Nonio

Thanks everyone for really helpful tips, John Bull your reply made us laugh about Pisa, yes we are docking in Le Spezia lol. We shall buck our ideas up and do plenty of research. I don't think I can cope with train journey into Rome so shall leave the city itself for a longer break than a day. We are going the middle of July and although I love hot weather will have to be selective on visits as I know temperature will be high.

Dizzy

If you're going to La Spezia I really would not trouble to go to Pisa unless you have a burning desire to see a tower lean. Las Spezia itself is a pleasant town with broad palm tree lined streets, and easily booked boat trips taking you out around the harbour. Sitting watching the world go by is relatively inexpensive compared with many places in Italy with prosecco often coming accompanied by free ciccetti (snacks).

As another person commented you can book tickets for the cinque terre from the local train station altho' I believe this year there are efforts to restrict numbers due to erosion from foot traffic. It can get exceptionally busy and jostling pedestrians that can take a bit of the shine off its beauty.

It isn't difficult to get to Portofino, a small but perfectly formed coastal town where even the trees are beautiful frequented by film stars.

Writing all that makes me want to book a trip right now!

That's out general idea, but one place we docked at was very industrial and we're lucky to be able to board the coach into town. Don't want to be caught out again

Hi Dizzy.

This looks like a lovely itinerary. The chances are that you'll be docking some distance from the following cities : Pisa, Rome and Athens. I'm not sure what shuttle buses your cruise ship will offer. I'd check that out. If they drop you off in the centre you'll be fine just wandering. I recommend the Plaka district in Athens, although last time I docked in Pireus (as I expect you will) I just walked to the Zeus port, had a beer in the sunshine and then travelled on to the next fishing village (I'm trying to remember the name...something Limone!) by a local bus and had a fabulous lunch in a little taverna right on the sea front.

In Kusdasi you can spend the day in the port...the town is easy walking distance and there's plenty of shops/stalls and restaurants actually at the port. Last time I did an early morning half day organised trip to Ephesus (superb..make sure your trip includes the terraced houses, if you go) then spent lunchtime and the afternoon in the port. Unless you are desperate for a Turkish rug I'd avoid the last bit of each tour where you go to the local department store. They do a pretty hard sell.

Valletta is charming. Well worth getting up early for the sail in. We got a hop on hop off bus that took us to Mdina..so we spent lunchtime there and the rest of the day in Valetta

That's out general idea, but one place we docked at was very industrial and we're lucky to be able to board the coach into town. Don't want to be caught out again

Hi Dizzy.

This looks like a lovely itinerary. The chances are that you'll be docking some distance from the following cities : Pisa, Rome and Athens. I'm not sure what shuttle buses your cruise ship will offer. I'd check that out. If they drop you off in the centre you'll be fine just wandering. I recommend the Plaka district in Athens, although last time I docked in Pireus (as I expect you will) I just walked to the Zeus port, had a beer in the sunshine and then travelled on to the next fishing village (I'm trying to remember the name...something Limone!) by a local bus and had a fabulous lunch in a little taverna right on the sea front.

In Kusdasi you can spend the day in the port...the town is easy walking distance and there's plenty of shops/stalls and restaurants actually at the port. Last time I did an early morning half day organised trip to Ephesus (superb..make sure your trip includes the terraced houses, if you go) then spent lunchtime and the afternoon in the port. Unless you are desperate for a Turkish rug I'd avoid the last bit of each tour where you go to the local department store. They do a pretty hard sell.

Valletta is charming. Well worth getting up early for the sail in. We got a hop on hop off bus that took us to Mdina..so we spent lunchtime there and the rest of the day in Valetta

Used to always at least get window rooms. Lido deck inside cabin is my favorite now. I walk 50 feel and the whole ship is my balcony! :)

Which ship, InitialD? The Lido deck on Cunard is the buffet deck. Are you talking about the ships where some inside cabins that look out onto the atrium area of the ship? If so, how quiet are they? What level on the ship? I've wondered what they are like!

