Which cruise line for the Baltic?

I don't think so, I think the Royal Princess is too big.

I think the Eclipse is close to the limit while the Royal Princess is sligthly above the limit.

The issue is not the berths themselves but the sail-in through the archipelago where some passages are too narrow for the new Royal Princess.

 

Here is the approximative route for the biggest ships: http://kartor.eniro.se/m/vChxM

 

There is a few intersections along the way at which I am not certain about which alternative they use but the biggest ships will have to use Furusundsleden (the fairway via Furusund)

Ahh, I was thinking of the likes of Grand & Crown, smaller than Eclipse. Royal is indeed just a little bigger, longer, and broader.

Flipping the map linked by Desdichado62 to satellite view (click on flygfoto) shows how attractive but narrow & tortuous the sail-in.

JB :)

Ahh, I was thinking of the likes of Grand & Crown, smaller than Eclipse. Royal is indeed just a little bigger, longer, and broader.

 

Flipping the map linked by Desdichado62 to satellite view (click on flygfoto) shows how attractive but narrow & tortuous the sail-in.

 

JB :)

That map is awesome.

Next year it appears the Princess will be sailing the Regal - which I assume is a sister of the same size because they are not showing it going all the way into Stockholm on the itineraries.

Desdichado62 - since that sail in looks so difficult and it's a tight squeeze for the larger vessels that can make it through - is there anymore likelihood that those vessels wouldn't give it a go if conditions were not desirable, whereas a smaller one with more margin for error would sail in?

That map is awesome.

 

Next year it appears the Princess will be sailing the Regal - which I assume is a sister of the same size because they are not showing it going all the way into Stockholm on the itineraries.

 

Desdichado62 - since that sail in looks so difficult and it's a tight squeeze for the larger vessels that can make it through - is there anymore likelihood that those vessels wouldn't give it a go if conditions were not desirable, whereas a smaller one with more margin for error would sail in?

Possible, I don't know to exactly how much margins there are but it happens a few times every year that the weather

makes it to difficult for ships to attempt a sail in (or sail out) through the archipelago.

If I remember it correctly, last year one of Aida's ships had to postpone it's departure from Stockholm due to heavy winds.

Also I think there was a smaller ship, possible Saga Ruby, which also were delayed because of the weather/winds.

So small ship is perhaps not a guarantee against complications from bad weather.

Also you have to have in mind that the cruise ships uses a pilot for the sail-in sail-out and sail-out

so the decision is taken by the pilot if the conditions allow the ship to sail-in/sail-out.

I have been pointed to some info about the limitations for ships into/out from Stockholm through the archipelago.

Wind restrictions (for the northern fairway via Furusund):

For piloted ships with a length greater then 300m:

An individual decision for each ship/time will be taken by the pilot.

For piloted ships with a length between 245m and 300:

When average winds is between 12m/s and 15m/s, the Swedish Maritime authority will make a judgement

regarding the ship in questions possibility to navigate through the fairway.

When the wind average wind speed exceeds 15m/s no piloting will be performed.

For piloted ships with a length between 175m and 245m.

the same as above.

For ships with a length less then 175m

Generally there is normally no restrictions.

Limited visibilities:

For piloted ships with a length greater then 300m:

Individual decisions when the visibility is less 500m.

For piloted ships with a length between 245m and 300:

If it is limited visibility for the major part of the distance between Tjärven (lighthouse) and Stockholm no piloting will be commenced.

If only partially limited visibility, the pilot will make a decision of it is possible to commence/continue the piloting.

For ships with a length less then 175m

Generally there is normally no restrictions.

For non-daylight voyages the restrictions are pretty much the same.

http://www.sjofartsverket.se/sv/Sjofart/Lotsning/Lotsomraden/Lotsomrade-Stockholm/Riktvarden--restriktioner/Farledsbegransningar/Stockholm/Furusundsleden-Vind--Morker/

Also regarding the Royal Princess and her size.

For ships sailing through Furunsleden (Fairway via Furusund) the size restrictions is that the length X width (beam) cannot exceed 12000.

The Royal Princess have a size of 12540, the Eclipse have a size of 11729 so the RP are just above the limit while the Eclipse is just below it.

http://www.sjofartsverket.se/sv/Sjofart/Lotsning/Lotsomraden/Lotsomrade-Stockholm/Riktvarden--restriktioner/Farledsbegransningar/Stockholm/Riktvarden-Fartyg-ej-tankfartyg-Stockholm/

Thanks this is really interesting - the larger vessels allow for pilot discretion, but mid-size are determined by the Maritime Authority.

We're on what I believe is a midsize - Marina is 785 feet = 239M.

Oh well, Stockholm is disembarkation for our cruise - know we'll get there - some way or another. Hopefully for the two days we have planned. For us, it was the most important city on the itinerary.

Back to the OP's original question

#1 has to be itinerary. As was said you must have at least 2 days in St Petersburg to do it any justice.

#2-price. If money isn't a big concern, then just skip this and move on to #3

#3 Where the ship leaves from is also a big thing. It is easier to get to say London than to Copenhagen or Stockholm, but less Baltic cruises are leaving from British ports these days.

#4 Where the ship docks at Stockholm. Personally, I would avoid any ship not docking directly in Stockholm.

From being on these boards for several years, I think I can say all the cruise lines do a good to very good job of sailing the Baltics. So, which brings us right back to #1, pick an itinerary that you will greatly look forward to.

Cheers

Len