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Scandinavian and Russian Cruise on the Serenade of the Seas - LIVE(ish) Trip Report

Mgugs46
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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Hi everyone! On July 15th, we are taking the 7 Night Scandinavian and Russian Cruise on the Serenade of the Seas.

This board is great, and has a ton of great information. That being said, either this is not a popular cruise itinerary on RC, or not many people who take it write up a trip report. Since I have received a lot of help on this board, and also just generally really enjoy reading other people's trip reports, I figured I would go ahead and attempt a live one for our upcoming cruise.

Some quick background on us, if anyone cares. We are 42/40, and too old to party anymore, so no ultimate drink package for us. We did get the bottled water package, as I drink a ton of water, and also one that includes soda/other non-alcoholic drinks. We have my time dining, but normally eat in the specialty restaurants. We generally do not go to any of the shows. We are staying in a Junior Suite, 1076, and honestly, other than dinner and maybe some casino donations, we spend the majority of our time on the ship out on the balcony. I take way too many pictures of everywhere that we go. We plan on doing everything on our own, except for in Saint Petersburg, where we have a private tour booked with Alla Tours for just the two of us. Every other port we will explore on our own.

Our itinerary is as follows:

  • Stockholm, Sweden (7/15)
  • Helsinki, Finland (7/16)
  • Saint Petersburg, Russia (7/17 - 7/18)
  • Tallin, Estonia (7/19)
  • Riga, Latvia (7/20)
  • Sea Day (7/21)
  • Stockholm, Sweden (7/22)

I am starting this thread early, as we will be arriving early to spend a few extra days exploring Stockholm before we board the ship. I figured setting the thread up ahead of time, will save me some aggravation on the ship.

Now, assuming I can get the VOOM to work well enough, here is what you can expect in this report:

  • More pictures than you probably want to look at
  • Riveting commentary on the ports of call
  • More riveting commentary on the ship, the food, the rooms, and the quality (or lack thereof) of the internet
  • Daily Compasses (if folks are interested)
  • Menus/Drink Menus/whatever else people ask for

If the VOOM is less than stellar, well, then you probably will not see too much until I come back :')

 

 

 

If anyone has any specific requests, let me know and I will attempt to find out, or post pics of whatever it is you are asking about.

Two more days of work, and off to Stockholm we go ... just need to unpack, and repack a few more times and I am sure I will have it perfect :o

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dkolett

dkolett

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I am so excited to see this! My husband and are are booked to do our first B2B next August 2019. We are flying into Copenhagen for Scandinavian/ Russia (we don’t visit Latvia) and then back to Copenhagen for the Norway Fjords all on the Serenade. I couldn’t find any reviews either. I am in the process of looking for flights. Any advice you have would be appreciated. [emoji2]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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I am so excited to see this! My husband and are are booked to do our first B2B next August 2019. We are flying into Copenhagen for Scandinavian/ Russia (we don’t visit Latvia) and then back to Copenhagen for the Norway Fjords all on the Serenade. I couldn’t find any reviews either. I am in the process of looking for flights. Any advice you have would be appreciated. [emoji2]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Hopefully by the time I return, I'll be able to help you out with some information.

 

We fly to Stockholm, not Copenhagen, but I actually looked in to flying there and flight prices were basically the same for us flying out of NJ. A little less than $1,000 round trip per person for direct flights.

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danv3

danv3

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Doing a very similar itinerary on Serenade next summer, so I’m looking forward to this thread.

 

Can you share where you’re staying in Stockholm pre-cruise (and what if anything you’re doing there before embarkation)?

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Doing a very similar itinerary on Serenade next summer, so I’m looking forward to this thread.

 

Can you share where you’re staying in Stockholm pre-cruise (and what if anything you’re doing there before embarkation)?

 

We are staying at the Hotel Diplomat. Thought about the Grand Hotel, but couldn't justify the cost for a room with a guaranteed water view vs the same at Hotel Diplomat.

 

Plans are not set in stone, but plan to try and do something like this:

 

  • Arrive at the hotel and drop our bags, and head over to Gamla Stan to wander around.

  • Stop by the Royal Palace for the 12:15 changing of the guard.

  • Maybe head over to Drottingham Palace.

  • Check out City Hall

 

  • Head over to Djurgarden the next day and see the Vasa Museum when it opens at 830am, and explore the area

  • Take a hike up Monteliusvagen and take some pics

  • Maybe take a canal boat ride

  • Ostermalm and check out the Saluhall

Check out some of the streets listed here https://www.thelocal.se/20150718/ten-stockholm-streets-you-just-have-to-walk-down

 

 

Who knows how much we will actually get to, as we tend to wander a lot, and like I said earlier, I take way too many pictures.

