How to get to port from Berlin?

[lbt43]

MSC does not offer transfers to the ship.  Any suggestions?

[dogs4fun]

1 hour ago, lbt43 said:

MSC does not offer transfers to the ship.  Any suggestions?

Where does your ship dock? Rostock? Warnemunde?

[lbt43]

Yeah, Warnemunde.  I have 3 old ladies that need a transfer from their hotel.

[dogs4fun]

46 minutes ago, lbt43 said:

Yeah, Warnemunde.  I have 3 old ladies that need a transfer from their hotel.

You have several options:

Taxi: would be quite expensive as the port is located about 3 hours from Berlin 

Shared transfer: perhaps check you roll call for your sailing to see if anyone is interested

Shuttle: https://www.shuttledirect.com/en/port/pdebewa.html

Bus: https://www.flixbus.com/bus-routes/bus-berlin-warnemuende

Train (has a change in Rostock): https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml 

[lbt43]

Thank you kindly!

[Sauer-kraut]

Rental  car is another option

or hire a driver/guide and have a sightseeing trip on the way to the port.

[Hlitner]

To us the best options are train vs rental car.  Normally I would price-out both options but if we are talking 4 persons the a one-way rental might make the most sense. And in Germany one can rent some nice cars (i.e. Mercedes and BMW) for a reasonable price.   The problem with the train is that the OP must still get the 4 of them (including 3 older ladies) with all their luggage from the train station to the ship.   Getting a taxi for such a short haul might be easy....or NOT.  With a rental car we would drop the luggage and the ladies at the port and then return the car

 

A private transfer (car/driver) will cost a small fortune since that driver will have to the round trip (nearly 6 hours).

.

 

Hank

[FredZiffle]

I would think the easiest part of all would be getting from the train station to the port since they are adjacent to one another in Warnemunde and an easy walk.  To me, the train would be the best option if it prices out cheaper than a rental car.  I sure wouldn't take a taxi.

[lbt43]

Thank you all!

[fabnfortysomething]

We did this last year when we stayed a few days pre cruise in Berlin and joined Warnemunde

 

train was very cheap with group rate for 4   of us was about 60 euros total

However its a regional train taking about 2 1/2 hours and have to switch trains in Rostock

no reservations so its a free for all and station was packed at Berlin

there are bike compartments on some of carriages which are only for bikes-we were told to move our luggage from there and find room upstairs[they are split levels and it was a real struggle to get cases up narrow  stairs and there were no seats available-we ended up sitting on our cases in the hallway until some people got off half way along route

we were in standard class-if you do this option first class may have more room

High speed ICE train not available-would have had to switch to a regional train along route so taking longer

 

switching trains in Rostock for short regional train journey to Warnemunde involved change of platform so steps under and over tracks with luggage-there was an elevator but long  lines of people with bikes and strollers

At Warnemunde station it is very close to cruise ships but involves negotiating steps with luggage as no elevator

apparently there is a wheelchair accessible route but we couldn't find it

 

the return journey  we got a taxi from Warnemunde to Rostock for about 20 euros but had difficulty getting one to agree to take us the relatively short distance-they all wanted longer fares to Berln or at least the airport  

[Saman]

I was looking at Msc cruise from this port and in the end decided to take another cruise as it seemed a long complicated journey , i hope you manage to organise your trip.Didnt seem the best way to start or end cruise.

[Sunriseatsea]

Warning!! Avoid embarkation in Warnemunde/Rostock. Cruise ships historically must 

cancel that port at the last minute if storm winds are too strong. We had a disastrous experience last August; arrived at a precruise resort hotel anticipating 3 days of relaxation before embarkation. Notified by NCL that the ship would not be stopping there, and we would have to get to Copenhagen to board! Absolutely no assistance from NCL. Because it was last minute and Rostock/Warnemunde is remote, we had to scramble for train and ferry connections and barely made it. Two senior citizens, lugging and transferring suitcases between trains, etc. and unable to obtain reserved seats. Standing between train cars for 6 hours with our luggage sitting in other cars unattended. Worst travel experience ever.

[Hlitner]

12 hours ago, Sunriseatsea said:

Warning!! Avoid embarkation in Warnemunde/Rostock. Cruise ships historically must 

cancel that port at the last minute if storm winds are too strong. We had a disastrous experience last August; arrived at a precruise resort hotel anticipating 3 days of relaxation before embarkation. Notified by NCL that the ship would not be stopping there, and we would have to get to Copenhagen to board! Absolutely no assistance from NCL. Because it was last minute and Rostock/Warnemunde is remote, we had to scramble for train and ferry connections and barely made it. Two senior citizens, lugging and transferring suitcases between trains, etc. and unable to obtain reserved seats. Standing between train cars for 6 hours with our luggage sitting in other cars unattended. Worst travel experience ever.

Ouch!  What an awful experience.  It kind of falls under our "Plan B" scenario where travelers need to sometimes know how to deal with such issues.  It sounds like you did well...as you made the ship.  Ships missing ports do happen (there were recently similar stories about Le Havre).   But we agree that Warnemunde is not the most convenient port if things go wrong.

 

Hank