Bean2010

We one into Rostock and had a lovely meander around.

If you want your suitcases to be taken off by RC crew you just leave your cases outside the cabin door the night before and you get assigned a disembarkation time (which you can usually change if you don't like it). If you want to take the suitcases off yourself you just get off within the time allotted to you.

Thank you for the information. I want to enjoy breakfast before I leave the ship and it seems I will be able to.

Hi, I haven't sailed on Royal Caribbean for 8 years so hope someone can answer this -

How is disembarkation done if you are just getting off to get in a taxi and not on their bus transfer? Last time we had a bus transfer and had no time for coffee before we were directed out of our collection point? I do not need to be off early for a flight or anything.

Thanks.

Hire a car in Kirkwall if you can. There is so much to see and I would imagine you would want to see as much as possible. The Italian Chapel is awesome.

We arrived around 11am and boarded instantly with no queue this year.

I used a credit card everywhere.

Getaway...nicer room with a better bathroom layout.

I am going under the assumption that this is going to be your last port of call, and I am also going to predict that your party will be tired by this point of your itinerary.

 

Therefore I would chose Tour #1 becuase: it is shorter, the words "exhilarating" are in the description of Tour #2, it offers a scenic (and more relaxing) boat ride (#2 includes more walking). You have free time with tour #1 (maybe enough time to see Nobel museum), and you are not wasting an hour for lunch (you have to hope the lunch is worthwhile).

 

For both tours you get to see the Vasa and Royal Palace, as well as drive through the various districts of Stockholm. But as stated above, Tour #1 does not seem as foreboding at the tail end of a port-inclusive cruise.

I would pick tour 1 as well.

Advice to others, I wouldn't bother. I was on the July 18th cruise and we had pretty good weather for the Baltic, sunny nearly everyday and temperatures of about 70 degrees. I never saw more than a handful of people in Vibe and it never got busy on the main deck. You could always get 2 or 3 sunbeds per person.

I agree, there were always sunbeds free and i never actually saw anyone in the Vibe area!

We were on the Getaway, it docked in Stockholm.

Where exactly would you ask them to drop you off? If my research is correct, the meeting place is in the middle of the "old town" which is pedestrian only. Am I correct?

It was 10 euros from the "bottom" of the old town for our return and 15 euros to the top of the old town at the start of our day.

We shared a taxi to the top and used a map to work our way across and back down. Near the top there is a church for 3 euros where you can climb up the tower for an amazing view. There is also a KGB museum.

Is there a way besides walking to get to the free tour in Tallinn? Thanks so much!

Taxis are at the pier, plenty available.

It did not work well on the Getaway at all so we were refunded and we didn't use it.

I arrived at 11.15am, no queue and straight on to the boat.

We stayed at the same hotel and for ease just booked a taxi via reception. It arrived instantly. This was at 11am and we were on the boat by 11.15am. It cost us £32 and seemed to be a fixed price.

I liked the hotel and had a small double. It was small but the bed was comfortable and the breakfast was good, although it could be busy at times. We ate in the bar side which was more peaceful. It was easy to get the train from the airport to central station and was a really short walk from there. We just wandered round at night and found somewhere nice to eat and visited the Mermaid during the day and walked about down beside it .

To help on arrival- terminal 2 for even numbered decks and terminal 1 for odd numbered decks.

I am from Scotland and wore shorts every day except the last sea day when i wore jeans. I did not wear my cardigan during the day, except for the last sea day when it was overcast and for a wee while in StP when it rained, but was not cold. Rostock's weather was lovely and warm. It is a lovely place to walk round with amazing buskers and open air cafes. I did every town in shorts and t shirt, I took my cardigan but never wore it during the day.

Sailing out of Stockholm at 4pm was amazing and we sat out in H20 and watched the islands and other ships go past, it was lovely.

I used the laundry special too and got my washing back really quickly (although I did end up with an extra shirt which i returned!). They did a half price washing offer on the first day.

In Copenhagen I used my credit card for everything, I had no local currency at all. They seem to expect it. I had no currency with me apart from Euros I had left over from a previous holiday. In St Petersburg you can use your card in shops and pay in the local currency, anywhere you need to use cash you can use dollars or euros.

