Baltic on the Emerald Princess

[lwpa]

Thanks All for the information. The other question I have is does Princess prohibit passengers not on their tours from leaving the ship with passengers who have booked thru Princess?

[jagsfan]

I've read a dozen posts where people have come back from the Baltic and said

Princess tries to tell you you have to wait until their shore ex people have gotten

off, but they all say just go ahead and get off. Princess won't stop you and the

Russians don't care.

I hope everyone going on our small custom tour gets right off so we can get going.

[lovetocruise17]

As an alternative to booking tours of St. Petersburg thru Princess, I see that some people have mentioned tour companies, DenRus, Alla Red October. Does someone know how to contact them? Is it much less expensive booking thru them vs. Princess since I see the two day Princess tour is almost $400 each. Any information would be appreciated.

You can contact Alla tours for STP www.alla-tour.com and they will walk you through the process. You will need to open a "personal account" with them but this does not commit you to anything. No need for a visa if you book through them. Look on the Cruise Critic boards for the date of your cruise and see what others are doing and you might be able to get a group together for a small group or Alla has vans for 20 people that they put together.

[califlady]

I am interested in taking the HoHo boat in Stockholm on our cruise next June. Does anyone know if there is an ATM in the tourist office on the pier. Or, do the HoHos take credit cards?

[tequilatamm]

I've read a dozen posts where people have come back from the Baltic and said

Princess tries to tell you you have to wait until their shore ex people have gotten

off, but they all say just go ahead and get off. Princess won't stop you and the

Russians don't care.

I hope everyone going on our small custom tour gets right off so we can get going.

 

I suggest that you tell everyone in your party to meet at the gangway when the Russian Band begins to play on shore.

 

We are touring with Denrus, and they seem to say that when you hear the band play, that is when the ship has cleared customs, and disembarking can start.

 

If you're lined up and ready to go, you will actually have time to slip off the ship even prior to when the mustered Princess cruise groups start to disembark, and't won't have a long wait.

 

Make it your one early early early morning of the cruise. Get up at 5am and be ready by about 6:30am to line up as early as you have to!

[lwpa]

We were also interested in taking the ho/ho boat in Stockholm especially if they stop at the Vasa Museum. Does anyone know if the Boat Companies and the Museum accept credit cards? Do you pick up the boats where the cruise ship docks?

[RuffinReady]

I was on the first Emerald Princess sailing to the Baltic this May. The following is not a review, but covers some topics that those on this itinerary this summer might be interested in knowing.

Of course, all of the information here is accurate for the May 16 cruise. Some of it (staff, MUTS, trivia prizes, etc.) may change over the summer.

Port of Copenhagen

The ship departs and returns to Fryhavn (Freeport). This is not the area near the Little Mermaid. The closest train station is Nordhaven, about a 10 minute walk from the dock. The station does have an elevator if you have luggage.

If you take a train from/to the airport, you will need to change trains at central station.

Cost of a taxi from the airport is about $50. Credit cards and Danish kroner are all that are accepted.

On disembarkation day, Princess offers (in addition to an airport transfer) a transfer to the central train station for $20 at 8 AM and at 9:30 AM. This was not advertised. Buy tickets at the shore excursion desk.

On a Saturday, there were 30 cabs at the dock at about 8 AM. Sorry, I did not look on the Tuesday when the Baltic cruise ended.

Staff

Captain - Giorgio Pomata

Cruise Director - Neil Chandler

Executive Chef - Christian Carbillet

Neil did an excellent job in scheduling activities from lectures to games to entertainment. There was always something to do if you did not just want to relax.

All staff (including Purser’s desk) were always helpful.

Paseengers

There were 27 children in mid-May. This is, of course, before school is out for the summer.

650 of the passengers had been on the trans-Atlantic repositioning cruise for Fort Lauderdale.

There were 1873 Captain’s Circle members (those who have sailed Princess previously): 1086 gold, 591 Platinum, and 196 elite. That meant about a thousand sailing with Princess for the first time.

The most traveled passenger had 644 days (57 voyages) on Princess.

Most of the time the ship did not feel crowded. One big exception is at the atrium when the sale tables were out. It was often difficult at those times to make your way past that pinch point.

