Should we go to Berlin?

[shoegal24]

I know this is a highly subjective question, but I'm interested in your opinions.

 

Is Berlin worth the 6 hour train ride + $300?

 

My husband is really into WWII, and I think he'd enjoy seeing it. But is Berlin a "must see" port?

 

WDYT?

 

Thank you :)

[Stelladoro]

Berlin is definitely worthwhile seeing, but I wouldn't consider travelling 3 hours each way and spending a very short time in this large city.

However, if you do decide to see some of Berlin, you may want to consider booking an excursion with a tour company, such as SPB tours, in order to maximize your time in Berlin and see some of the major sights.

 

We decided to spend three days in Berlin, as part of our precruise land trip. Still didn't get to see everything on our list.

[dogs4fun]

$300 is VERY high for the Berlin tour. :eek: Is that per person or per couple?

I had been to Berlin for several days on a land excursion prior to our Baltic cruise but my BIL had not.

We took the Berlin tour and it was definitely worthwhile for the following reasons:

BIL is WWII buff

BIL never had been to Berlin before and probably will never be again

Wanted to visit Pergamon museum as BIL had never seen the Pergamon Altar.

Yes, the ride is long, but if you feel you may not return to Berlin, I would personally "go for it".

We did NOT take the ship excursion. We booked our tours of Saint Petersburg and Berlin through ALLA Tours. We had a magnificent time, our guides were brilliant, we had a much smaller group than those on the ship (we had 14 in our group), we saw and learned more than those on ship tours, and, the price was much less expensive than the ship tours.

jill

[Cornishpastyman1]

I know this is a highly subjective question, but I'm interested in your opinions.

 

Is Berlin worth the 6 hour train ride + $300?

 

My husband is really into WWII, and I think he'd enjoy seeing it. But is Berlin a "must see" port?

 

WDYT?

 

Thank you :)

The issue of whether you will ever be there in the future is a factor, but I would say Berlin is a true 'must-see'. As Stelladoro and Jill say, go with a major independent and you'll have a fantastic day. Like Jill, I think $300 is on the high side, and looking at Alla's 12hr Grand Berlin Tour, if you can get in a group of 5-8 or more (and they will put you in one if you ask) then you are talking €185, maybe €135 if you are part of a group of 16, and slightly less still if you have also booked a tour of St Petersburg..

 

The equally-excellent SPB do something very similar. You won't go wrong with either of these superb companies.

 

3 hours transfer each way is a pain, there's no arguing about that, but you will still have a good 6 hours to see things and what great things there are to see. These were made on a non-cruise holiday but took about the same time a cruiser would have on a well-organised day trip.

 

Berlin Sights

 

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

 

I doubt you'll have time to go into the Information centre which is below the field of stelae, but it only takes a about 5 minutes to walk amongst the big slabs if you want to do that.

 

The Berlin Wall

 

There's hardly any of the wall left but plenty of markers in the pavements etc showing its path.

 

On the roof of the Reichstag

 

You won't be able to go up onto the roof (needs pre-booking well in advance) but you obviously see the great building.

All the best, Tony

[John Bull]

I know this is a highly subjective question, but I'm interested in your opinions.

 

Is Berlin worth the 6 hour train ride + $300?

 

My husband is really into WWII, and I think he'd enjoy seeing it. But is Berlin a "must see" port?

 

WDYT?

 

Thank you :)

 

For a WW11 nut Berlin is a must-see, though there's much more to see of the post-war east/west era. Bear in mind that Berlin was heavily bombed & shelled, so there are few buildings from the era - but much of the layout is the same.

 

Can't figure where you're from. :confused:

 

If you're from our side of the Pond, its well worth a separate trip of 4 or 5 days.

But if this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, then go for it.

 

I've not been to Warnemunde - but should I ever do so on a Baltic cruise, is Peenemunde accessible & does anyone know if there are sights associated with the V1 & V11 rocket programme?

 

JB :)

[dogs4fun]

For a WW11 nut Berlin is a must-see, though there's much more to see of the post-war east/west era. Bear in mind that Berlin was heavily bombed & shelled, so there are few buildings from the era - but much of the layout is the same.

