Trip Report: Breakaway Baltic July 22 with teen and tween!

[SClakeliving]

Great review! We are going in 3 weeks! Your review is helpful! We are doing the FoD in Warnemunde, Tallin DIY, using Alla Tours for St Pete and Stockholm. I plan to do the Escape Room too!

Couple of questions: (1) Did you use credit cards to buy things in various ports or did you get local currency? (1) We have OBC we want to use and was thinking of the HOHO Bus option in Helsinki offered by NCL. Did you notice if they were crowded? were there several buses at port ? Otherwise we will do Helsinki DIY.

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

[KittyloverCA]

Great review! We are going in 3 weeks! Your review is helpful! We are doing the FoD in Warnemunde, Tallin DIY, using Alla Tours for St Pete and Stockholm. I plan to do the Escape Room too!

Couple of questions: (1) Did you use credit cards to buy things in various ports or did you get local currency? (1) We have OBC we want to use and was thinking of the HOHO Bus option in Helsinki offered by NCL. Did you notice if they were crowded? were there several buses at port ? Otherwise we will do Helsinki DIY.

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

I think it’s a good move to use alla for Stockholm, probably the group will be smaller than with a ship excursion.

 

For HoHo, I noticed them in Stockholm but I don’t think I paid attention in Helsinki, and we didn’t get off the ship really early either, so maybe they were gone?. It was easy enough to take the tram for sure.

[KittyloverCA]

Last sea day

Hm, can't recall anything special during the day. My daughter went swimming, I worked on getting packed up. I decided to go have lunch at wasabi as I was craving sushi. It was very good and inexpensive. Kids as usual ate ate the buffet. For dinner we had reservations at Cagney's, which was very good food, I had an amazing raspberry creme brulee for dessert but couldn't finish it. Then my husband and daughter rushed off to watch the bridge crossing, and my son rushed off to play another round of poker at the teen club. Meanwhile I stopped off at the casino for one last turn on the one armed bandit, and got very lucky, got a $20 jackpot on my first 2 spins (on which I spent a grand total of 20 cents each). Then I joined the bridge watching which was pretty amazing!

 

Disembarking/Copenhagen

as I mentioned we went with "self assist", ate breakfast at the buffet, which was crazy, and got off at 9 which was the time we had to vacate our cabin. We went right to the 25 bus and back to Ibsen's for our last night.

 

We dropped off our luggage and then headed out on the S-tog to go to the Open Air museum (finally I got to visit one!) It was fairly easy to get to, just a bit out of town. It was nice to see a small town. We spent a couple of hours there, and ate lunch there at the restaurant (kids got chicken nuggets and fries and were happy with that!). While there I participated in a survey being conducted on behalf of the National Museum on how to attract more foreign visitors. I was given 2 passes to use at any national museum, which sadly we couldn't do. Ultimately I gave them to the hotel front desk to give some lucky guests. Again it was really hot that day as was every other day!

 

From, there we went back to Norreport and went to Torvehall to get an ice cream in hopes of perking everyone (including me) up. Then off to Rosenburg Palace. If I had not been so hot and fried I'd have liked to have spent more time there, the crown jewels were amazing as were all the rooms. I'd recommend planning on going there when you have a bit of energy to enjoy everything.

 

We chilled out in our hot room for a bit and then had dinner at a Korean place we'd learned about on our walking tour...pretty good...then to the hotel for showers and bed.

 

Our flight back home wasn't til 12:45, so we left the hotel about 10 and we could still use our 24 hour tickets we had bought the previous day. Took the subway and it was easy. Our flight to Munich was delayed due to it finally raining, so we were in a bit of a panic about reaching our flight to SFO which was A 45 MINUTE WALK from the gate where we landed! It included going through customs, a second passport check, and security. we were worried we'd not make it so we didn't stop to pick up any food in the main terminal...sadly there was no food in our final terminal and we could not leave even though we ended up having a bit of time, which meant that it would be a painful flight home knowing my daughter wouldn't eat the airplane food...more peanut butter crackers for her!

 

12 hours later in an uber heading home!!

It was really a great trip...I just don't know if I can handle such long flights with the kids again...it's truly painful coming from California to Europe!

[KittyloverCA]

Another thing I meant to mention: fill a bag laundry service was on the day in Tallin, with a promised return 2 days later. We had brought clothes for that length of time assuming we'd re-wear a couple of things, but of course everything was sweaty and gross. I had read on here that they only give you a paper bag, so I followed a tip of bringing a garbage bag to line the paper bag with. We fit 55 pieces into that sucker! (ok about half was underwear, but I was pretty impressed)...so do bring a garbage bag with you to help maximize.