Red vs. Blue

As on the other Grand class ships, the rugs on the port side (even numbered cabins) have a red stripe while the rugs on the starboard side (odd numbered cabins) have a blue stripe. When you get off an elevator, just look for the red or blue stripe to know which side to go to.

Formal Nights

There are two formal nights, one on each of the two sea days.

The Champagne Waterfall was built at the same time as the Captain’s Welcome Aboard party on the first formal night.

Shore Excursions

There was almost always a long line at the shore excursion desk. Avoid this line and save time by booking your Princess shore excursions online before the cruise.

Internet

As far as I could tell, the Internet was available the entire cruise, at least any time I wanted to access it.

The signal in a cabin varied according to Cabin location. I was on the trans-Atlantic segment on the Riviera deck just aft of the center elevators and had a strong, usable signal at all times. For the Baltic segment, my cabin was just forward of the center elevators on the Caribe deck and the signal was too weak to be used in the cabin.

The allowance for platinum and elite status was $100. This bought you 250 minutes + 30 bonus minutes if you signed up for the $100 package on embarkation day. Package minutes could be used both in the ship’s Internet café and on your personal laptop.

Money conversion

An ATM (US $) is located in the casino.

There were several foreign exchange ATMs near the atrium on decks 5 and 6, but not all were working. The exchange rate is poor compared to what you can get at an on shore ATM. For example, on the days that I used a shore ATM to get Euros, I was buying Euros for $1.33 each. The ship’s ATMs Euros were costing $1.41 each plus a $3.50 service charge.

Food

The Da Vinci dining room (6th floor, atrium) was open from noon to 1:30 PM on embarkation day, a good alternative to the buffet that day. This is the same dining room that is open for breakfast and lunch. On some days, the dining room was at capacity for lunch and there was a wait to get in.

Dinner hours:

Anytime dining (Da Vinci and Michelangelo (5th floor, atrium) 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

Traditional dining (Botticelli, 6th floor aft) at 6:15 PM and 8:15 PM. (OK first timers - the only way to get to the Botticelli dining room if you are on deck 5 or 6 at the atrium or forward of the atrium is to go up to deck 7, walk all the way aft, and then go down to deck 6. )

I had traditional seating, so I do not know if there were any lines at the anytime dining rooms. However, I never heard anyone complaining about having to wait there.

Sorry, I do not know what the dinner theme was each evening.

Entertainment

There were four production shows: "What a Swell Party", "Motor City", "I Got The Music", and "Boogie Shoes." All but the "Boogie Shoes" had three performances. 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM (or 7:15 PM and 9:15 PM) the first night and 9:15PM the second night. "Boogie Shoes" only had the two first night times.

Bands: Princess Showband, Bruce Gordan Quartet, Emerald Quartet, Temperature

Also the classical Astoria Strings.

Comedians, physical comedians, ventriloquist, body balancing.

Crooners bar piano player/singer was Manda Vincent. At various times also had piano players in the Piazza and in the Adagio Lounge.

Main Piazza performer was Rob Alton, a BMX bike acrobat on at least three days.

MUTS movies included "Mamma Mia", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Confessions of a Shopaholic", "He’s Just Not That Unto You", "Bride Wars", "Marley & Me", "Nights In Rodanthe", and "Yes Man." No doubt some of these will change over the summer. In mid-May, at least, it was very cool on deck in the evening, and MUTS was not well attended. Most of the MUTS movies were shown the next day on the in-Cabin TV,

Activitiies

The usual Princess activities which include games (Taboo, Trivia, Pictionary, etc.) demonstrations (fruit and vegetable carving, towel folding, ice carving, Martini making), sports (Ping Pong tournament, golf chipping, basketball shootout, etc.).

There were no (none, zero, zip) luggage tags as prizes at trivia. Prizes included Princess pens, luggage straps, magnets, tote bags, and small inflatable ships. However, there is always the chance that a new supply of luggage tags will make its way on board.

Of course there was Bingo and wooden horse racing, And the art auctions.

And "elevator roulette." The players gather by the aft elevators on deck 7 and using (free) chips bet on which of the four elevators will be the next one to stop at that floor.

