jacketwatch

Actually I think it was around 0900. I just got a letter today from Princess inre to the correspondence I sent them about our cruise. One concern I had was the times in port in Tallinn and Oslo. They replied that port times have to be planned up to 18 mos. in advance due to tides, compliance with local port authorities, etc. I suppose its not as straight-forward as it appears. Cheers, Larry

Percy

jacketwatch:

We are suppose to be coming into Stockholm at about 10 AM..there is no need to come in this late in the morning.

My Travel Agent ( who is privy to inside information) tells me that the Cruise Ships shorten the length of stay because the cruise ships hate paying those docking fees.

The longer you stay in port the more you pay.

So according to my Travel Agent, the shorter the stay in a port then the more time you are on the ship... spending money on whatever.!!

Makes sense to me ,if I was a business (cruise ship) that wanted to maximize my profits.hmmmm!!!

No wonder they come into Tallinn at 0700 and leave at 1 PM...they do not need all that time to go from Tallinn to Gdynia Poland !!

Oh well,I do not think they will alter their business schedule to suit me !!

So I will make the best of Stockholm when I get there.

Goodnight
Percy

Percy

jacketwatch:

Did you take a taxi from the cruise ship to Gamla Stan?

Were there lots of taxi's available.?

Thanks
Percy

jacketwatch

Actually we taxied from the ship to the Vasa museum. From there we took a short walk, about 10 min. to the water taxi station and went to GS that way. There are tons of cabs around there but most in the taxi line want to sell you a full tour for $$$. Just find one for the short hop. Cheers, Larry

Percy

As usual Thanks Again.

Gee next Thursday I am off for Copenhagen.

Take Care
Percy

jacketwatch

8 more days!! You will luv it Percy. If you get to the ice bar in Stockholm, which we missed, have one for me OK?

Percy

I sure will jacketwatch...

just for you , because why else would I coming from here want to go to an Ice place.!! ( ha ha)

But really though the Ice Bar looks very nice

Take Care
Percy

jacketwatch

Well Percy you should feel right at home. Heck you won't even need one of the coats they provide. I'll bet you can do it in a t-shirt.

Percy

Your right jacketwatch I could do it in a t- shirt ...but they make you put on this silver caped parka which is lined to keep in your body heat.

They keep the place between about 20 to 23 F.
They only allow 30 people in at a time..so I hope there is no line up to getting in when I arrive.

You pay a cover charge and then order whatever drink they offer from a selection.

There are no bar stools for sitting..can't have us melting the ice by sitting down!!
I hope I can get in.
Take Care
Percy

jacketwatch

7 more days amigo. BTW I think the glasses they use are made from ice. Cheers, Larry

Percy

Yes they are made of ice and so for sure you are sipping a cool drink!

Yep,the days are counting down.

One of the fellows in our group likes his drinks so if we get a chance ..we will go!

7 more sleeps !!!

Percy

Dottee

Jacketwatch, thank you for rekindling some great memories. I took a tour (not cruise) of the Baltics, St. Petersburg and Helsinki last year in March and April and your report was like a mini return trip. It was still very cold and snowing while I was in SP and Helsinki and one of my fondest memories is of the steam rising off the rivers and the thick frost covering the branches of the trees in SP early one morning as we were being driven into town.

Percy: Have a wonderful trip! What a shame that you will have such a brief visit to Tallinn...along with Riga Latvia, it was one of the highlights of my trip. There is a restaurant in Tallinn called the Old Hansa located in a building constructed in medieval times that puts on a re-creation of a medieval dinner. I think the dinner is an evening event, but they might serve beer earlier in the day. Everyone in town knows it, so ask a local. Tallin is one of the least expensive towns in Europe to visit, so I would say stock up on your gifts and souviners. Helsinki locals take the ferry to Tallinn to shop because of the huge price difference.

Wish I was joining your cruise, but we will be with you in spirit!

jacketwatch

Great post Dottee and thank you. I'm glad you got some good recall from this and I do wish we had more time in Tallinn. It sure must have been challenging weather wise back then. Cheers, Larry PS I am sure Percy will post a great TR to rekindle even more memories.

Percy

Thanks Dottee and jacketwatch:

I have written down the name of the restaurant in case we can have a beer there.

I agree the time in Tallinn is way too short.. but I am making the most of it.
I have a list of all the places I want to see.

There is another nice restaurant (with a terrific view) at the TV Tower which is just East of the Kadriorg Palace(2 miles East of Tallinn). It has a restuarant at the top called the Galaxy.
Not sure if it is open during the day ..but I will check.
Thanks for the info on Old Hansa.
Good Night both of you
Take Care
Percy

Dottee

In case you don't get there, they have a great site with pretty cool pictures:
http://www.suegregg.com/travel/eston...estaurantC.htm

Dottee

Sorry, wrong site!
http://oldehansa.com/

Not to worry, I'll get it right, yet!

Percy

Dottee

I get the web page but that is all.

Am I suppose to be able to open this site?!

Thanks anyway
Good Night All
Percy

Dottee

Yes, works for me...??

Lots of great info about the history, etc. Sorry you're not seeing it. Oh well, better in person, anyway!

Nite all!

Percy

Dottee

Finally got it open and saw the building and other pictures of Tallin.

will try to check out Hansa ..have to have a beer somewhere.!!

I do not want to have lunch as I can have lunch back at the ship... why waste time sitting around...but a beer is different !!

Thanks
Percy