justshootme

patandhank and Percy, I have a question about Ekol Travel. Were they able to take a booking over the internet, or did you need to print a form off their website and send it to them? I am being asked to do the later.

They also require a deposit, do either of you remember if you had paid a deposit?

Sorry, to trouble both of you about this.

patandhank, I'll offer my two cents about whether to spend more time in Stockholm or London. My thoughts are as follows:- Of all the Scandinavian capitals Stockholm is my favourite (I've been to Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki and Reykjavik). Realistically, only a baltic cruise will start in Stockholm, giving you the option to spend a few extra days there. I don't know your travel history. Assuming you are avid cruisers, there will be many more oppourtunities to travel to London in the future. The ports of Southampton, Dover and Harwich are all nearby, and from there ports you will have plenty of cruise options, like the Med, a transatlantic crossing, or even another Baltic cruise. Based on this, I would choose to spend the extra pre cruise days, (if any) in Stockholm.

Paulchili

patandhank,
I have to second that - Stockholm is also my favorite Scandinavian capital. You also mentioned you have direct BA flights to London - why not do that some other time (?with a British Isles cruise?). Usually after the cruise I am more anxious to get home; before the cruise you need time to adjust to new time zones.

Percy

I have to also agree with justshootme and Paulchili.

In fact , just the other day , a friend of mine said to me :

"Of all the places you have been

in which place could you live there if you had to."?

My Answer was:
1.Florence Italy and
2. Buenos Aires

"Which place had the nicest scenery when you were driving"?

My answer was the Carpathian Mountains in Southwestern Ukraine
and

"Which City had the nicest layout and nicest city views."?

My answer was : Stockholm Sweden !!

So I have to agree with Paulchili and justshootme... the opportunity to do London is more available than ever doing Stockholm.

That is why on my Baltic Cruise I had the choice of going to the port of Warnemunde Germany...for a trip to Berlin or..

Oslo Norway and I took Oslo hands down... why !?
because my chances of going to Berlin in the future were better than ever going to Oslo.

In fact ,I just got back from Berlin on August 20th (last month!) !

So I am very happy that last August I did Oslo Norway.

I vote for extra days in Stockholm with Paulchili and justshootme.

Hope you are able to do that.

Good Luck
Percy

patandhank

Thanks to all on the opinion on Stockholm. Like I said, we may revisit that one and do London another time.

justshootme - no problem on the questions - always glad to help if possible. Yes I paid a deposit for Ekol. I printed the form and faxed it to them with credit card info. They confirmed with an e-mail and then once we did the tour itself, each couple actully paid with credit card for their portion. The driver just stopped by their office in Kusadasi and it was that simple. Hank and I used Ekol for two different trips, one in Kusadasi and one in Istanbul. Had no problems with them at all.

Percy - thanks for the e-mail and other info. Always fun to put faces to names!