Lectures

Not to be missed are the Port lectures by John Lawrence. These are informative lectures, not sales pitches, and the Princess Theater is often overflowing for them. If you are on a tour, the lectures help you understand what you are going to see. If you are doing a port on your own, the information is essential. A DVD of his port lectures is available in a Princess shop for $20.

Unfortunately, a couple of the lectures are scheduled while many people are still on shore, but they are usually broadcast later on the in-cabin TV.

John also gives a couple of lectures on historical topics. He also gives some commentary from the Bridge during scenic sailings into/from a port.

Our voyage also had a lecturer who spoke about international trade. I assume there will be different lecturers over the course of the summer.

 

Ports

Weather was good in most ports. Temperatures in mid-May were generally in the 50s and 60s. There was a light rain in Copenhagen most of embarkation day. Mostly sun and some clouds in all the other ports although some had some short periods of rain.

Only going to comment on a couple of the ports:

St. Petersburg

People who booked Princess or independent excursions (DenRus, Alla, Red October) were all happy with their tours.

You are no doubt aware that you cannot tour on your own unless you have obtained in advance a Russian visa. Further discouraging individual touring if you do have a visa is that the port is located away from the city and there is no public transportation available.

If you book a Princess tour or a tour with one of the recognized tour operators, then you do not have to obtain a visa as the tour operator will take care of this. Do not worry if you have an independent tour (DenRus, etc.) when you read Princess notices that seem to say you must have obtained a visa if you are not on a Princess tour.

This year, Russia has a form to fill out to give to the immigration officer. Princess will supply the form which has identical information to be entered in two places. Read carefully how to fill it out.

Naturally, everyone on an independent tour wants to disembark as soon as possible the first morning in St. Petersburg. Of course, the Princess tours also need to start. Princess suggests that those not on Princess tours go to a designated dining room, obtain a number, and then wait for your number to be called to disembark. This is not necessary. Once the ship has been cleared, you can disembark by going to one of the gangways being used.

This year the ship docks in a new port where there are more immigration booths than in the past, at least six, maybe eight. Thus, the lines are not as long for clearing immigration as they have been in past years.

The booths are labeled by Princess as for Princess tours or independent tours. You can ignore those signs. The immigration people do not care what type of tour you are on. You will need to present your passport, the filled in immigration form, and your tour ticket (which acts as your visa).

We, as in the past, also presented a Xerox copy of the picture page of the passport. I do not know if this is still a requirement as this sheet was immediately returned by the immigration officer. It is possible that the new immigration form replaces the need for the Xerox copy. However, if the Patter says you need the copy, then have one available. Although the Purser’s desk will make a copy for you, I suggest bringing one from home as the line at the Purser’s desk is very long for the several days before St. Petersburg as people line up for making copies.

The immigration officer will return one half of the immigration form and a plastic card that serves as your visa for the day. Both of these items are turned in when you return to the ship that day. (The line to go through the emigration booth can be long, depending how many booths are open.)

The second morning does not have much of a problem leaving the ship for independent tours. Just allow 10 minutes or so for the immigration line. For the second time, you only need to present your passport and the tour ticket. You will again be given the plastic card that serves as your visa for the day and which again will be collected when you return to the ship.

By the way, do not lose your passport while on tour. You will not be allowed to reboard the ship without it, but must remain in Russia until a replacement is obtained.

Traffic in Saint Petersburg was horrendous. In the first day, our tour bus was due back at 5:30 PM but did not make it back until 7 PM. On the second day, when the ship was supposed to depart at 6 PM, Princess tour busses were still returning at 7:40 PM.

If you have booked an evening excursion the first day, either Princess or independent, bring your evening tour ticket with you on your day tour. You may find it necessary to go directly to your evening tour bus upon returning from the daytime tour. You may not have the time to wait on lines to emigrate, return to the cabin, and then go through immigration again.

Princess does have a Russian folkloric group in the Princess Theater the first night in St. Petersburg (8:30 PM and 10:30 PM). It is also shown live on MUTS and on the in-cabin TV the following day. A very good show. Those who went on Princess or independent tours to an evening folkloric show also enjoyed their experience.

Be very careful about pickpockets in St. Petersburg. Many tours stop at an outdoor souvenir market where you must be extra vigilant. Also be careful in the museums.

