The Baltic ports

[Desdichado62]

If your ship is the royal princess or Regal Princess your ship will not dock in central Stockholm but in Nynäshamn which si about 50-60km south of Stockholm.

 

To get to Stockholm you will either have to go with the ships shuttle or go with the commuter train.

Train is about 45 minutes and bus is about the same but it depends on traffic.

[Jonza]

Folks, for Stockholm, it's not possible to give anyone else advice on sightseeing options, including HOHO options, if you don't first specify which ship you sailed and where your ship docked. Skeppsbron is right in old town so one can just walk everywhere. Stadsgården is right across the harbor from the old town with easy and direct access to the HOHO boat that does the loop. But if your ship docks at Frihamnen or Värtahamnen, you are practically in the suburbs with few good transportation options.

I would say that you paint a bit too gloomy picture of the location of Frihamnen and Värtahamnen. They are about 3km northeast from downtown Stockholm. By land both are actually closer to Vasa Museum than Stadsgården. I would say that Nynäshamn is the only port with complicated logistics in Stockholm.

[Ultima Thule]

Can anyone tell me where I can find where we will dock in each port?

 

The table for Helsinki is here:

http://www.portofhelsinki.fi/passengers/expected_cruise_ships

[Desdichado62]

@Jonza reply 28.

 

Well the advantage of Stadsgården is that you can use the direct routed HoHo boats from the berth to Vasa.

 

Other then that it doesn't really matter if you dock at Frihamnen or Stadsgården. Frihamnen is slightly closer to Vasa by bus but Stadsgården is closer to Gamla Stan.

[nybumpkin]

We loved all our ports on our Baltic cruise in 2013, but really hadn't planned anything for Tallinn. We did our own walking tour, and absolutely loved it. Lunch was one of the outside cafes in the main square - DH and I had a Baltic herring platter and local beer. Tallinn was very easy to do on our own.

[Travelinyolo]

thank you so much for your help and invaluable info. we will be calling at Brussels, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Pete, Tallinn, and Gdansk (gdynia). Can we exchange our dollar for the countries currencies on the ship?Do we need visa anywhere except Russia?

[wally_bushy]

thank you so much for your help and invaluable info. we will be calling at Brussels, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Pete, Tallinn, and Gdansk (gdynia). Can we exchange our dollar for the countries currencies on the ship?Do we need visa anywhere except Russia?

I dont think you will berth in Brussels:o

More likely Bruges (Zeebruge) which is on the coast.

Bruges is a beautiful place to walk around

Edited January 16, 2015 by wally_bushy

[Travelinyolo]

you are so right it is Bruge. Any suggestions for what to do and see, we are there from 8 to 6. thank you so much

 

travelinyolo

[wally_bushy]

you are so right it is Bruge. Any suggestions for what to do and see, we are there from 8 to 6. thank you so much

 

travelinyolo

This will be one of many replies (I hope)

We docked at Zeebruge and a shuttle bus took us to the train station where it was easy to catch a train to the city of Bruges.

An easy walk will take you into the main square which is quite large.

It is an amazing picture book look and streets run in many directions.

Within a short distance of each radiating street there are chocolate shops (What else in Belgium), waffles etc.

There are great tapestry shops, deli shops.

Finally you must do a canal cruise and again easy to find and hop on at various points.

I know I have said "easy" several times but it was a great day and relaxing.

[Ultima Thule]

Do we need visa anywhere except Russia?

 

Assuming you are an U.S. citizen the answer is no.

 

Getting visa for Russia is however quite troublesome and expensive.

Its highly recommended that for St. Petersburg you either sign up for a tour organised by the cruise line or for a tour organised by an authorised local tour company. They will take care of all the paper work for you. There are a lot of information about the tour options here on this forum. Use the "search" function.