What did you mean when you said "I walk 50?" Steps? Feet?!

I booked a single outside on Queen Elizabeth for my cruise later this year (we'll have just sailed into Palma Majorca for our first port of call 5 months today...not that I'm counting or anything!). However, there was a deal that I caught and upgraded to a double room balcony in the cabin beside my sister's (we can then open up the balconies and share some outside space). Due to the deal it just cost me £400 more ..and I got an extra 100$ onboard spend. I thought that as it should be a pretty sunny cruise a balcony might earn its keep.

Were it a transatlantic crossing think an inside would be fine, altho' I seem to get a slightly disorientated body clock due to them being so dark. I wonder if I set the alarm for the usual wake up time and went out on deck early the daylight might counter the dark cabin effect.

We tried to book a balcony room on RCCL Vision of the Seas 8 months before the sail date. None available we were told, so we asked to be put on waitlist for balcony and went ahead and reserved a large window cabin. Purchased it under their "buy one / get one 50% off" deal at the time. Now 2 1/2 months before the sail date they notify me that they have a balcony available, but only at full price. If a balcony had been available when I booked, we would have gotten it at the promotional price ($800 less than they are quoting me now). This does not seem fair!!!!

I'm curious why you don't think it fair to be charged full price to be certain of a balcony cabin which appear to have been in demand? I imagine you thought it fair to get a buy one/get one 50% as an early booking discount for the cabin you could and did book?

You can always take a risk and wait and see if the balcony cabin doesn't get snapped up and then gets offered at a discount nearer the date. If it does get snapped up then it demonstrates demand ...so higher prices. If it doesn't then it is likely to be discounted. Market forces and all that. If it doesn't get discounted then throw yourself into enjoying all those aspects of your holiday that you can from your large window cabin. We are a lot luckier than most in the world, just being able to cruise in relative luxury..

If I had to give one piece of advice to solo travelers - don't think that only other solo travelers will be interested in meeting you, dining with you, or becoming friends with you. That's absolutely not true, so don't hamstring yourself by only looking for other solo cruisers, or thinking you will make more friendly contacts by sitting with or dining with only other solos. It's one of the things I don't understand about a lot of what I read on this forum actually (about how to meet other solo travelers, or whether or not there are a lot of other solo travelers on board.) My favourite dining companions on my last cruise were the only married couple at the table of 8, and I spent time chatting with them other places on board several times. While I'm sure there are couples who want "alone time" on the ship, I've likewise met solo people who don't want to chat or who are, IMO, boring and have nothing of interest (to me) to chat about.

 

Choose your companions by interests, not marital status, and don't assume that coupled people on board won't be interested in chatting or dining with you.

I SO AGREE! I made friends with a wonderful and funny couple on my first solo cruise & we've been firm friends ever since ... To the extent I've never had another solo holiday even when I had planned it. I've met solo travellers too that I have liked, enjoyed and admired for their attitude, but Rob & Angie...the couple who I just met when trying to get my iPad account working, chatting in the queue, are my firm friends to this day.

If I book a balcony I two Have all the real estate on the ship at my disposal I am not just confined to my balcony.Plus whan I wake I I can wonder out on to the balcony and have coffe and breakfast with out having to get ready to go out. But to each their own If you like sleeping in a dark closet go for it:)

I could not be happier for people to have a good time whether they are in an inside or other cabin. It is a question setting priorities and balancing resources against desire and this is personal to each of us. None of us are better or worse than another whether we choose inside or other grade.

What I really do not enjoy is when individuals make comments that, in effect, are intended to be, or appear to be 'put downs' towards individuals making a realistic choice for them (such as referring to a choice of an inside cabin as 'if you like sleeping in a dark closet'.). Someone else phoned me this morning and commented how jarring they found this comment. I looked up the trail and I agree. It turns what has been (generally) an interesting & thought provoking discussion into something diminishing.

We have an extension with a Schuko plug on it as well as a full set of adaptors.

