Live - suite life on the Apex (Baltics)

[cavaaller]

Some people say there is no bad weather just bad clothing.

I am not one of those people. 
 

The rain just won’t stop.

So we tried to see if people are walking off independantly. It does not seem like it. We witnessed an SUV though (probably an independant tour? Unfortunately the action happens on the other side of the ship - away from our balcony)

 

On these pics you see the port entrance. It does not seem to be heavily protected but as said, we did not see anybody walk.

 

the three persons at the border where port workrs, they continued their way into a port building

 

 

the blue bus is a shuttle bus. Due to the weather it was not heavily used.

Another pic of the port entrance/exit.

If you were able to leave the area a bolt taxi would certainly be able to meet you there. Maybe we will get an answer to that question from the concierge or from a fellow cruiser. I will keep you updated.

[cavaaller]

Another Mercedes Sprinter just dropped off guests

 

 

[cavaaller]

For lunch I wanted to grab some sandwiches at LeGrandBistrot but I was a little too early (they open at 12). 

 

 

Instead we ordered room service (Club sandwiches) which were tasty

Edited July 12, 2022 by cavaaller

[Scottishclover]

51 minutes ago, cavaaller said:

Some people say there is no bad weather just bad clothing.

I am not one of those people. 
 

The rain just won’t stop.

So we tried to see if people are walking off independantly. It does not seem like it. We witnessed an SUV though (probably an independant tour? Unfortunately the action happens on the other side of the ship - away from our balcony)

 

On these pics you see the port entrance. It does not seem to be heavily protected but as said, we did not see anybody walk.

 

the three persons at the border where port workrs, they continued their way into a port building

 

 

the blue bus is a shuttle bus. Due to the weather it was not heavily used.

Another pic of the port entrance/exit.

If you were able to leave the area a bolt taxi would certainly be able to meet you there. Maybe we will get an answer to that question from the concierge or from a fellow cruiser. I will keep you updated.

 

[Scottishclover]

I can’t thank you enough for these photos. Assuming we dock the same place as you, the port entrance seems simple enough to reach. Considering our tour guide has picked up clients before, I see no reason why we couldn’t walk from the ship. Worst case scenario we will get the shuttle. Sorry your day has been put on hold by bad weather. I hope it improves for the rest of the cruise.

[cavaaller]

 

At 16°° we left Riga for Helsinki. The sea is a little more choppy than we would like but the forecast for tomorrow is somewhat promising.

 

Tonight we had a reservation for Eden.

 

I have read so much about Eden - how it is fine dining and that it is one of the 10 best restaurants at sea and so on.

So my expectations could not have been higher. Normally that means, that I get disappointed because I just expect too much.

 

We were greeted by a lovely hostess who guided us to our table to this view:

 A great start I would say.

 

 

I started with the "forbidden" cocktail fruity, fresh not too sweet served in an apple glass.

 

After the sommelier we were greeted by the waitress Lalita.

 

 

She explained the different menus (2) and how we could combine everything to our liking.

We knew that we do not have the stomach to cope with the taster menu (which consists of basically everything on the menu) and which could last about 2,5 h.

 

First we were served the amuse bouche:

a very interesting ceviche type starter with a banana chip on top that had an interesting spiciness about it.

 

Interesting: Every Restaurant we have been to had the information that DH does not eat shellfish so they had a special amuse bouche prepared for him (I tasted it it was maybe even better than ours :-))

 

I think it is so convenient that you do not have to explain yourself every time.

 

Then we chose 4 apps to share:

The Mulligatawny Soup (wonderful presentation, with every bite you had a new spice popping up) it was hot and light, spicy and soft, creamy and firm at the same time 

 

then we had the Bazaar Bowl-

very fresh taste with all kind of different spices and a very nice naan to accompany

 

then the beef tandori style (it melted in the mouth, maybe the best of all the appetizers)

 

and the sheep milk gnocchi

they were tasty as well but not as wonderful as the other apps.

 

After finishing the appetizer, I was not hungry anymore but then Lalita brought out the main dishes:

 

 

a very good filet mignon, tender and sweet with a perfect red wine reduction (best part in my eyes)

 

and for DS the Chicken

with a perfect crust and all juice

 

 

It was THE perfect meal! 

