Renting Car in Warnemunde?

[rodraad]

I've been inspired by the posts of people renting a car in Warnemunde for Berlin.

 

Does anybody have any helpful hints before I book?

 

Also, can you do this on a Sunday? I trust bloggers more than the rental companies

[dakrewser]

Hints, hmm...

 

Be sure to tell Hertz you'll be arriving by cruise ship

 

Getting a car with a navigation system is a big help (unless you read German fluently)

 

Make sure you have Euros in your wallet as you'll most likely go to non-tourist areas.

 

We didn't arrive on a Sunday, so I can't help with that question. You might want to call them directly and ask.

[seattlecruiser]

We rented a car from Hertz in Warnemunde last month while traveling on the Star Princess. It worked out well. If they know you are arriving by ship they will bring the car to the dock and you can drop it off there at the end of the day. As you exit the terminal building immediatly turn right and walk 100-200 feet thru the bus parking area to a small building with an outdoor cafe seating area. The rental desk is inside.

 

There is only one agent and the rental process is slow so arrive early so as not to have to wait behind others. Our van was waiting (a nine passenger Mercedes with less than 1000 miles).

 

They don't have any good maps there so I would suggest you buy one before you leave. When leaving Warnemunde you want to go thru the tunnel under the harbor and not all the way into Rostock (which we did on the way down...got lost and ended up wasting too much time). The tunnel is only a couple of miles from the ship at Lutten Klein. I recall it was 2.25 euros.

 

The tunnel route will lead you to the Autobahn. It is two lanes all the way to Berlin but there was some construction going on which slowed traffic in a number of places. The highway changes numbers a few times so it is a little confusing. We used mapquest directions which were very helpful.

 

There was a LOT of traffic and it was very slow heading north from Berlin to Warnemunde as we drove down in the morning so we were apprehensive about what the traffic would be like coming back to the ship. It was fine. We left Berlin at 6:30pm and arrived back at the dock at 9pm (with a stop to gas the car at a station just as you enter Warnemunde).

 

We parked in the Marriott garage which was a few blocks from the Brandenburg gate. We had planned on leaving about 5:00pm and when we got back to get our car were met by a HUGE (500,000 people) Gay Pride parade going down the only street were you could exit the Marriott. The gates to the garage were locked....PANIC. We went into the hotel...they were very helpful but nothing they could do. The parade finally ended at 6:30 and they got our car and brought it to us. Not knowing what the traffic would be like going back to the ship it was a stressfull trip back to Warnemunde with visions of the ship sailing away as we returned. But all turned out fine.

 

Anyway, leave plenty of time to get back. Mapquest says about 2 1/4 hours which is just about right assuming you are going 90mph on the Autobahn.

 

Would I rent again? Yes. The cost of the car worked out to less than $50pp including gas (at $6 per gallon). The Princess train was about $150pp and took about an hour more each way in travel.

[atlanta99]

Whether you are going to drive to Berlin from Warnemunde or just skip Berlin and tour the countryside, I would highly recommend renting a car if you have driven in Europe before and are comfortable with the roundabouts and signage. If there are several of you, it comes out much cheaper than the ship tours, even with the expensive gas. And, if you are going to Berlin, the comfort and convenience of having your own car is so much better than the lengthy, non-air conditioned, minimal amenities train ride.

 

As Seattle said, the Hertz desk is just to the right after you enter the cruise terminal building. But, you must call Hertz international in advance and book through the Rostock location that is designated as serving cruise ships (there are three different Rostock locations) and specifically ask that the car be waiting for you at the Warnmenunde dock. Ours was right there as promised.

 

Also, as Seattle said, the process could be slow, even if you have provided all your contact, drivers license, credit card, etc information beforehand. The one agent there in Warnemunde literally slowly prints out all that information again by hand on a carbon copy form. Each rental takes about 15 minutes to process.

 

We opted for touring the countryside. We left about 9:15am and went first to the Hotel Kempinski in Heiligendamm, where the G-8 summit will be next year. After expensive but good coffee there, we went to Wismar, which has a very charming old town and cathedral. Then, to Lubeck, which has a very large and bustling, but also charming old town. We had an excellent lunch there along the riverfront. Then, we went to Schwerin, which has a spectacular castle, with gilded turrets and domes all glistening in the late afternoon sunlight. We then drove back to Warnemunde, filled up our car with gas for 62 euros, and returned to the dock around 8 pm.

 

The return was the one slight glitch, as the area was jammed with the revelers referenced above who were coming out to sing us off (there are two different groups of revelers and they each take turns trying to outshout and outsing the other). Of course, the gates to the dock area out of which we had first left the Hertz office were in place and there was no one obvious to let us in. We finally parked in the general parking lot, which is on the right before you get to the cruise terminal. We then scoured the area and finally found the Hertz agent. He told us to just leave the car in that general parking lot and we gave him the ticket that the parking gate had spit out and we boarded the ship. Do ask the agent when you first take the car what you should specifically do at the end of the day.

 

Also, as mentioned above, do get a good map beforehand. I picked up a detailed Michelin map of Mecklenburg (the German state in which the countryside itinerary takes place) in the regular map section at Barnes and Noble before we left.

 

Viel gluck und viel spass !

[robthens]

We opted not to take the train trip to Berlin.

 

We rented a car from Avis and drove to Bad Doberan, Wismar, Schwerin, Gustorw and back to Rostock & Warnemunde.

 

Our ship docked in Warnemunde. The Avis rent car agent is about a 5 minute walk from the pier and is located in the Rostock train station. Rostock has two Avis locations. You must specify the train station in order to be convient to the Warnemunde dock. The office opens at 8:00am.

 

You can also take the train from that station and it will take you to Rostock city center.

 

The road signs are extremely easy to follow in Germany and we had no problem navigating for city to city. The drive is picturesque and relaxing. In each city (except Gustrow), we parked and walked aroung the city center (Zentrum).

 

Public parking works two ways in Germany.

In garages, you get a ticket when you enter and when you leave you insert the ticket into a ticket machine located at all entrances. The machine shows you what you owe. After paying, your ticket is validated. This enable you to leave the garage.

The parking lots have ticket machines. You estimate the time you will be gone and purchase tickets form the machine. The ticke is placed on the dash.

 

Major attractions are as follows:

Bay Doberan -

Klosterkirche (Cloister Church)

Molli train (we didn't ride it)

 

Wismar-

Marktplatz (Market Square)

Marienkirche (St Mary's Church)

Geogendirche (St George Church)

St Nikolaikirche (St Nicholar Church)

One of the churches (can't remember which one) offered a 15 minute move about the original construction of the church. It was in German but the "3-D" pictures were self explanatory and we enjoyed it.

 

We ate lunch in Wismar at a side walk restraunt.

 

Schwerin -

Schweriner Schloss (castle)

The Schloss is closed on Mondays and of course were were there on Monday. It was worth the trip to walk around the grounds and view its unsual construction. You really have to see it to understand.

The gardens were beautiful

Schweriner Dom (Catherdral)

 

Gustrow - We drove around the city but did not stop because we could not find the public parking.

The Guestrow Chateau is also closed on Mondays.

 

Rostock -

Town Hall

Mariendirche (St May's Church)

Kropeliner Strasse (pedestrian area)

 

We returned the rent car around 7:00pm. Avis has provisions for late return.

 

We walked around Warnemunde.

 

There were 4 of us sharing the expense. We calculated the cost for the entire day at $35 per person including rent car, admission, gas & lunch.

 

Hope this helps