The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[Toocoolmom]

We did a private 2-day city tour and saw all the must-see tourist sites. The canal tour is a made-for-tourists-looking-to-spend-money trap IMO. I you are doing a city tour already, the canal tour is just a boat ride...and a not very comfortable one at that. We did not see anything via the canal tour that we did not see on the day cruise. And since the canal cruise started at 7 pm, we had to cut our private tour a little short, go back thru immigation, back on the ship, meet up with our canal tour and then get back off the ship again.

They did have a 3-person music show that was kinda fun...but that was the only redeeming value of the canal tour IMO.

~Mike

Makes me think twice about take the canal tour. We thought it would be fun just to see a little more of Russia but, if it's not worth it maybe we should cancel. Hmmmm.....

 

[Rogillio]

Makes me think twice about take the canal tour. We thought it would be fun just to see a little more of Russia but, if it's not worth it maybe we should cancel. Hmmmm.....

The canal tour is pretty cheap....so if it's a matter of going back to the ship to hang out or doing the tour, I'd say do the tour. But if you have to cut your day tour short to make the canal tour, I'd say it's not worth it.

~Mike

 

[rotary2808]

Makes me think twice about take the canal tour. We thought it would be fun just to see a little more of Russia but, if it's not worth it maybe we should cancel. Hmmmm.....

I have to agree about the canal tour. We did it along with the Spilled Blood Cathedral and there was nothing special about it. The boat we were on was just plastic lawn chairs on top of a boat. I would have been perfectly happy just seeing the cathedral and skipping the canal boat part. There was also one too many shopping opportunities on that excursion.

 

[smilis]

The canal tour is pretty cheap....so if it's a matter of going back to the ship to hang out or doing the tour, I'd say do the tour. But if you have to cut your day tour short to make the canal tour, I'd say it's not worth it.

~Mike

Bummer! I'm disappointed to hear the canal tour is nothing special. We added it onto our private tour at the end of day two and it can't be cancelled as it is pre-paid. Also, surprised to hear that the theater where the Folkloric show is held is nothing special. I guess just because it has the word Palace attached to it's name doesn't mean anything
Thanks for sharing your review.

 

[aurorafan65]

what time could you get off in StP? Was it early or were you pretty much let off at 12:30 as posted in the original itinerary

 

[goingsouth]

what time could you get off in StP? Was it early or were you pretty much let off at 12:30 as posted in the original itinerary

oooh good question!

 

[Rogillio]

what time could you get off in StP? Was it early or were you pretty much let off at 12:30 as posted in the original itinerary

It was right at 12:30 but it took a while to get though immigration....long wait. The first time we went through was the longest though. The second, third and forth times went went right out with little or no wait. The first time you go out, you have to fill out a form for everyone in your party and it takes them a while to process the forms.

~Mike

 

[scrapycruiser]

Do you know if all the Berlin tours took the train, or did some have to take the bus ?

Did they sell Russian souvenirs on the ship ...like the nesting dolls, laquered boxes ,amber ? They sold these items on the Jewel of the Seas Baltic cruise. Did they have a shop on the pier in St P ?

Thanks for all your information !!

 

[MrsScooby]

It was right at 12:30 but it took a while to get though immigration....long wait. The first time we went through was the longest though. The second, third and forth times went went right out with little or no wait. The first time you go out, you have to fill out a form for everyone in your party and it takes them a while to process the forms.

~Mike

Are those forms available in advance? On the internet?

 

[rotary2808]

Do you know if all the Berlin tours took the train, or did some have to take the bus ?

Did they sell Russian souvenirs on the ship ...like the nesting dolls, laquered boxes ,amber ? They sold these items on the Jewel of the Seas Baltic cruise. Did they have a shop on the pier in St P ?

Thanks for all your information !!

As far as I know all the Berlin excursions took the train. It took about 2 and a half hours to get to Berlin by train so I can only imagine how long it would take by bus.

