Taking Holland America cruise of Baltic this summer. Would like info on access to local sightseeing areas from cruise ship docks. Ports of call are Muuga (Estonia), Helsinki, Stockholm, Kalmar, Warnemunde, Arhus and Oslo.

From your question it seems you prefer not to take organized tours sponsored by the ship. After dozens of cruises in which I have done both I find that usually the ship sponsored tour is best even if occasional a bit more expensive. (I missed a ship departure once because of a taxi's disablement in the middle of nowhere. The ship actually had to turn around and come back for me only because friends on the ship were aware that I wasn't on board.) The only exception to this is when there is something in particular you want to see not included in ship tours or if you know the city well and want to visit a place not usually on any tour. I'll be in the Baltic for the second time in August. Your itinerary is interesting. If you're on the new Rotterdam you'll probably not be able to dock in downtown Stockholm- it's too big. A disadvantage in this port. The Arhus stop is good. The city has the charm that Copenhagen had 40 years ago. To my knowledge it will not have the spectacular castle tours available from Copenhagen. And Warnemunde- I envy you. This is where Hitler developed the buzz bombs in the second world war. The location is also important in some of the writings of Thomas Mann (You may be close enough to Lubeck to see his home). You don't mention St.Petersburg, the highlight of a Baltic cruise. I would suggest you stick to ship tours there, again, unless you know the city well. I'm not familar with the Estonian port. Hopefully it's better than Tallin, although there is a question about that city in this forum with a response from a couple who found it interesting. Bon Voyage.

From your question it seems you prefer not to take organized tours sponsored by the ship. After dozens of cruises in which I have done both I find that usually the ship sponsored tour is best even if occasional a bit more expensive. (I missed a ship departure once because of a taxi's disablement in the middle of nowhere. The ship actually had to turn around and come back for me only because friends on the ship were aware that I wasn't on board.) The only exception to this is when there is something in particular you want to see not included in ship tours or if you know the city well and want to visit a place not usually on any tour. I'll be in the Baltic for the second time in August. Your itinerary is interesting. If you're on the new Rotterdam you'll probably not be able to dock in downtown Stockholm- it's too big. A disadvantage in this port. The Arhus stop is good. The city has the charm that Copenhagen had 40 years ago. To my knowledge it will not have the spectacular castle tours available from Copenhagen. And Warnemunde- I envy you. This is where Hitler developed the buzz bombs in the second world war. The location is also important in some of the writings of Thomas Mann (You may be close enough to Lubeck to see his home). You don't mention St.Petersburg, the highlight of a Baltic cruise. I would suggest you stick to ship tours there, again, unless you know the city well. I'm not familar with the Estonian port. Hopefully it's better than Tallin, although there is a question about that city in this forum with a response from a couple who found it interesting. Bon Voyage.

From your question it seems you prefer not to take organized tours sponsored by the ship. After dozens of cruises in which I have done both I find that usually the ship sponsored tour is best even if occasional a bit more expensive. (I missed a ship departure once because of a taxi's disablement in the middle of nowhere. The ship actually had to turn around and come back for me only because friends on the ship were aware that I wasn't on board.) The only exception to this is when there is something in particular you want to see not included in ship tours or if you know the city well and want to visit a place not usually on any tour. I'll be in the Baltic for the second time in August. Your itinerary is interesting. If you're on the new Rotterdam you'll probably not be able to dock in downtown Stockholm- it's too big. A disadvantage in this port. The Arhus stop is good. The city has the charm that Copenhagen had 40 years ago. To my knowledge it will not have the spectacular castle tours available from Copenhagen. And Warnemunde- I envy you. This is where Hitler developed the buzz bombs in the second world war. The location is also important in some of the writings of Thomas Mann (You may be close enough to Lubeck to see his home). You don't mention St.Petersburg, the highlight of a Baltic cruise. I would suggest you stick to ship tours there, again, unless you know the city well. I'm not familar with the Estonian port. Hopefully it's better than Tallin, although there is a question about that city in this forum with a response from a couple who found it interesting. Bon Voyage.

From your question it seems you prefer not to take organized tours sponsored by the ship. After dozens of cruises in which I have done both I find that usually the ship sponsored tour is best even if occasional a bit more expensive. (I missed a ship departure once because of a taxi's disablement in the middle of nowhere. The ship actually had to turn around and come back for me only because friends on the ship were aware that I wasn't on board.) The only exception to this is when there is something in particular you want to see not included in ship tours or if you know the city well and want to visit a place not usually on any tour. I'll be in the Baltic for the second time in August. Your itinerary is interesting. If you're on the new Rotterdam you'll probably not be able to dock in downtown Stockholm- it's too big. A disadvantage in this port. The Arhus stop is good. The city has the charm that Copenhagen had 40 years ago. To my knowledge it will not have the spectacular castle tours available from Copenhagen. And Warnemunde- I envy you. This is where Hitler developed the buzz bombs in the second world war. The location is also important in some of the writings of Thomas Mann (You may be close enough to Lubeck to see his home). You don't mention St.Petersburg, the highlight of a Baltic cruise. I would suggest you stick to ship tours there, again, unless you know the city well. I'm not familar with the Estonian port. Hopefully it's better than Tallin, although there is a question about that city in this forum with a response from a couple who found it interesting. Bon Voyage.

We have just returned form a Baltic cruise on Pacific Princess, of the ports you quoted we visited 2 Stockholm & Helsinki. If your ship docks near to where ours did then the centre of Helsinki was an easy 15 - 20 minute stroll. From the market place you can take boat trips, one block away is Senate square & nearby is shopping area. There are trams to get you further afield including 3T from the station which does circular tour but you need to watch your time as ships don't always stop here that long. <BR>Stockholm was a longer journey & we did a guided tour in the morning then stayed on in town & caught ship provided shuttle back. You could use your ship's shuttle bus service into town then explore the old town on your own. Have fun both cities were interesting to visit. <BR>

Muuga in Estonia is a grain elevator/port where large cruise ships dock because the port in Tallin is too shallow. Our cruise ship has shuttle buses available for the 20 to 30 minute ride into Tallin(which I walked without an organized tour and found it quite charming).The shuttle bus ride gives you some perspective on the countryside and suburbs. <BR>We also toured Helsinki and Oslo on our own and ended up at all of the same sites offered by the cruise ship but found it cheaper and less structured.