 

If you cruise a lot worth making one or buying one so much easier

 

Amazon UK has them seen a 2way at £17 and 4 way at 20+ one with 2 USB ports as well which is quite pricy.

 

Cheaper to just cut of the UK plug and put your own on 4way £2.50(wilco) plug £3-£5

 

or just use an adaptor get a set of 5 for less than £5 one seller has them at 50p if you buy 5.

 

If you want to go fancy get a individualy switched one.

 

The voltage will be 220v unless marked otherwise that is the international standard for a type F (UK is type G also 220v)

 

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

 

For normal use chargers etc there should be no problem with loadings and the standard means hairdryers straightners etc are OK as well.

 

UK people should try to stick with the Schuko as it is earthed and will work with UK devices.

 

Some kit in the uk may not work with 110v.

 

If you have devices that are switch voltage(much rarer but some travel products still have them) and you use 110v make sure you switch back or you may fry the device.

 

IT is US people coming to europe that have te bigger issue as they are more likley to have 110v devices that will get toasted with 220v

Thanks for all the info. I think I understand but, just to be sure this is one I've just seen on Amazon. (The copied link does not seem to paste)

Travel Adapter EUROPE Multi Extension Lead 2 Pin Earthed Plug 4 UK Sockets 2 USB Ports Moulded Schuko Type F Plug 1.5m Flex VDE & CE Certified

So...I cannot see one for the American socket...but think this should fit the European one. I don't bring hairdryers etc..Just my Sony & Panasonic compact cameras, a kindle and an iPad and iPhone.

Sorry if I am being a bit dim...ciao..Fionna

P&O's M/S Britannia which is of the same size as Royal/Regal Princess today sailed all the way into Stockholm and is currently berthed at Stadsgårdskajen S167.

 

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:1873308/mmsi:235106595/imo:9614036/vessel:BRITANNIA

 

Hopefully this means that Royal/Regal Princess also will be allowed to sail into central Stockholm when the weather allows it.

It would be wonderful for me if it (Royal Princess) did for my hols...but We sail a week today and I can't see Princess changing all their tours and itineraries that are booked to start at Nynasham...much tho' I'd love it if they did..

I do know that the Queen Elizabeth did not make it to Stockholm at all a couple of weeks ago, following discussions between the captain and the pilot. QE is quite a bit smaller than Royal Princess/Brittannia. I wonder what is going on?!

On the Regal, the left hand plug is a Schuko style and I found adapters on Amazon.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Plug-Adapter-Europe-Converts/dp/B001PNDW4C

 

There are also British to American adapters.

 

http://www.amazon.com/VCT-VP18-Adapter-Converts-Grounded/dp/B000NND600/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1433566665&sr=1-1&keywords=British+to+us+adapter

IHi CalCruiser ...I can get an adaptor (but see previous comment re multiple plug weight, that adaptor being similar but not identical to the one in your link. Reassuring to know that yours worked). What I want is to be able to use a UK extension lead for multiple plugs..

...what I cannot get is an extension lead for an American socket with the extension being for UK plugs...

I don't know if it is safe to use a standard UK extension lead, plugged into a socket converter adaptor for US/EU plugs...so an extension lead plugging into an adaptor plugging into one of the ship'ssockets...I'm not sure (re voltage information quoted above) if that would be OK load for the things I will be charging.

What do you think?

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knows if there is a 240 volt UK socket under the bed as we have always had them on the other class ships. Ideal for the wife's hairdryer and all our UK accessories, we always take an extension lead.

Hi Simok

I've just looked at the photos of the socket points on board ship. One looks standard American, but not sure of the other. I think Cheng says it is European...however, not being too hot on voltage, I am not sure of the implication behind references to 110v US standard and 220v European. Does that mean I could not use particular sockets for different appliances?

I will want to charge my 2 cameras, my Kindle, my iPad my iPhone (annoyingly with different USB points) and maybe an electric toothbrush!