Oslo

One of the best tourist deals for those who are 67 years or older is the Oslo Pass at the senior rate of 76 NKr (less than $12 at the May exchange rate) which includes any Oslo transportation you would need as well as admission to just about any museum or attraction you would want to see. You can get the pass (credit cards accepted) at the tourist information counter in the terminal building. The counter (on the right when you enter the building) did not open until 7:30 when we were there, but may open earlier now that the season has started.

For visiting the Viking Ship Museum, I recommend using Bus #30 over using the ferry as the bus drops you off right in front of the museum. I also recommend using Bus #30 to go from the Viking Ship Museum to the Kon Tiki and Fram museums. Using the ferry to return to downtown Oslo from the latter museums is a good option.

As an alternative to the excellent walking tour John Lawrence suggests, I suggest the following activities which can be accomplished during the limited time the ship is in port:

a) Tram #12 to Frogner Park and see the Vigeland sculptures.

b) Tram back downtown and then bus #30 to visit the Viking Ship Musuem

c) Bus #30 from the Viking Ship Musuem to visit the Kon Tiki and Fram musuems

d) Ferry to downtown to visit City Hall

e) Visit the Akershus fort which is next to where the ship is docked

On days when there is a City Hall tour at Noon, the tour can be substituted for the visit to the Akershus fort.

 

Miscellaneous

All four of the aft elevators go down to deck 6 (Botticelli dining room) and up to deck 18 (Skywalkers). Only the aft starboard elevator goes all the way to deck 19 where the jogging track and miniature golf are located.

The "Ultimate Ship Tour" is offered on the Emerald Princess for $150/person. Sign up at the Purser’s desk ASAP if you wish to do this.

"Chef’s Table" is offered for $75/person. Call the dining hotline (Ext. 6219) ASAP if you wish to do this.

Cabin TVs are flat screen. It is easy to access the extra electrical outlet (US style) that is behind the TV.

Access to the viewing point on deck 15 forward on top of the bridge is open while in port. Just go to deck 15 and walk all the way forward.

 

The Future Cruise office was busy with a waiting line almost all the hours it was open.

If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them.

 

Thanks for your outstand report. :) Was the ATM the only place on the ship where you could do foreign money exchanges? On my past cruises I could exchange money at the desk. On our T/A we will have to use 6 different currencies for 8 ports and change back for left overs! Any advice? Also, can you make a reservation for the Chefs Table before boarding? Again, thanks !

[RuffinReady]

We used an ATM card to get local currancy, but used a CapitalOne Visa credit card (no fees) for purchases without any problem in St.Petersburg and other countries.

 

Can't say it would not happen, but we had no problems with our US credit card card that has no built in chip and does not require a code to make a purchase.

 

Also, most of the non-Euro countries were willing to accept Euros and in some cases US $ for purchases that were in a market place or too small for the minimum they want for a charge. Just have a calculator with you so you can make sure you get a reasonable exchange rate.

 

With your cruise so soon, it is probably too late to get an ATM card. One advantage of an ATM card is that it can be used in ticket machines that are, for example in train stations, to buy a ticket and which require a code.

 

As far as ATM codes being different, I think the warning is that foreign ATMs are only set up for a four digit ATM code, so if you use a code with more digits in the USA, better get that changed to a four digit code.

 

Do not forget to call the phone number on the back of any cards you will be using (ATM, credit) to let them know you will be using the cards out of country. Otherwise, you may find the transaction blocked.

 

Great suggestion. I also do the same for Master/Visa credit cards. :)

[RuffinReady]

Only taxi we took was in Copenhagen where they do take credit cards.

 

Euros were accepted for our tours in Tallinn and Gdansk. Charged any purchases in St. Petersburg and the other ports or paid in Euros. Street souvenir shops in St. Petersburg accepted Euros. US $ was accepted by the rest room person in St. Petersburg.

 

However, if you use public transportation (bus, tram, subway) in any port, you will need to have local currency/coins unless you have a card that includes such transportation. Some ports have transportation ticket machines which will accept credit cards, but don't always count on that being true.

 

If you have a CapitalOne credit card, there are no currency conversion fees and you get a good rate of exchange. We used a credit union debit card to obtain Euros at ATMs and had no fees added.

