Organizing Shore Excursions with Others & Comparing Tours by Locals and Shore Trips

[susannetta]

We are a first-time couple on Windstar Star Breeze "Beauty of the Baltic and Kiel Canal" departing from Amsterdam June 2, 2018, who are interested in art, architecture, local culture and food. We have several questions. Is it possible to organize with other passengers to lower per person costs of smaller-group shore excursions? What is the quality of the Windstar excursions? How do Tours by Locals and ShoreTrips.com compare? When will the roll call be organized for our cruise? Do roll calls work? When should I start planning shore excursions? Any specific recommendations for guides in Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm? Thank you in advance. susannetta

[easyboy]

Yes, Roll Call works. Co-passengers in a sailing organize themselves as a group in negotiating with private tour operators to get discounted rates. This approach worked for us in getting a much discounted rate for our 2-day St. Petersburg tour.

 

Like when you started your thread here when you posted a question, you can start your Roll Call on this link. Just make sure you follow the Title format of the other threads, especially the exact cruise date, so it may be easier for others in your cruise to find later your Roll Call.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=955

 

For recommendations on shore excursion on your Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm ports, you can post on the Northern Europe and Baltic Sea Forum for recommendations

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited December 2, 2017 by easyboy

[Langley Cruisers]

Hi there. I see you aren't new here but this is your first post. The only place we are permitted to discuss tour sharing and planning is on our Roll Call. This is a group of some of the people who will be sailing with you. I checked - there isn't one yet for your cruise but you can start one, and ask for tour shares there. Here is the link to take you to that page:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=955

 

You can also do some research on the Baltic boards at this link:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

 

.

[Essiesmom]

Get a copy of Rick Steves' Northern European Cruise Ports. You may find that you don't need an organized tour to see your ports. Except for St. Petersburg. EM

[Langley Cruisers]

LOL easyboy - curious as to why you added the same links well after I did? I had already supplied them to OP in my post. I can see by your edit time that you did this (copied me), so just a bit puzzled... :o

[Keith1010]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

You have been given good information and that is to visit your Roll Call to discuss sharing tours with others which many people do to keep the costs down.

 

Keith

[jdvmd]

As others have suggested, go to your roll call.

 

Also, for the cities you mentioned, I (along with several people from our roll call) used SPb tours for all the cities and I know they also put you with others from your ship in order to reduce tour costs.