Scandinavia & other Baltics: a whole new world
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:49 PM
#22
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It was so beautiful and easy to get around with our transit cards on ferries, buses , and subways. Two of our favorite excursions were to Drottingholm Palace and Millesgarden. The Arlanda Express train from the airport was a great experience.' "
Ditto!
"If we had stayed nearer to Nyhaven we might have had a different impression. '
I did stay in Nyhaven - it was packed on a July weekend but I was happy with the location.
BTW , a great report ( as always) Julie. I enjoy your description of meals - sort of eating vicariously !
Ditto!
"If we had stayed nearer to Nyhaven we might have had a different impression. '
I did stay in Nyhaven - it was packed on a July weekend but I was happy with the location.
BTW , a great report ( as always) Julie. I enjoy your description of meals - sort of eating vicariously !
Sep 21st, 2009, 02:34 PM
#24
A wonderful report that reminded me of past trips...one in '83 (!!) and one in '01.
Our first trip was to Leningrad.. our 2nd to St. Petersburg. What a difference!
From our 2nd trip I have a lovely piece of amber from Gdansk that reminds me of that lovely city. As far as Copenhagen vs. Stockholm: as someone once said.. Denmark is the Riviera of Scandinavia -
.Swedes are a little more uptight...but, in spite of my addiction to Danish open face sandwiches.. I'd probably vote for Stockholm. A little bit more sophisticated.. and , physically, I think more beautiful. But then...I'm a Svenska flicka. (A few generations removed.)
Second..Drottingholm, Millesgarden. Then there is Gripsholm and the Operakalleren (Sp?) restaurant in Stockholm. Also, cruising thru the archipeligo is unforgettable. Then... the Silja line from Stockholm to Helsinki is a fun party..... guess I better stop -
Our first trip was to Leningrad.. our 2nd to St. Petersburg. What a difference!
From our 2nd trip I have a lovely piece of amber from Gdansk that reminds me of that lovely city. As far as Copenhagen vs. Stockholm: as someone once said.. Denmark is the Riviera of Scandinavia -
.Swedes are a little more uptight...but, in spite of my addiction to Danish open face sandwiches.. I'd probably vote for Stockholm. A little bit more sophisticated.. and , physically, I think more beautiful. But then...I'm a Svenska flicka. (A few generations removed.)Second..Drottingholm, Millesgarden. Then there is Gripsholm and the Operakalleren (Sp?) restaurant in Stockholm. Also, cruising thru the archipeligo is unforgettable. Then... the Silja line from Stockholm to Helsinki is a fun party..... guess I better stop -
Sep 21st, 2009, 03:22 PM
#25
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Oh, no. Please continue. I can be swayed back.
I'd love to hear about your trip to Leningrad in '83.
From my own conjured up concepts of entering a real "Russian" city, I was expecting at least a bad look or two from some Soviet hold overs. Perhaps I wasn't looking carefully enough. I never seemed to get one. It was interesting,however, to have our driver point out his "pioneer" pin stuck in the ceiling of the van sort of like we '60s folks hung dice around the rearview mirrors and for Anya our guide to explain that she'd entered the pioneers and was prepared to advance, just as it became unnecessary/impossible to do so.
St. Petersburg seemed to me in every way a very up to date city but somehow I don't have the same desire to return as I do with Stockholm or Copenhagen. Sure it would be interesting to see even more of the grandeur of the past, but I didn't seem to get any good vibes about the present. I never saw anything going up or just being there that seemed to draw me to return to stay for a while. That could be a function of the tour process. Because Val would like to see more of the place, I'd certainly welcome contrary impressions.
I'd love to hear about your trip to Leningrad in '83.
From my own conjured up concepts of entering a real "Russian" city, I was expecting at least a bad look or two from some Soviet hold overs. Perhaps I wasn't looking carefully enough. I never seemed to get one. It was interesting,however, to have our driver point out his "pioneer" pin stuck in the ceiling of the van sort of like we '60s folks hung dice around the rearview mirrors and for Anya our guide to explain that she'd entered the pioneers and was prepared to advance, just as it became unnecessary/impossible to do so.
