advice for ferry/cruise to stockholm-helsinki-talin-st. petersburg
Oct 30th, 2013, 08:42 AM
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advice for ferry/cruise to stockholm-helsinki-talin-st. petersburg
Greetings,
My husband and I are planning a trip to Sweden mid May to mid June next year. I have a dream of seeing both Talin Estonia and St. Petersburg Russia. I would also like to see Helsinki if we have the time and budget. We enjoy museums, historic sites, and culture. We don't need much in terms of shopping or adventure travel.
I had been told that there were ferries that you could take that would hit all those destinations. After researching some ferry/cruise sites and this forum, it appears that there are 2 or 3 options.
We are not big cruise fans but like the idea of traveling to St. Petersburg visa free and also having a regular bedroom to go back to each evening.
I am looking for advice for the best ferry/cruise option that is
cost efficient
not too glitzy
gives us maximum time in port (perhaps more thatn a day?)
dependable
I also would like feedback about which of these destinations you think are the top picks in case we can't hit them all.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide!
Headinwest
My husband and I are planning a trip to Sweden mid May to mid June next year. I have a dream of seeing both Talin Estonia and St. Petersburg Russia. I would also like to see Helsinki if we have the time and budget. We enjoy museums, historic sites, and culture. We don't need much in terms of shopping or adventure travel.
I had been told that there were ferries that you could take that would hit all those destinations. After researching some ferry/cruise sites and this forum, it appears that there are 2 or 3 options.
We are not big cruise fans but like the idea of traveling to St. Petersburg visa free and also having a regular bedroom to go back to each evening.
I am looking for advice for the best ferry/cruise option that is
cost efficient
not too glitzy
gives us maximum time in port (perhaps more thatn a day?)
dependable
I also would like feedback about which of these destinations you think are the top picks in case we can't hit them all.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide!
Headinwest
Oct 30th, 2013, 09:41 AM
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I'm not sure the ferries stay in port multiple nights - the ones I took just dropped people off and returned. I think for multiple nights a cruise may be necessary - but you should google ferries to St pet to see.
Oct 30th, 2013, 10:15 AM
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Not sure what your objection to visa might be. You might look into if you use cruise visa you can go about St P on your own or you need to stick with their guide. (I am just not sure.)
We went on our own a couple of years ago. The visa was easy enough to apply for (although not cheap but then neither is a cruise). We used a service. I think Russia required us use a service anyway, many countries now don't take visa applications at their consulates and require you use a service.
And we found being a tourist in St P is as easy as anywhere else in Europe. We didn't have a guide at all.
In St P I highly recommend the Museum of Political History http://en.polithistory.ru/ (includes Lenin's office and an extensive and well signed in English museum) and the Russiam Museum http://www.rusmuseum.ru/eng/home/ (all Russian Art and has a very good English language audio guide) We actually preferred these to the Hermitage and the Peter and Paul Fortress which I think are more popular.
We went on our own a couple of years ago. The visa was easy enough to apply for (although not cheap but then neither is a cruise). We used a service. I think Russia required us use a service anyway, many countries now don't take visa applications at their consulates and require you use a service.
And we found being a tourist in St P is as easy as anywhere else in Europe. We didn't have a guide at all.
In St P I highly recommend the Museum of Political History http://en.polithistory.ru/ (includes Lenin's office and an extensive and well signed in English museum) and the Russiam Museum http://www.rusmuseum.ru/eng/home/ (all Russian Art and has a very good English language audio guide) We actually preferred these to the Hermitage and the Peter and Paul Fortress which I think are more popular.
Oct 30th, 2013, 04:08 PM
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The problem with using a visa-free cruise ship to visit St. Petersburg is that you will almost certainly not have enough time there. St. Petersburg deserves at least 5 full days IMO. And given your interest, you might want to consider even a bit more time there -- there is SO much to see! BTW, it is glorious -- but expensive -- during and/or near the White Nights.
I've been to Helsinki, which I enjoyed and thought worth a couple of days, but not yet to Talinn or Estonia.
Hope that helps!
I've been to Helsinki, which I enjoyed and thought worth a couple of days, but not yet to Talinn or Estonia.
Hope that helps!
Nov 1st, 2013, 05:44 PM
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I did Tallinn, Helsinki and St. Petersburg with a tour through Rick Steves a few years ago, and absolutely loved all three cities. Take a look at their itinerary, it can give you good ideas of what to see and how long it'll take.
Tallinn is quaint and lovely, just be sure to wander in and out of the Old Town to get a good look at the Soviet architecture left behind. We were only in Helsinki for a day and a half, which was plenty. I agree with kja that you'll want the most time in St. Petersburg. I absolutely fell in love with the city. You could very easily spend a couple of days in The Hermitage alone, not to mention Catherine's Palace, Peteroff and some pretty amazing churches and cathedrals.
During my wanderings on my own, I met a bunch of people who had come off cruise ships - they were always rushing around like mad to make it back to the ship in time whereas I could wander about freely and take my time seeing the sights. And they all look so different at night, which you likely won't get to see if you're on a cruise ship. You'll also want a chance to take in some ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Hope this helps!
Tallinn is quaint and lovely, just be sure to wander in and out of the Old Town to get a good look at the Soviet architecture left behind. We were only in Helsinki for a day and a half, which was plenty. I agree with kja that you'll want the most time in St. Petersburg. I absolutely fell in love with the city. You could very easily spend a couple of days in The Hermitage alone, not to mention Catherine's Palace, Peteroff and some pretty amazing churches and cathedrals.
During my wanderings on my own, I met a bunch of people who had come off cruise ships - they were always rushing around like mad to make it back to the ship in time whereas I could wander about freely and take my time seeing the sights. And they all look so different at night, which you likely won't get to see if you're on a cruise ship. You'll also want a chance to take in some ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Hope this helps!
Nov 2nd, 2013, 10:53 AM
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It is perfectly possible to do St Pets on your own - we did quite a few years ago - and the tourists infrastructure is much improved since then. Yes, you have to get a visa - but no big deal. And I would agree 5 days is about the minimum (that's what we did last time and t was our second trip).
I was not in Love with Helsinki - OK - but now a wow.
Stockholm I love - IMHO another place where 5 days is necessary to see much of the city and environs.
I was not in Love with Helsinki - OK - but now a wow.
Stockholm I love - IMHO another place where 5 days is necessary to see much of the city and environs.
Nov 2nd, 2013, 02:09 PM
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<i> advice for ferry/cruise to stockholm-helsinki-talin-st. petersburg
Posted by: headinwest on Oct 30, 13 at 12:42pm Posted in: Europe Tagged: Estonia , Finland , Russia , Sweden </i>
I have taken the overnight Silja Line ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki several times. It is a great party boat. It goes back and forth so you want to get a hotel in Helsinki for whatever time you want to spend there. I also took a smaller ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki. I stayed a couple of nights and then went south through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by bus. The bus trip is not so pleasant but the capital cities and their old towns are great antiques. You don't need to waste time and money on a tour guide.
Posted by: headinwest on Oct 30, 13 at 12:42pm Posted in: Europe Tagged: Estonia , Finland , Russia , Sweden </i>
I have taken the overnight Silja Line ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki several times. It is a great party boat. It goes back and forth so you want to get a hotel in Helsinki for whatever time you want to spend there. I also took a smaller ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki. I stayed a couple of nights and then went south through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by bus. The bus trip is not so pleasant but the capital cities and their old towns are great antiques. You don't need to waste time and money on a tour guide.