[abelthi]

If you care to know where you will dock in Stockholm, you will need to provide the sailing date too. Silhouette uses both Stadsgården (good) and Frihamnen (terrible):

 

Vessel Arrival Berth Vessel type Status

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-05-11 kl. 09:00 S167 STADSGÅRDEN Cruise ship Expected

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-05-27 kl. 09:00 F638 FRIHAMNEN Cruise ship Expected

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-06-29 kl. 09:00 F638 FRIHAMNEN Cruise ship Expected

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-07-11 kl. 09:00 S167 STADSGÅRDEN Cruise ship Expected

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-08-04 kl. 09:00 S167 STADSGÅRDEN Cruise ship Expected

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE 2015-08-30 kl. 09:00 F638 FRIHAMNEN Cruise ship Expected

 

I hope you picked the right itinerary! LOL

 

 

Is Frihamnen that bad ? From what I see on maps, it's not that far off from Dtwn Stockholm. Definitely not as bad as Nynashamn where some larger ships have to dock.

[Desdichado62]

Is Frihamnen that bad ? From what I see on maps, it's not that far off from Dtwn Stockholm. Definitely not as bad as Nynashamn where some larger ships have to dock.

 

No it's not bad.

 

There are slightly better communications at stadsgården but in the larger picture the difference is negligible.

Sure you'll have a better view at Stadsgården then at Frihamnen but as I said other then it doesn't matter really at which of these locations your ship berths.

 

The other difference is obviously that the different locations have different bus numbers/communications so to get the best help it's

advisable to tell where and when your ship docks.

Edited January 16, 2015 by Desdichado62

[aquilegia]

I dont think you will berth in Brussels:o

More likely Bruges (Zeebruge) which is on the coast.

 

Bruges (Brugge) is not on the coast. It is Zeebrugge which is on the coast. Bruges is a separate town about 10 miles inland.

[Dr. Pam]

Hi everyone, especially Desdichado62 and Terpnut! We are 3 Canadian families (total of 10 people) travelling to Stockholm to board the Serenade of the Seas this summer. :) We arrive in Stockholm on a Saturday night before boarding the ship on Sunday afternoon. A few questions, if I may....

 

1. Celebrating our friends 50th bday (actual day) on arrival in Stockholm. We are staying at the Sheraton ( which I understand is in Gamia Stan). Are there any restaurants within walking distance that offer upscale dining in a relaxed setting. I am sure that after travelling from Malaga for a 5 hour flight, that we will not want to get too dressed up. The "children" are all adults and teens, so dinner does not have to be rushed.

 

2. We just have Sunday morning to visit the wonderful city of Stockholm. Is our best choice visiting the VASA museum and is it open Sunday morning?

 

3. ANy idea where the Serenade will dock this summer, and if so, how far is it from our hotel>

 

4. Any recommendations for private transport for our group?

 

Thank you for any information.

 

:)Pam

[Desdichado62]

Pam.

 

The Sheraton is not actually in Gamla Stan but very close to it.

https://www.google.se/maps/place/Hotell+Sheraton+i+Stockholm/@59.324237,18.0652847,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x465f9d5fbd8a2865:0x48f87179ae6b63db

 

Regarding restaurants there are many fine restaurants in Stockholm of various kinds.

Some recommendations from the Guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/jul/20/stockholm-top-10-good-value-restaurants

 

Some other recomendations

http://www.visitstockholm.com/en/Eat--drink/Restaurants/

https://www.google.se/search?q=restaurants+stockholm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=DpS6VLG4F6KeywPot4KICQ

 

During June-August Vasa is open between 08.30 and 18.00 every day.

Rest of the year, opening hours are 10.00-17.00

http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/Opening-hours--admission/

 

Ship berth locations:

http://www.portsofstockholm.com/vessel-calls/#imo=9228344

 

What kinds of private transport? Taxi or car service?

