Port of call advice-Scandinavia/Russia

Love reading all the advice on where to visit. First trip across the pond and need advice about what not to miss in each port. Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallin, and Gothenburg.

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Just read down the board, as each port is covered quite extensively.

However, I would not follow "must dos", I would see what interests you, and see those things.

What if I told you the best thing in Stockholm was the roof top walk, and you had a severe fear of heights, or mobility issues?

Love reading all the advice on where to visit. First trip across the pond and need advice about what not to miss in each port. Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallin, and Gothenburg.

 

 

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If you like Rick Steves, he just came out with a Northern European Ports guide. You might want to get a copy. All the ports are in that book, together with how to get from the various ports to the cities themselves.

This is a huge question. My strategy:

Read, read, read……

Look at how long you are in each port and times of arrival + departure

Decide which ports you will do on your own--and which will benefit from a tour (independent or ship's tour). From your port list you will need a tour in St. Petersburg and there are lots of recommendations on that in this forum. We used Alla.

Plan, plan, plan……..much depends on what you like to do and see--and your physical abilities.

If you like Rick Steves, he just came out with a Northern European Ports guide. You might want to get a copy. All the ports are in that book, together with how to get from the various ports to the cities themselves.

I am reading Rick Steves Northern European Ports right now. Excellent information! Everything from where the ship docks to local transit, walking tours, costs, good eats and all the highlights.

Another idea to get information is to read the reviews on Cruise Critic from cruisers who were just at these ports. Join a Roll Call for your cruise. In fact, join 2 or 3 of them to see what others are finding.

You have to do some of the work yourself to get the most out of your trip. Decide what you want to see and as your read all the comments you can figure out if it's worth your while.

We're also relying on rick Steve's book, the ports of call on here, and other forums such as tripadvisor and Fodors.

Highly recommend doing more research and coming back with more specific, detailed questions. It's hard to provide advice when we know nothing about you, your travel style, preferences, etc.

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Sounds like this book is the way to go. Where do I get it? Any bookstore?

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Yes, or Rick Steves' web site, Other online websites. Read the hook, sign up for your roll all, read the reviews from previous cruisers. Follow other roll calls for your ship. Have fun.

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Lots of websites for research. Cruise Critic has port guides, Tom's port guides, tripadvisor, cruiseportwiki, whatsinport to name a few.

Love reading all the advice on where to visit. First trip across the pond and need advice about what not to miss in each port. Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallin, and Gothenburg.

 

 

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I just wrote a belated review of the Emerald Princess in the Baltic last year, hasn't been posted yet though, but we did much of our extensive research using the fantastic Baltic Treasures DVD from John Lawrence (just google John Lawrence Baltic), this has all up to date info for each port and tells you exactly what to expect. I don't think the Rick Steves book was around last year, but with the two of them you can't go far wrong.

There are so many topics on this site that covers everything and anything in each port.

Do you want to do the ports on your own or with a tour group? Do you book ship excursions or are you off on your own? Do you want to see EVERYTHING or just a few things that really interest you?

When we went, we did all ports on our own, except for St Petersburg/ We are seniors but very mobile and love to walk. But when we travel we like to enjoy where we are and 'smell the roses' as they say. We did not try to rush from place to place, not even remembering where we were and what we did. We like to stop and eat a local meal, we love walking tours opposed to tour groups on buses.

It is all up to you and how you wish to see these marvelous cities.

If you want what I consider 'must see's

Stockholm, the Vasa Museum, and Gamla Stan

Helsinki--Market Square, Church in the Rock

Copenhagen-Little Mermaid, Canal Cruise, Rosenborg Castle

Tallinn-- the old city--Nothing major, just a great city for a walking tour

St Petersburg-any of the private tour operators will get you to see most of the major sites.

These are just me, others may feel differently.

Cheers

Len

Thanks-Just what I was looking for

Love reading all the advice on where to visit. First trip across the pond and need advice about what not to miss in each port. Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallin, and Gothenburg.

 

For Stockholm:

Vasamuseum and Gamla Stan (Old town) are must sees.

For more information and suggestion se this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1017275

For Göteborg (Gothenburg)

There aren't really any must sees, however I would recommend;

Haga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haga,_Gothenburg

Feskekôrka: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feskek%C3%B4rka

Göteborg City Museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6teborg_City_Museum

Gothenburg Botanical Garden: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6teborg_Botanical_Garden

And if the weather is nice a padda boat tour: http://www.stromma.se/sv/Goteborg/Sightseeing/Batsightseeing/Rundtur-Paddan/

A few Gothenburg pics taken from the Paddan tour:

One of Gothenburgs many canals:

Christinæ church (In Swedish also called Tyska Kyrkan / German Church):

Not sure where this is but the park to the right is called Slottsskogen:

Slottsskogen:

More pictures from the boat sightseeing tour:

A lovely balcony:

Älvsborgsbron in the background:

Another low bridge:

A close look at the low bridge called Masthamnsbron:

Gothenburg City Museum:

Viking (barque):

J 19 is a destroyer with the name HMS Småland which is a part of

Gothenburg maritime museum, the house in the background is Naviagtionsskolan.