 

We really packed totally wrong, I only had 1 pair of shorts, the others 2, I had packed light jackets and raincoats for all and we never used them. I needed more shorts and tank tops or sleeveless tops. People were dressed as if it were the Caribbean. the heat was really something plus the humidity...we are not used to the humidity here in CA, so it was really hard to tolerate....

 

Thank you for reading!! I will try to post some pix after the fact.

[KittyloverCA]

ok so I can't figure out how to post pix...

[Markj]

Great review! We are going in 3 weeks! Your review is helpful! We are doing the FoD in Warnemunde, Tallin DIY, using Alla Tours for St Pete and Stockholm. I plan to do the Escape Room too!

Couple of questions: (1) Did you use credit cards to buy things in various ports or did you get local currency? (1) We have OBC we want to use and was thinking of the HOHO Bus option in Helsinki offered by NCL. Did you notice if they were crowded? were there several buses at port ? Otherwise we will do Helsinki DIY.

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

We did the HoHo bus in Helsinki and it was really easy as the bus stops at the ship and then its route has the ship on it - Ive been to Helsinki before although Deb hasn't and for us the time was enough because we are not museum/church people. You can also upgrade the ticket by 9Euros and do a very pleasant boat trip around the harbor

 

I guess you could could simply get off and get on the HoHo and buy your tickets there and then - the price when I checked was about the same as via NCL

[nycfa]

Great review! We are going in 3 weeks! Your review is helpful! We are doing the FoD in Warnemunde, Tallin DIY, using Alla Tours for St Pete and Stockholm. I plan to do the Escape Room too!

Couple of questions: (1) Did you use credit cards to buy things in various ports or did you get local currency? (1) We have OBC we want to use and was thinking of the HOHO Bus option in Helsinki offered by NCL. Did you notice if they were crowded? were there several buses at port ? Otherwise we will do Helsinki DIY.

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

 

Not OP but was on this a week before her: Currency....I used a Visa Card everywhere. The only place I used local currency was in Berlin at lunch we used some Euros. Otherwise it was all CC. In Russia my DH did use american dollars to buy a soda at a food cart by Catherine's Palace.

[nycfa]

 

We really packed totally wrong, I only had 1 pair of shorts, the others 2, I had packed light jackets and raincoats for all and we never used them. I needed more shorts and tank tops or sleeveless tops. People were dressed as if it were the Caribbean. the heat was really something plus the humidity...we are not used to the humidity here in CA, so it was really hard to tolerate....

 

So we are from New York so its interesting how coming from CA you felt it was humid and I have been telling everyone how yes it was hot but thankfully it wasn't humid. LOL Guess its all relative to what you are use to!

 

All that being said...yes bring shorts! Thankfully we had brought plenty on our trip the week before...my fleece jacket never came out of the suitcase! LOL

[KittyloverCA]

Not OP but was on this a week before her: Currency....I used a Visa Card everywhere. The only place I used local currency was in Berlin at lunch we used some Euros. Otherwise it was all CC. In Russia my DH did use american dollars to buy a soda at a food cart by Catherine's Palace.

 

 

 

Yes sorry forgot to answer that, I agree we used CC everywhere, including Apple pay a lot. We had about $40 of Euro and we got dkk to tip our guide for the free tour we did

 

 

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[KittyloverCA]

So we are from New York so its interesting how coming from CA you felt it was humid and I have been telling everyone how yes it was hot but thankfully it wasn't humid. LOL Guess its all relative to what you are use to!

 

 

 

All that being said...yes bring shorts! Thankfully we had brought plenty on our trip the week before...my fleece jacket never came out of the suitcase! LOL

 

 

 

Ha yes, to us it was incredibly humid!! It seemed to add 10-15 degrees to us! It probably wasn’t any worse than many parts of the US in the summer really, but here when it’s 85 degrees it’s dry (thus the big fires!!)

 

 

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[heliwoman]

My family was on this cruise as well. I would just add a couple of things:

1) it was HOT. Everyone in our group had packed for cooler weather and ended up buying more clothes and attempting to use the laundry service. My brother's family had horrible service with laundry - they kept forgetting to pick up the bag and then then wouldn't return it until after 6. The funny thing is that we all choose the Baltics because of the cooler weather. And hot would be ok if there was a/c or plenty of fans to keep you cool but since this is not normal temperatures most places didn't have them.

