Percy or others re: Baltic Cruise ports
Aug 13th, 2009 | 09:30 AM
#1
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Percy or others re: Baltic Cruise ports
We leave Aug. 20 for Copenhagen for the Emerald Princess Baltic Cruise that departs from there on Aug. 24. I'm going crazy just trying to keep all the ports straight. I keep mixing up Copenhagen and Stockholm , then Helsinki and Tallinn. I've read and reread Percy's report of his cruise and several of the other posts he's answered here. I apologize if one more reading would provide the answer to these questions, but I'm getting down to the wire and I decided I'd best just come on this site and ask my specific questions. Hope Percy and/or others out there can give me a hand with these matters.
1. In Helsinki the idea of starting with the Sebelius monument and the Rock Church "out of town" and then going to main part of town to walk all around makes great sense to me. My questions are: Do we just hire our taxi to take us to Sebelius and wait for us,then take us to the Rock Church and wait for us again and then drive us to market square? If we finish back on market square and need a taxi to take us back to the ship, will there be plenty around so we don't have to worry about getting back on time?
2. In Gdansk, after reading horror stories about terrible traffic for taxis to get you back to the ship, I panicked and signed up for the "Gdansk on your own"--basic shuttle into town and return in order to assure that any traffic tie up won't mean we wind up standing on the dock watching our ship sail away without us. That should work fine for "downtown" Gdansk, but I'd really like to see the Oliwa Cathedral and its organ. Is there a good way to do that (taxi, or bus/train, etc.) and still be back in downtown Gdansk to meet our ship shuttle? Or will making the trek back and forth from downtown rather than stopping by on the way into town be just too much transport time such that I really should give up on seeing the Oliwa Cathedral. If we can't get there for the big 11:00 (or 10:00--guidebooks and reports seem to differ on times) organ playing, is it sufficiently exciting just to see the organ and the church even if you don't hear it?
3. In Tallinn--Pretty much the same questions as for Helsinki. If we taxi to Kadriorg, do we have the driver just wait for us or is there a taxi stand where we can be assured of finding one after our visit? And are there lots of taxi's near the Fat Margaret tower or elsewhere to take us back to the ship when we return and finish our walk around "downtown" Tallinn?
4. In Oslo--and again, do we just hire a taxi to stay with us through a visit to Vigeland Sculpture park and the Fram and Kon-Tiki museums and then return us to Akershus? or are there taxi stands with available taxis at the various places?
Thanks so much for your help. The information I've found about this cruise on this board has been invaluable.
1. In Helsinki the idea of starting with the Sebelius monument and the Rock Church "out of town" and then going to main part of town to walk all around makes great sense to me. My questions are: Do we just hire our taxi to take us to Sebelius and wait for us,then take us to the Rock Church and wait for us again and then drive us to market square? If we finish back on market square and need a taxi to take us back to the ship, will there be plenty around so we don't have to worry about getting back on time?
2. In Gdansk, after reading horror stories about terrible traffic for taxis to get you back to the ship, I panicked and signed up for the "Gdansk on your own"--basic shuttle into town and return in order to assure that any traffic tie up won't mean we wind up standing on the dock watching our ship sail away without us. That should work fine for "downtown" Gdansk, but I'd really like to see the Oliwa Cathedral and its organ. Is there a good way to do that (taxi, or bus/train, etc.) and still be back in downtown Gdansk to meet our ship shuttle? Or will making the trek back and forth from downtown rather than stopping by on the way into town be just too much transport time such that I really should give up on seeing the Oliwa Cathedral. If we can't get there for the big 11:00 (or 10:00--guidebooks and reports seem to differ on times) organ playing, is it sufficiently exciting just to see the organ and the church even if you don't hear it?
3. In Tallinn--Pretty much the same questions as for Helsinki. If we taxi to Kadriorg, do we have the driver just wait for us or is there a taxi stand where we can be assured of finding one after our visit? And are there lots of taxi's near the Fat Margaret tower or elsewhere to take us back to the ship when we return and finish our walk around "downtown" Tallinn?
4. In Oslo--and again, do we just hire a taxi to stay with us through a visit to Vigeland Sculpture park and the Fram and Kon-Tiki museums and then return us to Akershus? or are there taxi stands with available taxis at the various places?
Thanks so much for your help. The information I've found about this cruise on this board has been invaluable.
Aug 13th, 2009 | 02:08 PM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 22,174
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Hi There:
Yes you are correct about Helsinki:
1.Take a taxi to Sebelius Park...take some pictures here ( have the taxi wait for you)and then go to the Rock Church.
Again have the taxi wait for you ( about 1/2 hour )
2. Then have him take you to the Market Square and do the walking loop I outlined in my report.
( have a beer at Torni Hotel on the 24th floor ...nice views)
3 You will still have time to go to Soumenlinna Islands, after you do the walking loop and visit Senate Square on your way back... now the Senate Square is only 2 blocks from the Market Square...so you are almost back where you started from!!
And the boat that leaves for the Soumenlinna Islands is right in front of the Market Square
4. Book the taxi for your return to the ship.
Just tell him to pick you up again at the Market Square at a fixed time.
