Scandinavia/Russia on the Century

[alpal1993]

Thank you madforcruising you have made my life so much easier.I was really stressing about the currency exchange thing,especially after reading posts on the Baltic roll call board.Each city seems to have its own currency.Any takers for June 2 are welcome to come to our small posting>I hope it grows,before sailing.Need group for Red October tour.

Thanks again!

Ann

[RSteele]

Tallin, Estonia was also my favorite port...after St. Petersburg. If there's any tour that goes to Catherine's Palace...that was really a neat place to visit.

[Deb C.]

I enjoyed Peterhof.

 

I also came home with about 7-8 nesting dolls. They make great presents and I had to keep a couple for myself!! By the way, Century also had a shopping "spree" on board one day after leaving Russia. The prices were quite good and the workmanship was very good, too. It was nice, in case you forgot something or wanted to take your time looking at each piece. I don't know if they will have this sidewalk style shopping again onboard or not.

 

It is such a great cruise itinerary IMHO!!

[X-ring]

Throughout Europe many of the medival towns have been destroyed but I think Tallin looks like nothing happened to it, or they rebuilt and/or restored it very well.

 

Much like your own Rothenburg ob der Tauber that I enjoyed so much during our visit to Germany in 2002. Our timing was perfect - we were there for the Imperial City Festival http://www.rothenburg.de/index.php?get=121 . We didn't know it was on when we planned our itinerary so it was quite a memorable bonus.

[Ine]

<<Quote>>However, I am hoping to be driving to AMS and arriving from the south (Brussels area). If you have a minute, I would appreciate your recommendation for a general route (cities, towns) for the drive to AMS that would let me see the best of Holland, south of AMS. We would be leaving Brussels on a Saturday morning and expect to sleep on route Saturday night before proceeding to AMS on Sunday. >>Quote>>

 

There is an excellen trainconnection between Brussels and Amsterdam, which runs almost every hour. But I assume you want to drive, which if necessary can be done in abt. 4 hours.

The most direct route is A1/A16 along Antwerp to Breda, continue A16 to Rotterdam,Delft and The Hague, A13 and A 4 to Amsterdam, all highway.

Nice stops or overnight: Hotel Newy ork in Rotterdam, which is the old headoffice of HAL. Very nice is the Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen, the seasideresort of The Hague. Beachfront, Casino opposite.

Delft=visit Porceleijne Fles (Delft Blue-but maybe closed on saturday)

If you need more info, let me know.

[X-ring]

 

Thank you for your suggestions, Ine.

 

In choosing auto instead of rail, I am hoping to maximize flexibility and use of the short time I have in the 1.5 days I'm allocating to see Holland, south of Amsterdam.

 

But most importantly, I want to see and experience what makes the Netherlands unique geographically, and culturally. I've received a suggestion that the Delta Works (the engineering marvel where Holland controls the sea's storm surges) may fit that criteria and looking at the videos on their web site, I tend to agree. http://www.neeltjejans.nl

 

As for places to stop over, I should have mentioned that my preference in Europe is to live like a local - in small family run hotels or B&Bs where I can meet ordinary people. I expect I'll be getting all the glitz I need on the Century! :)

[Tatka]

after St. Petersburg. If there's any tour that goes to Catherine's Palace...that was really a neat place to visit.

 

I enjoyed Peterhof.

 

I second both places... IMHO they both are more beautiful than Versailles.;)

 

(I know, I know... Louis gave tons of gold and silver from there as salaries to the french soldiers )

 

That is why my advice ... don't spend time and $$$$ going to Moscow , St.Peter can offer much more to see :) .

[Ine]

<<But most importantly, I want to see and experience what makes the Netherlands unique geographically, and culturally. I've received a suggestion that the Delta Works (the engineering marvel where Holland controls the sea's storm surges) may fit that criteria and looking at the videos on their web site, I tend to agree. http://www.neeltjejans.nl>>

 

In the schedule mentioned above, you better take a different route for which you might need a map.

I can recommend you check this link:

http://www.vvvzeeland.nl/index1.html which is the touristoffice of the provincie(state) of Zeeland, in the south of NL.

If you drive from Burssels through Zeeuws Vlaanderen, take the new tunnel to Vlissingen. Then take the coastal way. At Westkapelle you will find an old army tank of WWII as memory of the liberation there. Also Domburg is a nice little village. Neeltje Jans is a little more north.

I think the mentioned link will give you more info.

Let me know if you need more help..

[Tatka]

One of my favourite books as a kid was "Anne Frank Diary" and I was really impressed with the museum.

 

http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid=3&lid=2&flashid=11

[Ine]

A visit to Ann Franks house is very special I agree.

 

However try to be there early in the morning to avoid waiting in lines.

Make other visits/trips/canalcruises after that therefore.

[X-ring]

Thank you Ine for the additional suggestions re making my way to AMS.

 

Tatka, could you clarify what you meant when you said re the Hermitage - "I know it's laughable time to see this museum..."? TIA

[Tatka]

Thank you Ine for the additional suggestions re making my way to AMS.

 

Tatka, could you clarify what you meant when you said re the Hermitage - "I know it's laughable time to see this museum..."? TIA

 

Sorry... I should've written "laughable small time".

 

Hermitage is a huge collection of arts. I read somewhere that if you're planning to spend 30 sec - 1 min near each painting/art it'll take 11 years 8 hours a day!!!

 

I my two visits to St.Peter (back then Leningrad) ... I spent 5 days there and I am sure it will be enough to see for many more visits.:)

[X-ring]

if you're planning to spend 30 sec - 1 min near each painting/art it'll take 11 years 8 hours a day!!!

 

Thanks Tatka, I now get the picture!

[Osnab]

A few tips might be helpful

 

RUSSIA

We toured the inside and outside of the Kremilin, Gums "department store" really a small mall, Red Square had a excellent dinner which included a shot of Vodka.

COPENHAGAN

At the pier you can take a double decker tours bus that allows you on and off all day. .

 

Questions about the above: Are you given any time to buy any items at Gums? Can you take pictures of the Kremlin? (Last I heard you could not, but it's been awhile since I heard that.) I want to do this excursion, but also the KGB tour. Did you hear of anyone doing that, and if so, did they consider it worth the price? In Copenhagen: Can you buy tickets for the dbl decker buses on board? I want to go to Tivoli, but don't want to pay $20 for the RT transfer the ship has. Thanks!

Felicia

[Tatka]

Questions about the above: Are you given any time to buy any items at Gums? Can you take pictures of the Kremlin? (Last I heard you could not, but it's been awhile since I heard that.) I want to do this excursion, but also the KGB tour. Did you hear of anyone doing that, and if so, did they consider it worth the price? In Copenhagen: Can you buy tickets for the dbl decker buses on board? I want to go to Tivoli, but don't want to pay $20 for the RT transfer the ship has. Thanks!

Felicia

 

 

Just a friendly advice...I would avoid using credit cards in any of stores in Russia. I've not been in in Moscow for some time , but stores in downtown( including GUM) always were overpriced.

[X-ring]

I note that Anne Frank House is open daily 0900-2100 from April to August so after 1800 might also be a good alternative in summer. [sept-Mar hours are 0900-1900]

 

Are there canal boat trips that are better than others, or do they all cover the same routes eventually? TIA

[X-ring]

In Copenhagen: Can you buy tickets for the dbl decker buses on board? I want to go to Tivoli, but don't want to pay $20 for the RT transfer the ship has. Thanks!

Felicia

 

While on this subject, are these the Open Top Tours buses that also crosses the 10-mile-long Oresund Bridge for a quick swing through Malmö, Sweden?

[Visions of Malmö's Anita Ekberg cavourting in La Dolce Vita's Roman fountain are dancing in my head! :) )

[Ine]

I havenot been in Ann Frank at night, but is sounds very good. I assume there will not be long lines there.

 

Canalcruises are more or less alike. Personnaly I like Holland International, opposite the central station. There are sometimes also sailing with dinner and/or wine, which are more expensive of course.

Due to building of a new undergroundline, there are works going on in town and some of those companies are in another spot now. I think Holl. Int is still there.

Maybe this link will help you too, as there are some discounts if you get this card.

http://www.amsterdam.nl/asp/get.asp?ItmIdt=00003132&SitIdt=00000005&VarIdt=00000002

[Osnab]

Just a friendly advice...I would avoid using credit cards in any of stores in Russia. I've not been in in Moscow for some time , but stores in downtown( including GUM) always were overpriced.

 

Tatka, are you saying that prices are high, or to avoid using credit cards because of the high exchange rate?

Thanks........Felicia

[X-ring]

Maybe this link will help you too, as there are some discounts if you get this card.

http://www.amsterdam.nl/asp/get.asp?ItmIdt=00003132&SitIdt=00000005&VarIdt=00000002[/quote]

 

Thanks for the link, Ine ... looks like getting one might be worthwhile. It covers the museums I want (except Anne Frank House from what I can see) and even a discount on Schiphol transfers.

[X-ring]

We don't get into Copenhagen until 8 pm.I know Tivoli Gardens is open to midninght,but will it be worth it to go and have dinner ,and will we have transportation back afterwards?

 

We're in the same boat (unintended pun :) ) as that will be the only time we'll be able to see Tivoli at night so we're really keen to go.

 

I asked the question on the Baltic Ports forum and got an affirmative answer re getting there on time and being able to get back without problem. The responder indicated that Copenhagen safe to the point that you could even walk back to the ship.

 

We'd keep you company on the walk but we're not there until July 5.

[alpal1993]

X-Ring Did you get word of the modification of itinerary.I don't no if this involves all cruises or just ours,but we now visit Norway last and have 2 sea days b2b at the beginning.Also time change in Norway 9am-6pm and Estonia 8am-3pm.

Ann

[X-ring]

modification of itinerary.I don't no if this involves all cruises or just ours,but we now visit Norway last and have 2 sea days b2b at the beginning.Also time change in Norway 9am-6pm and Estonia 8am-3pm.

Ann

 

Thanks for the heads-up but I just checked the Celebrity web site and our June 26 itinerary doesn't seem to be affected - just the June 2 and June 14 sailings.

[X-ring]

If I know myself, I expect to be trying to pack as much sightseeing as I can before initial boarding in Amsterdam.

 

It's been a couple of years since our last cruise - how late before sailing time can one report for boarding? TIA