-mail them to you.

 

Happy Cruising, :) Anni

Hi Anni!

Yes & Yes.

Let me know if you need my email address. I am very excited to hear that you have created a web site That is great!

Kind regards,

Ellen

Liebe Anni,

It's Ellen again. Hope you are doing well.

As you know, we are on HAL Eurodam and will arrive in Warnemünde on Monday, 2 July at 6 AM; departing at 22:00 (10 PM).

I am laying out an itinerary for:

• Warnemünde - Rostock - Schwerin - Wismar - Rostock -Warnemünde
  

Per your advice we plan to take the 8:22 am to Rostock, get the Länderticket Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and travel on to Schwerin Hbf. Walk to the castle, see the market.

Estimate 4 hours for this.

Next, take train from Schwerin to Wismar - using this link for info:

http://www.wismar-stralsund.de/en

Estimate 2 hourse for Wismar.

Then train to Rostock -- see the Stasi Prison (Monday & Closed as you kindly let me know earlier.)

Then back to Warnemünde and the Eurodam.

But, I do need a reality check from you please. Will this itinerary work with the train schedules? I sometimes find the destination boards confusing.... and obviously on DIY travel, knowing timetables and which way to walk is critical. I have been meaning to look at the Michellin site for walking directions.....

Dankbar :):)

Ellen G

Hi Ellen,

I just hate having to pour cold water on your ideas once more but am afraid I must.

Wöbbelin is the site of a small concentration camp south of Schwerin but there is very little to see. Memorial stones and boards explaining what was where etc. There is a small section of the village museum devoted to the camp but same old story, closed on Monday. It is also impossible to get to except by car. There is no bus service from either Schwerin or Ludwigslust (nearest train stations). Please see my post "WWll in Rostock Area", this thread, Jan.5th for more details.

If you are really set on visiting a concentration camp or similar the next nearest is Sachsenhausen, in the town of Oranienburg near Berlin.

http://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/museums/museum-details/gedenkstaette-und-museum-sachsenhausen-1.html

The RE trains from Rostock stop at Oranienburg and the camp is about a 20 min walk from the station. It is open on Mondays until 6pm. However, the train time tables being as they are it would be not be possible to visit any castles as well in the time available, maybe you could sqeeze in a quick look at Rostock or a stroll around Warnemünde. I will be happy to provide more detailed train times if required.

Tschuss, :) Anni.

Mein Freund Anni,

I didn't really want to go to a prison or a concentration camp, that was for my husband! Too bad, it's castles and Schwerin for us. Coudn't be happier!!!

You have been so helpful, so much good information. If you ever need help with Philadelphia just send me an email please let me know. I still haven't figured out how to subscribed to your thread on Cruise Critic.

Dankbar,

Ellen

Moin,

Although you have chosen the best line (HAL) in terms of time in port unforunately Monday is the day on which most museums in Germany, including the Stasi in Rostock, are closed.

You would have time to visit Luebeck but the same applies there, mostly closed.

As you have plenty of time may I suggest a visit to the lakeside city of Schwerin. The castle there, on an island in the lake, is open on Mondays in the tourist season, as is the Cathedral.

Schwerin is the State capital of Mecklemburg vor Pommern. and the castle was, until 1914, the residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg. It now houses the State Parliament as well as the restored Ducal Apartments which, along with the extensive lakeside gardens, are open to the public.

There is a very good web site in English - http://www.schwerin.com/english/

With the time you have in port it would be quite feasible to have a look at Rostock in the morning, take the 11.07 train to Schwerin and still have time for a stroll around Warnemuende in the evening, something not to be missed.

Please see my post of 23rd January - Trains to Schwerin for the timetable.

The castle in Guestrow is much smaller, it belonged to a minor branch of the family, the town is not as attractive and the other places of interest there are closed on Monday too.

Sorry to disappoint your husband re the Stasi but hope this suggestion helps with your planning.

Happy cruising :)

Tschuss, Anni

Dear Anni,

Since we will not be able to visit Stasi Prison on a Monday, is Wöbbelin (a concentration camp I believe) something we might be able to do in combination with Schwerin. That may seem an odd combination. What do you think? If it is possible, would you be kind enough to provide some public transportation directions or links?

Danke, Tschuss,

Ellen

Dear Anni,

You are right my husband will be very disappointed about Stasi Prison; better to know it is closed on Mondays then to travel there and find out the hard way. Thanks also for providing a great alternative with your suggestion to go to Schwerin -- which will probably be even more crowded because it is Monday.... really appreciate your help.

Tschuss -

Ellen

G'Day and guten Tag Anni,

We're on the Eurodam arriving 2 July, a Monday. While I prefer castles my husband will be more intrigued by Statsi Prison in Rostock.

Would you help me with an agenda? Is there any possbility (I am directionally challenged) to see Statsi Prison then go to Güstrow (I don't think we have time for Lübeck) and return to Warnemünde.

We have from 6 AM (ideally) until 1O PM.

We have limited German, but love to take trains, buses, and appreciate what there is to see and enjoy.

Thank you so much for your response.

mit freundlichen Grüßen

Ellen G

ellengwynn@comcast.net