 

Can't figure where you're from. :confused:

 

If you're from our side of the Pond, its well worth a separate trip of 4 or 5 days.

But if this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, then go for it.

 

I've not been to Warnemunde - but should I ever do so on a Baltic cruise, is Peenemunde accessible & does anyone know if there are sights associated with the V1 & V11 rocket programme?

 

JB :)

 

John,

Peenemunde would probably require a car rental...think it's about 2 hours from Warnemunde. There is a military museum on the island where you can see Von Braun's office & there is info on the rockets.

jill

[KirkNC]

We did it last summer with SPB and it was worth it for us. We went via bus, so you could chill, sleep, read, whatever. Upon arrival we spent a very busy 6 hours seeing a lot of sights. Our guide was first class. Given the time involved you won't get more then a taste of the city but you will get to see about a dozen highlights.

[Travelanni]

 

I've not been to Warnemunde - but should I ever do so on a Baltic cruise, is Peenemunde accessible & does anyone know if there are sights associated with the V1 & V11 rocket programme?

 

JB :)

Hi, Peenemunde is about 165k due east of Warnemunde, the first 150k is autobahn and the last 15 or so a very good B road. I would estimate about 2.5 hrs drive. Easy by car but very time consuming by train so the best way would be either to hire a car and drive yourself or take the tour offered by Harry's Taxi. I do not know anything about these tours, have only seen the ads, maybe someone else has used them.

The only substantial building left is the power station which now houses an excellent exhibition tracing the history of rocketry in Germany from the very beginning when von Braun was a student in Berlin and a member of an amateur Rocket Club to his recruitment into the US nuclear programme at the end of the war. The building itself is fascinating, a typical example of grandiose **** (National Socialist - for some reason this site will not let me write the other word) architecture and much of it original, even the paint on the walls and the light switches. The command bunker, which is open, is still as it was left in 1945. Among the outdoor exhibits there is a V2 rocket, a V1 on a launch ramp, examples of fighter planes from the DDR era and a Soviet submarine which you can walk through.

The drive from Rostock to Peenemunde goes through some beautiful countryside.

I hope you do get to visit someday, I thoroughly enjoyed my day there but then I am also a 'WWll nut'.

Happy cruising, :)

Anni

[TLynn412]

My husband and I have decided not to go to Berlin.

 

My reasoning was:

 

 

• Berlin is too big for me to see in such a short time
  
• The cost is outrageous for a train ride per person
  
• I want to one day do a land tour of Germany, Austria, etc. This will probably include Berlin so I will most likely have another opportunity to visit. I will probably never be presented with another opportunity to spend the day in e German fishing village.
  
• I like the idea of having a leisurely day in Germany instead being up so early and returning so late on the train
  

Obviously, you have to weigh your own pros and cons. I am also a big WWII buff and love to see stuff like that, but my other reasons won me over!

[John Bull]

Thanks Anni & Jill.

 

Last month we managed to see La Coupole, the major V11 launch fortification near St Omer in the Pas de Calais, which was bombed before it became operational. Had passed close to it many times heading south from Calais without the chance to visit. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

 

But Peenemunde always fascinated me, from old film footage of the testing of both rockets & rocket -powered aircraft and the exploits of Hanna Reitsch.

 

JB :)

[madame]

Warnemunde was one of the highlights of our Baltic cruise. Picturesque town to walk through, a beautiful beach, totally scenic. We were probably lucky to be there on a Sunday and perhaps it was a holiday. There was a festival with a parade with locals in native costumes, amazing sand sculptures, dragon boat races in the inland waterway, and an antique Russian sailing ship in the harbor. Not many locals speak English and there was a problem finding an open bank to get Euros, but otherwise, a great day.

[CupKayke]

We were going to skip Berlin too... especially after reading some reviews of those herded on the trains. :(

 

Then we read how Berlin is sorta "out of the way" and not someplace you may readily/easily visit in the future.

 

Then we read a couple of reviews of people who had taken a Berlin Walks Tour for 115 Euro per person. The review was fantastic and subsquent research showed more fantastic reviews. Trip Advisor has lots of nice things to say about their tours. I am now in the process of arranging a group for my roll call. You can have between 3 and 28 people, depending on the price you wish to pay but for around 8 to 16, it stays around 115 Euro per person.

