phxbne

While there is not much right next to the Marriott, it is closer to the train station and Tivoli than I expected. We actually took the train from the airport and then walked from the station to the hotel (and we had a lot of bags!)

I just checked google maps - they have the Marriott as 10 mins to Tivoli and Scandic Palace as 6 mins.

You get a great view of the Marriott if you go on Star Flyer at Tivoli - I found it terrifying.....my 9 year old loved it!

Interesting to hear about the bread. We were on Celebrity Summit in December with my GF sister in law and the bread she got was great.

When we went on the galley tour, they said GF bread is one of only two things not made on board (I forget the other...) so I guess it is all a function of who the outside supplier is!

GF items are pretty common in cafes and coffee shops in Australia, so hope you will find some yummy treats off the ship.

Looking forward to following your adventure! This is one is on hubby's bucket list.

Loving your blog so far!

Thanks so much for your blog - I really feel along for the ride! I even choose what I would pick for dinner each day - Hope I am not the only one!

I booked with Joyce in December. I am not sure why - I think group size - but we did not end up actually touring with her. We had a van with a driver, and it turned out she did not know the driver at all. Our day turned out OK, but she had never told me clearly she would not be with us.

My lesson learned/advice for you is to ask whether she will actually be your tour guide.

We visited in December and really loved Titou Gorge.

We also went to Emerald Pool which we found underwhelming....in part because it was a long drive on windy roads.

I loved Dominica!

When I researched our July 2014 trip, I found that TJ Tours and Best Guides had kid friendly activities. We did a Matroshkya doll painting session which was a lot of fun! The hydrofoil to Peterhof and trick fountains there were a big hit too!

We stayed there in June 2014 prior to a cruise an enjoyed it.

It is close to the railway station, and there is a HoHo stop right outside. It is also walking distance to Tivoli Gardens.

We were on the club level so ate breakfast in the lounge. We did not eat at any of the restaurants.

My daughter's 'cruise favorite' is French Onion soup - she will order it every night.

She is 10, and now gets both the kids and the adult menu - usually she chooses from the adult menu.

When she was younger, just having her try some of what we ordered worked well. I also encourage her to be more adventurous at the buffet, where she can try 'just a bite' and waste is not an issue.

She was 5 on our first X cruise - one night she could not decide on her dessert so the waiter brought her both......she was amazed!

Her most recent 'cruise find' is steamed artichoke!

Have a wonderful cruise!

I just cruised with my 18 and 19 year old nephews from Australia in the Caribbean. We were surprised when they were initially given 'adult' key cards at check in at San Juan (they were asked if they were of legal age where they were from). On the first night, one of the bar staff took them away and gave them 'kid' cards. It would have been better if they had not been given the 'adult' card in the first place......

We were onboard the Summit over Christmas. There was a Catholic priest on board - Mass was listed in the program as 8:30am each day, and Midnight on Christmas Eve. There were a lot of crew at Midnight Mass.

One of the crew said there had been a rabbi on board for Hanukkah.

We were on Celebrity Summit on Christmas Day. Things I noticed were:

- Midnight Mass

- Santa on Christmas morning for the kids

- decorations around the ship

- foodwise, the most 'Christmas' thing was the Oceanview Buffet for lunch on Christmas Day - gorgeous desserts, turkey and all the trimmings etc. There were also Christmas treats at Cafe al Bacio. The MDR had a turkey entree on Christmas night.

I have probably also missed or forgotten some......

I enjoyed our cruise, but I don't think Christmas on a cruise is really my thing.

Hi

 

If you go private, I suggest specifically requesting a guide who likes children.

We spent 3 days on a private tour in St P with TJ tours. Our daughter is 9. Our first guide was fairly young, and not interested in kids. The next days we had a guide who has an 8 year old daughter - much better experience! Highlight for us was a Matroshkya doll painting session.

I had contacted Best Tours but they did not follow up - part of me wishes we had pursued that harder.

Our pace was pretty light, but we loved all we saw.

 

Michele

Maybe you already decided - I would go for the one with 3 days in St Petersburg. We just did that and felt like we saw enough, even though we went at a somewhat slow pace on a private tour. 2 days would really have not felt like enough....

We did a private tour with TJ last month. Our lunches were not included or preplanned.

We did

Day 1 - pie shop - I think Stolle - our guide just kind of took us there

Day 2 - blini stand near the hydrofoil stop at Peterhof

Day 3 - we wanted something quick and we had loved the blinis - so our guide took us to a place on Nevsky Prospekt - local blini chain called 'teaspoon' in English - kind of Russian equivalent of McDonalds. Just looked it up - Chainaya Lozhka

The food was all filling, tasty and cheap, and we all enjoyed not spending a whole lot of time sitting in a mediocre restaurant

Couple of thoughts/suggestions if you are getting the Copenhagen card:

 

- it covers the train from airport to town, so get it at the airport info desk if you can

- the train station is across from Tivoli, so you could then walk to your hotel, or a cheap cab

- you get one Tivoli entry per day with the Copenhagen card - and costs something like 25 kr for a second.....learned that the hard way

- the card includes one of the canal tours - need to get on at Gammel Strand, which will be an easy walk from your hotel - not sure if you can do it more than once

 

Hope that helps a little

Our pace was slow, so really cannot comment on your overall list

Wow, trip sounds amazing!

I am curious

- how old were the kids? My daughter is 9 so wondering when it might be good?

- was this one component of a larger trip? where else did you go?

 

Thanks

Michele

The Glypothek is actually free on Sundays! We only spent about 30 minutes was there as we got there late, but it was a fun stop on our way to Tivoli.

I just got into their website no problem. I have been corresponding with them - they have always responded fairly promptly, but are the least proactive of the three companies I started conversations with.

Thanks for all of the amazing info!

 

I have some questions I could not find answers to:

- how long would it take to walk from Langelinie C190 to the Little Mermaid? I am wondering if we can do that on our on-board day rather than pre-cruise

- what is the best/easiest way to get to Roskilde? Do you know if you can book the boat ride at the Museum in advance?

- I have read there is a canal boat stop at/near the Marriott - which boats and where do they head to?

- we will be in Copenhagen on a Monday and Tuesday - what is closed on those days?

 

Apologies if the answers are already somewhere on the board!

 

Michele

Hi

Cansas.Pilgrim, my experience seems to match yours....
I am planning our 3 day stop in St Petersburg in June. As we are 5, with a child, I am looking to truly personalize the itinerary, and to do it privately. Best Guides seems willing to do this.
My replies from TJ and Alla just seemed to be their standard itinerary.
I was most surprised by TJ as they have kid tours on their site, but just sent me back a standard 3 day tour.
Cansas.Pilgrim, curious about what you are doing with Best Guides? Main thing my daughter wants to do is the doll painting.

Hi

 

I am planning our 3 day stop in St Petersburg in June. As we are 5, with a child, I am looking to truly personalize the itinerary, and to do it privately. Best Guides seems willing to do this. My replies from TJ and Alla just seemed to be their standard itinerary. Has anyone got any insights or had a similar experience? I am most surprised by TJ as they have kid tours on their site, but just sent me back a standard 3 day tour.

 

thanks!