 

Great to know as I have a credit union debit card! :)

[caribill]

Thanks for your outstand report. :) Was the ATM the only place on the ship where you could do foreign money exchanges? On my past cruises I could exchange money at the desk. On our T/A we will have to use 6 different currencies for 8 ports and change back for left overs! Any advice? Also, can you make a reservation for the Chefs Table before boarding? Again, thanks !

 

 

I did no money exchanging (ATM or elsewhere) on the ship, so I do not know if it could be done other than at the ATMs on board. By the way, the onboard ATMs for money exchange are really not ATMs. They are money exchange machines which require cash in to get cash out.

 

On a T/A, once you leave the Euro and Pound areas, most will happily accept Euros and some will accept $$. Again, this is not for public transportation, but for many shops, vendors, and tour guides. No need to secure lots of different currancies. On our Baltic trip we never touched local currancies in Sweden, Russia, Estonia or Poland. Only reason we used Danish Kroner is because we had some from a previous trip.

 

Can't make a reservation for Chef's Table in advance. ASAP when boarding, call the Dine line listed on your cabin phone. If line is not answered yet, try again.

Edited August 2, 2009 by caribill

[Mrs RH]

Sorry to ask another question but I thought it would save starting a new thread. I was reading a review and someone stated that disembarkation was 8am. Our flight is not until 5.30pm and have organised transfers through Princess, I presumed we would leave the ship (wrongly) mid day. After all we don't need to check in until 2.30 at the latest.

 

Can someone just confirm that we have to leave the ship at 8.30 please.

[Grannycb]

We had an midafternoon flight with a Princess transfer. Our meeting time to leave the ship was 7 am. They like everyone off the ship bright and early! You might want to arrange for a tour to help spend what will be a very long day.

[Mrs RH]

We had an midafternoon flight with a Princess transfer. Our meeting time to leave the ship was 7 am. They like everyone off the ship bright and early! You might want to arrange for a tour to help spend what will be a very long day.

 

Thanks for the reply. Wow that is early, I think we will arrange a tour in that case. What happens to your luggage??

[Grannycb]

We picked up our luggage at the airport (with the transfer) before checking in for our flight. BTW, the airport is a real zoo in the morning and there are limits on how early you can check your luggage.

 

Ask if the tour company or cab can accommodate your luggage.

[bkyee]

Some comments:

 

Mariott Copenhagen hotel was far from cruise port which is pretty isolated Unless you get a good deal, I wouldn't stay at the Mariott again because it is less convenient compared to most hotels in the central area.

 

Passengers: Friendly except for some cumudgeons, friendlier than what I've experienced on a couple of celebrity cruises. However, don't expect model types. Cruise was full of "very well fed, to be polite" older passengers, some with families, and while mostly american, had a very large contingent of passengers from spanish speaking countries , a hong kong kuoni tour group, and a smattering of many other euro centric nationalities. In comparison, Celebrity passengers seem healthier, a little younger, but a little cooler personality wise, but that could be because of my experience w/ them in alaska and carribean and baltics may attract different crowd.

 

Ship: Emerald interiors, despite a couple of years old, is styled as if it was designed in the '70's, very dated, like an older ramada inn but with a glamarous lobby. Stateroom was spare but comfortable. Shower in Lido balcony stateroom was tiny. Celebrity ships seem much more current and agreeable.

 

Crew: much friendlier, happier and less tension than Celebrity's, in my experience.

 

Organization: Very smooth, remarkably organized for 3200 passengers, much smoother than my experiences with celebrity w/ 2000 passengers, including embark, disembark, ports.

 

Tours: took several half day tours with Princess at SPB--Peterhof and Gardens, Hermitage, Cathedrals and EZ one in gdansk. Of all, Hermitage was the best though crowded. Peterhof was nice but not versailles. Maybe Catherine palace is more impressive? They have several busses doing the same tours so if you want a better seat or prefer a particular tour guide, don't necessarily take the first bus offered. You don't have a choice on the first half day tour in SPB though since the bus was assigned in a meeting lounge on the ship but all others I took were assigned outside the port terminal so you might have that option. Princess Cathedral tour in SPB takes you to Red October for shopping, russian dolls there are cheaper and have more variety than on board. All Princess tours taken left and returned on timed. Tour tickets give meeting time, but busses left earlier when filled. Tourist info trailer located at some port terminals but not SPB and Gdynia, if I recall. Oslo's sells local all day bus tickets.

