Excursions vs Self-Tours
Mar 26th, 2004, 07:02 AM
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Excursions vs Self-Tours
My wife and I will be on our first cruise in June. We would like to know whether we can tour on our own from a cruise ship. We have previously made trips to various parts of Europe on our own - using books such as those from Fodors and Rick Steves. We are taking an Oceania Baltic cruise that visits ports such as Brugge, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Rostock, Dansk, and St. Petersburg. Is there difficulty getting to and from the ship? Is there difficulty getting back on the ship in the evening? What other difficulties might we encounter? We realize that a Visa will be needed in St. Petersburg but we know a family there and would like to see them again.
Mar 26th, 2004, 09:51 AM
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You should have no difficulty taking tours on your own. Just be sure you are back to the ship prior to sailing. Many people even "buddy up" and take tours in groups of 2 to 10 with a private guide rather than with 60 others on a ship's tour.
You will love the Baltic trip and Oceania is a fabulous cruise line. To meet others scheduled for your cruise, sign onto the Oceana group at group.yahoo.com. And, yes, that is the correct spelling for the yahoo group message board.
You will love the Baltic trip and Oceania is a fabulous cruise line. To meet others scheduled for your cruise, sign onto the Oceana group at group.yahoo.com. And, yes, that is the correct spelling for the yahoo group message board.
Mar 26th, 2004, 12:04 PM
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Hello,
As a cruise specialist travel agent, I always recommend doing private shore excursions on cruises. This way, you have a private car and driver and can ask to stop at any time. The cruise shore excursions are pre-formed and go on a motorcoach with little flexibility. Be sure to get back to the ship in plenty of time before it leaves the port.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!
Best Regards,
Julia
As a cruise specialist travel agent, I always recommend doing private shore excursions on cruises. This way, you have a private car and driver and can ask to stop at any time. The cruise shore excursions are pre-formed and go on a motorcoach with little flexibility. Be sure to get back to the ship in plenty of time before it leaves the port.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!
Best Regards,
Julia
Mar 27th, 2004, 06:35 PM
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Check out the port reviews on your Baltic ports at http://www.PortReviews.com. They will let you know which ones are self touring or not.
Generally, with the exception of Russia (unless you have a visa) you can do the ports on your own and have a great time.
Have a great cruise.
Tom
Generally, with the exception of Russia (unless you have a visa) you can do the ports on your own and have a great time.
Have a great cruise.
Tom
Mar 14th, 2006, 05:27 AM
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Thanks SO much for this site (PortReviews.com)! All the questions I had were answered, and more! The articles are thoroughly stated and all-encompassing, with gorgeous photographs. I'm learning, for example, that some of the ports on our Baltic cruise are very manageable on our own!
Mar 15th, 2006, 04:54 PM
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Another good resource are Cruisecritic board Destinations section. Go to www.cruisecritic.com; then click on Boards, then go down to the Destinations section and click on Europe. We always check Cruisecritic and get lots of great information.