St. Petersburg seemed to me in every way a very up to date city but somehow I don't have the same desire to return as I do with Stockholm or Copenhagen. Sure it would be interesting to see even more of the grandeur of the past, but I didn't seem to get any good vibes about the present. I never saw anything going up or just being there that seemed to draw me to return to stay for a while. That could be a function of the tour process. Because Val would like to see more of the place, I'd certainly welcome contrary impressions.
Sep 21st, 2009, 03:48 PM
#26
Hi JulieVikmanis
Sorry I am just getting to your report now but I just returned (last week) from 3 1/2 weeks on an African Safari.
including a side trip to the Spice Islands of Zanzibar!
It has taken me a week to get over the jetlag and a month if mail !!!
Read your great report with intense interest.
I have to admit you made me hungry several times during my reading, as I pictured you eating all that great food
I am glad you were able to see so much in all the port you visits.
I ws able to follow your adventures from place to place ( except for the dinning in all those places.)
Welcome Back and Thank you for a Great Report
Sorry I am just getting to your report now but I just returned (last week) from 3 1/2 weeks on an African Safari.
including a side trip to the Spice Islands of Zanzibar!
It has taken me a week to get over the jetlag and a month if mail !!!
Read your great report with intense interest.
I have to admit you made me hungry several times during my reading, as I pictured you eating all that great food
I am glad you were able to see so much in all the port you visits.
I ws able to follow your adventures from place to place ( except for the dinning in all those places.)
Welcome Back and Thank you for a Great Report
Sep 21st, 2009, 03:54 PM
#27
I will read your report again before bedtime...to make sure I did not miss anything !!
Good explantion of the places you visited.
Thank You again
Good explantion of the places you visited.
Thank You again
Sep 21st, 2009, 05:14 PM
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Julie,
We are taking a Princess Baltic Cruise next June 21. I think it is the same itinerary are yours EXCEPT ... We will be on the STAR Princess. Was your ship the STAR? I am hoping that if the STAR is smaller than the ship you were on, that perhaps in Gdansk we can dock closer - rather than in Gdynia.
Is that hoping for too much?? A 30 - 45 minute ride to town stinks!
Your report is AMAZING! Thanks for all your hard work .. much is useful to me in planning for next year! I am more excited than ever now!
Mary Ann
We are taking a Princess Baltic Cruise next June 21. I think it is the same itinerary are yours EXCEPT ... We will be on the STAR Princess. Was your ship the STAR? I am hoping that if the STAR is smaller than the ship you were on, that perhaps in Gdansk we can dock closer - rather than in Gdynia.
Is that hoping for too much?? A 30 - 45 minute ride to town stinks!
Your report is AMAZING! Thanks for all your hard work .. much is useful to me in planning for next year! I am more excited than ever now!
Mary Ann
Sep 21st, 2009, 06:41 PM
#29
nannybray
I think you are hoping for too much !!!
The cruise ship docks in Gdynia,but it is not that bad, because you hire a taxi at the dock and then, the first place you go to is the Oliwa Church to listen for about 15 minutes to that 7876 Pipe Organ!!
It is a nice drive to Gdansk , because from Gdynia you next go through Sopot ,which is the where the wealthy live and this is also the beach resort place.( The Summer Capital of Poland).
On the map these these places are referred to as "Tricity" ( Gdynia,Sopot and Gdansk)
It is not a country drive, you are always in the "city" so to speak and you do not know where Gdynia ends and Sopot begins or where Sopot ends and Gdansk begins.!!
Julie can tell you more
I think you are hoping for too much !!!
The cruise ship docks in Gdynia,but it is not that bad, because you hire a taxi at the dock and then, the first place you go to is the Oliwa Church to listen for about 15 minutes to that 7876 Pipe Organ!!