 

Dining: Anytime, but was able to reserve a table for 2 at 8:15 for the length of the cruise by speaking w/ restaurant manager, Nicolas? on first day, since friend walks with cane and has difficulty standing for long periods. Others without cane were able to do the same. Don't listen to hostest, insist on speaking w/ restaurant manager, because hostest will tell you restaurant manager only makes changes to assigned seating restaurant, and inisists you need to speak w/ anytime's restaurant manager the 2nd day of cruise. Emerald has long banquettes lined w/ tables for 2, which was ideal in my situation, and allowed you to meet other passengers. Celebrity's table for 2 is in siberia and isolated.

 

Food: Bland, ordinary, but generally well presented. Maybe Princess caters to it's market. Celebrity's in comparison was noticeably more appealing.

 

Shows: Musicals (except for Motown) were worth going to. Magic show could be skipped.

 

Thermal Suite: paid for the use the entire cruise, spa said access was controlled since those who had access would receive a yellow band and was limited to 45 passes?. Never saw a yellow band and sometimes was crowded.

 

all in all, very satisfied, for its friendliness and organization. (but not impressed with interiors and food, and being surrounded by so many portly people when heading for the dining room gives one pause)

[cubfan63]

For anyone planning their Stockholm day on their own, note that high winds could (and did) cause the fjord into Stockholm to be closed to a ship the size of the Emerald Princess.

 

On the 8/14 sailiing, we found out the night before that we were not going to dock in Stockholm. We instead tendered at Nynushamn (for a longer time than Stockholm) rather than skipping Stockholm altogether.

 

The buses for the tours came down there and picked us up and returned us after, adding an extra 45 minutes or so each way. The guides stepped on in Stockholm. Several tours including afternoon ones were cancelled.

 

A shuttle to Stockholm was provided for $25 round trip. Additionally, information was provided on how to walk to the Nynushamn train station (15-20 minute walk), train times and how to buy tickets. I heard that one returning train hit a cow on the way back. The train system bussed passengers back as there were a great many besides the locals returning from Sunday in the city.

 

 

Regarding the ATM and Currency Exchange machines, there is at least 1 ATM in the casino (on the port side, forward, near the forward elevator entrance). The Currency Exchange machines were on both 5 across from the Coffee Bar and on 6 (above the one on 5) as well as on the other side of the atrium in the same basic spot. These changed US$/currency of the day (back and forth). There is a $3.50 charge on the exchange so it's not intended for small exchanges.

[RuffinReady]

For anyone planning their Stockholm day on their own, note that high winds could (and did) cause the fjord into Stockholm to be closed to a ship the size of the Emerald Princess.

 

On the 8/14 sailiing, we found out the night before that we were not going to dock in Stockholm. We instead tendered at Nynushamn (for a longer time than Stockholm) rather than skipping Stockholm altogether.

 

The buses for the tours came down there and picked us up and returned us after, adding an extra 45 minutes or so each way. The guides stepped on in Stockholm. Several tours including afternoon ones were cancelled.

 

A shuttle to Stockholm was provided for $25 round trip. Additionally, information was provided on how to walk to the Nynushamn train station (15-20 minute walk), train times and how to buy tickets. I heard that one returning train hit a cow on the way back. The train system bussed passengers back as there were a great many besides the locals returning from Sunday in the city.

 

 

Regarding the ATM and Currency Exchange machines, there is at least 1 ATM in the casino (on the port side, forward, near the forward elevator entrance). The Currency Exchange machines were on both 5 across from the Coffee Bar and on 6 (above the one on 5) as well as on the other side of the atrium in the same basic spot. These changed US$/currency of the day (back and forth). There is a $3.50 charge on the exchange so it's not intended for small exchanges.

 

 

Boy, what a bummer for those who had arranged their own air to Copenhagen and expected to go from the airport to the ship. What a suprise to look out at the dock and see it empty! Lesson learned: read Cruise Critic!