 

2) For disembartation in STP: knowing of the sign up, I went to the box office at 12:15 on embarkation day and signed up all 5 families. It turns out I really didn't need to do this as they don't check your id against the groups. Just show up on deck 6 by O'Sheeans and then when they call for group A & B, just enter the theatre. All of that stress of making sure we were in group A for nothing.

 

3) KittyCat - I wonder if we were on the same canal tour in STP? We were on around 8 am on Friday. Also, what time were you at Stolle on Thursday? We went there too after Catherine's place. We also did Escape the Big Top - my family thought it was going to be easy peasy and lame but they couldn't figure it out - hah.

[KittyloverCA]

W

My family was on this cruise as well. I would just add a couple of things:

1) it was HOT. Everyone in our group had packed for cooler weather and ended up buying more clothes and attempting to use the laundry service. My brother's family had horrible service with laundry - they kept forgetting to pick up the bag and then then wouldn't return it until after 6. The funny thing is that we all choose the Baltics because of the cooler weather. And hot would be ok if there was a/c or plenty of fans to keep you cool but since this is not normal temperatures most places didn't have them.

 

2) For disembartation in STP: knowing of the sign up, I went to the box office at 12:15 on embarkation day and signed up all 5 families. It turns out I really didn't need to do this as they don't check your id against the groups. Just show up on deck 6 by O'Sheeans and then when they call for group A & B, just enter the theatre. All of that stress of making sure we were in group A for nothing.

 

3) KittyCat - I wonder if we were on the same canal tour in STP? We were on around 8 am on Friday. Also, what time were you at Stolle on Thursday? We went there too after Catherine's place. We also did Escape the Big Top - my family thought it was going to be easy peasy and lame but they couldn't figure it out - hah.

 

Yes we packed SO wrong for this trip. Why did I even bring jackets? With that space I could have brought more shorts and tank tops! Everything we had just became disgusting, I had counted on us being able to wear things a couple of times!

 

I also ensured we got group A but I guess it didn’t matter too much in the end...although maybe the later groups got out quite a bit later

 

For the canal tour, yes it must have been around 8 on Friday. Was there a guy with glasses running to each bridge with a goofy grin?

 

Yes the escape the big top was surprisingly challenging, I thought they’d dumb it down, but since it’s not highly advertised I guess mostly people who are drawn to those things sign up!

[heliwoman]

For the canal tour, yes it must have been around 8 on Friday. Was there a guy with glasses running to each bridge with a goofy grin?

 

Yes - there was a guy. Daria, our guide, said that most of the tour groups do not like him and his cohorts as people become focused on them and not the sights. Plus they show up at the end of the cruise looking for money for their "performance". Luckily for us, he had to stop to stretch so we were already on our vehicle going to the Hermitage when he showed up.

I'd post a picture but I don't have the pics on a website :(

[KittyloverCA]

Yes - there was a guy. Daria, our guide, said that most of the tour groups do not like him and his cohorts as people become focused on them and not the sights. Plus they show up at the end of the cruise looking for money for their "performance". Luckily for us, he had to stop to stretch so we were already on our vehicle going to the Hermitage when he showed up.

I'd post a picture but I don't have the pics on a website :(

 

Yes good point, he was definitely a distraction. But I was gullible enough to think he was just out for a jog until our guide told me they normally demand $$ after!

[KittyloverCA]

Adding some photos after the fact, a couple form each port:

 

Copenhagen houseboat from Canal tour

 

Danish Architecture Center "Multiple Shadow House"

 

[KittyloverCA]

Biggest cotton candy ever in Tivoli

 

Schwerin Castle, Germany

 

[KittyloverCA]

Tallin, approaching old town

 

[KittyloverCA]

More Tallin

 

Amazing lunch in Tallin

view from top of tower

 

[KittyloverCA]

SPB Peterhof Palace

 

[KittyloverCA]

SPB- cat time!

 

 

SPB subway

 

 

Lots of scaffolding of Church on spilled blood

 

[KittyloverCA]

Grand maket scale model in SPB

 

 

[KittyloverCA]

Helsinki Suomenlinna island

 

[KittyloverCA]

very curious statue on way back to the ship!

 

[KittyloverCA]

Vasa Museum stockholm

 

[KittyloverCA]

Back in Copenhagen...open air museum