Yes, they had an amber event on the ship and then they also had a Russian bazaar with the nesting dolls, boxes, etc.

Are those forms available in advance? On the internet?

I don't think they are. They put them in your stateroom the night before so you have plenty of time to fill them out for everyone in your party.

 

[Madisonznana]

I enjoying all the info from the first cruise! Thanks everyone, for putting up with all the questions. I have one.....Had any of you pre-paid for the Oslo pass and came in with a voucher to get yours? Was there a line that made the purchase quicker?

 

[MJGirl]

Huh? What do you mean you "had to get off"? You couldn't stay on the ship if you wanted? Kids too? That's absurd!

Everyone had to leave the ship. If you were planning on staying on the boat for the day, you just got off, then got back on. You got a Swedish stamp on your passport!

I can't believe the first cruise is almost over - I guess if I was on-board I REALLY wouldn't want to belive it

I asked on the main board but if anyone on the first or second trip could share what people are wearing on the excursions involving churches. I'm a little worried since I got an email about shorts. It's NOT me I'm worried about since I'll be wearing capri's I'm more curious about the boys & dh since they'll want to wear shorts.

I wore jeans, as it was too chilly in the morning for shorts. Don`t know if this will be the case for the rest of them!

 

[aurorafan65]

It was right at 12:30 but it took a while to get though immigration....long wait. The first time we went through was the longest though. The second, third and forth times went went right out with little or no wait. The first time you go out, you have to fill out a form for everyone in your party and it takes them a while to process the forms.

~Mike

thanks!

 

[aurorafan65]

I wore jeans, as it was too chilly in the morning for shorts. Don`t know if this will be the case for the rest of them!

Thanks MJ - sounds like you had a great trip!

 

[slg]

About the evening canal cruise...hmmmm. We aren't going on a city tour, we are doing two dcl excursions, one to peterof parks and fountains and one to catherine's palace and hermitage. I specifically picked the canal tour because I thought it would give us a chance to see the spilled blood cathedral and some other sites that we might miss as we aren't doing a city tour.

Do you still think its not worth it in our case? I really don't want to miss a lovely evening on board if the canal tour isn't worth it.

Would love advice...

 

[wickesy]

I enjoying all the info from the first cruise! Thanks everyone, for putting up with all the questions. I have one.....Had any of you pre-paid for the Oslo pass and came in with a voucher to get yours? Was there a line that made the purchase quicker?

We just bought ours at the Tourist Information desk right inside the terminal. There was no line there so if you already have a voucher you could probably exchange it there with no wait.

 

[goingsouth]

Magic in Oslo today

http://www.oslohavn.no/webkamera



joanne

 

[Rogillio]

About the evening canal cruise...hmmmm. We aren't going on a city tour, we are doing two dcl excursions, one to peterof parks and fountains and one to catherine's palace and hermitage. I specifically picked the canal tour because I thought it would give us a chance to see the spilled blood cathedral and some other sites that we might miss as we aren't doing a city tour.

Do you still think its not worth it in our case? I really don't want to miss a lovely evening on board if the canal tour isn't worth it.

Would love advice...

I don't think you will see the Chruch of the Spilled blood via the boat....our canal tour stayed mostly in the main canal and only went up one or two of the smaller canals and there are hundreds of smaller canals. There is a chance you will pass that chuch on the way to the Hermitage but maybe not. Maybe you can slip the bus driver a finski to swing by the Chuch of the Spilt blood on the way to the Hermitage. ;-)

~Mike

 

[Rogillio]

Do you know if all the Berlin tours took the train, or did some have to take the bus ?

Did they sell Russian souvenirs on the ship ...like the nesting dolls, laquered boxes ,amber ? They sold these items on the Jewel of the Seas Baltic cruise. Did they have a shop on the pier in St P ?

Thanks for all your information !!

Yes, they sold all of that on the ship too.

 

[carolmb]

Yes, they sold all of that on the ship too.

And it was expensive!

Carol