Vicki Dempsey

Next summer we are wanting to book a Baltic Cruise that originates from Kiel Germany and stops at a few ports--at least Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. Any suggestions on a particular cruise line? I'd need an adress or fax or email number so I can get their schedule and prices.

Bob Ricks

We did that cruise on the Vistafiord. First class. great trip. Highly recommend.

Jonathan V. Ward

Hi! I can't give any information about cruises but I did take a ship from Gdansk, Poland to Stockholm with two others back in February. I wouldn't recomment the season but the places we hit, with three different cruises were great. Especially I would give a thumbs up for Helsinki, great view as you slide into the harbor and then to Tallinn, Estonia which was an incredible Gothic city newly opened to tourism. Tallinn was fun to just walk around in and its only half the price of Helsinki and Stockholm. Tallinn has lots of bars and some good restaurants and its full of Swedes and Finns taking advantage of the cheap prices. Then we took busses down to Riga, Latvia and Kaunas/Vilnius, Lithuania but those were much more Soviet-era and lacking in amenities. But still very interesting and some great bargains. But if you are travelling the Baltic Sea, I would definitely recommend stopping off in Tallinn. You would be ahead of the curve and seeing an incredible, not so well known city. Good luck! Jonathan

Jonathan V. Ward

I took a trip around the Baltics in February with three friends. I don't have any info on cruise lines but I would just recommend Stopping off in Tallinn, Estonia. Its only half the price of Sweden and Finland but its much nicer than its cousins in Riga, Latvia and then into Lithuania. Tallinn is also full of Swedes and Finns enjoying the night out but only for half price. Tallinn is great because its a small, Gothic masterpiece and you can enjoy yourselves just walking around in a day or two. Its also still somewhat undiscovered but probably not for long. Also, Helsinski was great, especially the Orthodox cathedral and the view coming into the harbor. Good luck! Jonathan

ckrug

Highly recommend the Cunard MS Vistafjord. We've been on it 3 times--Holy Land going Venice to Athens to Turkey, Egypt and Israel then back to Genoa; Baltic from Hamburg to Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Lithuania and ending in Kiel; most recently from Athens to Ukraine, Istanbul, Kusadasi and Venice. Take all the tours you can fit in while in St.Petersburg because going on your own can be difficult and/or dangerous.

ckrug

Just noticed you're looking for info on pricing. Use a cruise discounter such as Cruises of Distinction (call 800 directory assistance for number). First pick up a brochure at your travel agent or call the cruise line directly and have one sent (Cunard is 1-800-528-6273)then call around and compare prices. You'll get a different quote from each one for the same category. Ask for the square footage of any room you intend to book. Room sizes vary widely in the same category. We like the rooms just aft of the dining room--convenient location for all public rooms. Suites are on a deck with lots of movement so you'll always feel the motion. Better down lower on this ship.

N. Ferguson

Advice to use a discounter is not necessarily wise. You will not be dealing with a "real" person when you call 800 numbers and problems with tickets, insurance, etc more likely and harder to resolve. Discounters are not remotely interested in you as a client. If you develop a relationship with a local cruise expert you will be given the right advice for a cruise that matches your needs regarding price, itinarary etc. To take information from local agencies and then call an 800 number hardly seems ethical.