Then you do not have to go taxi hunting.
<B> Gdansk </B>
There will be plenty of taxi's at the ship when you disembark.
Your should have hired a taxi/driver/guide for the full day .
The first stop he will take you to is the Oliwa Church for the 10 AM (or sooner ) for the Pipe organ music.
Then he will drive you past Lech Walesa' house and now on through Sopot and onto Gdansk.
Most of your visting in Gdansk is confined to a nice samll area.... Your taxi driver will park ( mine did) at St.Mary's Church....after this you see the
lovely Arsenal Building as you come out of the Church...
then it is on through the Golden Gate and here you are...at the Royal Way.
Walk about here and tell the taxi driver to pick you up at a fixed time...right back at St.Mary's Church, which you will never be far away from..... and believe me you cannot miss this Church !!!
Now on your way back.... visit the Tri- Crosses Monument and then ask to go to Westerplatte Memorial.....yes you will have time..... the taxi driver knows when he has to leave to get you back to the ship on time!!
You can see everything I did and have a nice ride back to the ship.
<B> Tallinn </B>
Get a taxi when you get off and first thing is to go to the Kadriog Castle (15 minute taxi ride)...
and then walk the lovely Park and aslo see the Russalka Monument which is just a few more block away,by the seaside.
After this, the taxi will take you to Fat Margaret and you walk in through the Arch and you are now in Pikk Street.. just follow it down to the Old Town Square and here you are!!!
After walking about and shopping ... you HAVE to go to Upper Town....
Take Short Leg Street going up and Long Leg Street coming back down.
Going inside the Dome Church here and then across the street the lovely Alexander Nevsky Church.
From up here ( Upper Town ) you can see your cruise ship and all the lovely place below that you just visited ( In Lower Town )!!
Yes there will be taxi's at Fat Margaret...but you can walk also back to the ship.... about 1/2 to 3/4 mile ( 6-8 blocks).
<B> Oslo </B>
1. Get off the cruise ship and get a taxi and go straight to Vigeland Park...Free and a do NOT miss place.
2. Tell the taxi driver to pick you up about 45 minutes to one hour after he drops you off at the Vigeand Gates.
3. Now have your taxi driver take to you Fram and ( next door) Kon-Tiki Ship Musuems
They do not open until 9 AM anyway.
Walk right up on the Fram and have your picture taken holding the wheel !!!
4.Have the taxi driver wait for you ( or if he has to leave ..tell him to come back in about 45 minutes.
5. Now on your way to the City Hall Square...first get a picture of the Stave Church...
6. Get dropped off at the City Hall...you can see your cruise ship just several block away.
You do not need the taxi anymore now
7. Walk down Aker Brygge (shops here ) it only goes for about 4-5 blocks....you will see the Eternal Flame at the end,and a Grandfather clock onthe dock as you walk.
8.Okay turn around and walk back....straight ahead of you is the City Hall.
9.That orange builing on your LEFT as you face the City Hall is the Nobel Peace Prize Musuem
10. Walk around the other side of the City Hall....this is the FRONT ...see those nice mural...walk up to them and see them all...they are outside of the City Hall, but on it's walls.
11. Okay now walk straight ahead from the City hall and about 2 block further up is
Karl Johan Gate.... (Gate is Avenue) this is the MAIN street/ Avenue in Oslo.... TURN left...WALK up to the Royal Palace...take your picture with a guard.!
12. Now start walking aalllll the way down Karl Johan Gate , you will see all the places I mentioned in my trip report.
13. When you reach the end Of Karl Johan Gate (you will be in a nice square where the Central Train Staion used to be) you can do one of 2 things:
(a) get a taxi and to to the Lovely Opera House right along the water inlet(10 minute ride)..... take some pictues here..then tell the taxi driver to take you back to the cruise ship.
(b) You can walk back to the cruise ship from then end of Karl Johan Gate
14. And it is NOW that you can do the Akerhus Castle because it is right across the street from your cruise ship.!!!!
So save Akerhus Castle for the end...then you can spend more time here ,because you ONLY have to walk across the street to board your cruise ship.
Make sure you see the WW II Museum here ...it will open your eyes..when you see how Hiltler's Troops marched right down Karl Johan Gate and "took over "
Good Luck Take Care and Have a Great Time.
Percy
Yes you are correct about Helsinki:
1.Take a taxi to Sebelius Park...take some pictures here ( have the taxi wait for you)and then go to the Rock Church.
Again have the taxi wait for you ( about 1/2 hour )
2. Then have him take you to the Market Square and do the walking loop I outlined in my report.
( have a beer at Torni Hotel on the 24th floor ...nice views)
3 You will still have time to go to Soumenlinna Islands, after you do the walking loop and visit Senate Square on your way back... now the Senate Square is only 2 blocks from the Market Square...so you are almost back where you started from!!
And the boat that leaves for the Soumenlinna Islands is right in front of the Market Square
4. Book the taxi for your return to the ship.
Just tell him to pick you up again at the Market Square at a fixed time.
Then you do not have to go taxi hunting.
<B> Gdansk </B>
There will be plenty of taxi's at the ship when you disembark.
