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vkb2751

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Posts posted by vkb2751

    Train from Sydney Airport to Downtown

    in Australia & New Zealand

    Posted

    Are you flying in on Virgin Australia from LAX? We are also a group of 4 arriving at 7:50am. On Virgins website they had a link for airport transfers it was $18 per person but was not leaving until 9:30am. It looks like a cab is around $45 think we will do that option.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

     

    We are on United from LA. Cab will work for us too.

    Comparing SPB & Alla Tours in St. Petersburg

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted · Edited by vkb2751

    We are new to Cruise Critic so I don't know if I am doing this right. We are on the Celebrity Eclipse August 17th cruise and have signed up for Meenu's group Grand tour of St. Petersburg. I was asked to post our booking of the Alla tour on Roll Call. Hope this takes care of this request. John & Nancy

     

    Hi John and Nancy:

     

    Please go http://www.alla-tour.com and sign up for the SPB Grand Tour and ask to be added to Meenu's group. You will have to provide your information to Alla for her to get the visa for your visit. If you have questions please email me at vkb2751 at yahoo dot com. Thank you

     

    Meenu

    Helsinki Questions? Glad to help!

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    There is no problem going to the Rock Church. The total walking distance for the day, excluding the fortress, would then be some 3.2 miles. I have planned to write a walking route suggestion. But as you said you wanted to do the tram 3 route as well I included the trip to the Rock Church in that tram route as I guessed you might buy as day ticket (ferry to the fortress included).

    After the Rock Church you could either

    - continue the northern tram 3 loop clockwise ending up near the shuttle stop.

    - continue doing both the north (clockwise) and southern (counterclockwise) tram loop ending up a few blocks from the shuttle stop

    - or take the tram back to the market and do the southern loop (clockwise) ending up near the shuttle stop.

    So you see there are lots of options.

    But as you arrive on August 29. it is still plenty of time. ;)

     

    Thanks. I just wanted to know if we can walk. It depends on the weather and how tired we are at that point. We will get the day ticket and decide once we are there. We will be there on August 23, my mistake. Look forward to seeing your walking route. I am sure other cruisers will use it too. Thanks, again

    Helsinki Questions? Glad to help!

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted · Edited by vkb2751

    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Svenska_Teatern_by_night.jpg

     

    The Esplanade Park starts at the back side of the theatre and leads straight to the Market Square. The Northern Esplanade (= left side, lower side) with its stores might be more interesting for a tourist then the Southern Esplanade (= right side, higher side) with its administrative buildings.

     

    The order you suggest is a bit troublesome as the ferry goes from Market Square while the Rock church is far away. So an idea should be to do it in order Market - Fortress - Orthodox Cathedral - Senate Square - tram 3 to the Rock Church.- then you have different options with the trams, depending on time left, to do either a full or part of the routes or returning to the shuttle stop. I can give details if you want to.

     

     

    Thank you very much. Can you please give details when you get a chance. Do we have to take tram to Rock Church or can we walk to the church?

     

    Also, will it be better/faster to take taxi or shuttle to town.

     

    Thank you. Your time and help is much appreciated.

    Helsinki Questions? Glad to help!

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted · Edited by vkb2751

    Ok, the easy way out is just to take the shuttle bus into the city center and then stroll along the Esplanade Park to the Market Square, Senate Square and visit the Lutheran and the Orthodox cathedrals.

    Walking distance would be 1.5 - 2 miles.

     

    Most will add the Rock Church as well. This can be done by foot passing the main shopping area, the Railway Station and the Parlament House on the way. The total route would then be around 3.2 miles.

    (I can write a detailed route draft if anyone is interested)

     

    It is also popular to do a tour with the #3 tram that makes an "8" around the city. It takes about an hour to make a complete lap. Again the day ticket might come handy.

     

    The more adventurous of you like to use the region transport for the trip to and from the ship as well, saving the costs of the shuttle.

     

    Some will also visit the sea fortress. The day ticket is also valid for the ferry from the market. You need at least 2 hours to do that one. There are also harbour tours starting from the market.

     

    Hope that helps a bit.

     

    Map:

     

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

     

     

    Thanks for all your help. We plan to take the shuttle to town. We will be in Helsinki from 10:00 to 6:00 on August 29.

     

    Can you please give us the route for walk along Esplanade Park to Market Square and how to get to Rock Church. We may take the ferry to Fortress after doing the walk and Rock Church. And also tram 3 if time permits.

     

    Thank you.

    Helsinki Questions? Glad to help!

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    We will be in Helsinki from 10:00 to 6:00 and would like to know the best way to get to town - ships shuttle or taxi or bus?

     

    We would like to see Rock Church and Fortress and walk around town. Can you please tell us the best way to do all this?

     

    Thank you very much. Your excellent info here is much appreciated.