Sorry for the silly question....trying to determine how to pack for an upcoming July/Aug cruise with multiple stops in the Baltic Sea ports.

 

Looking at the current temps, they seem to range from maybe a low in the 50's to a high in the 60's, maybe reaching up into the low 70's if you are lucky.

 

Being from Florida, I very rarely if ever wear long pants - usually shorts with a sweatshirt if it gets cool out. Maybe some sweat pants if it gets cooler out. I don't normally like wearing jeans unless I really have to. But then again, I'm not normally outside for extended periods either if its cooler (like I might be when off the ship).

 

I'm trying to think about these temps and how it will be walking around in the ports during the day. I don't want to be the only one with shorts and don't want to be cold, either. Layering always seems to be the best approach, but was just curious if I'll be wearing many pairs of shorts.

 

Normally, I would just slam a lot of clothes in a suitcase and not worry so much, but we are trying to pack lighter for an extended vacation, both before and after the cruise ends.

I'm just back, we wore shorts every day on tours with just a jumper in St P when it rained for a wee while and then on the last sea day as it was a bit dull. I would maybe take light layers.

Enjoyed your blog and beautiful pictures very much! I have a few questions. How did you get from the ship to Old Town? Did you see any option to take some sort of vehicle to Upper Town so that could be viewed first and then walk down to Lower town and tour there?

 

I must go to that chocolate factory! Was it difficult to find? Did you utilize Google Maps/Directions while there? Or...how did you navigate? I guess I should ask: were the chocolates from the factory or the Pierre better? (Why?) We only consume dark chocolate if that makes a difference.

 

How long did it take you to do your tour that day and how arduous would you say is that hill?

 

Thank you!

we took a 15 euro taxi to the top, and then walked down. we found someone to share with too.

I hope you don't mind me hi-jacking your thread but I'm just back from the Baltic cruise, 18th July. I won't review the whole trip as this one is brilliant but will add a couple of points to help anyone planning this cruise. It may not be in any particular order...

Firstly we are from Scotland and only wore jeans and cardigans/jumpers on the last sea day, but if you are used to warmer weather you might want to be prepared.

We boarded in Copenhagen and took a taxi to the pier - 271 Danish Krone at 11.15am and there was no queue. We walked straight onto the ship. Our rooms were ready at 1.30pm.

We booked our dining packages and meal times straight away as we wanted to se our on board credit.

Travelling as a pair we only had to queue for dinner once in the 9 days.

Both days in Russia we did afternoon tours and left the ship at 12.30. we were through to the bus by 12.45pm

In Tallinn we took a taxi which we shared to the top of the old town at a cost of 15 euros, fixed price. we then explored and walked down through the town, stopping for a coffee. Then we took a taxi back from the bottom of the old town for 10 euros. This was lovely and you really don't need the hop on hop off bus.

In Stockholm we used the NCL 15 dollar transfer and explored the centre of the city, again exploring the old city for about 2 and a half hours before heading back.

we did not go to Berlin as we had ben before so we headed into Rostock which was lovely and then enjoyed a lovely quiet ship!

We did not pre book any shows and got seats on standby with no difficulty, just arriving at about 2 minutes before the show started.

On our return we used the NCL transfer which we booked in advance - £12 in the UK. It was quick and easy. There was a huge line for taxis and not many there but there may have been a quick turn round as we couldn't wait to see.

Any questions, just ask.

You got Lucky! I'm still searching.

That was with NCL. It seems to be cheaper for UK bookings!

I'm trying to avoid the NCL transfer. They will not do one way transfers anyway.

I found a minibus for less but they don't accept credit cards. I'm being asked to send them money first.

I'm stuck looking for transportation, and so far it has been more expensive. I'll keep looking. Thanks for asking, rocklinmom.

I have booked a 1 way transfer chip to Airport for £12 each. I was very impressed it was so cheap.

For information on NCL transfers. I just booked one for £12 for each of us...pier to airport (UK).

In fact, see you at the Meet and Greet.:D

I chickened out and went to my TA who booked NCL transfers for us to the airport at a cost of £12 each. Much cheaper than a taxi!:D

Great idea! There would be 5 of us in total and hopefully there are taxi minivans at the port.

In fact, see you at the Meet and Greet.:D