You and others mention bringing an extension lead which seems sensible. Where can you get an extension lead for an American style or European style sockets for UK plugs. Do you have any idea? I've looked in my local shops & on Amazon & cannot see anything. The only one I have been able to buy was a. Single unit, multi socket ...quite big cube shape with options for several countries and ordinary plus USB plugs. Unfortunately it seemed to be too heavy for the socket point & kept tipping forward when plu attached.

Well I certainly hope they will make an app with 1-7 days.

Hopefully sooner rather than later:D

I've had the most bizarre series of chats with SL transport over the last couple of days. Some things are clear ...others remarkably unhelpful at least for those of us travelling soon. It is in SL's best interests to fix it, if only to take the pressure off their own ticket offices as numerous passengers try and buy tickets at the same time.

1. If you are sailing into Nynasham the 24 hour STOCKHOLM pass is clearly the cheapest and most efficient ticket purchase, reducing the need for multiple purchases and queuing. Any journey from Nynasham to Stockholm means crossing 3 zones. A single 2hr pass covering all three zones cost c75 SK, whereas the 24 HR pass (which covers all zones and also some ferries and buses) costs 115SEK. (Discounts for under 20 yrs and over 65s).

2. No way of advance online purchasing of that travel card at present and I met with something of a stonewall on that subject from SL.

3. Their site is not particularly intuitive to navigate for a foreign visitor. There is no English flag on the top right corner as there are on many sites. You have to go to the Swedish front page and scroll down through lots of Swedish to find the link to the English version link.

4. When you use that link there is no email option for contact (save through Facebook...shudder).

5. If you want to chat online for advice you have to go back to the Swedish Version, click on the Kuntservice tab and then on Chatte...although the information is in Swedish the staff seem to speak English...but have zero clout to bring about change.

6. They suggested we should buy our train tickets on board ship. That certainly is not possible to do that on Princess ships. They could not tell me how that would be possible.

7. They suggested we should get the cruise lines to contact their offices to make special arrangements. Were that we had the power.!! They didn't seem to understand that cruise lines have a motive to promote their own tours over public transport.

8. I've been told that multiple complaints to SL and the tourist board might start a movement for change, but that's hardly the way one wishes to start a holiday in a country, is it?

9. Until they organise something more efficient then it looks as if we'll all be queuing to buy 24 HR passes after we disembark from tenders...unless you really want to be making multiple single ticket purchases. Boo!

Hi everybody,

 

I have received information from Stockholm Public Transport about using their new app for buying tickets.

I will post pdf-files in several different languages. Please spread them.

 

Thank you

Just to flag up that the link to the mobile app for public transport ticket (English Version) only seems to be for a 75 minute continuous journey rather than a 1 day travel pass or a return train ticket. As the train journey from Nynasham to Stockholm is 66 mins I'm guessing this app/link would only be useful for a single fare.

Maybe there are other links, but they don't seem to be leading on from this one.

Ciao.

thank you SO VERY MUCH Pam, Modes and Colo

I spoke to both Imagine Crusing (Amy) & Princess (Matthew Lebburn) & explained why I was bothered that the cabin allocation would mean that noise would prevent reasonable sleep given the provided information.

They really did listen and I've been allocated a cabin on deck 10 which is both above and below a 'residential' rather than eating and partying deck.

I don't think I would have been able to explain as well, and maybe would not have taken action without your help.

I am so grateful to you all...and to Matthew from Princess and Amy from Imagine Cruising. I'm enjoying my holiday already. The planning is the start, isn't it?

THANK YOU +++++. Fionna

I agree. I was in M633 for a trans-Atlantic and it was awful. Awful. Awful. The noise started above my head at 3:30am every single morning, loud enough to wake me up from a sound sleep. Banging, crashing, things dropping... who knows what was being done at that hour? It would go on for hours.

 

You can always ask to be moved to a different cabin in the same category or lower as long as one is available.