 

Here is a sample itinerary...

 

Berlin Day Trip Schedule - at a glance

8.00am: Meet your chauffeur at Warnemunde-Rostock or Hamburg ports

10.45am: Arrive in Berlin to be met by Berlin Walks guide

11.00am - 12.30pm: Your Berlin guided tour

12.30pm - 1.30pm: Lunch - this is completely flexible and can range from a Bratwurst to go to a proper sit-down meal

1.30pm - 4.30pm: Continuation of sightseeing tour; then time to visit a museum or gallery OR shopping. Finish it off with coffee and cake at one of Berlin's "Konditoreien"

4.30pm: Start journey home

7.30pm: Arrival back at ship

 

 

Here are the sites to choose from on your tour...and a more specific itinerary..

The Schedule in detail

 

8.00am - Ship docks at Warnemunde-Rostock or Hamburg; your chauffeur - who is experienced picking up passengers off cruise ships - is waiting for you carrying a sign with your name on it.

 

10.45am - Arrive central Berlin. Our guide joins you for the rest of the day in Berlin, with the use of the minibus or bus which you have used from the port.

 

11.00am - 12.30pm - Your Berlin guided tour. Typically this will cover the following, with plenty of time to make stops to take photos; we can also adapt this to take more account of special interests, such as Berlin's Jewish heritage OR new architecture in the city OR more far-flung Third Reich places of interest:

 

Brandenburg Gate

The Berlin Wall

The "Deathstrip"

(stand above) Hitler's Bunker

Checkpoint Charlie

**** Air Ministry

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial)

Reichstag Dome (new home of the Bundestag)

Pariser Platz (and new American Embassy)

Unter den Linden

Museum Island and Pleasure Garden (Lustgarten)

Pergamon Museum

Bebelplatz, scene of the **** Bookburning

Catholic Cathedral (St. Hedwigs)

Humboldt University

State Opera

Royal Armoury (Zeughaus)

Palace Square (Schlossplatz)

New Synagogue

Red Town Hall

Russian Embassy

War Memorial (Neue Wache)

Berlin Cathedral

TV Tower

Friedrichstrasse (1920s cabaret mile!)

Site of SS and Gestapo HQs (Topography of Terror)

Gendarmenmarkt

East Side Galery

"Stalinallee"

Potsdamer Platz

Royal Hunting Grounds (Tiergarten)

Victory Column (Siegessäule)

1936 Olympic Stadium (where the 2006 Soccer World Cup final was held)

Charlottenburg Palace

Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche)

 

 

12.30pm - 1.30pm - Lunch

It's your choice! Do you want to try traditional German food, or a smart restaurant or a "Bratwurst and fries" at a typical Berlin "Imbiss" (snack bar)? One tip - some really top-grade restaurants in the historic center such as » Vau or » Guyoffer outstandingly good value lunch deals; we can book a table for you if you decide in advance. Otherwise, see how the whim takes you on the day itself.

 

1.30pm - 4.00pm - Finish Sightseeing tour and then head for a museum - for example, the Pergamon or the Daniel Libeskind-designed Jewish Museum. Berlin is packed full of fascinating museums and art galleries; see our » Recommended Museums and Galleries for ideas. You should leave a minimum of an hour for a visit to any one of these … OR you might prefer to explore the shops!

 

For antiques galore, we would take you to Georgenstrasse; for Meissen ceramics, Unter den Linden, and for delicate Christmas ornaments to Friedrichstrasse or Hackescher Markt. Berlin museum shops stock a small but scintillating range of gifts and there are fascinating books on Berlin and German history in English available too. You can buy Birkenstock shoes from specialist shops while avant garde fashion boutiques are plentiful off Oranienburger Str in the Scheunenviertel! If you have a special request let us know… Last year, we helped a client find and buy a pickelhaube - one of those Prussian military helmets with a spike on the top!

 

4.00pm - If there's time - a short stop for coffee and cake (a great German tradition!) before hitting the road for "home". Did someone say cake? Our favorite subject - there's cream cakes and streusel cakes, doughnuts and black forest gateau, green pistachio layer cake and Swiss Gugelhopf. There's Linzertorte, and chocolate cake, marzipan cake and jellied fruit slices. Sponge cake with poppy seeds, iced raisin buns and more chocolate cake. Fruit basket cakes and something called egg nog cake. We know where to go - just follow us.

 

4.30pm - Sit back and enjoy a smooth drive back to the ship. There is a short stop on the way to Berlin and on the way "home" to the ship - a restroom/soda break.

 

Anyway... I have no connection with this company and am only now in the beginning stages of arranging a small group tour (10/12) for my roll call however, they have answered my emails DAILY with specific answers, suggestions, ideas, etc. I have been very impressed. I also "friended" them on Facebook and they have posted some impressive pictures and information on their current tours they are doing. This may be something some of you might be interested in looking at ~ for the price ~ it seems to be a great itinerary and it's not an overwhelming long day either.

 

Their website.. http://www.berlinwalks.de/cruise.html

[dogs4fun]

We were going to skip Berlin too... especially after reading some reviews of those herded on the trains. :(

 

Then we read how Berlin is sorta "out of the way" and not someplace you may readily/easily visit in the future.

 

Then we read a couple of reviews of people who had taken a Berlin Walks Tour for 115 Euro per person. The review was fantastic and subsquent research showed more fantastic reviews. Trip Advisor has lots of nice things to say about their tours. I am now in the process of arranging a group for my roll call. You can have between 3 and 28 people, depending on the price you wish to pay but for around 8 to 16, it stays around 115 Euro per person.

 

Here is a sample itinerary...

 

Berlin Day Trip Schedule - at a glance

8.00am: Meet your chauffeur at Warnemunde-Rostock or Hamburg ports

10.45am: Arrive in Berlin to be met by Berlin Walks guide

11.00am - 12.30pm: Your Berlin guided tour

12.30pm - 1.30pm: Lunch - this is completely flexible and can range from a Bratwurst to go to a proper sit-down meal

1.30pm - 4.30pm: Continuation of sightseeing tour; then time to visit a museum or gallery OR shopping. Finish it off with coffee and cake at one of Berlin's "Konditoreien"

4.30pm: Start journey home

7.30pm: Arrival back at ship

 

 

Here are the sites to choose from on your tour...and a more specific itinerary..

The Schedule in detail

 

8.00am - Ship docks at Warnemunde-Rostock or Hamburg; your chauffeur - who is experienced picking up passengers off cruise ships - is waiting for you carrying a sign with your name on it.

 

10.45am - Arrive central Berlin. Our guide joins you for the rest of the day in Berlin, with the use of the minibus or bus which you have used from the port.

 

11.00am - 12.30pm - Your Berlin guided tour. Typically this will cover the following, with plenty of time to make stops to take photos; we can also adapt this to take more account of special interests, such as Berlin's Jewish heritage OR new architecture in the city OR more far-flung Third Reich places of interest:

 

Brandenburg Gate

The Berlin Wall

The "Deathstrip"

(stand above) Hitler's Bunker

Checkpoint Charlie

**** Air Ministry

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial)

Reichstag Dome (new home of the Bundestag)

Pariser Platz (and new American Embassy)

Unter den Linden

Museum Island and Pleasure Garden (Lustgarten)

Pergamon Museum

Bebelplatz, scene of the **** Bookburning

Catholic Cathedral (St. Hedwigs)

Humboldt University

State Opera

Royal Armoury (Zeughaus)

Palace Square (Schlossplatz)

New Synagogue

Red Town Hall

Russian Embassy

War Memorial (Neue Wache)

Berlin Cathedral

TV Tower

Friedrichstrasse (1920s cabaret mile!)

Site of SS and Gestapo HQs (Topography of Terror)

Gendarmenmarkt

East Side Galery

"Stalinallee"

Potsdamer Platz

Royal Hunting Grounds (Tiergarten)

Victory Column (Siegessäule)

1936 Olympic Stadium (where the 2006 Soccer World Cup final was held)

Charlottenburg Palace

Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche)

 

 

12.30pm - 1.30pm - Lunch

It's your choice! Do you want to try traditional German food, or a smart restaurant or a "Bratwurst and fries" at a typical Berlin "Imbiss" (snack bar)? One tip - some really top-grade restaurants in the historic center such as » Vau or » Guyoffer outstandingly good value lunch deals; we can book a table for you if you decide in advance. Otherwise, see how the whim takes you on the day itself.

