Which cruise should I choose?

[denatravels]

I’m hoping to get some feedback about my upcoming trip: I’m doing a 15 day land tour in Eastern Europe and want to do a Baltics cruise prior. Currently looking at a few different options:

All cruises include port calls in the following cities: 2 nights St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm. Additional cities are shown for each line; the cheapest option is NCL-- cost shown ABOVE this price:

Number of additional nights also shown between cruise and land tour.

 

NCL: 9 nights, includes drinks and 5 night dining

2 nights in Berlin

 

Royal Caribbean: 12 nights; non-alcoholic drink package added

Added port call in Skagen

Additional cost over base: $1005.42

 

Princess: 11 nights; non-alcoholic drink package added

Added port call in Oslo

2 nights in Berlin

Additional cost over base: $1500.47

 

HAL: 12 nights; free drinks and pinnacle dinner added

Added port call in Kiel; overnights in Copenhagen and Stockholm

2 nights in Copenhagen, 3 nights in Berlin

Additional cost over base: $1567.62

 

I’ve also looked at Celebrity, which has a call in Oslo and an overnight in Copenhagen, and I would add 1-2 nights in Stockholm prior to embarkation-- however, this option is WAY more expensive, so would not consider unless price significantly drops.

[Texas Tillie]

Look at the length of time in ports, the longer the better.

[denatravels]

Look at the length of time in ports, the longer the better.

 

 

That's what's possibly pushing me towards HAL-- the overnights, as well as the extra 5 nights seems really appealing. I also just reduced the price differential to $1446. Although if I had to add an extra port call, I'd think I would choose Oslo over skagen or Kiel.

At first I thought the Royal Caribbean option was good, because it's no gap between the cruise and land tour-- but that means zero overnights (other than St. Petersburg). It's an easy option but perhaps not better.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited October 12, 2016 by denatravels

[Floridiana]

The land tour is an organized group tour? Then I would take the cruise which meshes best with the land tour. If there is a gap of a few days, it could be used in a city you are interested in and visit on your own.

 

Berlin comes to mind. Excellent public transportation, relatively low cost compared to Scandinavia, lots of hotel options, many sights of different time periods from baroque castles to buildings of the 21st century, lots of lakes and green space, history, museums, hip districts. Close to Eastern Europe with train and plane connections.

[denatravels]

The land tour is an organized group tour? Then I would take the cruise which meshes best with the land tour. If there is a gap of a few days, it could be used in a city you are interested in and visit on your own.

 

 

 

Berlin comes to mind. Excellent public transportation, relatively low cost compared to Scandinavia, lots of hotel options, many sights of different time periods from baroque castles to buildings of the 21st century, lots of lakes and green space, history, museums, hip districts. Close to Eastern Europe with train and plane connections.

 

 

The land tour is organized and starts in Warsaw. NCL and princess both disembark in Berlin, where I'd add two nights. HAL ends in Copenhagen with a 5 night gap-- I was thinking two nights in Copenhagen (in addition to one on the ship) and three nights in Berlin. Royal Caribbean has NO gaps and doesn't even stop in Berlin.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[buggins0402]

Where does Princess dock for Stockholm?

[Essiesmom]

One logistical point to consider. You are going to be traveling for at least a month. Getting off the ship and looking for a place to do laundry will eat into your sightseeing time. Princess is the only ship on you list with self service laundries, as well as laundry service. The others have only laundry service, but HAL has a plan where you stuff all you can into a bag for $20. Or, you can buy unlimited laundry for about $10/day for the cabin. Unless you plan to bring only things you can wash in the sink...or things that you can wear for 30 days without washing...EM

[wilmingtech]

We have only done a cruise to the Fjords and spent 4 days in Copenhagen.

 

So knowing nothing and looking at this, I think I'd take the HAL cruise.

 

1. 12 days is more.

2. Copenhagen to me is a win.

3. Three days in Berlin.

4. Im guessing the experience on the HAL ship will be more intimate than NCL or RCI. We have never sailed Princess so can't speak to that.

5. The port times on HAL are more attalractive.

6. No matter which you choose I'm envious.

 

-Sean

Edited October 12, 2016 by wilmingtech

[denatravels]

Where does Princess dock for Stockholm?

