“Live" from the Baltic...9 Days.. 7-16 May..2013

[aussie cruzer]

Embarkation

 

We left the Bella hotel around 10.30 by taxi to head to the cruise port,the taxi took twenty minutes to arrive at the terminal..cost 280 Krone..aprox $58....we shared the taxi with Liz & Peter ,our friends from Canada.

 

We arrived to great weather,clear sky’s and perfect conditions for sail away....The check in went very smoothly ,we are staying in a suite on the Star,this gives you vip check in and early boarding.....the other lines were just as quick as ours and people were waiting for the announcement to board.

 

We met up with Arnie,our Butler on our last Star cruise,it was great too see him again,he gave us all a warm welcome and showed us where to wait for boarding and got us our sea passes.

 

Around 12.30 the suite guests were taken up too the star bar too meet our concierge David Contreras,David gave us all a warm welcome and gave his phone # if we needed him anytime 24/7....We then had lunch at Cagneys while we waited for the rooms too be ready.

 

We met up with a lot of old friends from past Ncl cruises and had a nice lunch....the service was first class.

 

We went up to our room to unpack our luggage and meet our Butler Romel and our room steward Newman.....they are very nice and asked if we needed anything... first thing I ordered was the Fosters 750 ml buckets of beer.

 

We are staying in SC Two bedroom suite on deck 11....,the second room being ideal as a childrens room or small adult bedroom....the second bedroom has a pull down bed from the wall and fold out lounge that makes a small double bed and includes it’s own bathroom......the main area of this suite is huge and has separate lounge and bedroom area....including nice balcony.

 

Video of room

http://vimeo.com/46524693

 

Life boat drill was held at 4.00 pm and sailaway started 5.15 pm...We had a group dinner reservation at Le Bistro at 7.00 pm and had a very nice night catching up with some great friends over a nice meal....the Le Bistro is 20 p/p and on the first night ,includes a bottle of wine.....great deal for the quality of food and great service provided.

 

We arrived back at our cabin around 10.00 and had a early night.

[aussie cruzer]

Day 2

 

Warnemunde,Germany.

 

Today the Star arrives in Germany on the Baltic coast,

 

Todays Forecast

Partly cloudy

20 C ..68 F

 

Arrival 7.30 am

 

All aboard 9.30 pm

 

The main highlight for cruisers in this port is the trip to Berlin,

 

The choice is go with ships tour by train into Berlin aprox $300 p/p or use private operaters or public transport....Many of us on this cruise have signed up with Spb tours who organize tours in all of these Baltic countries on this cruise.

 

Spb are highly rated on Trip adviser and here on Cruise Critic......If you are signed up with their Saint Petersburg tour,you receive a discount on the other ports.

 

Spb have a tour to Berlin for $100 p/p from our cruise port and many of my friends have signed up today for this tour...We have been to Berlin before and we are doing a local DIY tour by train and boat today of Rostock and Warnemunde.....this will be a great way too catch up with some of our cruise friends and have a leisurely day exploring the local sights.

 

My friends doing the Berlin shore excursion will report back on their trip to Berlin today with Spb and I hope to post some photos of their day in Berlin and give those looking at Berlin on future cruises a idea of there day.

 

 

Details of Berlin tour with Spb

 

One day Classical tour of Berlin

 

This is an exciting tour that gives you an inside view of the City's turbulent past and promising future.

We have arranged a tour for you to see the majority of the main sights & landmarks during this one day and all at an affordable price.

You will be picked up at the port in a comfortable A/C vehicle. It will be at your service for 12 hours. You will enjoy a 3 hour ride on the German Autobahn on your way to the city of Berlin. You will then be met by your English speaking guide and either transfer to another vehicle for the day, or stay with the vehicle you are in.

The tour of Berlin is fun and full of history! Sightseeing will include highlights of the capital with photo stops at the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, The Berlin Wall and the famous Reichstag with the glass dome. You will be able to capture some beautiful pictures of the city here. You will have a chance to walk, drive and take plenty of pictures on the tour. You also have the option to try a traditional German meal for lunch.

Berlin 1 Day Classical Tour

 

Flat-rate 100 USD* per person; guaranteed departure!

 

*When you also book a tour with SPB-Tours in St. Petersburg. If not, the tour price is 135 USD per person.

 

This is available as a Flat-Rate Group tour! Enjoy guaranteed departure and the lowest price of 100 USD per person regardless of how many people sign up, one or twenty-four!

Tour price includes the following services:

1. Transfer Warnemunde-Berlin-Warnemunde in an SPB-Tours A/C vehicle

2. Private A/C vehicle in Berlin for 6 hours

3. Professional and personable English-speaking guide in Berlin for 6 hours

4. Three bottles of water per person per day for cruise ship passengers, one bottle of water per person per day for land tourists

 

Cost of lunch and entrance fees to the museums are not included in the price. The entrance to some museums is free of charge.