 

A "GTY" is a "Guaranteed" booking whereby you agree to accept any cabin Princess assigns you as long as it's the category you booked or better. Some people book GTYs hoping to be upgraded to a better location. It's based on supply and demand. Often, there's no price difference between booking a GTY or a specific cabin. If you book a specific cabin, you're also eligible to receive a free upgrade unless you ask not to be. Princess' idea of a "better" cabin may not be your idea of one. It's a gamble.

H Pam

Can I ask whether you tried complaining to Guest Services? If so what happened? Or did you just put up with it?

I agree. I was in M633 for a trans-Atlantic and it was awful. Awful. Awful. The noise started above my head at 3:30am every single morning, loud enough to wake me up from a sound sleep. Banging, crashing, things dropping... who knows what was being done at that hour? It would go on for hours.

 

You can always ask to be moved to a different cabin in the same category or lower as long as one is available.

 

A "GTY" is a "Guaranteed" booking whereby you agree to accept any cabin Princess assigns you as long as it's the category you booked or better. Some people book GTYs hoping to be upgraded to a better location. It's based on supply and demand. Often, there's no price difference between booking a GTY or a specific cabin. If you book a specific cabin, you're also eligible to receive a free upgrade unless you ask not to be. Princess' idea of a "better" cabin may not be your idea of one. It's a gamble.

Thanks, Pam.

I have written to Princess asking for a quiet cabin and explaining why. It is such a shame. the BALTIC States have been on my bucket list for a while, but now I am dreading the holiday. I'm used to direct booking with Cunard and get good advice from my personal cruise specialist.

This was just an attempt to try a different cruise line. I normally travel with five others who were curious about trying something new. I sd I would experiment first on their behalf.

In fact I think if the noise is as bad as you say there is an argument that they have not provided adequate accommodation for sleeping..not fit for purpose. We will see how they respond. Well, I hope. I have found a member of Princess staff who has been responsive with the provision of good information. Hope he will help here too.

Ooops! I've just been checking & I cannot see where the children's play area is (it is probably called something different but I don't know the ship). I seem to be somewhere between (underneath) the Horizon Bistro or Court..maybe towards the Court. Not sure of the difference between the two, just that their opening hours seem very long.

I am out to enjoy myself, but know that a bad night's sleep is not a good recipe for me.

It is definately not the place to be.

Modes...does your comment mean that you've had a cabin on deck 15 under Horizon, or simply that you are surmising that it would not be your selection due to noise risk?

If the former then as much detail as possible about the disruption would help me argue my case for a different location.

Lulu belle refers to her experience of being under the galley and near the children's area & I shall have to check where that is in relation to my cabin, but it sounds as if she wasn't troubled by galley noise.

BTY what is "GTY"?

Our ship, Regal Princesss, arrives Saturday, August 29. We will tender to Nynäshamn. When we get off, which way do we go to get to the train station? Are there signs? What will they say?

I looked at the map you provided, but couldn't find the train station....

Sorry

 

Sue

Walk from tender point to railway station takes approx 15 mins.

From Tender point, follow blue line to train station. 1 day travel pass for the train journey and travel within STOCKHOLM costs 122SEK (70 SEK for under 20/over 65)

Ticket kiosks will open early and tickets can be purchased with credit cards.

THERE IS NO 24 HR STOCKHOLM CARD THIS YEAR as they haven't been able to strike an acceptable deal with providers (per Nynasham Information Office) so ignore posts with this suggestion.

The train ride takes about 1hr 6 mins minutes and gets you to the central station in Stockholm from where you can walk, tram, bus, or boat to any place you want to see in the city. Getting back to the ship is the same in reverse.

How often do the trains run between Nynäshamn and Stockholm Central Station?Twice per hour.

From Nynäshamn: 20 and 50 minutes past every hour.

From Stockholm: 4 and 34 minutes past every hour

NB: might be worth checking with the Nynasham information office if the Nynasham to Stockholm HOHO bus runs on that day (as it does not every day) as an alternative means of transport.

http://www.visitnynashamn.se/en/home/cruise/faq.4.2447cef013e3c1b82892878.html

OK...My first time on Princess..