 

Do you have any advice for those of us going on the 18 day TA and who are going to need 6 different currencies? I have run out of money printed for the "war of northern agression". :D

[caribill]

Was the ATM the only place on the ship where you could do foreign money exchanges? On my past cruises I could exchange money at the desk. On our T/A we will have to use 6 different currencies for 8 ports and change back for left overs! Any advice? Also, can you make a reservation for the Chefs Table before boarding? Again, thanks !

 

Yes, the ATM (were several) was the only place on board. However, it is doubtful you will really need 6 different currencies on your T/A. Except for public transportation (bus, train, cab), Euros will probably be accepted for things such as tips or street souvenir sales people. In shops, you can probably use a credit card. Getting multiple currencies from the ship's ATMs and changing back will be relatively expensive with poor exchange rates plus service charges.

 

By the way, these are not really ATMs. They are currency conversion machines. You must put currency in. There are ATMs on board where you can use a debit/credit card and get US$ which you can then feed to the currency conversion machines.

 

Can only make a reservation for the chef's table after boarding.

[caribill]

Do you have any advice for those of us going on the 18 day TA and who are going to need 6 different currencies? I have run out of money printed for the "war of northern agression". :D

 

It is doubtful you will really need 6 different currencies on your T/A. Except for public transportation (bus, train, cab), Euros will probably be accepted for things such as tips or street souvenir sales people. In shops, you can probably use a credit card.

 

Getting multiple currencies from the ship's machines and changing back will be relatively expensive with poor exchange rates plus service charges.

[newfirsttimer]

Just returned from the 8/14 sailing. In Copenhagen we found that most places took only Kroners or credit cards (some only cc's that had a chip and pin) but were able to use US$ or Euros in all other countries. I had taken Danish Kroners, Euros & US$ and had no problems at all.

 

In St. Petersburg we docked at the new cruise terminal and had no issues or problems with disembarkation or Russian immigration. We were waiting for our tour operator at 7:15 am dockside. There are 3 shops in the new terminal, all take US or Euros.

 

We did find that anything you want you can get onboard the Emerald PRincess and their prices particularly for Amber, Matryoyska dolls etc. were just as good if not better than those in any of the ports and you get a guarantee from Princess.

[Grannycb]

We did find that anything you want you can get onboard the Emerald PRincess and their prices particularly for Amber, Matryoyska dolls etc. were just as good if not better than those in any of the ports and you get a guarantee from Princess.

 

I'll second that! There was a good selection on the ship and you could be pretty sure it didn't come from China. The Russian chocolate in the Emerald's shop is wonderful. There is one chocolate bar with a picture of a fat baby on it that everyone liked best of all. I wish we'd brought home a few more. There was one area in St. Petersburg (sorry, I don't know where it was) that had several wagons filled with dolls, wood carvings, music boxes, etc. that had a better variety of goods than the ship. We were told by our guide not to use credit cards there or at any of the outside markets.

[RuffinReady]

Yes, the ATM (were several) was the only place on board. However, it is doubtful you will really need 6 different currencies on your T/A. Except for public transportation (bus, train, cab), Euros will probably be accepted for things such as tips or street souvenir sales people. In shops, you can probably use a credit card. Getting multiple currencies from the ship's ATMs and changing back will be relatively expensive with poor exchange rates plus service charges.

 

By the way, these are not really ATMs. They are currency conversion machines. You must put currency in. There are ATMs on board where you can use a debit/credit card and get US$ which you can then feed to the currency conversion machines.

 

Can only make a reservation for the chef's table after boarding.

 

 

Thanks Carbill.

[sunshine nana]

Stockholm Ho Ho boat. Get off ship, turn left and buy ticket for boat. They took dollars and eros. Get off at Vasa and line will be short if you got there early. Line that took credit cards was very short. We used our card to pay admission.Get back on Ho Ho and head to palace and you'll get there in time for changing of the guard. Then take Ho Ho back to the ship, stopping where you want to on the way.

[caribill]

There was one area in St. Petersburg (sorry, I don't know where it was) that had several wagons filled with dolls, wood carvings, music boxes, etc. that had a better variety of goods than the ship. We were told by our guide not to use credit cards there or at any of the outside markets.

 

Was it this one, opposite the Church on the Spilled Blood?

[50yearson]

Has anyone stayed in cabin L311 would appreciate any feedback