[Dr. Pam]

Wow thanks for quick reply!!😀. Re:transportation. There will be 10 of us travelling and would prefer private services. We would like to reserve in advance transport between ARN and hotel, then hotel and ship and finally ship to ARN. Any help on this is much appreciated

[Desdichado62]

Wow thanks for quick reply!!😀. Re:transportation. There will be 10 of us travelling and would prefer private services. We would like to reserve in advance transport between ARN and hotel, then hotel and ship and finally ship to ARN. Any help on this is much appreciated

 

This one is the only one I know of: http://www.freys.se/

[TLCOhio]

nybumpkin: We loved all our ports on our Baltic cruise in 2013' date=' but really hadn't planned anything for Tallinn. We did our own walking tour, and [b']absolutely loved it.[/b] Lunch was one of the outside cafes in the main square - DH and I had a Baltic herring platter and local beer. Tallinn was very easy to do on our own.

 

For those of you have done a Baltic itinerary - besides St. Pete (and Amsterdam) which were your favorite Baltic ports and why? what did you do there? any tasty dining experiences? THANKS!

 

YES, lots of great ideas, suggestions and thoughts about the wonderful Baltics on this thread. Just wanted to add an extra "shout-out" for Tallinn. Very charming, so much character, good bargains for shopping, etc. Clearly, both Copenhagen and Stockholm are super-stars. Below are a few of my visual "samples" to help building the excitement for visiting and enjoying these wonderful ports, sights, etc. Clearly, this area is much more port-intensive and far different than just doing a cruise in the Caribbean.

 

Timing/Cost Trade-Offs: Some love being DIY to avoid ship tours and/or shuttles. Seek to save money!! BUT, at what cost?? Many ship tours or shuttles are over-priced. Your time, however, is very, very valuable. Unlike some parts of the Caribbean, the wonderful sights and options in the Baltics can be amazing and so varied!! And, many of them to consider! A ship tour can solve some "logistical" challenges and make your day more time-efficient, easier to enjoy/experience. Don't always assume that "free" by walking and walking is best, cheapest with your limited time in some of the great ports of Europe.

 

Helsinki does not have the centuries of Royal heritage, history and architecture that you will see in Copenhagen, St. Petersburg and Stockholm. In Helsinki, our tour also passed the Saarinen designed train station, Olympic Stadium, used for the 1952 Olympic Games and the statue of the "Flying Finn", runner Paavo Nurmi, and visited the park with the stainless steel monument for composer Jean Sibelius, a patriot whose most famous orchestral piece was appropriately named Finlandia. The market area is a must-see for great "walking-around" sights and options.

 

Copenhagen: Why Walking Back to the Ship Is Super Great!!!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=975779

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 93,249 views for this posting.

 

 

Dancers marching in Tallinn’s festival parade near the stone towers of the famous Viru Gate. So much charm, character and history in this somewhat hidden treasure of a town!! Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its history goes back to the 1100's and it was an important port for trade between Russia and Scandinavia. In 1285, the city became the northern-most member of the Hanseatic League, a famed trading and military alliance of German-dominated cities.:

 

 

 

Shopping is great in Tallinn. Here we are inside a nice linen shop near the City Hall.:

 

 

 

Outdoor lunch options on Tallinn’s main square:

 

 

 

At lunch, enjoying Tallinn’s local beer. This is the most popular beer in Estonia and the oldest operating brewery. Their slogan: "it's about the taste". We agree!!!:

 

 

 

Copenhagen’s Nyhavn or “new” Harbor is actually old and charming. This waterfront entertainment district is lined by brightly colored 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. Serving as a "heritage harbor", the canal also has many historical wooden ships. Lots of people and fun activity!!:

 

 

 

At the Vasa Museum with this large salvaged ship from the 1600’s. This is their website: http://vasamuseet.se/en/ Taking almost two years (1626-1627) to build Vasa, carpenters, sawyers, smiths, ropelayers, sailmakers, painters, carvers, gun carriage makers and other specialists struggled to complete the navy’s great, new ship. The king, Gustav II Adolf, visited the shipyard to inspect the work. With a hull built of more than a thousand oak trees with 64 cannon, masts over 50 meters high and hundreds of painted and gilded sculptures, this was a spectacular ship. BUT, it was too heavy and sunk sailing out from the harbor.:

