The Baltic Region: Cruise or Land Tour?
Feb 25th, 2019 | 07:48 PM
#21
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
I sense some confusion here
This part I can agree with - even though these cruises are very few and far between...
... and this is simply not the case. I mean, there are indeed many river cruise that start or end in SPB, but none of them go to the Baltic states.
... and this is simply not the case. I mean, there are indeed many river cruise that start or end in SPB, but none of them go to the Baltic states.
Feb 26th, 2019 | 04:44 PM
#23
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,715
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To each his/her own! I'm very glad that I did NOT take a cruise so I could see the places I wanted to see with the time that I felt made sense for each.
Feb 26th, 2019 | 06:30 PM
#24
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 71
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True, with all these cruise-centric comments (and my attention span of a fruit fly) I totally forgot what the OP's question was - and, given the choice, I would vote for a land tour, of course.
That said, a post- or pre-cruise "extension" (not necessarily booked via the cruise line) in SPB is a legitimate way of venturing out of the tourist bubble, which is bound to enhance the whole experience.
That said, a post- or pre-cruise "extension" (not necessarily booked via the cruise line) in SPB is a legitimate way of venturing out of the tourist bubble, which is bound to enhance the whole experience.
Feb 26th, 2019 | 08:08 PM
#25
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,369
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You could do what I did and do the Baltic countries by land (bus and train) and take a ferry from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and back. You get to spend up to three days (slightly less) with a 72 hour "visa free" visit. It's barely enough time to get a taste for St. Petersburg, but at least you can visit without much hassle. The overnight ferry each way to/from Helsinki was more fun and nicer than I expected.
Feb 26th, 2019 | 11:36 PM
#26
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,386
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Last summer, we spent several days in Vilnius, then took a bus to Riga, which was super easy and comfy. (movies on board... internet... clean.) Both towns were wonderful and it was nice to have some good, slow leisure time in them. We then flew to Stockholm and took a cruise tour of the Baltics. (Viking Ocean). The tour went to Russia and many other ports. Loved everything about the cruise.... but loved our sweet, easy time in Vilnius, Riga and Stockholm. Maybe a combo of cruise and independent travel, if you have the time. (We were almost 4 weeks, as we spent some time in Norway at the end of the cruise.)
Feb 27th, 2019 | 04:38 AM
#27
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
St.Petersburg
Walk along the canals of the “Venice of the North” (St.Petersburg’s well deserved nickname), and along the beautiful Neva River will take your breath away.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolny_Convent
And do not even get me started on the gorgeous suburbs of St.Petersburg with stunning palaces and parks. They rival Versailles and Fontainebleau.
And Mariinsky Theater with its world famous ballet...
The list is endless, so I’d better stop now.
Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius are lovely, but St.Petersburg... think Paris!
Disclaimer: I still love Paris much more. 😊
Feb 27th, 2019 | 09:14 AM
#28
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 22
For Russia we got our own Visa using an agency. Usually we get Visas ourselves but for Russia an agency was a lot easier althpugh more costly. I have a problem with cruising as you have to eat dinners back on the boat. I prefer having meals locally, learning about their food and cuisine.
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