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trout96

trout96

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I just got off this cruise yesterday. Tallinn was awesome! Very walkable and easily doable on your own. Finland did Hope on hop off wish I didn't once you get to town very walkable and the bus that RC has meet you at the pier really sucked the other hop off hop on bus line was much better.Riga they have free shuttle to the old town then walkable but do boat tour.Russia was outstanding. If you don't have night tour book one now.

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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I just got off this cruise yesterday. Tallinn was awesome! Very walkable and easily doable on your own. Finland did Hope on hop off wish I didn't once you get to town very walkable and the bus that RC has meet you at the pier really sucked the other hop off hop on bus line was much better.Riga they have free shuttle to the old town then walkable but do boat tour.Russia was outstanding. If you don't have night tour book one now.

 

What did you do at night? We aren’t interested in ballet.

 

How was your weather?

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FLKrewzer

FLKrewzer

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Thanks for setting up this review - good idea to get it started before you even leave! I’m very interested in your experiences because I’ll be on Serenade in most of those ports next year. Enjoy your cruise.....and we’ll be enjoying it with you!

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emory2001

emory2001

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I just got off this cruise yesterday. Tallinn was awesome! Very walkable and easily doable on your own. Finland did Hope on hop off wish I didn't once you get to town very walkable and the bus that RC has meet you at the pier really sucked the other hop off hop on bus line was much better.Riga they have free shuttle to the old town then walkable but do boat tour.Russia was outstanding. If you don't have night tour book one now.

 

Thank you, this is great information. I'm adding all of this to my notes for this trip.

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Very interested in this itinary. Can't wait to see your pics.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

Thanks. Hopefully the VOOM will cooperate. There will definitely be loads of pics. Not sure how to link my report from last year's Med Cruise, but if you search my name you can probably find it and see there will be loads of pictures :D

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NJCruiser23

NJCruiser23

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Hi, thanks for the upcoming review. Not going on this itinerary (Southern Caribbean) but going on the Serenade. I haven't found as much on here about her. So I will follow along for info on the ship and would be interested in hearing about your specific itinerary also.

 

If you can post any pics of drink menus with prices, that would be wonderful!!!

 

Have an amazing trip!!! :D

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Hi, thanks for the upcoming review. Not going on this itinerary (Southern Caribbean) but going on the Serenade. I haven't found as much on here about her. So I will follow along for info on the ship and would be interested in hearing about your specific itinerary also.

 

If you can post any pics of drink menus with prices, that would be wonderful!!!

 

Have an amazing trip!!! :D

 

Sure thing. Any particular types of drinks, or just any and all alcohol?

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Well, looks like we will luck out with weather. Most forecasts I have looked at show mostly sunny weather, with highs in the upper 70's to low 80's throughout the trip. Our first time in this area of the world, so not sure how accurate these forecasts really are, or how quickly the weather can change, but my suitcase is packed to the max, so I am stuck with what I have at this point!

 

Now for the final pre-departure checklist review to make sure all passports, seapass, luggage tags, russia tour tickets are accounted for.

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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First time flying on SAS Airlines, and I've gotta say, not too shabby.

 

Free WiFi, decent dinner for airline food. Friendly staff.

 

Side note, row 30 has TONS of leg room ... I'm not tall, but this row has enough leg room for someone 6'8" and then some, and it's just a regular economy row.

 

Only bad part is that it's about 11:15pm NJ time, and we land in two hours and I have not slept a lick.

Edited by Mgugs46
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Miryam1234

Miryam1234

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Seems to me that you are landing your day in Helsinki together with Mr & Mrs Trump and Mr Putin.

I hope your day goes well - there are massive security procedures being built for the event at the moment and some sights are restricted around Presidents Palace by the market square.

 

But anyways, welcome to Finland! The weather should be good, as we are facing heat wave. July is the warmest month of any year and this time to the utmost.

 

Looking forward to your adventure; I wish I could do a Baltic cruise but my Husband denies traveling "this close". He insists that cruising is meant for warm conditions and you can never be sure while in the Baltics.

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Mgugs46

Mgugs46

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Seems to me that you are landing your day in Helsinki together with Mr & Mrs Trump and Mr Putin.

I hope your day goes well - there are massive security procedures being built for the event at the moment and some sights are restricted around Presidents Palace by the market square.

 

But anyways, welcome to Finland! The weather should be good, as we are facing heat wave. July is the warmest month of any year and this time to the utmost.

 

Looking forward to your adventure; I wish I could do a Baltic cruise but my Husband denies traveling "this close". He insists that cruising is meant for warm conditions and you can never be sure while in the Baltics.

 

I saw that :( Hopefully it doesn't mess things up too badly.

 

Customs at Arlanda was a tad slow, but once they opened more lanes it was a breeze ... In the taxi and on the way to Hotel Diplomat :D

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