 

[mskaufman]

Timing/Cost Trade-Offs: Some love being DIY to avoid ship tours and/or shuttles. Seek to save money!! BUT, at what cost?? Many ship tours or shuttles are over-priced. Your time, however, is very, very valuable. Unlike some parts of the Caribbean, the wonderful sights and options in the Baltics can be amazing and so varied!! And, many of them to consider! A ship tour can solve some "logistical" challenges and make your day more time-efficient, easier to enjoy/experience. Don't always assume that "free" by walking and walking is best, cheapest with your limited time in some of the great ports of Europe.

 

 

Couldn't agree more. We always consider what our time is worth when cruising in Europe. We generally wind up with a combination of DIY and tours (sometimes even the ship's tours)

[Desdichado62]

@ mskaufman well there are pros and cons with both DIY and ship tours.

 

A ship tour is "convenient" with everything already arranged/planned but it will be expensive and inflexible, you have to go where the rest of the tour goes.

You will many things but you won't have some much time at each.

 

DIY requires more planning but you can decide what you want to see/do and it os also more flexible if you want to spend more time at one place.

The Batlic ports/cities are generally easy to DIY (except SPB which requires a tour) and it is generally easy to get around with public transport.

 

 

[Winters Gate]

Hi everyone, especially Desdichado62 and Terpnut! We are 3 Canadian families (total of 10 people) travelling to Stockholm to board the Serenade of the Seas this summer. :) We arrive in Stockholm on a Saturday night before boarding the ship on Sunday afternoon. A few questions, if I may....

 

1. Celebrating our friends 50th bday (actual day) on arrival in Stockholm. We are staying at the Sheraton ( which I understand is in Gamia Stan). Are there any restaurants within walking distance that offer upscale dining in a relaxed setting. I am sure that after travelling from Malaga for a 5 hour flight, that we will not want to get too dressed up. The "children" are all adults and teens, so dinner does not have to be rushed.

 

2. We just have Sunday morning to visit the wonderful city of Stockholm. Is our best choice visiting the VASA museum and is it open Sunday morning?

 

3. ANy idea where the Serenade will dock this summer, and if so, how far is it from our hotel>

 

4. Any recommendations for private transport for our group?

 

Thank you for any information.

 

:)Pam

Here are a few restaurant suggestions within walking distance from the Sheraton http://www.eriks.se/gondolen/ http://www.theflyingelk.se

[ljandgb]

This question is for We're the Groupnors: Sorry, for the life of me I can't figure out how to pm someone on this forum.

 

You liked Anastasia tours? Did the "no visa needed" work as advertised?

[TeaBag]

Absolutely! Even taking ample time in the Vasa Museum to see the ship in detail plus all the exhibits we were only about 90 minutes. The HOHO bus came quickly and we were in the Gamla Stan in time for some walking' date=' then a leisurely lunch, then more walking and more riding on the HOHO before heading back to the ship.[/quote']

Thank you We're the Groupnors and Terpnut for answering my question about the time needed to see the Vasa Museum and Gamla Stan. Much appreciated. We will be docked in Stadsgarden. (Eclipse May 30 sailing from Southampton).

[prish]

We're on the May 28 Silhouette sailing, the ship will be docked in Frihamnen and overnights there. We hope to be checked in and board by noon and want to go back to town after a quick bite, probably to walk around Gamla Stan. What would be the best way of getting there, why is Frihamnen said to be "terrible"? Anything else we could do that afternoon/evening, we plan on seeing the Vasa on 29th morning, sail away is at 3pm.

[Cornishpastyman1]

you are so right it is Bruge. Any suggestions for what to do and see, we are there from 8 to 6. thank you so much

 

travelinyolo

My port hours were 8-4 on a Sunday and I did this

 

[YOUTUBE]-JiNWDXDlxU[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]BFvq9gLib7I[/YOUTUBE]

 

With 2 hours more you will be able to do a much better job. All the best, Tony