.First time using Imagine as a travel agent. Don't think I'll repeat that experience, given the unfortunate advice given so far.

I booked a guaranteed grade BC (having been told by the TA at Imagine travel that this was several grades up from lowest grade balcony). I sd I don't mind if fore, aft or middle, just wanted a quiet location. Now I've discovered I've been allocated a cabin under the Lido deck, under Horizon... Mid aft starboard. I'll be on deck 15, the Lido deck is 16.

Has anyone had a cabin under Horizon &, if so, what was it like for noise?

I'm trying to convince myself that it will be handy for food and getting outside for better views. At least it is close to the laundrette!

I've just seen a photo of the balconies that another cruiser has posted. Wow they are small! Good job I am small and travelling alone!

Nonio, as far as I am aware, no decision have been made for next year regarding the * Princess ships.

 

As I have reported previously there are or have been simulations going on to see if these ships can granted the cruise line's request to dock in central Stockholm.

I haven't heard anything since the past winter where I was told that simulations were still ongoing.

 

The problem is that some parts of the Furusund fairway have a few very narrow passaged where a ship of this size might not be able to pass.

Hi there

I may not have been clear enough. The flexible dock was for Nynasham to avoid the use of tenders, not for use in Stockholm, given that the larger ships have problems navigating the final passage. The source of my info was the Nynasham Information office. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much for the wealth of information above. I can provide more detailed information re Nynasham now.

1). This year ships have to rely on Tenders. Next summer there will be a folding dock such as they use in the Norwegian Fjords to enable docking.

2). Once tendered there is a blue line marking to walk to Nynasham railway station. The kiosk should be open early. 24hr public transfer tickets cost 115SEK, (70 SEK for under 20yrs and over 65) and cover the cost of the train plus public transport (including some ferries) within STOCKHOLM. There is no 24 HR Stockholm card this year (covering transport & museums) as they cldn't reach a deal with providers. Trains take about 1 hour. (It is a 60 km journey).

Trains run twice an hour and are normally direct. They run

From Nynäshamn: 20 and 50 minutes past every hour.

From Stockholm: 4 and 34 minutes past every hour.

However watch out for train line works from 22 June to mid August when part of the journey will be by bus)

3). PRIVATE TRANSFERS. The Nynasham Information/ tourist office can organise private minibus transfers with Kirstens Taxis...the bus takes up to 19 people. C 5088 SEK return for the whole bus. The real problem is identifying a pick up time, given Princess ((with whom I am sailing..beginning to regret that) simply have not responded to my question about access to tenders for this who are travelling independently. Do we have to wait for all their tours to be tendered before we can access the tenders. The only response ai have received is through my travel agent saying that they have my email, but there is no timescale for a response. I have experienced problems with telephone connections with Princess, as the transfer system results in the call being cut off.

3). For those who have missed out on the final part of the sail into Stockholm there is a 3 HR ferry tour from Stockholm pier with STROMMA ferries.

http://www.stromma.se/en/Stockholm/Sightseeing/Sightseeing-by-boat/Ar

4). Whilst there are some HOPO buses from Nynasham they do NOT run regularly and passengers will need to check with the Nynasham Tourist office to ensure it runs on their tour day..and times, given the tender timing issues.

Here is the current known information front he Nynasham information office: Strömma will most likely have hop-on hop-off buses during the following dates:

May 11

June 2, 13, 16, 24 and 28

July 5 and 7

August 7, 12 and 29

September 1, 9, 10, 17 and

24 October 1, 8 and 15

The price for a ticket is SEK330. This ticket includes the transfer to Stockholm, a hop-on hop-off tour in Stockholm and the transfer back to Nynäshamn. There are no discounts for students and seniors. The price for children is SEK100."

Agreed. It really depends on your personality type. For my husband and I, we are not drinkers, and definitely don't like party atmospheres, so I know that we need a place where we can relax in private and enjoy the view. We have a cove booked for this Oct, and an aft wrap booked for Nov of next year. We are splurging, and I realize that, but we almost never go on vacations and we live pretty darn frugally.