It is a nice drive to Gdansk , because from Gdynia you next go through Sopot ,which is the where the wealthy live and this is also the beach resort place.( The Summer Capital of Poland).
On the map these these places are referred to as "Tricity" ( Gdynia,Sopot and Gdansk)
It is not a country drive, you are always in the "city" so to speak and you do not know where Gdynia ends and Sopot begins or where Sopot ends and Gdansk begins.!!
Julie can tell you more
Sep 22nd, 2009, 03:06 AM
#30
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nannibray, Percy offers excellent advice. For info on the cruise aspects of your trip--and for very specific info on how to maximize your time in ports, my report pales in comparison to Percy's. Check it out by toggling to the cruise forum and do a search on Percy or Baltics and you should be able to find his report easily.
Though I followed much of Percy's very specific advice about entering ports, etc. I wasn't always able to because I was with a group of 4, all of whom had ideas about what we should see and how fast we should go and where we should stop, etc. On the whole we're also a bit more "stop and soak it up" than Percy appears to be from the amount of ground he covered at the various stops. And specifically in Gdansk, I opted for the ship's nominal "tour" to get us in and out of town from the harbor rather than the completely independent taxi approach Percy took because I'd read about the traffic problems Gdansk can experience making taxi return potential risky--while the ship would never leave without a busload of its passengers stuck in traffic in its own chartered bus.
We would have preferred the taxi approach for sure. As our bus whizzed by the Oliwa church I felt especially bad, knowing from Percy's report about the grand organ inside, but travel is, of necessity, a series of trade offs, and I'd opted for security on that particular aspect of the trip.
I urge you to go to the cruise forum and find Percy's trip report. It's called Baltic Cruise Trip Report, Hi Jacketwatch. If you check out that forum you'll see that Percy is an incredibly well-traveled cruiser who is very generous with his information, advice and recommendations. You'll see a couple of posts there that I wrote to him asking advice before our cruise. Percy's a gem. You'll find him immensely helpful.
Also go on Cruisecritic.com if you want info on your ship or general aspects of cruising. You'll even find a "roll call" there where you will be able to meet others taking your exact same cruise. Enjoy it.
Though I followed much of Percy's very specific advice about entering ports, etc. I wasn't always able to because I was with a group of 4, all of whom had ideas about what we should see and how fast we should go and where we should stop, etc. On the whole we're also a bit more "stop and soak it up" than Percy appears to be from the amount of ground he covered at the various stops. And specifically in Gdansk, I opted for the ship's nominal "tour" to get us in and out of town from the harbor rather than the completely independent taxi approach Percy took because I'd read about the traffic problems Gdansk can experience making taxi return potential risky--while the ship would never leave without a busload of its passengers stuck in traffic in its own chartered bus.
We would have preferred the taxi approach for sure. As our bus whizzed by the Oliwa church I felt especially bad, knowing from Percy's report about the grand organ inside, but travel is, of necessity, a series of trade offs, and I'd opted for security on that particular aspect of the trip.
I urge you to go to the cruise forum and find Percy's trip report. It's called Baltic Cruise Trip Report, Hi Jacketwatch. If you check out that forum you'll see that Percy is an incredibly well-traveled cruiser who is very generous with his information, advice and recommendations. You'll see a couple of posts there that I wrote to him asking advice before our cruise. Percy's a gem. You'll find him immensely helpful.
Also go on Cruisecritic.com if you want info on your ship or general aspects of cruising. You'll even find a "roll call" there where you will be able to meet others taking your exact same cruise. Enjoy it.
Sep 22nd, 2009, 07:23 AM
#31
JulieVikmanis
You are too kind about my Trip Report.!!!
Thank You very much.
I certainly enjoyed reading about your adventures.
Julie we had a group of four also ,but everyone relied totally on me and whatever I said or did was fine with them !!!........... so I did not have anyone diverting my plans
nannibray:
If you cannot find my Trip Report ,I can post the website for you.
You are too kind about my Trip Report.!!!
Thank You very much.
I certainly enjoyed reading about your adventures.
Julie we had a group of four also ,but everyone relied totally on me and whatever I said or did was fine with them !!!........... so I did not have anyone diverting my plans
nannibray:
If you cannot find my Trip Report ,I can post the website for you.
Sep 22nd, 2009, 09:51 AM
#32
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Great trip report - I also did a Baltic cruise this past July on Celebrity and reading your report was like reliving it for a short time.
We also took Percy's advice and toured with Alla while in St. Petersburg - there were only 4 of us too and we had an excellent time.
Prior to this cruise I had never given much thought to any of the places we visited on the cruise (which is why we decided to do the cruise vs. a land vacation to these areas) - and I surely would like to visit Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg again.
As far as Stockholm vs. Copenhagen, I'm swaying a bit more towards Copenhagen, but admittedly with an unfair bias - my cousin and her family live in there, so they spent the entire two days with us while we were in port. Drove us all over the place, visited their home and essentially made me want to move permanently into their guest bedroom.
I thought Copenhagen really had a great laid back sort of vibe - and I'm sure the weather helped - it was gorgeous the entire time and it seemed like everyone was out taking advantage of the weather at the beaches and parks.
We also took Percy's advice and toured with Alla while in St. Petersburg - there were only 4 of us too and we had an excellent time.
Prior to this cruise I had never given much thought to any of the places we visited on the cruise (which is why we decided to do the cruise vs. a land vacation to these areas) - and I surely would like to visit Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg again.
As far as Stockholm vs. Copenhagen, I'm swaying a bit more towards Copenhagen, but admittedly with an unfair bias - my cousin and her family live in there, so they spent the entire two days with us while we were in port. Drove us all over the place, visited their home and essentially made me want to move permanently into their guest bedroom.
I thought Copenhagen really had a great laid back sort of vibe - and I'm sure the weather helped - it was gorgeous the entire time and it seemed like everyone was out taking advantage of the weather at the beaches and parks.
Sep 22nd, 2009, 11:54 AM
#33
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we experienced that same kind of weather while in Copenhagen and it was wonderful. It seemed like none of the locals could have been at home. All were out taking advantage of their wonderful parks and waterways. It may well have contributed to my fond recollections of CPH as possibly superior even to the wonderful place that Stockholm is.
Sep 22nd, 2009, 11:58 AM
#34
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<i>we experienced that same kind of weather while in Copenhagen and it was wonderful. It seemed like none of the locals could have been at home. All were out taking advantage of their wonderful parks and waterways.</i>
You both got lucky. The reason everyone is out is because Copenhagen is cloudy for about 11 months out of the year. Lots to love about Copenhagen, but the weather is more than a bit gray. Doesn't get overly hot or cold, though.
You both got lucky. The reason everyone is out is because Copenhagen is cloudy for about 11 months out of the year. Lots to love about Copenhagen, but the weather is more than a bit gray. Doesn't get overly hot or cold, though.
Sep 22nd, 2009, 02:51 PM
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>You both got lucky. The reason everyone is out is because Copenhagen is cloudy for about 11 months out of the year. Lots to love about Copenhagen, but the weather is more than a bit gray.<
This is exactly what my cousin told me. She thought it was funny that I had been hoping for cooler weather (we live in Hawaii so I look forward to cooler temperatures when we travel) - when we were there both days it was between 76-78 degrees with clear blue skies and everyone was reveling in the sunshine/warmth.
There were so many people out, I recall wondering if people had taken the day off of work (it was midweek) just to enjoy the sunshine - the beaches and parks were that crowded.
This is exactly what my cousin told me. She thought it was funny that I had been hoping for cooler weather (we live in Hawaii so I look forward to cooler temperatures when we travel) - when we were there both days it was between 76-78 degrees with clear blue skies and everyone was reveling in the sunshine/warmth.
There were so many people out, I recall wondering if people had taken the day off of work (it was midweek) just to enjoy the sunshine - the beaches and parks were that crowded.
Sep 23rd, 2009, 12:47 AM
#37
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I was in Copenhagen and Stockholm right after Christmas, about four years ago. My neice was going to school and living in Copenhagen. She went to Stockholm with us and had raved about the Grand Hotel "borgesmord", she had visited Stockholm a couple of years before when she lived in London.
As luck would have it, they don't serve it in the dead of winter. I knew I was disappointed, but after reading your description of the food, I'm about to cry!!!!!
We stayed right in Gamla Stan, just around the corner from the Stockholm Cathedral and the palace. The Nobel museum is right in that area also and is worth a visit. He was an amazing man.
As luck would have it, they don't serve it in the dead of winter. I knew I was disappointed, but after reading your description of the food, I'm about to cry!!!!!
We stayed right in Gamla Stan, just around the corner from the Stockholm Cathedral and the palace. The Nobel museum is right in that area also and is worth a visit. He was an amazing man.
Sep 23rd, 2009, 05:09 PM
#38
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Now to the Practical:
Quick Question to prepare for our cruise next summer.
For the taxis and shore excursion expenses in each city, what form of currency did you use?
I don't believe any of them are on the Euro - except perhaps Tallin.
Did you need to use the ATM in each location, or USA dollars or Euros? What did you do with the "left over" currency in each country? What about taxi fares?
Were credit cards more useful?/
Thanks for the heaps of info!!
You guys will put Rick Steves out of business!!
Mary Ann
Quick Question to prepare for our cruise next summer.
For the taxis and shore excursion expenses in each city, what form of currency did you use?
I don't believe any of them are on the Euro - except perhaps Tallin.
Did you need to use the ATM in each location, or USA dollars or Euros? What did you do with the "left over" currency in each country? What about taxi fares?
Were credit cards more useful?/
Thanks for the heaps of info!!
You guys will put Rick Steves out of business!!
Mary Ann
Sep 23rd, 2009, 05:23 PM
#39
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Julie and Percy:
Another question for the experts:
Read a post..." in Stockholm be sure to be on deck when you sail through the
Archipelago."
OKAY, I check out the Archipelago a little but don't quite know enough except that they are a large cluster of islands..
1)Does the ship sail thru the Arch.. directly on departing Stockholm enroute to Helsinki? or on the approach?
2) If it sails thru when leaving Stockholm, will early seating at dinner (6:00) prevent seeing the islands? Should we skip dinner seating and just do the buffet in order to weee the archipelago?
Julie:
How was the entertainment on the Princess line?
Another question for the experts:
Read a post..." in Stockholm be sure to be on deck when you sail through the
Archipelago."
OKAY, I check out the Archipelago a little but don't quite know enough except that they are a large cluster of islands..
1)Does the ship sail thru the Arch.. directly on departing Stockholm enroute to Helsinki? or on the approach?
2) If it sails thru when leaving Stockholm, will early seating at dinner (6:00) prevent seeing the islands? Should we skip dinner seating and just do the buffet in order to weee the archipelago?
Julie:
How was the entertainment on the Princess line?
Sep 23rd, 2009, 07:29 PM
#40
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fantastic report...boy do i feel lucky when i read your prices for st pete and tallinn and even helsinki...
we had a fabulous driver for 3 days for about $500....new car and good service...perfect english....i thought our meals were expensive but nothing like yours....so i consider myself lucky...
we were touring on our own, not by boat and stayed in lux hotels for the most part...
we had a fabulous driver for 3 days for about $500....new car and good service...perfect english....i thought our meals were expensive but nothing like yours....so i consider myself lucky...
we were touring on our own, not by boat and stayed in lux hotels for the most part...
