Live from Helsinki

[H2Otstr]

Arrived yesterday for the pretrip. There are about 60 people on the pretrip. Having our orientation talk at 8:30, then a bus/walking tour. We will be given a 24 hour transportation ticket so we can do whatever we want for the rest of the day.

 

Hotel is nice;one long block fron central town.

 

Cool and rainy this morning.

[5326jan]

I'm looking forward to reading about your adventures! Thanks for sharing your cruise with us!:)

[H2Otstr]

We had beautiful weather today. Had a 3 hour bus tour and then we were given a 24 hour transportation ticket to go anywhere we wanted.

 

We have a half day free tomorrow or we can go on an optional tour. Then we will head to the fwrry for a 2 hour teip to Tallinn.

 

We were told that there is no Wifi on the ship in Russia.

[5326jan]

We had beautiful weather today. Had a 3 hour bus tour and then we were given a 24 hour transportation ticket to go anywhere we wanted.

 

We have a half day free tomorrow or we can go on an optional tour. Then we will head to the fwrry for a 2 hour teip to Tallinn.

 

We were told that there is no Wifi on the ship in Russia.

 

Is that a Russian regulation, or a ship rule?

[H2Otstr]

Is that a Russian regulation, or a ship rule?

 

I think it is a Grand Circle thing.

[YoungDubFan]

It might help other posters / readers if in your first post or in the title of your post you mentioned what company, ship, and itinerary you are on. I for one, have no idea where you are heading to from Helsinki.

[MMDown Under]

It might help other posters / readers if in your first post or in the title of your post you mentioned what company, ship, and itinerary you are on. I for one, have no idea where you are heading to from Helsinki.

 

The following is at the bottom of H20tstr's emails -

 

Grand Circle Russia Revealed with pretrip to Helsinki and Tallinn on August 18, 2012. St. Petersburg to Moscow.

[H2Otstr]

We had a half day in Helsinki this morning and then we were bussed to the commercial port and boarded a ferry for Tallinn. Our luggage was put on the bus and the bus drove on the ferry. The ferry ride took about two hours. We were then taken to our hotel.......the Radisson Bleu which is about a 5 to 10 minute walk from Old Town. We had an orientation walk to Old Town and then we were left to do whatevee we want.

[H2Otstr]

Pouring down rain and very cold today.

 

There was an optional trip to an outdoor museum with lunch included,but we chose not to take this trip. Not sure what we are going to do,don't really want to battle all the umbrellas in Old Town. Will head out and then decide which direction we will take.

[5326jan]

I hope you keep warm and dry! Would love to hear about shopping opportunities. :)

[newfirsttimer]

I loved Tallinn when I was there a couple of years ago but I can relate to 'not battling the umbrellas'. The town streets are quite narrow and with a lot of tourists it would be hard to navigate in the rain. We just loved the medieval feel of the city, the shops in the ancient buildings and the restaurants with the old world feel.

[H2Otstr]

We had an 8 hour bus ride to the boat yesterday. Had to go thru both Estonian and Russian check points. People were arriving all evening. Dinner was very good.

 

Headed to town this morning and will visit The Hermitage. There is a normal departure to come back and a later departure for those who want to stay at The Hermitage a little longer.

 

There is no WiFi on board, but we can buy internet time on the boat...............50 Rubles for 15 minutes. There are 2 computers.

 

Sharon

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Have a great trip ....

[H2Otstr]

Had our first day in St. P's. Went to St. Isaac's Church and then to the Hermitage. Traffic was not too bad because it was Saturday. Museums were packed. I think there were 12 large ships in port.

 

The weather has been lovely. Just a little rain and we were on the bus at that time.

 

Today were are going to St. Catherine's Palace and tonight is the ballet.

 

Sharon

[H2Otstr]

We are sailing. Have been thru a couple locks and are in our second lake. Very rough waters in the lake.............lots of rocking and rolling. Visiting some small, charming towns. Weather has been cool in the morning and high 60's to low 70's during the day.

[franski]

We are sailing. Have been thru a couple locks and are in our second lake. Very rough waters in the lake.............lots of rocking and rolling. Visiting some small, charming towns. Weather has been cool in the morning and high 60's to low 70's during the day.

 

Sounds very much like our trip at the end of May. I was very thankful for our Aquarium class room when the lake was rough - not quite as noticeable down there!!!

 

Fran