Your should have hired a taxi/driver/guide for the full day .
The first stop he will take you to is the Oliwa Church for the 10 AM (or sooner ) for the Pipe organ music.
Then he will drive you past Lech Walesa' house and now on through Sopot and onto Gdansk.
Most of your visting in Gdansk is confined to a nice samll area.... Your taxi driver will park ( mine did) at St.Mary's Church....after this you see the
lovely Arsenal Building as you come out of the Church...
then it is on through the Golden Gate and here you are...at the Royal Way.
Walk about here and tell the taxi driver to pick you up at a fixed time...right back at St.Mary's Church, which you will never be far away from..... and believe me you cannot miss this Church !!!
Now on your way back.... visit the Tri- Crosses Monument and then ask to go to Westerplatte Memorial.....yes you will have time..... the taxi driver knows when he has to leave to get you back to the ship on time!!
You can see everything I did and have a nice ride back to the ship.
<B> Tallinn </B>
Get a taxi when you get off and first thing is to go to the Kadriog Castle (15 minute taxi ride)...
and then walk the lovely Park and aslo see the Russalka Monument which is just a few more block away,by the seaside.
After this, the taxi will take you to Fat Margaret and you walk in through the Arch and you are now in Pikk Street.. just follow it down to the Old Town Square and here you are!!!
After walking about and shopping ... you HAVE to go to Upper Town....
Take Short Leg Street going up and Long Leg Street coming back down.
Going inside the Dome Church here and then across the street the lovely Alexander Nevsky Church.
From up here ( Upper Town ) you can see your cruise ship and all the lovely place below that you just visited ( In Lower Town )!!
Yes there will be taxi's at Fat Margaret...but you can walk also back to the ship.... about 1/2 to 3/4 mile ( 6-8 blocks).
<B> Oslo </B>
1. Get off the cruise ship and get a taxi and go straight to Vigeland Park...Free and a do NOT miss place.
2. Tell the taxi driver to pick you up about 45 minutes to one hour after he drops you off at the Vigeand Gates.
3. Now have your taxi driver take to you Fram and ( next door) Kon-Tiki Ship Musuems
They do not open until 9 AM anyway.
Walk right up on the Fram and have your picture taken holding the wheel !!!
4.Have the taxi driver wait for you ( or if he has to leave ..tell him to come back in about 45 minutes.
5. Now on your way to the City Hall Square...first get a picture of the Stave Church...
6. Get dropped off at the City Hall...you can see your cruise ship just several block away.
You do not need the taxi anymore now
7. Walk down Aker Brygge (shops here ) it only goes for about 4-5 blocks....you will see the Eternal Flame at the end,and a Grandfather clock onthe dock as you walk.
8.Okay turn around and walk back....straight ahead of you is the City Hall.
9.That orange builing on your LEFT as you face the City Hall is the Nobel Peace Prize Musuem
10. Walk around the other side of the City Hall....this is the FRONT ...see those nice mural...walk up to them and see them all...they are outside of the City Hall, but on it's walls.
11. Okay now walk straight ahead from the City hall and about 2 block further up is
Karl Johan Gate.... (Gate is Avenue) this is the MAIN street/ Avenue in Oslo.... TURN left...WALK up to the Royal Palace...take your picture with a guard.!
12. Now start walking aalllll the way down Karl Johan Gate , you will see all the places I mentioned in my trip report.
13. When you reach the end Of Karl Johan Gate (you will be in a nice square where the Central Train Staion used to be) you can do one of 2 things:
(a) get a taxi and to to the Lovely Opera House right along the water inlet(10 minute ride)..... take some pictues here..then tell the taxi driver to take you back to the cruise ship.
(b) You can walk back to the cruise ship from then end of Karl Johan Gate
14. And it is NOW that you can do the Akerhus Castle because it is right across the street from your cruise ship.!!!!
So save Akerhus Castle for the end...then you can spend more time here ,because you ONLY have to walk across the street to board your cruise ship.
Make sure you see the WW II Museum here ...it will open your eyes..when you see how Hiltler's Troops marched right down Karl Johan Gate and "took over "
Good Luck Take Care and Have a Great Time.
Percy
Aug 13th, 2009 | 07:14 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 22,174
Likes: 0
JulieVikmanis
Have a great time as I know you will.
The Baltic was one of my favourite cruises, I did the Mediterranean Cruise eight months earlier ....but enjoyed the Baltics much more.
Oh yes, in Oslo ..the Karl Johan Gate ,I the Gate is pronounced Gata )
Have a great time as I know you will.
The Baltic was one of my favourite cruises, I did the Mediterranean Cruise eight months earlier ....but enjoyed the Baltics much more.
Oh yes, in Oslo ..the Karl Johan Gate ,I the Gate is pronounced Gata )
Aug 15th, 2009 | 05:59 AM
#7
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 10,748
Likes: 0
Percy: I just played a quick 9 holes at the par 3 course w/ the G10's. Got em last night. I luv the feel and it seems to give me close to a club more distance. 
. I hope your hand is coming along well. Take care and enjoy your upcoming vacation. Larry
. I hope your hand is coming along well. Take care and enjoy your upcoming vacation. Larry
