Earl Rosebery

First class gets you through security more quickly.  Ask at check in.  

say 30 minutes.  They will monitor flights.  You aren’t reserving a specific taxi. There is only so much space at the dock. The dispatcher calls them in as needed and gives you the taxi ID number.

Google Cherbourg Normandy  tours yields a number of tours I have no personal experience. We took 2 full days in a rental car to ‘see’ from Pegasus bridge north of Caen to St. Mere Eglise.  if you want to focus on just the American beaches and cemetery there will be a tour for you.  A rental car is another option but you will spend time wandering around

It all depends on your budget.  Venice is magical. Also crowded and expensive.  You could spend a month there We found 3 whole days to be ideal.  Ca’ Angeli was a very good, accessible small hotel.  On the grand canal and steps from the water taxi dock. If you have a lot of luggage and want to be away from Piazzal Roma, water taxis are the way to go for arrival and departure.

Your ship is large. It will be at the marittima port.   Take the people mover to Piazza di Roma and then the number 1 Vaporetto to Ca’  d’Oro.

A vaporetto ride on the grand canal is half the fun.   Or you could walk. It’s 25 minutes according to google maps. I would walk 1 way and take the vaporetto the other. 

Gamla Stan is the Old Town.   Delightful.   Easy walk to the Royal Palace, Nobel Museum, a dozen good restaurants, the ferries and tour boats ,  First Hotel Reisen was very good. 

With 10 plus a lot of luggage, you will need 2 taxis 

Your guide and driver will be happy to receive US dollars, Euros, or GB£.   They are all fungible.  

The only time you might need a rouble coin is for the toilets. In that case, your guide will provide the necessary coin.   Credit cards for everything else.  

The fewer the better.  A 35 pax bus is far too cumbersome.  You would always be waiting.

Even 16. is a lot.   We were 6. with Ulko Tours - wonderful.  6 or so is ideal.  You go at your pace to the places you want. You don’t line up.  You can hear your guide in very busy venues.  Someone getting separated is far less likely.  You can go to a restaurant if you choose.

Go for it. You won’t be sorry.

Go for a water taxi.   It’s the ‘best’ way.   You can prebook for about 115 €,  Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia (link above). is the best known. 

You will receive a voucher. You turn the voucher in at their desk in the arrivals area , they call in a taxi and give you the taxi’s number to meet at the dock.. ( The dock is a 10 minute level walk.)

Alternatively, just go to the same desk when you arrive.. Same price.  The taxis hold up to 10 . Sharing is common. You can find someone at the desk to share with if you wish to.  

We disembarked Marina in Stockholm in June of 2017.   Stayed on the ship too long and the line had grown considerably. There were several young men trying to make a few bucks by insisting on loading the taxis . They slowed everything down. we were an hour.

Didn’t matter too much as we stayed overnight in the city. If you are going directly to the airport, get off earlier, prebook transportation or be prepared to wait. To prebook, google will tell you how.

The only way you will have a problem is if there is a disaster at Newark.  Even if your flight is an hour late you will be fine.  The flight is direct which is a huge plus.  Allow 45 minutes max for immigration and 45 minutes max for a cab ride. Traffic at that time is not a problem It’s a 25 minute ride.

That gets you to the port by 2:00PM at the very latest. 

ATM. (bank affiliated). certainly 

Absolutely.   In fact it’s a must.  If you don’t, you might not even get in.  Buy directly from the museum website.

We found the hop on hop off to be completely unreliable.   Took the boat out to the Museum district.   Tried to come back but the service was so infrequent, we ended up taking the tram..  

The only Baltic currency is Euros so I cant see it working in Russia, Sweden ,  Denmark, Poland, or Norway.

They have your money up front so you are giving them an interest free loan.- not an issue for small amounts..

Stick with a credit card.  

You are right . Insist on the  private tour.   40 in a huge bus is 32 too many.   We had 6 with Ulko tours . Fantastic. Paid with a credit card. You could set up a one time card but it really would be a waste of time.   P.S. You don’t need rubles either.

On our second visit to Zeebruges we opted for a ships tour to Ypres.  There  were 3 Battles of Ypres in WW1.  The museum and memorials are awe inspiring.

I’m not at all sure what you are worried about. Are you talking about Canadian customs at the airport or US customs at the cruise terminal?  Canadian customs at the airport are friendly and efficient.

At the cruise port You will be pre clearing US customs and immigration.   The procedure is no different than clearing customs at an airport. You shouldn’t have any problems whatsoever.  Especially if your husband is in a wheelchair.  Ask your cruise company what help they can provide.  Normally they have a representative at the airport.  The size of your ship, other ships in port are factors.  Don’t show up too too early or at the last minute. You will be fine.

There is a fixed rate. Check before you get in the cab.  Taking the express train to central Stockholm isn’t worth the trouble. 

look at Ca’ Angeli.     Hard to beat. Great location on the Grand Canal.

Dollars, euros, pounds sterling all preferable for tips.

Viatour is a booking agency .  Just as easy is to go to the water taxi desk in the arrivals hall and take a taxi to your hotel.  Sharing is normal practice.  Expensive but worth the cost ,especially after a long flight.   From your hotel to the port, simply ask the concierge in your hotel.

Sounds very doubtful to me.   A huge issue is long lines at most venues.  The private tours go to the front of theline (atleast thesmaller groups do).   6 persons is ideal

Late August is as good as anytime