The boat to the right is one the old steam ship named Bohuslän.

The two pictures are probably not from the boat tour but rather from a bus sightseeing tour:

Skansen Kronan:

Masthugsskyrkan:

Also the house with the balcony with the lovely flowers (2nd post first picture) is apparently a house in which Czech composer Bedřich Smetana lived during 1857-1858.

The house is apparently called "Smetana-huset" (the Smetana house) and is located at Stora Nygatan 11.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Stora+Nygatan+11,+G%C3%B6teborg,+Sverige&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&sll=57.706161,11.973415&sspn=0.010558,0.033023&oq=Stora+Nygatan+11,G%C3%B6teborg&t=h&hnear=Stora+Nygatan+11,+411+08+G%C3%B6teborg,+Sverige&z=16

Here is one of his most well know compositions:

Can someone please tell me if Copenhagen is easily walkable from Langelinie pier? My DH can't always walk very far without his knees being painful and we were wondering how far it is from the pier to, say, Tivoli. If its too far then we would maybe forget Tivoli and concentrate on the area between Nyhavn and Rosenborg which we hope he could manage comfortably. Alternatively there's always the HoHo, so what should we do? Some idea of the distances involved would probably help.

All advice and suggestions will be much appreciated - thanks!

Can someone please tell me if Copenhagen is easily walkable from Langelinie pier? My DH can't always walk very far without his knees being painful and we were wondering how far it is from the pier to, say, Tivoli. If its too far then we would maybe forget Tivoli and concentrate on the area between Nyhavn and Rosenborg which we hope he could manage comfortably. Alternatively there's always the HoHo, so what should we do? Some idea of the distances involved would probably help.

 

All advice and suggestions will be much appreciated - thanks!

About 3.6km (~2.4miles) from the pier to Tivoli:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Langeliniekaj,+Denmark&daddr=55.6825666,12.5805304+to:Tivoli,+Vesterbrogade,+K%C3%B6penhamn,+Danmark&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&ll=55.684093,12.581148&spn=0.021387,0.066047&sll=55.685327,12.582436&sspn=0.021387,0.066047&geocode=FXHcUQMdPkLAACl_kePS3VJSRjGaMvbU5cmnog%3BFQamUQMdsva_ACnrbVogGlNSRjHXL21LTcGLQg%3BFVSDUQMdU8a_ACGwJwu1DQu12Snz6vaAElNSRjGwJwu1DQu12Q&oq=Tiv&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1&z=15

about 1.6km (1mi) to Amalienborg:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Langeliniekaj,+Denmark&daddr=Amalienborg+Slotsplads&hl=sv&ll=55.68973,12.596383&spn=0.022279,0.066047&sll=55.683125,12.582736&sspn=0.022283,0.066047&geocode=FXHcUQMdPkLAACl_kePS3VJSRjGaMvbU5cmnog%3BFemsUQMdOinAAA&oq=Tiv&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=mrv&z=15

about 3km (2mi) to Ströget:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Langeliniekaj,+Denmark&daddr=55.6875979,12.5925411+to:Str%C3%B8get,+K%C3%B8benhavn,+Danmark&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&ll=55.677778,12.580612&spn=0.011143,0.033023&sll=55.686722,12.586242&sspn=0.044562,0.132093&geocode=FXHcUQMdPkLAACl_kePS3VJSRjGaMvbU5cmnog%3BFa25UQMdnSXAAClj7RDQIVNSRjGtj5jt_qetTA%3BFdaWUQMd0uq_ACkJjNQmEVNSRjEWdtw1qZ275w&oq=Str%C3%B6&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=pd&z=16&via=1

About 2km to Rosenborg:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Langeliniekaj,+Denmark&daddr=Rosenborgs+slott,+%C3%98ster+Voldgade,+K%C3%B6penhamn,+Danmark&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&sll=55.677778,12.580612&sspn=0.011143,0.033023&geocode=FXHcUQMdPkLAACl_kePS3VJSRjGaMvbU5cmnog%3BFcOyUQMd9em_ACE8GyhFM5w1UikdU55CG1NSRjE8GyhFM5w1Ug&oq=Rosenb&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ls&z=16

About 2.3km to Nyhavn:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Langeliniekaj,+Denmark&daddr=Nyhavn,+K%C3%B6penhamn,+Danmark&hl=sv&ie=UTF8&sll=55.691427,12.58812&sspn=0.011139,0.033023&geocode=FXHcUQMdPkLAACl_kePS3VJSRjGaMvbU5cmnog%3BFemYUQMdvCLAACE4vU4Eke_lQinDyPvXPFNSRjE4vU4Eke_lQg&oq=Nyhavn,+K%C3%B6penhamn,+Danmark&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ls&z=15

Thanks, that's so helpful :)

which taxi company would you use.