 

Of course, the next cruise that I want to plan after that is a Mediterranean cruise, and since we will be spending a lot more on airfare for that one (from the US), we will most likely have to do some downgrading in order to make it affordable. We'll probably look to book a scenic ocean view for that one.

I agree. For some and inside would be unbearable whilst for others who are out all the time it's just a place to store clothes, wash and sleep. The holiday for them is what they can see and do and the people they can meet and I can see that is a good philosophy.

In fact friends who normally have a balcony had an outside and commented that they got out and about and saw a lot more as a result. The ship is the same, the public spaces the same, the food the same.

This year I am having a balcony (& trying Princess for the first time) simply because there was a late deal, and, given it is a Baltic Cruise, I am anticipating that, whilst it is unlikely to be hot enough in June for extended sitting out, like the Norway holiday I went on a couple of years ago, there will be plenty to see in terms of ARchipelgoes and Coast early in the morning when I'd rather be in my cabin rather than up on the public decks.

Next year I'm doing a Med/Greek Island cruise in October with quite a lot of sea days. This time I am trying one of the new Cunard single outside cabins, one where the bed is not up against the window (which makes it difficult to see out from a sitting position) and where there is a large picture window. I can sit out in the sun up on deck. I can sit inside my warm cabin for the early morning sail ins and get a good view. In fact the sea breeze often makes it difficult to make the most of balconies unless the weather is hot.they tend to be quite shaded by the deck above and the glass screen in front.

I'd think of an inside, for instance, for transatlantic crossings a) where it is cool and often foggy/misty and not a lot to see until you reach the other port.

However, if I don't try I'll never find out what I really can tolerate/enjoy..I can only imagine, so that is what I a, doing now.

Your advice has been great. I've decided to buy into a St Pete based independent tour.

Re Nynasham ...I shall let you know what info I get from their tourist office. I've asked about the possibility of a boat or ferry from there (or nearby) into Stockholm itself. If not I shall just take one of their ferry trips from the city centre. The Princess brochure says we sail through the islands so a bit misleading if that turns out to be minimal both ways.

If you do an orgainzed tour in Russia (ship or private), they will take care of the visa for you. It's well worth it. SPB tours does a wonderful job. We used them in St. Petersburg for a 2 day tour that was excellent. They also do Estonia, and I think maybe Berlin? They have a Mediterranean branch too. Smaller group, lower prices.

 

You will LOVE this trip! Best cruise I ever took. The Royal was great--going on her again this summer!

Thanks +++. Your enthusiasm is very engaging and reassuring. I've never sailed a princess ship or in Royal Princess so slightly apprehensive given some negative feedback on this site. On the other hand I've discovered that on cruises there seems to be a small subset where setting out to find fault and misery seems to BE the holiday. Can be hard to distinguish between helpful negative feedback and the latter!

Any tips on making the most of the Royal would be much appreciated. As it is a late booking I haven't had a cabin allocated yet. Just that it will be an unobstructed view balcony in a quiet location.

Did you by any chance sail into Nynastram, as we are doing (the Royal being a larger ship). Whilst the Princess information sheet suggests there will be a sail in through the Archipelego others suggest that the prettiest final bit will be missed out..in fact we'll miss most of it. We are sailing in from Copenhagen and sailing out towards Helsinki).

Did you,may any chance, dock at Nynastram when you did this trip before and provide any hard facts on this.

If you did, how did you transfer in?

Re SPB tours in St Pete's: I'm bothered the 2 day tour will be too much diving in and out of museums and that can get to me. I really hate being hurded past exhibits in big crowds. Which of their 2 day tours did you do, and how much museum'diving' was there? I'm thinking of a mix of half day /evening tours. Thanks a million for your help.

What was the highlight(s) of your previous Baltic cruise? (We are going to Copenhagen, Nynastram for Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburgh overnight, Tallinn, Gothenburg).