Visby, Sweden and Arhus, Denmark

[dbh62ark]

Is there any scenic cruising in this area? We can't get on an Oceania Baltic/Russia itinerary this year for several reasons, so I'm trying to find the closest match to that itinerary in late May or late August. We've previously cruised these areas and loved the scenic cruising in the Stockholm archipelago and in the fjords. I like the Holland Westerdam itinerary, but it doesn't go to Oslo and calls at these ports instead. I've read some info about the ports and think that we would like them, but I need to make a decision as to whether or not missing the scenic cruising in the fjords around Oslo will be worth it.

 

If you've cruised these ports and have any info, please let me know.

 

Thanks,

Donna

[north-bound]

Donna,

 

Although I have never been on a Baltic cruise I hope I can give you some information on Visby, since there has been no other answer so far. I live in Sweden and have visited Visby.

 

Visby is a small town on the big island Gotland. There is no scenic entrance like the fjords or the archipelago. But the island is different and interesting, and Visby was a very important place during the 12th and 13th centuries. Due to the fact that it lost its wealth and stopped developing it still keeps a lot of the medieval atmosphere. It is a charming and beautiful place.

 

I realise you have already done some research on your own, but if someone else is also interested in learning more about Visby I have collected a few links to more information.

 

First an introduction to the island Gotland, including Visby: http://www.gotland.se/gsp/docs/eng.html

Click on “The place” to enter, and then use the little green arrow to go through the introduction.

 

Next two sites which both have some information on Visby: http://gotland.net/english/visby.asp and http://www.raa.se/varveng/visbye.asp

 

And last the District of Gotland home page with a lot of information to explore: http://www.gotland.se/imcms/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=4319

 

Hoping that this is some help to you. I am sorry that I can not help you at all with Arhus.

[dbh62ark]

I read the other information you left for me and appreciate your assistance. My husband and I were in Stockholm in 2003 and loved it so much. I am thrilled to be able to go back this year. I don't see a lot of posts or information about Skansen, and I found it to be so very charming and will be going back this year.

 

Best wishes to you,

Donna

[north-bound]

How nice to hear from you and that you had a good time in Stockholm. Skansen is one of my favourite places in Stockholm too, on a day with nice weather. But there is also the Vasa museum and the Old Town that most people want to see. Time is limited when you are here only for one day on a cruise. For anyone with a little more time here I would definitely recommend including a visit to Skansen.

 

I do hope you will enjoy your day here again this year, and also Visby if you decide on going.

[dbh62ark]

I hope you see this post. We have had our port time greatly reduced in Stockholm by our cruise line (we're most upset about the time reduction in this port), so I need to ask you for some advice. I'm trying to determine the fastest method of transportation between some sights.

 

We're in port from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and think that "all aboard" will be 4:00 p.m. We're planning to go over to Djurgården first. I liked riding the ferries on a previous trip because it was so scenic, but would it be quicker and more efficient to go via cab? I remember walking about 10-15 minutes after we arrived via ferry to go to Skansen and the Vasa Museet, but it may have taken longer because we just didn't know where we were going. Also, do you know if the cabs will be readily available from the edge of Gamla Stan at about 9:30 a.m.? We didn't use any cabs in Stockholm last time, so I didn't pay any attention to the cabs.

 

From Djurgården, we want to go to the Royal Palace to tour it, so we would be returning to that area around noon or 13:00.

 

Then we need to go from the Royal Palace to the National Museum, so basically the same question about the cabs.

 

If you could offer any insight, I would be very grateful.

 

Donna

[mikenmar]

Donna,

 

You should come on my cruise, We are in Stockholm from 6PM to 5PM the next day (hopefully it stays this way). This is the Aug 13th Constellation for 14 days. So far they have not changed much for us. Just flip-flopping Riga and Klaipeda. It appears that Celebrity has changed most the Baltic cruises that involve Oslo.

 

North-Bound

 

What would you suggest for sight-seeing at night when we dock and during the next day. This is if they don't change the itinerary.

 

Thank you,

Marion

[mikenmar]

Donna,

 

I just checked Celebrity's website. They just changed everything around again. We arrive in Stockholm at 10 and leave at 5 PM. This is not much time to see a lot. Any suggestions?

 

Marion

[dbh62ark]

Believe me when I tell you that we have been and are still reviewing other options. I don't feel quite as strongly as some of the other passengers--although I do of course respect their position--but we're very disturbed by Celebrity's actions. I'm still shaking my head over all this and trying to figure out a way to make the best of our vacation time and $$ this year.

 

I am most upset about Stockholm (although we love Copenhagen too and have also had our time cut very short there too) because it is so wonderful, and we had determined that the Vasa Museum and Skansen were both open late during our overnight stay, so we would have had a lot of opportunities with our first itinerary. But that opportunity is definitely gone, and I have been working on a new plan, as noted in my note to North-Bound above. We are there for 7 and 1/2 hours, but as noted by another CC member, all aboard is 1/2 hour earlier, and it takes some time to get off the ship and into the area where the main sights are located, so knock at least an hour off that.

 

The Royal Palace, Skansen, Vasa Museum, and the art museum are all opening at 10:00 the day that we are there. I'm pasting some web sites below so that you can check opening times for your visit.