Below is a sample itinerary. If your ship arrives later, we will adjust the start time accordingly.

7.00 am – 7.00 pm

 

7.00 amPick-up at the ship in Warnemünde10.00 am

Arrival in Berlin / Meet your guide10.00 am – 12.30 pm

City sightseeing of (West) Berlin, including the Charlottenburg Palace, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Ku’damm, the Tiergarten and Victory Column, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the site of the Hitler Bunker, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial)12.30 pm – 13.30 pm

Lunch (German meal with a great German beer, if desired)1.30 pm – 4.00 pmCity sightseeing of (East) Berlin, including Potsdamer Platz, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Gendarmentmarkt, Unter den Linden, Bebelplatz (Book Burning Memorial, Humboldt University, State Opera House), Neue Wache Memorial, Museum Island, and Alexanderplatz (TV Tower and Red Town Hall)4.00 pm

Departure to Warnemünde7.00 pm

Arrival in Warnemünde/Return to the ship

[aussie cruzer]

Thanks all for the well wishes...We have just arrived into port.

 

I'll try and answer all the questions asap.:)

[aussie cruzer]

Land ahoy.

 

Cruise terminal

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

[sjnyc323]

Awesome

[aussie cruzer]

Had a nice day in Rostock today,we got off the ship at 10.00 and took the train into Rostock.....the train is right beside the cruise port and cost 1.80 Euro one way into town,this includes the transfer onto the tram to ride into the city centre.

 

Rostock is very nice and clean and we stopped for lunch at a local bakery for some lunch and returned by the tourist boat.

 

The boat trip back from Rostock to warnemunde was great,the trip back to the cruise port takes 45 minutes and you get a great sightseeing cruise.

 

The town of Warnemunde is very nice,small shops selling seafood on the canal and hotels overloooking the harbour.

 

Sailaway is at 10.00 pm tonight.....tomorrow is a sea day,before we reach Tallinn ,Estonia.

 

We heard from cruisers just back from Berlin with Spb,they said they had a great day....I will try and get some photos of their day trip to post.

[wittyfellow]

Loved seeing your pics.. Sounds like you had a great time in port... Looking forward to pics from Tallinn... Enjoy your sea day!!!

[Cruiser Bruiser]

Thanks for inviting us along on your trip. I'm enjoying the vicarious experience. :p

[mfeenker]

Thank You aussie cruzer, anxiously await your post. Wondering when you arrived in Denmark did you change funds to DDK?

[jljcruise]

Had a nice day in Rostock today,we got off the ship at 10.00 and took the train into Rostock.....the train is right beside the cruise port and cost 1.80 Euro one way into town,this includes the transfer onto the tram to ride into the city centre.

 

Rostock is very nice and clean and we stopped for lunch at a local bakery for some lunch and returned by the tourist boat.

 

The boat trip back from Rostock to warnemunde was great,the trip back to the cruise port takes 45 minutes and you get a great sightseeing cruise.

 

The town of Warnemunde is very nice,small shops selling seafood on the canal and hotels overloooking the harbour.

 

We're going to be doing just Warnemunde and Rostock also. Did you go out to the beach on the Baltic and was it nice? Anything in either town that we should put on our agenda or just plan for a generally wander-around day? How much was the boat trip back from Rostock to Warmunde?

Sounds like you had a nice day. Can't wait to get going on the cruise!

[aussie cruzer]

Thank You aussie cruzer, anxiously await your post. Wondering when you arrived in Denmark did you change funds to DDK?

 

 

Just used the atm for small amounts of cash.....rest on credit card.

[aussie cruzer]

Rostock and Warnemunde photos below.

 

The boat trip costs 10 Euro one way and 14 Return....drops you right beside the ship.

 

 

 

 

Judy...up too trouble again.!!

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

Maria & Paulo

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Saint Maria church in Rostock and the Astronomical clock.

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

[aussie cruzer]

Boat trip back to port....a short walk from the Rostock city centre.

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Duncan and Judy.....Nice beers back to port.

 

Judy lost husband Rol in town....she was missing him heaps.!!!

 

[drsb]

We have never been to Berlin but are trying to decide if we should do that or stay local to the port. Do you recommend going to Berlin if we haven't been? We are currently booked with SPB, so I am interested in hearing what your friends thought.

 

Cant wait to read more and more!

Edited May 9, 2013 by drsb

[aussie cruzer]

The port area and Warnemunde.....a short walk from the ship.

 

Nice fish restaurants on the canal.

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

Judy,Maria,Frances

 

 

Duncan,Judy,Maria,Rol

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

[sjnyc323]

Awesome pics

[jellygirl]

Love this thread!! Keep it coming.

We are going June 3 and doing the NCL portion of your cruise. Can't wait!