     

    Meenu

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted · Edited by vkb2751

    Dear Danish viking

    Thank you for sharing a more "personal" side of you. It appears that you are a very enthusiastic person who enjoys helping others. This is a very unique and wonderful attribute you posses for someone as young as you are. We all greatly appreciate the time and efforts you put into this thread and your dedication is priceless. You are doing a stellar job presenting information to us in a clear and concise manner. I applaud you for selflessly posting and ensuring that the information you are providing is correct and up to date. Many thanks to you and the wonderful service you are providing to us future visitors to your wonderful Copenhagen! :)

     

     

    Dolfans from Miami

     

    Danish Viking:

     

    Totally agree with the comments made by Dolfans. Could not have said it better. Really appreciate all your efforts in helping all of us to enjoy our visit to Copenhagen a whole lot more than we would without your input.

     

    Meenu

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    I definitely feel having the guide in advance of my visit was well worth the small shipping charge. It has provided great details on public transportation to the sites, hours of operation, tour times, restaurant discounts, ect. which has helped in planning my day. Also, I have the card ready to use when I get off the ship. We are planning on using bus 26 to get to the city hall area so no need to pay the bus driver! :D

     

    Dolfans from Miami

     

    Thanks for the info, Dolfans. Will order the cards before we leave. You do a lot of research like I do for all the trips. Would be nice to chat with you. We are in Boynton Beach. If you email me your phone #, would love to talk to you. My email is vkb2751 at yahoo dot com. Thanks,

     

    Meenu

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    Yes, Danish viking I see from your map (BTW, thank you for inserting this into your post) where the DFDS boats dock. It is located where it is marked "Hojbro" directly across the canal from "Skovserkonen". Shouldn't where the DFDS in marked on the map be where the boats leave from? :confused: It would be very helpful and extremely nice of you to check for us during your visit as you have offered to do. :D We greatly appreciate all the time and effort you dedicate to this thread. Many thanks! :)

     

    Ditto to your comments. Would appreciate your update after your trip. We all are grateful for the all the great info you provide to us, Danish Viking.

     

    Meenu

    Wonderful Copenhagen

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    I just read in my 2013-2014 guide that came with my Copenhagen card and it is in fact the GUIDED tour with commentary that is free with the card. Another interesting tid bit... The tour is free only from the Gammelstrand location (by Christiansborg Palace). It states in the guide that there is a fee to start the tour in Nyhavn. Netto-Badene offers the free tour from either location (Nyhavn or Holmes Church). :)

     

    Dolfans from Miami

     

     

    Dolfans from Miami

     

    Thanks for the updated info.

     

    Meenu

    Do you need advice about Stockholm?

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    Hi vkb

    It appears that the Under the Bridges tour begins at Nybrokajen. I think you're best bet would be to contact Alla directly to let her know what you are planning and see if she can accomodate you with this. ;) It is possible that after you complete your tour with her, the van can drop you off where the boat tour begins. We are using Alla as well in SPB and she is very accomadating and willing to assist in matters such as these. Best of luck and enjoy your cruise! :)

     

    Thanks, I will check with Alla.

     

    Meenu

    Do you need advice about Stockholm?

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    We are booked on Eclipse sailing August 17 and are booked with Alla Tours for the 5 city tour. The tour in Stockholm will end at 2:00 and we sail at 5:00. Does anyone know if the Under The Bridges Tour starts near the pier and/or if we will be able to do the tour after finishing with Alla Tours or if we should just stay in town for a couple of hous before returning to the ship. Thanks for any suggestions.

     

    Meenu

    Comparing SPB & Alla Tours in St. Petersburg

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    I don't have a spreadsheet - but I did notice some gaps - if you go to post 87 on this thread - I did point out some differences. The best thing to do is to go to the different websites and take a look. And THEN email the operators and see what 'vibe' you get.:D I do a lot of private tours and rely on cruise critic recommendations, emails that other cc'ers are kind enough to send me, trip advisor and finally and most importantly (sometimes) the replies I get from the operators. After the first 'standard' reply once you start to ask questions I believe you get a good 'feel' on which one is best for you.

     

    there are the 'standard' replies that basically are copied and pasted and then there are the personal ones that ADDRESS what your concerns are - the reassurances that they want you to ask questions.

     

    When someone encourages me to ask questions, I get the 'vibe' along with their emails (or in Alla's case or her chat site). Actually, her site is very good as you can look back at all the conversations without saving 100's of emails.

     

    There is never a perfect answer - that's just how I base things. So far, the system and my intuition haven't let me down;) I have a lot of roll call members relying on me so I do take this quite seriously. I don't want to let anyone down. it's actually my worst fear. So far, it hasn't happened and God willing, it won't:D

     

    Thanks for your response/comments. I always take the same approach as you. Check the reviews on tripadvisor/CC and then compare details, etc, etc. Will look at the chats for Alla.

     

    Meenu

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