 

1.30pm - 4.00pm - Finish Sightseeing tour and then head for a museum - for example, the Pergamon or the Daniel Libeskind-designed Jewish Museum. Berlin is packed full of fascinating museums and art galleries; see our » Recommended Museums and Galleries for ideas. You should leave a minimum of an hour for a visit to any one of these … OR you might prefer to explore the shops!

 

For antiques galore, we would take you to Georgenstrasse; for Meissen ceramics, Unter den Linden, and for delicate Christmas ornaments to Friedrichstrasse or Hackescher Markt. Berlin museum shops stock a small but scintillating range of gifts and there are fascinating books on Berlin and German history in English available too. You can buy Birkenstock shoes from specialist shops while avant garde fashion boutiques are plentiful off Oranienburger Str in the Scheunenviertel! If you have a special request let us know… Last year, we helped a client find and buy a pickelhaube - one of those Prussian military helmets with a spike on the top!

 

4.00pm - If there's time - a short stop for coffee and cake (a great German tradition!) before hitting the road for "home". Did someone say cake? Our favorite subject - there's cream cakes and streusel cakes, doughnuts and black forest gateau, green pistachio layer cake and Swiss Gugelhopf. There's Linzertorte, and chocolate cake, marzipan cake and jellied fruit slices. Sponge cake with poppy seeds, iced raisin buns and more chocolate cake. Fruit basket cakes and something called egg nog cake. We know where to go - just follow us.

 

4.30pm - Sit back and enjoy a smooth drive back to the ship. There is a short stop on the way to Berlin and on the way "home" to the ship - a restroom/soda break.

 

Anyway... I have no connection with this company and am only now in the beginning stages of arranging a small group tour (10/12) for my roll call however, they have answered my emails DAILY with specific answers, suggestions, ideas, etc. I have been very impressed. I also "friended" them on Facebook and they have posted some impressive pictures and information on their current tours they are doing. This may be something some of you might be interested in looking at ~ for the price ~ it seems to be a great itinerary and it's not an overwhelming long day either.

 

Their website.. http://www.berlinwalks.de/cruise.html

 

Looks like you have all the highlights covered on this tour. Berlin is a fantastic city! If I thought that I might not visit again, I would definitely "go for it"!! :)

If I might make a suggestion, visit the Pergamon museum. It houses the Ishtar Gate & the Pergamon Altar....both awesome!

Enjoy!

jill

[magnumtravel]

We had the same discussion and after some research I found Friends of Dave Tour which operates out of Warnemunde. We are doing the Warnemunde and Schwerin Castle Tour. The tours and Dave look like alot of fun. Google the site. I am glad we have decided not to do the Berlin Tour. I would really like to see Berlin but I would pefer to do it when there is more time to really visit. You definitely have to weigh all the pros and cons.

[HAVANA]

We also had the same discussion on whether to send so much time travelling back and forth to Berlin and the reviews on the train ride were not very good but we decided that we would probably not go back to Berlin again so we have decided to tour Berlin. As for the train we have found an alternative with

www.afriendinberlin.de. They offer a tour for 6 with a van ride to and from Berlin. We have 4 in our group and are looking for 2 more to join us.

 

[sippican]

We had the same discussion and after some research I found Friends of Dave Tour which operates out of Warnemunde. We are doing the Warnemunde and Schwerin Castle Tour. The tours and Dave look like alot of fun. Google the site. I am glad we have decided not to do the Berlin Tour. I would really like to see Berlin but I would pefer to do it when there is more time to really visit. You definitely have to weigh all the pros and cons.

 

We also decided to skip Berlin and go with Dave's Complete Hansa Tour after reading the rave reviews on Tripadvisor.

[dogs4fun]

We also decided to skip Berlin and go with Dave's Complete Hansa Tour after reading the rave reviews on Tripadvisor.

I have looked at these tours and, if you don't mind posting, I would like to hear about your experiences when you return. Dave's tours would be a nice option in the future as I have been to Berlin several times (fabulous city, not to be missed IMHO) but have not scouted the area around Warnemunde.

jill