 

The highlights for us on a previous visit were Skansen, the Vasa Museum, and the Frommers walking tour that includes Gamla Stan. We did those sights in 7 hours but did not take a break at all, so just FYI because that may not work for others (we ate some protein at breakfast and just grabbed some drinks and snacks during the day). We could have probably walked through the walking tour more quickly. Gamla Stan was great, so we took some time to just soak it all in. Stockholm is so wonderful that I would definitely recommend pressing on in this port and resting up on the ship.

 

The Vasa Museum and Skansen are on the same island. Skansen is pretty large, so I don't think you'd be able to see all of it, but we loved it. The Vasa Museum is awesome, and I highly recommend.

 

But since your interests may not be the same as mine, I guess my main recommendation is that you read about the sights (I like http://www.frommers.com and http://www.fodors.com as well as the web sites for the individual attractions) and pick your favorites. And then I think the best plan would be to find out where your ship is docked and plan your route to the sights that you want to see. We frequently head out for a port day and change our plans en route and usually have a site on our list for that day that we can give up, if needed. I think you need to allow at least an hour inside the Vasa Museum and at least an hour for Skansen. I think it took us about 20 minutes to walk between those sights and get our tickets last time. The walking tour would take a couple of hours or so, and if you stop to tour the inside of the Royal Palace (it's on the walking tour), that's probably at least another hour. So it will depend on how long it takes you to get around to the sites, and I'm trying to figure that out too for our port stay. So long story short, if you want to see more than 1 or 2 sites, it's going to take some planning.

 

Here's the web sites:

Skansen - http://www.skansen.se/eng/hgtindex.htm

 

Vasa Museum - http://www.vasamuseet.se/Vasamuseet/*****.aspx (choose English at the top of the page)

 

Kungliga Slott royal palace in Gamla Stan area - http://www.royalcourt.se/theroyalpa...77fff25857.html

 

National Museum (the art museum) - http://www.nationalmuseum.se/NMTemp...ge____2677.aspx

 

I have some more sightseeing notes for other ports at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=2931767#post2931767, post #47, that might be helpful if your time in Copenhagen was cut short too like ours was.

 

If you need any additional info, from me, I'll be glad to help.

 

Donna

[mikenmar]

Donna,

 

Thank you for all the information. I just went on the Celebrity site and have two different itineraries again. One under my reservation and the other under cruise destination for new cruises. It is all crazy.

 

I sailed on the Infinity to Alaska and loved it. The ship is beautiful and enjoyable. The constellation is a sister ship to the Infinity, this is why I chose this interary. I emailed my TA to see if she knew which intinerary was correct.

 

I read your comments and Mare S. You are both right that this is becoming rediculous.

 

Marion

[north-bound]

Donna, it is very difficult to say if it is quicker to go by ferry or by cab to Djurgården. The ferry ride is shorter, but as you know there is a walk to the museums when you arrive at Djurgården. A cab has a longer way to travel but will take you directly to the entrance. But with a cab you may have the problem with traffic. It is impossible to say what it will be like when you are here, and that is the reason it really is impossible to say which will be the fastest way for you. I think personally I would take the ferry at least one way.

 

Also, I am afraid I can’t tell you about taxis being available there at that time. I rarely use taxis in Stockholm, I either walk or use public transport, which is very good in Stockholm. But unfortunately there is no direct bus from the Old Town to Djurgården.

 

To go from the Royal Palace to the National Museum you will not need a cab. You can see the museum right across the water from the Palace and it is a short walk across a bridge a little further on.

 

Marion, I think Donna has already posted the main things to see in Stockholm, although personally I think you have to be really interested in art and design to do the National Museum. I noticed however that two of the links in Donnas post were old ones. Here is an update.

 

The Royal Court and Palaces: http://www.royalcourt.se/2.53abbbfd7ffdfa677fff23627.html

The Nationalmuseum: http://www.nationalmuseum.se/Default____2705.aspx

Here is also a link to the Stockholm City Hall: http://www2.stockholm.se/cityhall/index.htm

I do hope this confusion about itinerary changes soon comes to an end. And that you will have a good time in Stockholm.

 

[dbh62ark]

Thanks for the info. Yes, I agree that the art museum is not high on the priority list for a first-time visitor. I love French Impressionist paintings and try to get to any museums that have some of those paintings, including the ones in the U.S. Since we've seen the main sights in Stockholm, we'll be branching out; I'm going to the art museum and appreciate the info on the City Hall. I had forgotten about that site, and my husband may want to go there while I'm at the art museum.

 

I don't know what happened with those links because I had bookmarked the same ones you had and tried to copy them, so I'm glad you caught that because I thought I had tested them.

 

We are also going to Helsingborg. I don't know if you are familiar with that area of Sweden, but I will probably be starting a post on that later because we will be looking for independent travel info there. We'll want to go by ferry to Helsingor and then on to Fredericksborg Castle and gardens.

 

We appreciate your help and your input in these boards.

 

Best regards to you,

Donna

[north-bound]

Donna, I will try to answer any questions about Helsingborg, I actually lived there for two years when I was young (long ago).

 

But it will have to wait untill April. Just now I am about to leave for Malaysia and my upcoming cruise.

[dbh62ark]

I hope you have a great time on your trip, and it sounds wonderful. No hurry for me because we don't sail until August. I'll start a Helsingborg thread in April so that the May sailings can have the benefit of your info too. I'll look forward to calling on you for some more great advice in the coming months.

 

Happy travels to you,

Donna

[amsand]

You will find alot of information about Gotland at the Allt ***** Gotland web site http://www.alltomgotland.se and the english version Select Gotland at http://www.selectgotland.com.