 

 

In town, but it's a super short call (leaves at 2pm)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[denatravels]

One logistical point to consider. You are going to be traveling for at least a month. Getting off the ship and looking for a place to do laundry will eat into your sightseeing time. Princess is the only ship on you list with self service laundries, as well as laundry service. The others have only laundry service, but HAL has a plan where you stuff all you can into a bag for $20. Or, you can buy unlimited laundry for about $10/day for the cabin. Unless you plan to bring only things you can wash in the sink...or things that you can wear for 30 days without washing...EM

 

 

Berlin hotel has self serve laundry-- I'm thinking 1 of the five days (for HAL option) would be fly from Copenhagen to Berlin, do some laundry at the hotel and have a relaxing evening ('cause I think I'm going to need to have some downtime!!). That's a good point against Royal Caribbean-- with no gaps, I'd have to find another option.

I've kind of eliminated NCL (at 9 days), but really lost on the other three. Good and bad for all--

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[denatravels]

We have only done a cruise to the Fjords and spent 4 days in Copenhagen.

 

So knowing nothing and looking at this, I think I'd take the HAL cruise.

 

1. 12 days is more.

2. Copenhagen to me is a win.

3. Three days in Berlin.

4. Im guessing the experience on the HAL ship will be more intimate than NCL or RCI. We have never sailed Princess so can't speak to that.

5. The port times on HAL are more attalractive.

6. No matter which you choose I'm envious.

 

-Sean

 

 

I've never been on HAL, but I think it's pretty similar to princess. However, the RCCL ship is one of their smaller ones, so it's not like there are over 6000 people onboard!!

I'm also going solo and I'm only 42. I was fine on princess, but not totally sure about how that will be on HAL.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Floridiana]

Check the price for the flight from Copenhagen to Berlin.

[denatravels]

Check the price for the flight from Copenhagen to Berlin.

 

 

It's already in there-- what are you thinking?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[buggins0402]

In town, but it's a super short call (leaves at 2pm)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I would view that as a major flaw. Stockholm is a very nice city...worth a few days.

[denatravels]

I would view that as a major flaw. Stockholm is a very nice city...worth a few days.

 

 

If all were equal port-wise, I'd choose princess first. Because of that one day, I'm not as keen. But on the plus side, it includes Oslo.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited October 12, 2016 by denatravels

[buggins0402]

If all were equal port-wise, I'd choose princess first. Because of that one day, I'm not as keen. But on the plus side, it includes Oslo.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Perhaps wait and see that on a Norwegian cruise? I viewed Stockholm as the crown jewel on our Baltic trip. But everyone's mileage varies.

 

You seem quite adept at searching travel options and willing to do DIY land. Perhaps you might go to the port boards and Trip Advisor to explore cheap flights/ferries to construct an itinerary? I'm not sure if things have changed in the past year, but ferries from Helsinki to St. Petersburg didn't require a visa for short stays in the recent past, saving the cost of a visa free tour.

[OCruisers]

Absolutely, it would be either Princess or HAL for us ... no way the other two.

[denatravels]

Perhaps wait and see that on a Norwegian cruise? I viewed Stockholm as the crown jewel on our Baltic trip. But everyone's mileage varies.

 

 

 

You seem quite adept at searching travel options and willing to do DIY land. Perhaps you might go to the port boards and Trip Advisor to explore cheap flights/ferries to construct an itinerary? I'm not sure if things have changed in the past year, but ferries from Helsinki to St. Petersburg didn't require a visa for short stays in the recent past, saving the cost of a visa free tour.

 

 

Interesting that you say that about Oslo-- at one point, I was also doing Norway on the back end of this trip but had to cancel. None of the three Norway cruises I had looked at included this as a port call (NCL, princess, MSC).

As far as DIY, I'm willing to a point (the land tour I'm doing is escorted). I'm not really looking to schlep luggage all over and spend time and $$ getting from place to place-- thanks for the suggestion, but I want to do the cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[buggins0402]

Interesting that you say that about Oslo-- at one point, I was also doing Norway on the back end of this trip but had to cancel. None of the three Norway cruises I had looked at included this as a port call (NCL, princess, MSC).

As far as DIY, I'm willing to a point (the land tour I'm doing is escorted). I'm not really looking to schlep luggage all over and spend time and $$ getting from place to place-- thanks for the suggestion, but I want to do the cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Just a thought...I can understand that. You seem to be doing very good due diligence in your planning.:)

[denatravels]

Just a thought...I can understand that. You seem to be doing very good due diligence in your planning.:)

 

 

I am spending SO MUCH TIME!!! The issue that I'm having is making the decision once I have the information!!

I do think Stockholm trumps Oslo, which is probably why I never made a set decision on princess.

Please keep the suggestions coming, as this has been REALLY helpful!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums