The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Magic left Helsinki a while back and is well on time getting out of port and over to its last port of call in Stockhom tomorrow.

About Berlin....DD (20) is the one who wanted to go there! She wants to see what is left of the Berlin wall. This is the port she was most interested in...go figure!We are doing the Berlin on our own tour, should be interesting.

Really hope the internet gets better. I have never used it on a cruise but this time I think I will have to. I have to keep current on my Mom's bills. She just passed away this past Wednesday and bills are coming in I must pay. We are paying all ours ahead of leaving next week but I will not know what hers are until they come.....

My kids are covering Berlin and Germany at school as well and are interested.

We have the DCL private train compartment and Berlin private tour, they let us decided where we would like to go, so the same as you setting a plan up of the main sights.


Berlin
• Gendarmenmarkt
• Reichstag
• Brandenburger Tor/ Brandenburger Gate
• Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall
• Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
• Nikolaiviertel or St. Nicholas Quarter
• Holocaust Memorial/Denkmal fur die ermordeten Juden Europas
• Bebelplatz/ State Opera House/ St. Hedwig’s Cathedral/ Old Library
• Charlottenburg Palace/Schloß Charlottenburg/ Kulturforum
• Berliner Dom/Museum Island/Museumsinsel
• Potsdamer Platz
• Hackesche Höfe
• Kurfurstendamm/shopping.


Detail...........................................................

Brandenburger Gate
The Brandenburger Tor was originally a gate in Berlin's city wall at the end of the Unter den Linden avenue. Since the fall of the Wall, Brandenburger Tor has become the symbol of a reunified Berlin. Read more...

Reichstag
The historic Reichstag building was reconstructed after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The original dome however was replaced by a modern glass one. Since 1999 the building serves again as Germany's seat of Parliament. Read more....

Holocaust Memorial
This Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust is an undulating forest of 2711 slabs of concrete, each of a different size. It was dedicated 60 years after the fall of the Nazi regime. Read more...

.
Museum Island
Berlin's Museumsinsel (Museum Island) is home to no less than five museums, all right next to each other. The museums were built over a century, with the last one, the Pergamon Museum, opening in 1930. Read more...

Berliner Dom
The Berliner Dom is a baroque Cathedral built between 1894 and 1905. It is located on an island in the river Spree, known as Museum Island. Severely damaged during the war, it reopened in 1993. Read more....

Berlin Wall
Most of the Berlin wall has been demolished since the border between East and West Berlin opened in 1989. The more than 1km long East Side Gallery is the most important part still standing. Read more...
o
.
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-kirche, a partially destroyed 19th century church is a constant reminder of the ravages of war. A 1960s modern church was built next to the destroyed tower. Read more...

o .

Charlottenburg Palace
The Schloss Charlottenburg is an early 18th century baroque palace in Berlin's Charlottenburg district. Several sections of the lavishly decorated building are open to visitors. Read more...

.
Checkpoint Charlie
One of three checkpoints at the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie was the site of a standoff between American and Russian tanks in 1961. It became one of the most famous symbols of the Cold War Era. Read more....

Gendarmenmarkt
One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Gendarmenmarkt is bordered by three magnificent buildings: the Konzerthaus, Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom. Read more...

 

[Cousin Orville]

So I guess the next question would be - what store or shopping street to specifically ask the guides to take us in Petersburg. The biggest thing that irritates me on organized tours are these shopping stops determined not by their quality, selection, or bargain, but by the commission they give the tour operator. I think we just need to take control of our own (private) tour a little bit and have an idea of where we want them to take us.

 

[jilljill]

Yes, tour operators take you to souvenier shops of their choice and we found them to be a bit higher but not double the prices in 2008. We used the shops more for a restroom break than for shopping. We stopped to a different shop each day and the prices at the 2nd shop were a bit better than the first - all the families in our group bought items at this shop. We had the opportunity to go to the kiosks across from the Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood but we all chose not to and to just keep touring.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

So I guess the next question would be - what store or shopping street to specifically ask the guides to take us in Petersburg. The biggest thing that irritates me on organized tours are these shopping stops determined not by their quality, selection, or bargain, but by the commission they give the tour operator. I think we just need to take control of our own tour a little bit and have an idea of where we want them to take us.

I wouls assume the shopping centres of , Gostiny Dvor, Passazh, Varshavskiy Express would offer alternatives and competition but the tour guide will help with the local language, local way of purchasing stuff, safety, and payment, commission kick backs are annoying but you have to balance the cost against saftey, and other considerations. Shop at port is said to have reasonable prices.

 

[goingsouth]

About Berlin-

One stop I wanted to make for sure is the recently reopened New Museum.
Our guide (Berlin walks) recommended arranging tickets in advance as it's very popular.
We accomplished this easy online and the tickets were sent via email. If anyone else is interested, here's the link:
http://www.neues-museum.de/

joanne

 

[Cousin Orville]

I wouls assume the shopping centres of , Gostiny Dvor, Passazh, Varshavskiy Express would offer alternatives and competition but the tour guide will help with the local language, local way of purchasing stuff, safety, and payment, commission kick backs are annoying but you have to balance the cost against saftey, and other considerations. Shop at port is said to have reasonable prices.

That's a good point. Convenience, breaking down language barriers, and safety all have a value that's sort of built into the price.

 

[wintergreen]

About Berlin-

One stop I wanted to make for sure is the recently reopened New Museum.
Out guide recommended arranging tickets in advance as it's very popular.
We accomplished this easy online and the tickets were sent via email. If anyone else is interested, here's the link:
http://www.neues-museum.de/

joanne

Thanks! I really want to go there, as well. Will order tickets.

 

[wintergreen]

Thanks! I really want to go there, as well. Will order tickets.

All in German on the ticket order page. I guess I can manage this, but I'm not sure how to figure out what time to order the tickets for. How did you pick, goingsouth?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

About Berlin-

One stop I wanted to make for sure is the recently reopened New Museum.
Out guide recommended arranging tickets in advance as it's very popular.
We accomplished this easy online and the tickets were sent via email. If anyone else is interested, here's the link:
http://www.neues-museum.de/

joanne

I think my kids will be *Museumed out* at St Petes, so going for photo stops and sighseeing.

That's a good point. Convenience, breaking down language barriers, and safety all have a value that's sort of built into the price.

Its a balancing, knowing you are paying more is annoying, but then I understand whilst modern shops are ok, you can have issues in more traditional Russian shops where they look after the locals and if, you are polite you will not be served. A tour guide can get you *service* for their extra buck.

 

[RJAYL]

Magic left Helsinki a while back and is well on time getting out of port and over to its last port of call in Stockhom tomorrow.



My kids are covering Berlin and Germany at school as well and are interested.

We have the DCL private train compartment and Berlin private tour, they let us decided where we would like to go, so the same as you setting a plan up of the main sights.


Berlin
• Gendarmenmarkt
• Reichstag
• Brandenburger Tor/ Brandenburger Gate
• Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall
• Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
• Nikolaiviertel or St. Nicholas Quarter
• Holocaust Memorial/Denkmal fur die ermordeten Juden Europas
• Bebelplatz/ State Opera House/ St. Hedwig’s Cathedral/ Old Library
• Charlottenburg Palace/Schloß Charlottenburg/ Kulturforum
• Berliner Dom/Museum Island/Museumsinsel
• Potsdamer Platz
• Hackesche Höfe
• Kurfurstendamm/shopping.


Detail...........................................................

Brandenburger Gate
The Brandenburger Tor was originally a gate in Berlin's city wall at the end of the Unter den Linden avenue. Since the fall of the Wall, Brandenburger Tor has become the symbol of a reunified Berlin. Read more...

Reichstag
The historic Reichstag building was reconstructed after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The original dome however was replaced by a modern glass one. Since 1999 the building serves again as Germany's seat of Parliament. Read more....

Holocaust Memorial
This Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust is an undulating forest of 2711 slabs of concrete, each of a different size. It was dedicated 60 years after the fall of the Nazi regime. Read more...

.
Museum Island
Berlin's Museumsinsel (Museum Island) is home to no less than five museums, all right next to each other. The museums were built over a century, with the last one, the Pergamon Museum, opening in 1930. Read more...

Berliner Dom
The Berliner Dom is a baroque Cathedral built between 1894 and 1905. It is located on an island in the river Spree, known as Museum Island. Severely damaged during the war, it reopened in 1993. Read more....

Berlin Wall
Most of the Berlin wall has been demolished since the border between East and West Berlin opened in 1989. The more than 1km long East Side Gallery is the most important part still standing. Read more...
o
.
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-kirche, a partially destroyed 19th century church is a constant reminder of the ravages of war. A 1960s modern church was built next to the destroyed tower. Read more...

o .

Charlottenburg Palace
The Schloss Charlottenburg is an early 18th century baroque palace in Berlin's Charlottenburg district. Several sections of the lavishly decorated building are open to visitors. Read more...

.
Checkpoint Charlie
One of three checkpoints at the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie was the site of a standoff between American and Russian tanks in 1961. It became one of the most famous symbols of the Cold War Era. Read more....

Gendarmenmarkt
One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Gendarmenmarkt is bordered by three magnificent buildings: the Konzerthaus, Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom. Read more...

I am tired after just reading this list! I think this is more aggresive than your schedule for STP & you have a day & a half for that port!

Andrew I think you must be a little!

 

[TDC Nala]

"Fuhrungen" (not sure how to get in the umlaut) means conducted tours. So the options are entry, entry with conducted tour, and groups. It looks pretty easy to pick a day and time.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I am tired after just reading this list! I think this is more aggressive than your schedule for STP & you have a day & a half for that port!

Andrew I think you must be a little!

After all this time and you think I am a 'little' crazy

(Public knowledge, I am more than a little!!!!)

We go aggressive, everywhere, however that is a total plan and many places i understand are next to each other. DCL are proving us food o the train there and back, (on our booking, so we are not stopping to eat, bar a snack.

STP is aggressive as well, but I might add to that.

All ports are day long DCL tours bar Copenhagen.

 

[woody73]

. . . the tour guide will help with the local language, local way of purchasing stuff, safety, and payment

Speaking of payment, what currencies are accepted when buying souvenirs in St Petersburg?

Woody

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Speaking of payment, what currencies are accepted when buying souvenirs in St Petersburg?

Woody

Major stores take Credit cards and Euros as well as roubles. Tourist areas and near port will take USA Dollars, new fit notes, not ripped.

As I have long DCL tours in Oslo, Berlin, Tallin and Stockholm, all with food, and Copenhargen half day with snack, I am taking Dollars and Euros only and hitting credit cards when required. -All places near the ports will take Euros, and most will take dollars.

 

[goingsouth]

All in German on the ticket order page. I guess I can manage this, but I'm not sure how to figure out what time to order the tickets for. How did you pick, goingsouth?

Berlin walks suggested the time to me. I guess they knew how they would arrange the day. Which cruise are you on? Oh- kids under 16 are free..FYI


joanne

 

[MrsG]

About Berlin....DD (20) is the one who wanted to go there! She wants to see what is left of the Berlin wall. This is the port she was most interested in...go figure!We are doing the Berlin on our own tour, should be interesting.

Really hope the internet gets better. I have never used it on a cruise but this time I think I will have to. I have to keep current on my Mom's bills. She just passed away this past Wednesday and bills are coming in I must pay. We are paying all ours ahead of leaving next week but I will not know what hers are until they come.....

So sorry for your loss.
My mom passed on May 1st and I am still settling things. Hopefully, it will be quiet while we are away and I can deal with the leftovers when we return. I do find that companies are aware that many people take vacations during the summer and the turn around on bills are not as quick. Credit card companies have extended the time the payment is due so that should help. Not sure how long you will be away, but most bills can wait a few weeks. If some are overdue, just give a call when you get home to explain why. Don't let this ruin your trip. Try to settle as much as you can before and then enjoy the trip as much as you can.

 

[woody73]

Major stores take Credit cards and Euros as well as roubles. Tourist areas and near port will take USA Dollars, new fit notes, not ripped.

Thanks, Andrew.

Woody

 

[birkner]

So sorry for your loss.
My mom passed on May 1st and I am still settling things. Hopefully, it will be quiet while we are away and I can deal with the leftovers when we return. I do find that companies are aware that many people take vacations during the summer and the turn around on bills are not as quick. Credit card companies have extended the time the payment is due so that should help. Not sure how long you will be away, but most bills can wait a few weeks. If some are overdue, just give a call when you get home to explain why. Don't let this ruin your trip. Try to settle as much as you can before and then enjoy the trip as much as you can.

May I suggest the following which I did after my father died? I wrote to all the companies and explained my father had passed away and I would be handling the bills. If you are going to be away during a specific time, I would indicate the dates and that you will call them upon your return. I am sure they will be sympathetic. You could also call them with the same message but I preferred a written record.

Just my thoughts...

 

[Madisonznana]

We are probably just going to use the laptop to store pictures. That's basically all we could use it for in the Med.

This is why I bring my laptop too!

 

[hawaiian mickey]

This is why I bring my laptop too!

aloha,
That's why I am also bringing our laptop. Our cousin lost her camera with all her pictures on the bus. She lost all her pictures. Lucky I had a lot of pictures of her family on my camera. I always download our pictures once we are on the boat. That way I know I have my pictures stored and I can clear my camera disk. That way I have more space in my disk. I only carry 2*4mb scan disk more than enough.
Thank you to everyone who have given a lot of excellent advice for the future baltic cruisers.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey