rnjmiller Posted February 10, 2014 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2014 My husband and I are taking the Scandinavia & Russia Cruise on the Celebrity Constellation in May. I have already booked a private tour in St. Petersburg, Russia. But what I would really like to do in all the other ports is just get off the ship and wonder around. Can someone tell me if there are things you can walk to in each of the ports or if I will need to take a bus or taxi to get to anything? The Itinerary is: Amsterdam, Holland Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany Tallinn, Estonia St. Petersburg, Russia Helsinki, Finland Stockholm, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desdichado62 Posted February 10, 2014 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) There are plenty of advice in the various threads for the ports of call around the Baltic. If you still need advice just ask and we'll try our best to help you. Helsinki: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1606720 Copenhagen: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1772831 Stockholm: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1017275 Tallin: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1661563 Warnermünde: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1318728 Amsterdam info is probably available in the Western Europe forum: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233 Edited February 10, 2014 by Desdichado62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted February 10, 2014 #3 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) But what I would really like to do in all the other ports is just get off the ship and wonder around. Can someone tell me if there are things you can walk to in each of the ports or if I will need to take a bus or taxi to get to anything? The Itinerary is: Amsterdam, Holland Yes if you dock at the city centre short walk or tram to all the sights Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany Tallinn, Estonia yes short walk to the walled citty or I think they have a shuttle bus now St. Petersburg, Russia Helsinki, Finland depends on the dock some ships dock right in town & you can take the tram or walk Stockholm, Sweden. Copenhagen, Denmark yes a short walk to most places agian depending on the dock location or the bus will take you downtown Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Judy Others you need some research on where & what you want to see/do & probably a tour or taxi to get there Check each port stop for more information, there are many locals that have specific threads here that have good information on getting around Edited February 10, 2014 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnjmiller Posted February 10, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted February 10, 2014 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) My husband and I are taking the Scandinavia & Russia Cruise on the Celebrity Constellation in May. I have already booked a private tour in St. Petersburg, Russia. But what I would really like to do in all the other ports is just get off the ship and wonder around. Can someone tell me if there are things you can walk to in each of the ports or if I will need to take a bus or taxi to get to anything? The Itinerary is: Amsterdam, Holland Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany Tallinn, Estonia St. Petersburg, Russia Helsinki, Finland Stockholm, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Judy Judy As has been said to you, a lot depends on where your ship docks on the day you will be in port. There is a site that tells you the specific place, if known now, but I forgot the web address, maybe some one else can supply it. Most ships dock in the West harbor in Helsinki. If so, you will need some sort of transportation to get you to Market Square. That is usually the starting point for the tram or any of several places that are fairly close to Market Square. There is a bus that can take you there and there are taxi's. To walk it would be about 40 minutes or so. Market Square section of Helsinki http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster1150.jpg The Lutheran Cathedral in Senate Square http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe1062.jpg In Copenhagen, again, many ships dock near most of the attractions. If you dock at Langeline Pier, you are minutes away from the Little Mermaid, and from there most of the things you would want to see and do, Nyhavn, the Canal Cruise, The Stroget, Tivoli Gardens, Town Hall Square and Rosenborg Castle are all within walking distance, usually around a 2 mile radius. The Nyhavn section. A great place to wander about a bit http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe248_zps07b56845.jpg Copenhagen from the Canal Boat Cruise http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe284_zpscc7bc696.jpg Stockholm has several venues to dock, some right in the heart of the city, others a bit outside and then some dock at a town about an hour away. Even if you dock in the heart of the city, several of the attractions like Vasa and Gamal Stan and the Royal Palace are not next to each other so you will need some sort of transportation to get from one to the other. A picturesque Bridge over the river to the Vasa Museum http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster1235.jpg Gamla Stan http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe1265.jpg Obviously Berlin you need a 3 hour trip to get you to from Warnemunde. This town itself is OK, not that much to do except wander about for a bit or hit the beach there. Many opt to go to Rostock, or several other cities inh the surrounding around via the train that is right there. You would be hard pressed to find things to do in Warnemunde for an entire day. It is a quaint town, but just not much there. Along the Canal in Warnemunde http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe363.jpg Town Square in Rostock http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe407.jpg Tallinn, all ships dock in the same place and it is about a 10 minute, easy walk to the entrance to the Old City. Once inside, there are several great walking tours you can download to be sure and see what there is to see. A lot of the fun of Tallinn is also to just wander about on your own, discovering many others likable things to see and do. There is a hill to walk up, some opt to take some sort of transportation up the hill and then walk down, but it isn't a steep walk and easily done if you are mobile. Fat Margret Tower where you enter the old city http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe509.jpg Alexander Nevsky Cathedral http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe566.jpg Hope this helps a bit Cheers Len Edited February 10, 2014 by Giantfan13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnjmiller Posted February 10, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Judy As has been said to you, a lot depends on where your ship docks on the day you will be in port. There is a site that tells you the specific place, if known now, but I forgot the web address, maybe some one else can supply it. Most ships dock in the West harbor in Helsinki. If so, you will need some sort of transportation to get you to Market Square. That is usually the starting point for the tram or any of several places that are fairly close to Market Square. There is a bus that can take you there and there are taxi's. To walk it would be about 40 minutes or so. Market Square section of Helsinki http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster1150.jpg The Lutheran Cathedral in Senate Square http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe1062.jpg In Copenhagen, again, many ships dock near most of the attractions. If you dock at Langeline Pier, you are minutes away from the Little Mermaid, and from there most of the things you would want to see and do, Nyhavn, the Canal Cruise, The Stroget, Tivoli Gardens, Town Hall Square and Rosenborg Castle are all within walking distance, usually around a 2 mile radius. The Nyhavn section. A great place to wander about a bit http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe248_zps07b56845.jpg Copenhagen from the Canal Boat Cruise http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe284_zpscc7bc696.jpg Stockholm has several venues to dock, some right in the heart of the city, others a bit outside and then some dock at a town about an hour away. Even if you dock in the heart of the city, several of the attractions like Vasa and Gamal Stan and the Royal Palace are not next to each other so you will need some sort of transportation to get from one to the other. A picturesque Bridge over the river to the Vasa Museum http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster1235.jpg Gamla Stan http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe1265.jpg Obviously Berlin you need a 3 hour trip to get you to from Warnemunde. This town itself is OK, not that much to do except wander about for a bit or hit the beach there. Many opt to go to Rostock, or several other cities inh the surrounding around via the train that is right there. You would be hard pressed to find things to do in Warnemunde for an entire day. It is a quaint town, but just not much there. Along the Canal in Warnemunde http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe363.jpg Town Square in Rostock http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe407.jpg Tallinn, all ships dock in the same place and it is about a 10 minute, easy walk to the entrance to the Old City. Once inside, there are several great walking tours you can download to be sure and see what there is to see. A lot of the fun of Tallinn is also to just wander about on your own, discovering many others likable things to see and do. There is a hill to walk up, some opt to take some sort of transportation up the hill and then walk down, but it isn't a steep walk and easily done if you are mobile. Fat Margret Tower where you enter the old city http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe509.jpg Alexander Nevsky Cathedral http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe566.jpg Hope this helps a bit Cheers Len Thank you so very much. This was very helpful. My husband has a medical issue that causes him to have good days and bad days, walking long distances can be dificult but if we are able to go slow should be ok. I do not want to plan a bunch of tours that he may or may not be able to go on. So I really just wanted to be able to wander at our own pace. But I have been to ports that have nothing around them so I wanted to know if I should look at tours in those locations. I have been able to find that we should be At Hernesaari port in Helsinki, so we should be able to take bus 16 to Market Square. Should be doable. We will be at S167 Stadsgarden in Stockholm so I am thinking Ho Ho Boat. still researching the other ports to see where we will be. Thanks again for your help. Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultima Thule Posted February 10, 2014 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) If you are in Helsinki on May 14th, its quay LHB, 1.6 miles from the middle of the city and 1.85 miles from the Market Square. If you are in Helsinki on May 28th its quay LHC, half a mile further away. Sorry, local bus 16 doesn't do that route anymore so you have to use a bus 14 plus tram combination if you want to use local traffic. But as far as I know there is always shuttle bus service available from the major cruise ships to the city center and back. That's the easy way out and I recommend it even if it costs a little bit more. Edited February 10, 2014 by Ultima Thule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonza Posted February 10, 2014 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If you are in Helsinki on May 14th, its quay LHB, 1.6 miles from the middle of the city and 1.85 miles from the Market Square.If you are in Helsinki on May 28th its quay LHC, half a mile further away. Celebrity Constellation will to my understanding be in Helsinki on May 16th and not the 14th. It seems that either Celebrity or their port agent had messed up with the Constellation doing the Baltic sometimes Stockholm - Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Tallinn and sometimes in the opposite direction. Currently the Port of Helsinki site shows duplicate calls for the times Constellation is really coming from St. Petersburg. On May 16th Celebrity Constellation will be at LMA in Jätkäsaari. The surroundings are pretty boring the area being a former cargo port currently being developed to become part of the city. Last summer almost all ships docking there did have shuttles to downtown area. The closet public transit option is tram 9 at the West Terminal which is a little less than a half a mile from the quay. The walk is flat and easy, but the scenery is extremely boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskanb Posted February 10, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2014 We did a walking tour of Tallinn with the company we used for St. Petersburg. The bus picked us up at the port, drove to the top of the hill, and then we split into smaller groups. I found it useful to be going downhill and the guide added to the experience. The bus picked us up again at the bottom of the hill just outside the old city entrance. Well worth the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanL Posted February 10, 2014 #10 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Found this helpful overview of the Baltic cities http://savvyguides.com/baltic/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexlass2 Posted February 11, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Found this helpfuloverview of the Baltic cities http://savvyguides.com/baltic/ That's a very useful website. Thanks for posting it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted February 11, 2014 #12 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Found this helpfuloverview of the Baltic cities http://savvyguides.com/baltic/ Dan Excellent site. Thanks for posting it. Lots of great info there. Cheers Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnjmiller Posted February 11, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Thank you Everyone for the great information I really appreciate all of the help. Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonza Posted February 11, 2014 #14 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Found this helpfuloverview of the Baltic cities http://savvyguides.com/baltic/ Looks pretty good, but it seems that the info is a few years old. Just keep in mind that things that could change in say 5 years might have changed. For example ticket prices might not be that accurate, Tallinn has had euros since 2011, Helsinki has renumbered some tram routes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desdichado62 Posted February 11, 2014 #15 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Looks pretty good, but it seems that the info is a few years old. Just keep in mind that things that could change in say 5 years might have changed. For example ticket prices might not be that accurate, Tallinn has had euros since 2011, Helsinki has renumbered some tram routes etc. I agree with Jonza here. I noticed the same about that page's info about Stockholm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted February 12, 2014 #16 Share Posted February 12, 2014 On our Baltic cruise ...other than a private tour we booked in St Petersburg we easily did the other ports on our own..either using the ship contracted shuttlebus into town or a HOHO boat...couldn't have been easier..no need for pre-booked tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolmom Posted February 13, 2014 #17 Share Posted February 13, 2014 The new Rick Steve's Baltic Ports guidebook has all the ports and then some that you'll be visiting on the Constellation (I'm going on the 7/8 cruise). Just my opinion, but I think Rick has the best European itineraries in the business and the guide is full of practical info such as best ATM, where to stop for a coffee or brewski and decent shops. The book is meant to be divided into individual booklets, too. I am finding it invaluable especially for transportation and currency issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riansgrammy Posted February 13, 2014 #18 Share Posted February 13, 2014 The new Rick Steve's Baltic Ports guidebook has all the ports and then some that you'll be visiting on the Constellation (I'm going on the 7/8 cruise). Just my opinion, but I think Rick has the best European itineraries in the business and the guide is full of practical info such as best ATM, where to stop for a coffee or brewski and decent shops. The book is meant to be divided into individual booklets, too. I am finding it invaluable especially for transportation and currency issues. I agree. I purchased Rick Steves' Scandinavia book. It's well worth the money - what to see, not see, maps, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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