redrover

I am in the planning stage of what (to many) would be a 'last minute' cruise for this September. Its a bit of a pre-amble but here goes.

I'm travelling with my Mother. She is a Cunard veteran really and travelled a number of times with them over the years, along with my late Father.

Mum first crossed the Atlantic in early 1940 (delayed departure due to the outbreak of hostilities) when, at the age of just 14, she went to stay with relations in Montreal - to get out of harms way. Her trip took her from Liverpool aboard Canadian Pacific's 'Duchess of Bedford' to St John New Brunswick, and then onwards the last 500 miles or so by train. Can you imagine a girl of 14 being sent alone nowadays? She got a job over there and stayed for 9 years.

Mum and I sailed together to Canada for a long summer holiday (Canadian Pacific) in 1961 when I was 6 - with Dad joining us by air for a fortnight as he couldn't get more time off work.

In later years Mum and Dad took a number of Cunard cruises and they also went on a holiday to Montreal. I joined them on a QE2 Transatlantic celebrating my 21st Birthday and their 21st wedding Anniversary.

In 2005, when Mum was 80, she said she would like to go on 'one last cruise' and asked if I would accompany her. We did a Med trip. In 2010, at 85, Mum said she thought she could manage 'one last cruise', and we did an ex-Dover trip to the Baltic with Holland America -as Mr Cruise Critic seems to have cleverly remembered in the box below!

You are ahead of me I expect - because now, at 90, and still able to get about quite well for her age (going out shopping on the normal bus for example), Mum has announced that she thinks its time for 'one last cruise'! :-)

So, with Mum celebrating her 90th and my own 60th Birthday this year - it seemed a good idea.

Looking at itineraries that fit our dates, and with my Mother keen not to be away for too long, I was attracted by the Regent sailing from New York to Montreal on 26th September - with open jaw flights from London. St John is a POC en-route on the cruise itinerary, which also has other calls at places Mum has not previously visited.

Bearing in mind Mums age, the convenience of the all-inclusive flights, transfers, hotels (if required), cruise, excursions, drinks and restaurants, room service and gratuities package offered by Regent seems very attractive.

Nothing is booked as yet - and indeed the first move would be to finalise travel insurance - which is going to be a hefty sum on its own.

So hints, tips and dos and don'ts are needed for some 'unseasoned up-scalers' who might be making a first trip on Regent.

Over to you experts ... ;-)

Many thanks for the info Al - much appreciated.

We are due to dock at Stadsgården 165/167 on Sunday 6th June.

It seems that part of the dock (the most easterly end from the map I consulted) has no passenger terminal facilities (I may be wrong) so my intention was to walk along the quay to the Viking Lines terminal where I hope to be able to buy a one day Stockholm Bus/rail/metro ticket, then take the bus one stop from there to Slussen and transfer to the Train or another bus to Gamla Stan and then onwards as needed for the day.

So my questions :

1 Is it possible to purchase the city public transport ticket at the Viking Terminal?

2 It's Swedens National Day. Does the public transport still run? Are the Museums Open? Would they still have the Changing of the Guard? (I read that their Majesties attend a big celebration in the evening after we have left so wondered if that might impact on normal ceremonials).

Hoping you can help!