Baltic cruise - is this for us????

[shiphappy]

We have booked a baltic cruise on the Constellation the beginning of august and are having second thoughts. We are both 69 years old and wonder how much walking is involved in order to fully appreciate each port of call. Are there many stairs involved in sightseeing? If anyone has done this trip and has pictures would love to see them. Thank you. p.s. we love the outdoor scenery type excursions - small town experiences etc. Not so much big city environments with crowds.

[Fblack]

As long as you don't mind spending on taxis, shuttle buses or shore excursions you should be OK. We did the Baltic on the Millennium. There was very little to do or see right next to the ports. So we took taxi's into many towns and shore excursions for Russia and Berlin. The train to Berlin was great. But you have to walk about a quarter mile (mostly flat) The cruise line also has a number of shore excursions geared to more sightseeing than walking stairs etc. It was one of our favorite cruises.

[Phxazzcruisers]

It is a great cruise. You can look at the excursions on line and read the descriptions. They will indicate how much walking is involved. The sites are awesome

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

We have booked a baltic cruise on the Constellation the beginning of august and are having second thoughts. We are both 69 years old and wonder how much walking is involved in order to fully appreciate each port of call. Are there many stairs involved in sightseeing? If anyone has done this trip and has pictures would love to see them. Thank you. p.s. we love the outdoor scenery type excursions - small town experiences etc. Not so much big city environments with crowds.

 

To fully appreciate each port of call will involve a lot of walking. Also stairs. The ports are fabulous!

[sunshine nana]

Out of 7 cruises including Alaska, Hawaii, NE and Canada, UK, and 2 Med. cruises, the Baltic was my favorite. We walked into Tallin, but there was a shuttle that took people right into town. For St. P. there were several choices of excursions, some had a lot of walking, some were mostly riding the bus and looking.Berlin was a lot of walking. It is a large modern city now.For Stockhom we rode the hop on hop off boat, but you could take a ship's bus excursion.We are early 60's, but walk easily. One thing to consider is navigating the bus steps.

[TLCOhio]

We have booked a baltic cruise on the Constellation the beginning of august and are having second thoughts. We are both 69 years old and wonder how much walking is involved in order to fully appreciate each port of call. Are there many stairs involved in sightseeing? If anyone has done this trip and has pictures would love to see them. Thank you. p.s. we love the outdoor scenery type excursions - small town experiences etc. Not so much big city environments with crowds.

 

As others have noted, there's lots to see, do and enjoy in the Baltics. Fblack has noted/shared very wisely that if you're a little flexible with spending on some ship tours and cab use, you can solve most of the logistical questions to make things so much easier. Of course in St. Petersburg, you will want to use a private tour to lessen the walking and make things easier. If you go to the Baltics board and look for St. Petersburg tour posts, you will see more suggestions. Check:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=192

 

Here are some added specifics for each of the main ports:

 

1. Copenhagen is very flat and level. Many of the key attractions are right nearby. Such a charming and historic city.

 

2. Tallinn: If your take a cab or ship tour up to the top of the major hill, it is a easy and nice walking downhill, seeing so much of the interesting history and architecture, etc. Fairly compact historic areas with lots of places to stop, including doing outdoor lunch on the main City Hall Square.

 

3. Russia: At the Hermitage, it is large, but with a good guide, you can focus just on the key parts of interest to you. The key area of this museum/palace is up one flight of stairs (the beautiful Grand Staircase) or there's an elevator nearby. The two grand Cathedral are all on one floor with just a few steps up for St. Issac's. None for Spilled Blood. Riding the Canal Tour is easy and relaxing. Catherine's Palace has its spectacular area up just one floor, but it is not that huge of an area compared to the Hermitage. The Peterhof gets you dropped at the top level, you walk across a super scenic area, go down stairs, across wonderful gardens, then can get on a hydrofoil that takes you to the heart of St. Petersburg. If you are working with a good firm, tell them the "flow" and your personal needs, then they can design things well.

 

4. Stockholm: The Vasa Museum (fairly compact, mostly on one floor) is one of the must-see options. The Gamla Stan or “old town” area is next to the Royal Palace where the Changing of the Guard happen. Those two must-sees are nearby for options for harbor boat tours, etc.

 

5. Helsinki: A ship's tour here makes your logistic easy with the Market Square being a key central area.

 

Does this give you a little better idea on options and their logistics? Below are just six of my pictures as "warm-up" samples for the beauty and glory there. Can share lots more. Reactions?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 72,435 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 65,076 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

At Stockholm’s Royal Palace, the changing of the guard is one of the key highlights and is handy, close to the next-door historic old town area.:

 

 

 

Fountains and water from the spectacular Peterhof outside of St. Petersburg:

 

 

 

Private, personal tours can be worth it, especially in St. Petersburg. Here our group of four, with our guide, Jane or Zhenya from Anastasia, we are viewing one of the two da Vinci masterpieces (Madonna Litta or Madonna and Child) at the Hermitage after an early admission. There are only 14 such painting by this artist existing in the world. We did an early admission at the Hermitage, adding to the enjoyment in this spectacular place AND museum. It is both!:

 

 

 

Here is an overall view of the size and scale of St. Isaac's interior in St. Petersburg. It is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in this historic city and was dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. The cathedral took 40 years to construct, 1818 to 1858, under direction of a French architect. During Soviet rule, it was nearly destroyed and was made into a Museum of Scientific Atheism. It has been restored to its religious beauty/role. The cathedral's main dome tops out at 333 feet and is plated with pure gold.:

 

 

 

Copenhagen’s Nyhavn or “new” Harbor is actually old and charming. This waterfront entertainment district is lined by brightly colored 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. Serving as a "heritage harbor", the canal also has many historical wooden ships. Lots of people and fun activity!!:

 

 

 

Dancers marching in Tallinn’s festival parade near the stone towers of the famous Viru Gate:

 

[Dick in Falls Church]

We went some years ago, when I was in my early 70s (wife late 6s), and wouldn't hesitate to go again.

 

Have since been back to Russia and Copenhagen. Norway this summer.

 

Go and enjoy!

[shiphappy]

Sounds great. We have no problem with bus steps and can easily walk but not great distances. Thanks!

[shiphappy]

Your pictures are great. We are Orthodox and can't wait to see some of the Orthodox churches. Thank you for sharing.

[shiphappy]

Terry - where is your postings and all your pictures from the Baltics cruise.? You look like a professional photographer!

[TLCOhio]

Your pictures are great. We are Orthodox and can't wait to see some of the Orthodox churches. Thank you for sharing.

 

shiphappy: Sounds great. We have no problem with bus steps and can easily walk but not great distances. Thanks!

 

Wonderful to hear. Appreciate your nice comments on my pictures. Below are a few more of my visuals featuring some of the top Orthodox churches in Tallinn' date=' St. Petersburg and Helsinki. Lots to see and do in the Baltics. [b']Keep those good questions rolling. [/b] Don't be shy in using these boards to learn more.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 72,435 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 65,076 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Here is a wider shot of the Spilled Blood Church interior in St. Petersburg. Its exterior design is more traditionally "Russian" or Orthodox than St. Isaac. Spilled Blood or the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ was built on the site along a canal where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 and its building was dedicated to his memory. Construction began in 1883 and was completed in 1907. This city's architecture is predominantly Baroque and Neoclassical, but this church harkens back to medieval Russian architecture in the spirit of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The Church contains over 7500 square metres of mosaics, among the most for any church in the world. It suffered much damage during the Russian Revolution and World War II, but was reopened in 1997, after 27 years of restoration. The results are beautiful!!:

 

 

 

On the ceilings of the Church of Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, here are two different examples of its highly-detailed designs:

 

 

 

 

 

Here are outside and inside views of Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the Orthodox style 1894–1900. This church crowns the hill of Toompea. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.:

 

 

 

 

 

Uspenski Cathedral, Helsinki’s traditional Orthodox Church is placed on a solid stone base overlooking the main market:

 

[MicCanberra]

Fantastic photos - brought many great memories flooding back.:D

[alcpa1]

You should have a wonderful experience if you can pace yourselves.

St. Petersburg - many of the streets are cobbled including the plaza at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The chapel has no steps. The Hermitage has steps, but depending which entrance you use they aren't bad. The Catherine Palace has steps. The gardens at Peterhoff have rock paths and your best bet would be to use the hydrofoil and enjoy the lower gardens. The fountains are a hike away but if you arrive by bus/private excursion tour you can enjoy the view from there. The fountains are quite the attraction. Pavlovsk has steps and cobbled access. Yusopov has steps. The Church of Spilt Blood is easily accessed with just a few steps. St. Isaacs is also easily accessed.

Also do be aware that none of the major attractions in St. Petersburg has air conditioning. The buildings don't get terribly hot since the walls are so thick and insulate well.

Copenhagen - the major sites are on level ground. The streets are a mix of cobble and concrete. There are steps in the palaces but not too bad. Take a boat tour. It is very interesting to see the diversity of Danish architecture.

Stockholm - can be hilly but the access to the Vasa - a must see, is flat. If arriving by boat there is a hill to climb. The Danish Museum is above the Vasa. There are elevators in the Vasa. The Old City is cobbled.

Talinn - The Old City is cobbled and the Orthodox Church is at the top of a steep hill. The lower part is flat enough and still interesting. I don't know if a tour can access the church via car or bus. I didn't think I would be able to walk up to the church either but before I knew it we were there.

Berlin - we took a cruise bus tour. This was the first cruise excursion we have booked in probably twenty years but logistically it worked best for us.

If you have not joined the Roll Call for your sailing please do so. Your best bet for St. Petersburg would be to join a group for a private excursion. If you have mobility problems the bus tours are not your best option. The busses cannot park or drop passengers off within close proximity to many sites.

I hope you do go. It's a wonderful itinerary on a good ship and just do what your bodies allow.

Have a great time.

[TLCOhio]

Fantastic photos - brought many great memories flooding back.

 

Appreciate the nice comment and glad to bring back such great memories. Below are a few more from these two great churches in St. Petersburg. Both churches have so many wonderful details and spectacular craftsmanship.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 72,605 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 65,202 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Some of the details at St. Isaac's around the sides at this grand and historic church:

 

 

 

These special doors within this St. Isaac's Cathedral were inspired by those in Florence:

 

 

 

This architectural feature covers the exact site where the Czar had been killed on this location now inside the Spilled Blood Church.:

 

 

 

A tighter shot showing design details of wall art works in the Spilled Blood Church.:

 

 

 

More interior details along the sides within the Spilled Blood church:

 

 

 

Spilled Blood Church’s exterior design is more traditionally "Russian" or Orthodox than St. Isaac:

 

[oldmovieguy]

My wife and I did the Baltic cruise on Eclipse last year and we are both in our mid sixties. The two day St Petersberg was full on and we were coached everywhere but never felt that we had to hustle along, It was nice to get back to the ship though and revive in the shower before a nice dinner and a relaxing drink afterwards, that, to us, is what Celebrity cruising is all about.

[daydreamer16]

I was on the Constellation August 2010 in the Baltics. I was having problems with my back at the time and so the walking was a problem by the end of the day.The shower & alcohol usually works for the aches! The best thing is to pace yourself and take transportation whenever you feel the need.