 

Of course we had to sample the desserts:

Strawberry Dessert for DS

 

Lemon Meyer Tart for me

 

and Azteco Chocolate Pie for DH

 

It was a perfect meal in a perfect atmosphere. Really lovely.

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by cavaaller

[destar]

Thanks for posting, looks like an excellent dinner, can't wait to try Eden.

Im hungry just looking at the photos.

Edited July 12, 2022 by destar

[cavaaller]

Helsinki

Let me just say that the beds are extremely comfortable. I came on board with a back ache and the fact that this has resolved can certainly partly be blamed on the much better matresses.

 

We woke up to a foggy cloudy sky but it is much warmer than it was yesterday. 

The gangway went down at 11:30 (with an all aboard of 19:30) and  in Helsinki we had several options:

 

Option I: Port Shuttle

 ($12/10€ DayPass) – tickets can be purchased at Shore Excrsions/Guest Relations and on the pier (payable in Euros).

With the busses running every 15 minutes (driving time 20 Min.) and drop off next to the Market Square Eteläranta 7 - this is certainly a good option. (Last shuttle: 19)

 

Option II PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Single ticket purchasable at the machine for zones A and B (Helsinki center and outskirts) 2,80€, day ticket 8€ which entitles you to use: trams, buses, metro, Suomenlinna ferry and commuter trains in Helsinki.

→ More info: hsl.fi (there you can purchase your tickets upfront)

→ Helsinki Region journey planner: reittiopas.fi 

Sightseeing: A great way to experience the city is to hop on tram 2 or 3.

Public ferry to Suomenlinna: The public ferry (HSL) to Suomenlinna operates all year round. Waterbuses: In summertime you can also take a water bus (JT-Line) that stops at the islands of Vallisaari and Lonna. Suomen Saaristokuljetus operates to Vallisaari and Isosaari as well as to Korkeasaari.

 

Option III: HoHo Bus ($30)

Access right at the cruise terminal option to ride on the top (open deck = less risk)

tickets can be purchased upfront for $30.

 

Option IV Bike rental (our choice)

At hsl.fi/en/citybikes I registered an account upfront and bought a daypass for 3 bikes:

 

 

Instructions and faq: https://www.hsl.fi/en/citybikes/helsinki/instructions

The next bike station is about 400 m from the ship:

 

 

It was so easy and so convenient.

We rented our bikes there (we just had to input the 7digit number that was displayed while I registered my account) and the pin number. The daypass costs 5 € per bike, you get unlimited 30 minutes rides but have to check in / return the bike after 30 minutes or you will be charged 1 E per 30 minutes which is perfectly fine.

 We followed the coast line to the right which led right to the city center.

 

[cavaaller]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There we strolled the streets and visited a lovely botanical garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course it started to rain but it was still a really great excursion.

 

This is the bike station at the harbor (you cannot miss it if you just follow the street exiting the port area)

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by cavaaller

[cavaaller]

We came back just in time to get a burger on the retreat deck:

[cavaaller]

PS regarding the HoHo-Busses:

It seems there are two different companies CitySightSeeing and the CityTour.fi:

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by cavaaller

[cavaaller]

PPS 

Gangway is usually on deck 2 - I have never experienced any crowds there. Right at the exit they sell bottled water (classic package) and when you come back you are (often) greeted with complimentary water/juice and even wet towels. Isn't that lovely?

 

 

 

[Dave Judy]

44 minutes ago, cavaaller said:

PPS 

Gangway is usually on deck 2 - I have never experienced any crowds there. Right at the exit they sell bottled water (classic package) and when you come back you are (often) greeted with complimentary water/juice and even wet towels. Isn't that lovely?

 

 

 

We are following you on the July 20th cruise. Your Port comments are invaluable. 
Big Thanks !

[George C]

1 hour ago, cavaaller said:

We came back just in time to get a burger on the retreat deck:

I love that retreat is open when ship is in a port since Luminae is closed.

[cavaaller]

When we dined in Eden the night before I had a wonderful wine – a Pinot Noir that came very close to my favourite type of wine. ( I am a very simple wine-drinker: My favourite wine is a Rioja – preferably Gran Reserva or Crianza).

So when we went to Luminae yesterday, I asked the sommelier, if he could get me a glass of that wine (I even hat the name and the number written down).

He came back a couple minutes later with 4 different bottles of wine. All were the same grape but hearing the description and the land of origin (California) I somehow knew, that this was going to be a bad idea because it was a whole different kind of wine than the Pinot at Eden.

But the sommelier was so enthousiastic about his choice, I went with it.

 

Well – when I tasted I had to agree, that: yes, it WAS certainly a "good" wine (very smooth and probably a wonderful choice for most connaisseurs) it just was not MY kind of wine - at all…

But I did not have the heart to tell him because – of course – he would have taken the bottle away and would not have made me buy it but I had him open it in the first place and I would have felt guilty somehow… 

Still: Lesson learned: I will never again buy a bottle of wine that I am not at least familiar with.

 

Sorry, that I bored you with this episode of my shortcomings – let’s get to our dinner choices:

 

[cavaaller]

As an amuse bouche we had some beet with a smoked eel topping:

 

then DH went with the soup (his comment "it's a broth basically...") indicated that it was no revelation,

 

DS and I made the better choice: we had the short ribs that tasted much like the ones we had had in Eden the day before. Really tender. I liked the Parsnip Variation, very fresh:

 

As entrée I had the cannelloni

 

 

(I did not like those actually. the veal was dry and had very little taste) DS had the Swiss chard Lasagne, which was quite good

 

and DH had the chicken

 

As a dessert I tried the Daniel Bouloud Vacherin - 

I guess at that point I was determined to not like this dinner because this dessert comes highly recommended and I did not really like it.

DS had the Chocolate Napoleon, which he really raved about.

All in all the dinner was my least favourite one maybe partly spoilt by the fact that

it was very crowded in Luminae and of course by my poor wine choice.

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by cavaaller

[cavaaller]

Today we are in beautiful beautiful Tallin:

 

 

 

 

[cavaaller]

Gangway down was at 7.30, all aboard 17:30.

A port operated shuttle bus service for 10 € round trip and a HoHo bus was available at the pier. The shuttle drop off point is at Russian Culture Centre on Mere Boulevard, close to the entrance of Old Town.

The shuttle is not necessary though because we dock 10 Minutes from the old town (on foot).

Tallin is a beautiful city where you can stroll around the streets and will not find a single street that is not beautiful imho.

We had a lot of luck with the weather: there was one heavy downpour that lasted about 20 Minutes but when it happened, we were just reaching an arch where we could take shelter.

 

 

 

 

but after the rain had cleared, we could continue our stroll through the old town.

[cavaaller]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cavaaller]

We just followed the signs to the old city and went up to the Russian culture centre. We passed by the Russian consulate where People are peacefully demonstrating against the Russian invasion with pamphlets and posters.

 

 

 

[cavaaller]

 

 

 

 

[cavaaller]

Back on board DS stopped by at "scoop" (sorry for the bad quality of the photo)

 

And I stopped by at the Spa Café

 

 

[Water babies]

23 hours ago, cavaaller said:

PPS 

Gangway is usually on deck 2 - I have never experienced any crowds there. Right at the exit they sell bottled water (classic package) and when you come back you are (often) greeted with complimentary water/juice and even wet towels. Isn't that lovely?

 

 

 

We were on the 26 June Apex sailing to Iceland and Ireland. Destination Gateway on Deck 2 was ONLY used for tendered ports, otherwise we had STEEP gangways from decks 4 or 5 to negotiate. Why they didn't use deck 2 with such a nice facility is certainly beyond me! I assume that is where they had handicapped passengers exit/enter because there was no way they could have negotiated those gangways. Somehow passengers in wheelchairs just magically showed up at the tour buses (with reserved seats in the front). Instead, they shut down the Craft Social Bar to set up the security check points for all the other passengers and it was plenty congested both going and coming back. 

[cavaaller]

We just witnessed a small whirl-wind

[Shimsdan]

2 hours ago, cavaaller said:

We just witnessed a small whirl-wind

Wow - that is incredible!  A water spout, I believe, although someone can correct me.  Great photos.  I am loving your review and pictures.  I agree that Tallinn is beautiful - one of my very favorite ports.  And so easy to do on your own.  Thank you for taking the time to take us along on your journey!

Laura